Follow Sean Inman to the best in craft beer
The Chapman Crafted Zodiac has finally come around to my sign. Not that I believe in it at all. Anything based on when and where your parents had some…. fun isn’t super science-y to me. But I think this is a cool idea for an IPA series that also tells you if it is fresh or not, subtly.
Now I have to look for Huell Melon, Citra and Amarillo hopped hazy on shelves next to hopefully only Aquarius.
Never got into the Scott Bakula show, even though I like the time travel. So let’s look past to the Leap Year part and to the hops in this Feb. 29th beer from Los Angeles Ale Works. This new West Coast Triple IPA has your Cashmere, your Azacca and Bru-1. It should put a little spring in your step if not leaps to your bounds.
Part of the Heart Family from Bell’s, Light Hearted is 3.7% ABV, 110 calories and 9 grams of carbs. That is seriously light. But how does it compare to say, Hopslam? Unfair, but I thought I would really put this to the test.
Both beers pour similar in color with Light Hearted just a touch more yellow than orange. Now onto the rest of the comparison…
Light Hearted – There is a bitter kick up front. That fades to watery followed by a considerable malt flavor. Cascade’y earthy notes for me. Most IPA of the bunch of Lo-Cal beers that I have sampled.
HopSlam – Sweetness (honey) then the alcohol burn takes over. This is aggressively hoppy with some small citrus notes lingering behind the main flavors.
The DNA flows through both of these. The hops do kick hard in both beers it’s just the scaffolding that’s different. Neither would win my heart (get it) like the original 2 Hearted but if given a choice, I would stick with the Light.
I am in the midst of a beercation and apparently so is BarrelHouse Brewing of Paso Robles who have this ’50s evocative Hazy DIPA now on the market…
BPLB, the first Los Angeles release from Crowns & Hops with an assist from Eagle Rock Brewery, doesn’t pour super hazy. Haze being hard to nail down. The first taste leads me to think Session IPA more than the ABV on the can. A bit watery to me with a grassy aroma. Some haze softness and a decent amount of hop bitterness. Part orange, part grapefruit taste here. I want to like it more than I do. I am still looking forward to trying more of their beers as they move towards their own brewing facility and tap room.
A) Brewery cats are cool.
B) There will be a can release party with the label designer and all-around awesome Kelly Erickson on the 15th. Details HERE.
C) Oh, and it is an IPA.
That is when the Citra rolls in from Kern River Brewing and also…
…a Peak Bagger collaboration with Beachwood. Gonna have to make sure I try their new JoJo DIPA to stay caught up.
Claremont Craft Ales has been pretty aggressive with the IPA releases and come February 8th, there will be two more to look for…
All you have to decide is West Coast or Hazy.
When I spoke with Rob Tod last month, I made a point to ask about what other cans would be coming from Allagash. Somehow, Nowaday did not come up. But apparently a Blonde ale will follow River Trip and White Ale into 16oz cans. Looks like the trend is for lighter beers for now.
The Modern Times Dankness Dojo drops a lot of cans and bottles. They are busy people in this brewery chain. But of special note is a Double Dry-Hopped version of their opening beer, Finally Open in LA!
It has Cryo Citra and Strata during the ferment and then more Citra, Strat and some Centennial later.