Kombine

Collaborations are not just a U.S. craft beer thing, in Belgium St. Bernardus releases the 2025 Kombine a collaboration with Weihenstephan. An “unfiltered Helles blond beer that will be bottom fermented without bottle fermentation—while still staying true to the German Reinheitsgebot rules.” The hops are from both breweries while the famous Weihenstephan yeast will do the work.

Would Love to Try – February 2025

This months beer that I probably won’t see on SoCal store shelves is a beer with a connection to my hometown of Milwaukie. It is a collaborative beer from Breakside with La Cumbre Brewing from New Mexico.

“Up Top! is our take on the unfiltered Pilsners of northern Bavaria. This ‘Zwickel-style’ approach is high-risk high-reward, as it requires crafting a beer that tastes good through its natural maturing process. Up Top! walks this tightrope, rich and soft, with a supple maltiness and notes of pear and green tea.”

El Segund-two

El Segundo Brewing had their Power Plant weekend recently but tucked in amongst those real, real big IPAs were two other beers you might want to add to your beer shopping list.

First up is Spark Plug, described as “just a little 4-percenter”.  A Light IPA hopped with Amarillo, Simcoe and Centennial.

Second is the first (surprisingly) Slice & Pint beer, Perfect Companion IPA.  It is “an IPA made to be enjoyed while eating pizza.” Hopped with Simcoe, Citra Dynaboost and Amarillo.

Super Dope

I have a laundry list of styles that I wish I saw more of in production or even just special release, on that list is the imperial pilsner. Thankfully, Dogfish Head has one out now that I will certainly be on the lookout for…

Super Doppio a “leveled-up Italian-style Imperial pilsner.”

Paperback Tiki

If you are a Mai Tai fan, Paperback Brewing right here in Glendale has a new sour ale out for you, Tiki Tini.

You will get sweet lime, pineapple and cherry notes. If you are like me, you like that fruit salad mix and we all need to get our sour ale drinking done.