I have had some fine beers from New Holland but we only get a smattering of their options here in SoCal, which makes this new canned from bourbon barrels White Stout probably something I won’t see on shelves. But if I do, I will pick it up for review. We haven’t had a white stout scene since Naughty Sauce from Noble Ale Works had a heyday years ago.
Ghosts with Thumbs
Just when I think that Brouwerij West has made too difficult a label, well, they go and top themselves. This time mauve, pink and blue clouds grace their latest IPA, Hitchhiking Ghosts. Oh and I bet the liquid inside it just as artistic.
Paddles
Unless you are an avid online beer buyer and you loved driving to Orange County to pick up cans, then you may not have been trying many beers from The Bruery’s IPA arm, Offshoot Beer Co. The most known and available is their Relax Hazy IPA which I view favorably. Now there is another one that you might be able to find at your local L.A. bottle shop since it is a collaboration with Mason Ale Works from San Marcos and we seem to get a good supply of their 12oz cans.
Raise the (Pacific Brewers) Cup
L.A. Ale Works has been upping their can design game and this new holiday / home brew competition winner shows that off in a simple but effective way. That’s not to mention that the beer inside is less noteworthy. It has been duly added to my beer shopping list.
2018 Holiday Beer # 28 – Hop Jesus from Bravery Brewing
We head north of Los Angeles to http://braverybrewing.com/ for their savior-tastic winter DIPA…
“Introducing HOP JESUS! This flavor savior is all about the hops. This Double IPA receives a triple dry-hopping of Amarillo, Cascade, Citra, Mosaic, and Simcoe hops giving it bright notes of grapefruit, passion fruit, and tangerines.”
Blazer Hefe
The usual inconsistent Blazers have shown up for the 2018/19 season. As prone to a three loss streak as they are to the flipped version. But what is not inconsistent is the classic Widmer Hefeweizen who has teamed up with my hometown team and will have 16oz cans bedecked with the Blazer logo on them.
From December 3 through the end of the 2018-2019 NBA season, the limited edition 16-ounce cans will be available Widmer Brothers’ North Portland pub, the Moda Center, bars throughout Oregon, as well as at grocery stores in four packs.
Now to have my Oregon beer hook-up (Mom) send me some. Maybe drinking them will be good luck.
(Oh, and more Widmer news will be coming soon)
Star Maps
You could probably safely, have a blog dedicated just to collaboration beers. I feel that 2018 has set a new mark for duo brews. And here is another with the local Smog City crew heading from Torrance to Hawaii to make Star Maps Kolsch. This Kolsch is brewed with starfruit and rises to a fairly high for the style 6.1% ABV.
I will assume that it will pour at Smog City taprooms and that it will probably still be warm in LA when it comes out.
BPM
Enegren Brewing will be releasing their fall seasonal on Dec. 7th, which actually fits since it probably won’t feel like fall until December.
The latest 16oz can release is the Batlic Maple Porter, described by the brewery as having “a complex malt profile with hints of toasted bread, caramel and mild smokiness. It is naturally carbonated with maple syrup and lagered for 60 days on sugar-maple wood.”
Hidden from Sight
Veteran’s Day is coming up quick and Los Angeles Ale Works has created a new West Coast IPA, Camouflage that uses the 2018 Veterans Blend of hops (Cashmere, Centennial, Ekuanot, Mosiac and Simcoe) from Yakima Chief to add even more give back.
The hop blend is chosen by a group of veteran-owned breweries with a portion of the sales going to the Semper Fi Fund.
And LA Ale Works did not stop with just the hops. The label was designed by a veteran-owned company and the food on can release day is from a veteran-owned outfit as well.
And to top it off a portion of proceeds of the can sales on Sunday the 11th will go to the JT Foundation 10 “which supports homeless veterans, children and families battling life-altering illnesses right here in Los Angeles.”
El Crowl-gundo
El Segundo beer needs to be drunk fresh. There is a reason why they have a whole Day 1 program of getting their bottles to market the same day that they are filled. That is why they date code. Now, they have added crowlers to the mix to add another option for the West Coast IPA fan.