Category: Beer Reviews

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Review – Patio Project from Beachwood – Can 1

This month, as a bit of a scientific lark, I am going to review the same beer weeks apart to see if any differences can be found. I chose Patio Project IPA from Beachwood Brewing as the test subject after picking it for the beer shopping list post last month.

As you can see from the above photo, it was canned up on 8/1/24. For this review, the first can was tasted on 8/16/24. I will taste can two and can three later.

PP pours a light yellow in color with bubbles flying upward in the glass. At first, it seems slight but this has a very solid dank base to it. The malt texture is not letting itself be left behind here as it is near equal to the hops. Any fruit notes from the hops come off as dried citrus to me.

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Review – Rosso from Menabrea

It is not often that I drink an Italian beer. And even less often that I taste one on draft so when my wife and I went out to Pasta Sisters in Culver City and I saw that they had two beers on draft from Menabrea Brewing, well, I had to try.

I had to really adjust my taste buds and expectations after having a DDH and a TDH IPAs earlier in the day. This is water from the Alps. A slight touch of Old World hops and then leaning into malt without being a big beer. This is subtle. No spice notes, no bitterness just malt and it was a great way to end a drinking day or to start one. Rosso is a beer that can get lost in the shuffle between hoppy bangers so one needs to have this with food and enjoy it.

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Lagunitas Review # 2 – 19.2 ounces of IPA

The second of the duo of re-looks at Lagunitas Brewing is their IPA in the big ol’ stovepipe can.

This 3.2 extra ounces IPA pours a real dark yellow tinted with orange color. Has a pilsner aroma to it and the first sip gives off orange peel, cracker and a dry finish. Very current hoppy pils with old school malt vibes. There is a weird mix of watery mouthfeel but at the top is a very earthy and sodden with hops. As if the brewers were going one way then made a sharp U-Turn. This is a real solid IPA overall and one of the few that is an actual low ABV one compared to big DIPAs that usually get put into these bigger cans.

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Lagunitas Review # 1 – A Little Sumpin’, Sumpin’

There are quite a few Sumpin’s in the Lagunitas Brewing back catalog but the latest is a near DIPA range Wheat IPA. So, this month, I thought that I would review a couple from this heritage brewery that is still hanging on after more halcyon days.

The wheat Sumpin’ pours a swirl of orange and yellow. Getting orange peel on the nose. First sip is close to an orange pekoe tea flavor but something seems off here. There is an earthy undertone that isn’t fitting in well. Or maybe it is just to tea tannic for my tastes. Doesn’t taste 7.5% though.

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A Loyal Airport

Since it is a Portland and Oregon centered month here at BSP, thought I would pass on info that will be travel handy next time you see that famous PDX carpet at the airport.

Not only is Powell’s Bookstore returning but Loyal Legion will also be opening a spot in August. So now there is another beer spot for before or after a flight.

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Review – Mayfaire 2024 Winners

Santa Monica Brew Works hosted the winners of this year’s Maltose Falcons Mayfaire Competition by brewing the top 3 beers. Which are as follows:

  • Best in Show: “The Bird” Rauchbier by Trevor McGuire – A masterfully crafted smoked-malt beer celebrated for its rich, roasty flavor and complexity.
  • 2nd Place: “Halfcolt” American Pale Ale by Jack McQueen – A perfectly balanced pale ale with refreshing hop character highlighted by a blend of Simcoe and Amarillo.
  • 3rd Place: “Ikasu” Matcha-infused Gose by Masahiro Katano – A distinctive gose brewed with Matcha, offering a unique blend of tangy sour notes and earthy green tea essence.

So I had to taste them. The Bird is my winner because it fulfilled its task. Bring some smoke and some malt. It did that and made you hungry for BBQ. Ikasu was my second choice. I did not get Matcha notes but I did get a quite nice mix of cantaloupe and lime that I liked. Last was the pale ale. It was kind of dank but not super hoppy. Has a bit of stone fruit to it. But stood out less than the other two winners.

Thanks to Santa Monica Brew Works for providing a platform to taste what homebrewers are doing.

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Review – Gelson’s Summer Blonde Ale from El Segundo

Looks like there is a renaissance of branded beers much like in the olden days of craft beer. One of these is a new blonde ale on tap at Gelson’s fancy supermarkets that is brewed for them by El Segundo brewing.

Here is the brewery description, “made with 100% Tettnanger hops, contributing to its subtle floral and herbal spice notes. The malt profile, featuring Rahr 2-Row, Rahr Premium Pilsner, Flaked Corn, and Dextrin malt, creates a harmonious balance of doughy sweetness, white bread, cake batter, and honey.”

It is quite a light beer. I abhor the word crushable but this beer is one that will go down quick. It was served extra cold which both helps on a hot day but also dampens flavor. The malt is the lead act but even it is mild and the corn finish is what you will remember most.

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Featured Review – Lough Gill Barrel-Aged Beer # 1 – Tara

Back to Lough Gill based in Sligo, Ireland and the last of the three real big beers on three different barrel types…

We have reached Tara. This time the oatmeal stout is aged in Pedro Jimenez Sherry barrels so this should be quite distinct from Spear and Trinity. This is much more my speed. There are layers here. A deep wine sweetness is first. Then there is an oaky woody note that pops up. The base is still thinnish but the flavors are adding to it. Has a proper musty sort of grand library with a fire taste.

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Featured Review – Lough Gill Barrel-Aged Beer # 1 – Trinity

Back to Lough Gill based in Sligo, Ireland and the second of three big beers on three different barrel types…

On to Trinity! The Bourbon barrel-aged oatmeal stout. The bourbon comes through in the aroma and it was a particularly heady latte head on this variant. As with Spear, the biggest flavor component is a maple syrup note. Here though is a balancing caramel note. Trinity finishes a bit thin and very sweet. I am hoping that the last beer will cut down on that.

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Featured Review – Lough Gill Barrel-Aged Beer # 1 – Spear

Yes, it is hot out and barrel-aged beers are not the best style for the weather but I did not know when I would see beers from Lough Gill Brewery in Los Angeles again, so here we go…

Lough Gill is based in Sligo, Ireland and they have three big beers on three different barrel types…

Since this is an Irish beer, I started with the Irish Whiskey barrel-aged oatmeal stout, Spear.

The booziness starts up strong once the can is opened. The first sip brings maple syrup notes. Not faint ones, big ones. Quite a sugar high, maybe a knock-on effect from the Oatmeal Stout base. The Irish Whiskey is backing it up as well making this a small sip at a time beer. It is relatively thin mouthfeel wise but because the other flavors are so big, that works to its benefit.

Next up is Trinity!