I would love to taste,,, – Page 125

June 16, 2014September 5, 2018

I wish the Airlines would let me…

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..bring a 16oz can onboard. But alas, I will have to wait for it to arrive at the brewery or for it to arrive at my local bottle shop. I like a good citrus ale. I hope this one tastes good above or below the clouds.

Or just wait for my next plane trip because….”Those flying through major California cities, Phoenix and Las Vegas this Fourth of July will be the lucky first (of many) to taste the adventure-driven beer before a phased roll-out to more than 30 airports by the end of 2014. ” according to the brewery press release.

May 30, 2014September 5, 2018

What Day is It? Tuesday

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What did you expect from a Bruery beer with Tuesday in the name? A light lager? Nope. Tuesday means Imperial Stout. Which the Bruery crew knows in and out plus barrel aging which they also know a skosh about as well. All I know is that you should get it if you can.

May 29, 2014September 5, 2018

2 out of 3

I have not been a big fan of Stone hop bombs. Probably a palate thing on my part. They just seem muddled to me. Whereas their GoTo Session and Enjoy By seem simpler and tastier. But this collaboration has me intrigued because it brings three distinct brewers together. Plus I think the world of Julian Shrago of Beachwood, so I will be getting this just for his 1/3 contribution.

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May 28, 2014September 5, 2018

A Chance of Smog

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China and Beijing in particular has a seriously bad pollution problem. They are generally easily above the unhealthy limit and makes Los Angeles seem like a clean air nirvana.

Beijing microbrewer Jing-A-Brewing has brewed an 8.8% ABV IPA “Airpocalypse”. The launch party set the price of the beer dependent on the AQI Index. The higher it goes the less you had to pay.

Obviously they can’t do that all the time otherwise the beer would be free all the time. But if they inverted it and made the beer less expensive when the air quality was better then maybe more people will change their habits.

May 26, 2014September 5, 2018

Valar Morghulis

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The 4th beer in the collaboration between HBO’s Game of Thrones and Ommegang goes by the fan voted name Valar Morghulis Which in the lands of Westeros means “all men must die.” Brewery Ommegang conducted a Facebook poll in late December for the name which also determined the style of the new beer – “an Abbey Dubbel – which is perfectly represented by the “two-headed” coin which will adorn the labels.”

More from the press release, (edited to avoid way too much geekery about House Stark) “Valar Morghulis is brewed with pilsner and other specialty malts and hopped with Apollo and Hallertau Spalt Select hops. The hue is deep amber-brown with a persistent, creamy, off-white head. Aromas include caramel, toffee, ripe fruit, banana and slightly burnt sugar. The taste is well-balanced with rich malty sweetness, caramel and sugar, and just a touch of bitterness to balance. The finish is surprisingly dry and light on the tongue, belying the aroma and initial taste.

“The Dubbel is one of the most recognized beer styles in Belgium and this is a very tasty version of that style,” said Mike McManus, Ommegang Innovation Manager. “Valar Morghulis is a complex beer, much like the stories surrounding the phrase.”

The label art will feature the two-headed coin, given to Arya Stark by Jaqen H’ghar, one of the “Faceless Men of Braavos” – legendary assassins with the ability to change their appearance at will. Each cork will be fire-branded with “Valar Dohaeris,” which is the traditional response phrase to “Valar Morghulis” meaning “all men must serve.”

Valar Morghulis will be available at retail in fall of this year.”

May 20, 2014September 5, 2018

Hop Gose

I have mentioned the Wisconsin brewer MobCraft on a couple of occasions and now have cause to do so again.

I had a (very) salty Gose at the Eagle Rock Session Fest a week+ back and it led me to look at the style again and I ran across this “Only in American Craft brewing” example of a mash-up….

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The label isn’t one of my favorites but this type of hybrid does. It is the type of beer that might get hop heads to try a new style and I think the combo just might work.

May 17, 2014September 5, 2018

Getting Stickee

Following on the heels (literally the same day!) of Bretta Rose this month, here comes more big beer goodness from Firestone Walker.

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This a barrel aged Belgian Quad with candi sugar that they call a Central Coast Quad. And for the Barrel aged fanatics, this description should set you to drooling, “Stickee Monkee swings away from tradition, however, by being aged up to 14 months in bourbon barrels from Woodford Reserve, Elijah Craig and Four Roses. The Woodford Reserve barrels impart a smooth, rounded wood character. The Elijah Craig 12-year barrels bring more of a spicy, rustic note to the beer, while the Four Roses barrels contribute pure oak notes.”

This is the first bottling of this beer that (in various forms) been a component of the Anniversary beer.

May 9, 2014September 5, 2018

Wine and Beer in Buellton

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You don’t need to compete with wine. In fact, you can and should collaborate with them. That sentiment is growing in popularity as wineries and breweries come together in competition at pairing dinners or in breweries using old wine barrels for aging. Now add Figueroa Mountain to the collaborator list.

Whole Foods Market was the intermediary for this occasion. Though it wasn’t the hardest solution to solve since “…Figueroa Mountain Brewing Company 163 steps from our (Margerum Wine Company) door…” says Margerum Wine Company winemaker Jason Barrette.

More from the press release, “Together with the winemakers from Margerum Wine Company, a team from Figueroa Mountain Brewing Company and Whole Foods Market created a unique Belgian-style beer blended with wine called Bieré de Ménage. This is the first of Fig Mtn Brew’s Liquamentum series which will become its own brand later this spring featuring unique concoctions such as beer-wine hybrids.”

Bieré de Ménage will be unleashed on the beer and wine worlds during a special event on Thursday, May 15 in their Santa Barbara Taproom and the next day Friday, May 16, 2014 in their main Buellton Taproom.

April 27, 2014September 5, 2018

12 Amazing Beers in One Box

In celebration of their new North Carolina brewery, Sierra Nevada is going all out. They are festing all over the country but more importantly they are bringing out a collaboration variety pack that beats all others. It is serious. And probably damn tasty.

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This is a killer line-up. And it includes two cans as well!

Allagash Brewing Co, Portland, ME (Myron’s Walk Belgian-Style Pale Ale)
Asheville Brewers Alliance, Asheville, NC (Tater Ridge Scottish Ale)
Ballast Point Brewing Co, San Diego, CA (Electric Ray India Pale Lager)
Bell’s Brewery, Kalamazoo, MI (Maillard’s Odyssey Imperial Dark Ale)
Cigar City Brewing, Tampa, FL (Yonder Bock Tropical Maibock)
Firestone Walker Brewing Co, Paso Robles, CA (Torpedo Pilsner)
New Glarus Brewing Co, New Glarus, WI (There and Back English-Style Bitter)
Ninkasi Brewing Co, Eugene, OR (Double Latte Coffee milk Stout)
Oskar Blues Brewing Co, Longmont, CO & Brevard, NC (CANfusion Rye Bock)
Russian River Brewing Co, Santa Rosa, CA (Yvan the Great Belgian-Style Blonde)
Three Floyds Brewing, Munster, IN (Chico King Pale Ale)
Victory Brewing Co, Downingtown, PA (Alt Route Altbier)

And for a suggested retail of $24.99 no less. Be on the lookout this summer for this.