Category: Canned Beer

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Keep On

What if a hazy IPA series had a feel good story behind the name? That is the idea behind the Keep On beers from Unsung Brewing.

Focusing on the SGN news stories is great. Clapping is in reference to people who clap at a specified time of day to show their admiration for health care workers. Learning is for that special teacher who set up a white board outside the home of a student to make sure the lesson took hold. Those two beers may soon be out of rotation but I hope to read about other good stories. The latest release to look for is Keep on Rocking.

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Featured Review – Partake Stout

We are at the end of the five part series of reviews of Partake Brewing, and we close with the Stout.

This beer garners the silver medal even though it is more a porter or brown ale. It has good flavor and is less watery than the rest. There is a bit of coffee taste as well as a slight tinge of cola. A bit of minerality in the finish that could be toned down but overall decent.

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Defund

The current hot button word is defund. On its face, it sounds bad and is in fact inaccurate or misleading. In context, it means to use funds that were going to police to be spent elsewhere on programs for homelessness or mental issues, for example, so that the police can focus on their core competency of even making white men like me cross the street to avoid them because I am scared of them.

Wading into this is the Bronx Brewery with the following beer…

This was going to stir up a social media storm. Much like naming a beer “Wear a goddamm Mask” would. Mostly among those who want to annoyed and frustrated. Those who want to be given license by their ramp weary leader to vent their true hatred. Quick were the comments about losing business. But short were any true discussion, yet. Hopefully that will come later.

UPDATE – the brewery has sadly pulled the release of the beer due to death threats against employees. They will donate money to causes to further dialogue and change.

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Survivor

Institution Ale Company has added to the California Craft Brewers Association (CCBA) range of beers with their ominously named Surviving California IPA. I don’t know what kind weird Westworld meets drama mask theme is about but I do like the lemony tumbleweed.

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How’s Yours?

Once of my pet peeves are label designs that use unreadable fonts but I like this beer name, How’s Your Day. The collaboration between Modern Times and Highland Park Brewery is another West Coast-style IPA, this one “loaded with Strata & Mosaic for a wildly successful intermingling of passion fruit, mango, citrus, and piney notes.”

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Cold Kush

Last time that Wayfinder dropped some of their fine beer in L.A., I had their Relapse Cold IPA. And now I can explain what that means to them, it is a hybrid India Pale Lager / Malt Liquor. And now they have teamed with the fan favorite Great Notion on a variant of that variant, named Cold Kush. A hazy with Citra and Strata hops primarily with Galaxy and Cashmere backing up. This beer also has rice and flaked wheat too.  And since L.A. also gets Great Notion on occasion, maybe this beer will show up on shelves. 

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Featured Review – Partake Red Ale

Next up in the five part series of reviews of Partake Brewing is the Red Ale. We currently sit at 1/2 on the non-alcoholic beers.

This one falls in between the Blonde and the Pale. Primarily due to its beautiful color. Deep red and brown. Like a tea / coffee mix. The taste is OK. The first thing that jumps out is a really watery character. Not much hoppiness here with the barest hint of malt struggling to land. There is a tiny kellerbier note in the back as well. The score is now 1 and a half out of three beers tasted.

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Trademark Crowlers

Took a Saturday trip to buy some Long Beach beers from Trademark Brewing and here is what I got….

Origins has that signature haze to it though it is a bit milky orange.  Very grassy, woodsy character.  Soft but not very hazy soft. Almost has a white wine nose to it. Getting some pear notes. A weird bit of cattiness too. 

Next up is Hat Trick, a Belgian Tripel, a big over 9% beer. I like this beer but it does seem to be a Belgian that is holding back the full effect. It is missing a little spice. The phenols are quite muted. The alcohol sneaks up on you. The cheeks start getting warm. I just wish it had a little extra zip to it. Maybe an herb or some spice to add an extra dimension.

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2LB


Beachwood Brewing has recently released a new pilsner, To Long Beach with Love. It is a “Dry Hopped Pilsner w/ citrus and herbal terpenes”.

Per the brewery, the beer is done “In support of the conversations, changes, and actions needed to combat social injustices, we will be donating 100% of the proceeds from “To Long Beach with Love” to the California Conference for Equality and Justice.”

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Different Gargoyles

Give an artist their tools and the word “gargoyle” and you will get a spectrum of interpretations. And Stone has given that remit and as you can see from the above, the look varies just a bit. My favorite is the bottom right. It has the strong pose down.