Follow Sean Inman to the best in craft beer
These are the beers that I wish I could taste for the first time.
Firestone Walker is adding a hoppy beer back into the mix that is neither a pilsner or hazy, rather an XPA.
Here are the specs, “Firestone XPA is built around New Zealand’s Nelson hop with its grapefruit and tropical Sauvignon Blanc qualities, all backed up with a dollop of classic Mosaic hops. The resulting beer offers a trifecta of drinkability: crisp, hoppy.”
Creature Comforts has been up and going for a bit in south DTLA and last year packaged an L.A. barrel-aged beer, but now the first brewed in L.A. beer is here…..
If you haven’t visited the brewery, this new beer might be the excuse you need.
Looks like another new L.A. based beer is out. Grown Folks’, Front Porch, an American Light Lager at a sessionable 4.5% ABV. Grown Folks has three hard seltzers as well – Peach Cobbler, Ambrosia, and Key Lime.
Grown Folks was founded by Danica Dias in 2021 and takes inspiration from her grandma and her Creole background. The lager will be available in Los Angeles and a few other cities.
Despite the name and rumors swirling about an Anchor Brewing comeback, the California Common is not that common on beer menus and I do nor think that Russian River Brewing would launch one during the Pliny Season but here we are.
And its an interesting malt too, read on…
“Excited to announce our collaboration with craft maltster Valley Malt from Western Massachusetts! Established in 2010 by Andrea and Christian Stanley, Valley Malt specializes in malting grains for breweries and distilleries while sourcing from farms primarily around the Northeast. For our collaboration we used Golden Valley Pale malt in a California Common beer recipe which really showcases this malted barley.”
We do not have enough Belgian-style table beers in the world, so I am glad to see that The Bruery has canned up their La Petite Provision, an “easy-drinking and full of flavor thanks to additions of Thai basil and lemongrass to the brew. Herbal, floral, and slightly sweet…”
In a few days, Las Vegas will be filled with football revelers and maybe some will find their way to Able Baker Brewing and taste this…
I know that I usually turn my nose up at adjuncted beers. But for some reason this weird concoction sounds good to me. I can imagine the banana being too sweet but that peanut butter should complement it. Plus bourbon barrels will help there. I also like that the mood on the label doesn’t veer into outright IP theft.
I bet feathers weren’t flying but obvious hops were when Ambitious Ales met up with ISM Brewing.
Inside the colorful cans is a “West Coast IPA with El Dorado Incognito, HBC 586, Simcoe, Nectaron and Terpenes.”
Black is Beautiful is back with Volume 2 of their Hazy IPA recipe, this time brewed with association with the National Black Brewers Association.
Below is one of the Crowns & Hops labels and it looks really classy. Hope to see lots of breweries taking this recipe on this year.
When Bludso’s BBQ opens near you and by you I mean a brewery, then you do have to collaborate. It’s an L.A. given and if you don’t believe me then read on to this beer description from Santa Monica Brew Works, “pecan wood was chosen for its delicate and slightly nutty flavor characteristics. After spending an afternoon in the smoker, the malt acquired the desired charred & toasted notes.
Yet, despite its smoky character, this beer is not dark – it’s light and easy-drinking. The German word ‘helles’ means ‘pale’ in color – it’s a style defined by a brilliant golden hue and smooth, clean finish. The beer clocks in at a sessionable 4.9% ABV.
The smokiness is soft – not overwhelming. The goal was to enhance the base flavors of the brew rather than mask them. This beer pairs perfectly with food. It’ll go great with barbecue, pizza, and even salad.”
There is recipe tinkering for most beers. For various reasons, supply of specific ingredients being one but some beers are designed to be updated.
One that has that built into the very name is Blank Slate Witbier from Radiant Beer Co.
Here is the story – “Every year our house witbier gets a bit of a facelift, maintaining the same base recipe while adjusting the botanicals. For 2024, Blank Slate takes inspiration from a subtle Southeast Asian spin, blending the traditional wit spices of coriander and bitter orange peel with a few more citrus varities and hints of other regional botanicals like lemongrass, basil, ginger, and a few secret spices. We’re getting the same lovely wit aromas and flavors as always; Belgian esters, light phenols, coriander and citrus taking center stage, but now with more of an herbaceous, floral character, and an ever-so-slight warming spice.”