I know that Gin barrels are not the easiest to work with in comparison to say, bourbon, so I am glad to see more gin barrel-aged beers hitting the market.
Not to mention that SixPoint has tapped artisanal salt purveyors, Jacobson Salt Co.</strong> for that part of the Gose equation.
In the Name of Kolsch
Seattle’s Fremont Brewing (who has been sending a few cans and kegs L.A.’s way of late) will be releasing its Pride Kölsch in celebration of Pride month. The rainbow hued 16-ounce cans will be released in Southern California later in June and early July.
Other than the fact that Kölsch is perfect for an L.A. Summer day proceeds from Pride Kölsch sales will benefit the Trevor Project in Los Angeles.
Per the press release, Pride is “made with 2-Row Pale malt and White Wheat and Huell Melon and Loral hops, Pride Kölsch delivers a crisp, refreshing summer taste with hints of melon, berry, and orange peel. Refreshing and imminently accessible, Pride Kölsch is celebration in a glass.”
16 To Go
I am all about the smaller sized to-go option. As much as I love crowlers, 32oz and some of the prices are too steep for me to pull the credit card trigger.
But Glendale’s Brewyard Beer Co. has started testing a new 16oz canning machine. And now, you can order up a pint of their selected tap beers for the road.
5DIPA
It will not come as a shock that the Modern Times 5th Anniversary beer is a DIPA and the jazzy, minimalist art telegraphs the brewery style too…
United x 2
One of the best traditions of L.A. Beer Week is the release of the yearly Unity. It is a collaboration worthy of the Los Angeles County Brewers Guild.
This year we have twins as on June 6, 2018 there will be a dual-can release. Los Angeles Ale Works is the lead brewery for 2018 and they have created both a hazy and West Coast IPA.
Here are the details from the L.A. Beer Week website, “Both beers clock in at 7% ABV and will take on flavors of El Dorado and Idaho 7 hops, but the west coast and east coast will also feature Simcoe and Mandarina Bavaria hops respectively. The west coast is fermented with the classic Cali 01 yeast strain while Sach Trois was utilized for the juicy version. The recipes result in a classic, dry west coast IPA with a dank finish for the west coast and a softer, full-bodied hazy IPA with lower bitterness and a tropical finish.”
Sunbather 3
Mosaic will be out in the sun as Angel City Brewery releases their third in the Sunbather sour/single-hop series. June 1st the 16oz, grapefruit colored cans of kettle-soured pale ale will be available.
Both of the previous sours have been quite good, so I recommend trying a 4-pack.
A Chilly Turn
If you stroll into a 7-11 you might spy a Fizzics Sparkling Cold Brew Coffee. There are plenty of local (and not local) cold brew to choose from but this brand is packaged in self-chilling cans.
This chiller is the brainchild of The Joseph Company International. “The 8.4-ounce cans are “activated” when the customer turns a knob at the bottom of the can, releasing CO2 that cools the coffee inside in about 90 seconds.”
Will this ever work for beer? It will add weight which will add to shipping costs. The tech will cost more as well. But could it be used for those accounts that don’t cooler store beers and you have a special release? Maybe but I think that a cold delivery chain would be a wiser investment.
A Bit
Why collaborate with just one or two breweries when you can bring 8 to the table.
BrewDog has done just that by gathering Cloudwater, DEYA, Magic Rock, Northern Monk, Stillwater, The Bruery and Seventh Son to brew a New England-style IPA (in Scotland).
“…each of the eight breweries selected a hop to go onto the brewsheet. Magnum, Mandarina Bavaria, Chinook, Hallertaur Blanc, Citra, Nelson Sauvin, Mosaic and German Comet.” and the brew comes in (somehow) at 8% ABV.
This one you will have to hunt for.
Featured Review – Lunar Kitten from L.A. Ale Works
The second of two IPA releases from Los Angeles Ale Works has a kitten in a spacesuit. Not driving a Tesla though.
This IPA pours a yellowish orange color with a bright orange and melon aroma. Very soft and pleasant. Fruit forward but with a really good kick of hop bitterness that sticks around. Doesn’t taste like 7.5% at all.
River Rock
It’s a long river ride from Kern to Eagle Rock but you can make the distance in one 16oz can of Raft Bier that unites the brewing talents of Eagle Rock Brewery and Kern River Brewing. We need as many pils (hoppy or regular) for what may be a hot summer here in SoCal.
Another new can is out as well….
