Category: Beer Reviews

Posted on

Review – Tropical Hazy Mixed Pack from Firestone Walker

Prior to my trip up to the Central Coast, I snagged a variety pack of the Tropical Mind Haze Variants from Firestone Walker.

Starting from left to right with the Tiki Smash which is a winning combination of coconut and pineapple. I thought I was drinking pineapple juice for a moment. The bitterness is really low and I am not getting any mango notes to speak of, but it has the tropical nailed.

Next up is Hopical Crush with no specific flavors mentioned on the box. This has a lovely citrus aroma. Big navel orange flavor complemented by a grassy bitterness. I also get a bit of vanilla.

Lastly is the Citrus Cyclone, made with real tangerine. Comes across at first as like a Radler. That tangerine comes through in the aroma. Bitterness is buried beneath the juice note. Nice and refreshing but I would call it more a pale in profile.

Tiki Smash is my winner.

Posted on

Review – 2 from AleSmith

Two new releases hit my doorstep courtesy of AleSmith Brewing and I couldn’t choose which to review, so I chose both!

Here are the brewery details on the latest Speedway Imperial Stout variant, “We used the comforting trio of Mexican dark chocolate, sea salt, and Mexican coffee to give the beer delectable notes of cacao and dark fruit, a subtle touch of cinnamon, and a kiss of roasty earthiness.”

The Tower of Flower is described thusly, “We’ve teamed up once again with our good friends at Beachwood Brewing to make this behemoth west coast-style India pale ale that has been double dry-hopped with Galaxy, Cashmere, and Nelson hops. This monstrous hop blend gives this beer intense notes of passion fruit, citrus, peach, and melon.”

On to the reviews…

The Tower of Flower pours a medium yellow shade. Initial thoughts are that it is crisp and bright, almost like an IPL. The dominant flavor for me is Concord grape. The four fruits listed in the description elude me. I also get a grasy bitterness as well. And that really sticks.

I expected more from the Speedway. Chocolate, coffee and sea salt are big flavors. I didn’t get much of a hit of that trio. Slightly like a milk chocolate covered espresso bean but really toned down.

Posted on

Review – Oktoberfest from Athletic Brewing

For a change if pace, let’s review an N/A Oktofest bier. From my go to, Athletic Brewing.

This has a pleasing beer being brewed, grist mill aroma. Doesn’t quite have the breadiness that I associate with the style though. A bit thin and watery. I get a hint of fest but it seems diluted to me. More tea like in flavor. It is a common non-alcoholic problem where everything seems too muted.

Posted on

Review – Unity 2021 Hoppy Pilsner from Common Space

Unity is back! After a forced hiatus, there is a new Guild beer. Loaded with Talus and two forms of Cashmere hops, Common Space with help from others, of course has chosen a hoppy pilsner.

Guava, white nectarine and Asian pear are the adjectives summoned by the brewery and, to me, the pear notes come through the strongest. Unity pours a super clear yellow and has what I consider a “wet” character. Not slick or bubbly. It seems more lager than pilsner to me. A little more filling. Naming aside, this beer has a really good bitter to beer style balance.

Posted on

Review – Fall Seasonal Black DIPA from Institution Ales

My love / hate relationship with Black IPA’s continues with the 2021 Fall Seasonal from Institution Ales.

It pours a dark brown, near black with a light tan head. It has a spiced coffee latte aroma. Not PSL but nice. The balance is tilted more to the malt side. Quite bready and filling. The bitterness is more of a counterpoint. I like the re-emerging trend back to this style but I just wish the hops would be more assertive.

Posted on

Review – Monkster Mash from Spencer Trappist

Classic carved pumpkin look to this fall seasonal from the Spencer Brewery in Massachusetts. The Abbey has made a simple beer that leans more toward the gourd than the “spice” that is in most beers of this type. It is brewed with pumpkin and spices, which, when paired with a Belgian-styled ale interlock together quite nicely. A little slickness to the texture which gives it a push towards pumpkin pie. Added bonus point since the beer pours a bright orange color as well.

Posted on

Best Beers of September 2021 + IPA Ranking

Let’s reverse order and cut to the IPA chase, there was a close contender to crack the Top 3 but the collaboration between Ogogopo Brewing and Three Weavers on a Strata Fresh Hop ale didn’t quite climb the heights so the list remains

3. Chapman Crafted Old Towne Block Party Year 5 DDH DIPA

2. Offshoot Beer Co. DDH Visions

1, Beachwood / Highland Park Natural Born Shredders

Other than Arachne, the Strata beer previously mentioned the other winners for September were Radiant Beer Co. and This is Happening DDH, There Does Not Exist’s Vague Future Black IPA and then my winner, Single Fermented Duvel. Damn, this is a beer that I need to drink way more often. Best two words to describe it are sparkle and spice.

Posted on

Beer Cage Match – Review # 6 – Double Daisy Cutter from Half Acre

Next is review number five from the City Beer Store of San Francisco beer purchase. By the end of the month, I will rank all six.

Currently Side Pull is one with IPL is Dead second, Lenticular Cap third, Working for Tips at 4 and pulling up the rear, I Feel Better Now hazy IPA. Where will the final beer rank?

The final beer comes from Chicago and Half Acre. It claims to be fully saturated, whatever that implies. The aroma is bright and right there when you pop open the can. I get a fifty-fifty combo of pine and candied orange peel. The ABV shows its full 8% and there is a big wallop of bitterness.

I am going to put this at #3. I almost went second place but the other two were just more unique.

Posted on

Review – Level 8 Unlocked by Pacific Plate

Reaching year 8 is great. Pacific Plate Brewing has notched that level now and have released a big Saison in honor of it. Let’s review it here….

Very barrel.  Oodles of wood notes.  Idaho 7 and Cashmere hops? Sure.  The barrel crushes them.  Some Saison spice notes escapes the rum barrel vortex.  But when I think anniversary beer, I want something big.  This is big.  It is only 8.5% but it stops you in its tracks.

Posted on

Beer Cage Match – Review # 5 – I Feel Better Now from Hello Friend

Next is review number five from the City Beer Store of San Francisco beer purchase. By the end of the month, I will rank all six.

Currently Side Pull is one with IPL is Dead second, Lenticular Cap third, and Working for Tips at 4. Only two slots remain to be ranked.

Hello Friend is the hazy side gig of one of my favorite sour beer makers, The Rare Barrel. This hazy IPA has the cloudy look without taking on that dark grey murk. It is a pretty light yellow. Filled with Citra and Nelson Sauvin hops. Got a hit of pineapple when first opened. That fades though and the flavor is quite muted. Pineapple mixed with grass but not powerful. Some lemon tucked in the back as well. The can design is a little on the creepy side for me as well.

I am going to put this last. Primarily because I has some high expectations for it and this could have been bigger in flavor.