Beer Reviews – Page 72 – Beer Search Party

April 7, 2014September 5, 2018

Review – Molten Lava from Double Mountain

9% and 90 BU’s in this Imperial IPA from Double Mountain that is new to L.A. This is the “embiggened” version of Hop Lava and it is hot.

That heat is a slight burn of both hop bitterness and that ABV. The aroma is a mixture of dried tropical fruit and the bad sounding but not always bad, cat pee with a tinge of white wine barrel.

It pours a burnished orange color with lots of bubbles rising upward. Bitterness is strong but does fade out before it wears out its welcome. The end is quite dry and continues with the wine character. Plus a touch of dried orange and wheat.

This is a unique Imperial that is more subtle than other muddled palate wreckers.

April 3, 2014September 5, 2018

Review: The Traveler from Adelbert’s Brewery

L.A. gets some Shiner beer and a bit of Jester King and now add Adelbert’s Brewery from Austin. A Mini Texas craft invasion.

Let’s see how The Traveler, a Belgian a Style IPA tastes…

Caged and corked. Making me work for it. This IPA pours a dark orange with lots of foam. The smell is primarily pine. Crisp tree and forest. The bubbly initial taste has that in the mix but then some Belgian banana notes start creeping in along with a tropical dried fruit taste. There is a lingering bitterness but it is light by West Coast standards for sure. Certainly a beer that progresses from flavor to flavor.

It does the job of wanting me to try more of their line-up for sure.

March 28, 2014September 5, 2018

Review – Dairy Tank from Eagle Rock Brewing

The legend of the traveling dairy tank grows and is now immortalized in milk stout form with the collaboration of Eagle Rock with AleSmith.

As it was explained by the ERB, “Several years ago, AleSmith was kind enough to sell us their old brewhouse when they were upgrading to a new one and it seemed fitting pay homage to these tanks history by brewing a style that employs lactose sugar derived from milk.”

The new collab pours dark with a creamy head to it. Getting a mixture of chocolate and tar that really works together. But beware this does not taste 10% at all. It is a strong one that catches up with you while you are having your next round. It is also very smooth as opposed to lactose sweet. This is not only a pretty beer but a nice sipper. Makes me want more beers from both breweries.

March 26, 2014September 5, 2018

Review: Spring Reign from Ninkasi

Thanks to the folks in Eugene, I got hooked up with the spring pale seasonal ale and now is the time to review some Ninkasi beer.

Spring Reign pours a very clear light tangerine color. With little to no head at all. There is a slight citrus aroma to it that fools the drinker into expecting a traditional pale ale but then that first sip and subsequent ones are very British ESB’ish. Loads of minerality to it. That saltiness combined with the grain taste make an interesting combo. As it warms, you get a slight touch of orange at the back.

And us in L.A. are also lucky enough to find their Czech pils, Pravda and their IRA. I would suggest getting all three for an Oregon taste test.

March 24, 2014September 5, 2018

Review – Imperial IPA from Worthy Brewing

Worthy Brewing has graced my ‘fridge (courtesy of my mother who found this in the PDX airport) on two occasions now and both have been pretty good and I would certainly pick the Imperial IPA again. It has lots of citrus taste but with a twist. Tangerine is dominant to me but it is more dried fruit notes. And it is not too heavy for an imperial which usually clock in much higher and put you under the table. I also noticed a background of mango and stone fruit as well which again is usually masked by more bitterness than you find here.

Can’t wait to have more from their line in the future.

March 19, 2014September 5, 2018

Review – Firestone 805 Blonde Ale

Thanks to the folks up in Paso Robles at Firestone Walker, I got not only a stylin’ hat but the new(ish) to L.A. 805 Blonde ale to review.

Pours a medium yellow with lots of bubbles. Waves of grain taste with this one. From wheat to toast. On top of that sits a honey sweetness. A bit dry at the end to me. For a light beer it has many layers to it. And it has just enough scrubbing bubbles to clean up in the end. This could easily be a great March Madness beer.

And for your reference, here is the official line on the beer:

style
Blonde Ale
abv
4.7
ibu
20
color
7SRM

And stay tuned for a review of their new Barrelworks Opal Saison…..

March 18, 2014September 5, 2018

Review – Sacre Bleu from Double Mountain

This bottled in early February (2/04 to be exact) abbey Dubbel from Double Mountain has the yeast from Scourmount abbey. Combine those expectations and I was hoping for something great.

And I got it. Sacre Bleu pours a cola brown with a thin head on top. That yeast is in serious effect and it smells wonderful. Big banana and spice notes. Toast quality to it as well. Right in the sweet spot between carbonated and viscous. Really coats the tongue. For some odd reason I think of pancakes with this like it’s a brunch beer. Really enjoyable.

March 16, 2014September 5, 2018

Review – Global Warmer from Sixpoint

Kinda sad as I pop the cap on what is my last can of Sixpoint Craft Ales. (until my next interweb purchase). But I will solider on and review the Global Warmer….

Global Warmer pours a grapefruit red color with a nice amount of lacing on this one at 7% alcohol by volume and 70 IBU’s and 17 SRM I think they have something to say with the number 7. The taste of it has got a strong grapefruit citrusy of hop bitterness going on vs. caramel sort of malt backbone. Has some peppy carbonation in there too. Tastes stronger than the ABV for sure. I love the label artwork but I am a bit perplexed by the skinny can. Makes me think of energy drinks and not beer.

March 13, 2014September 5, 2018

Review: Freigeist Geisterzug Gose

Love the old time feel of the black and white photo on the label of this Spruce infused Gose from Freigeist. Pours a hazy light yellow color. This is one of my favorite styles that I first encountered by accident when I visited Leipzig (briefly) in 2006. It has a light tart note in the aroma along with a slight woodsy tinge to it. Sweet tart is what first comes to my mind because the taste is light lemonade. There is an acidic burst that flames out but is quite nice. The bottle was gone very, very fast. I will have to look for this the next time that I am in Europe so that I can compare a fresher version to the older, bottled type.

March 9, 2014September 5, 2018

Review: Maduro Brown ale from Cigar City

From the can from Cigar City. Love to see more cans because I feel a bit better carbon footprint wise. Checking in on Ratebeer I see that Damn, there are a lot of different versions of this base beer. And I am just now trying it. Back to focusing on the shadowy figure on the can. A definite milk chocolate aroma on this one. The taste has both a nice carbonated zing to it and some creaminess as well. More milk chocolate taste here. Followed by a touch of caramel. It is more on the thin side but that doesn’t stop this beer from being complex and a really nice sipping beer.