Category: I would love to taste,,,

These are the beers that I wish I could taste for the first time.

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Breakside + Hop & Vine =


I admit it. I watch the Portland scene with afar with a little jealousy. Not that LA is bad right now, far from it. But I do see beers and events pass by that I would so love to try and attend.

Thankfully, my mom is up there and every once in awhile, she will search out a rare beer for me. Last month she got me Roses on Roses from Fort George and this month, I have asked her to be on the lookout for this Berliner Weisse. And by on the look out, I mean go to Burnside Brewing and/or Hop and Vine to grab a bottle.

Because the southland summer approaches and I need a stock of quenchers to get me through the non-big beer season. And this collaboration between brewer (Burnside) and craft beer shoppe (Hop and Vine) would fit the bill.

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Race to Zero


From the “just when you think you have them pegged” file…..Flying Dog and BrewDog take a different tack

“Our combative collaboration with BrewDog – International Arms Race Zero IBU IPA – pits brewer against brewer in a battle of the brewing arts. Unlike your standard collaboration, each brewery will craft its own version of the beer, guided only by common ingredients.

These “terms of agreement” highlight the human element of the brewing process. Even with agreed-upon ingredients, the hands that craft it are hugely influential.

Another challenge in this collab? Hops, a brewer’s best weapon on the IPA front, are banned from there battlefield.

To create a Zero IBU IPA, we all agreed on a list of ingredients – spearmint, bay leaves, rosemary, juniper berries, and elderflower – to replace the bitterness typically imparted by hops.”

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Fruet


Year by Year I learn a little more Belgian/French thanks to The Bruery and their anniversary beers.

So far I have Papier, Coton and Cuir and now add Fruet! I am looking forward to trying many different versions of this beer because you know that the Bruery can’t just make one version.

If you are in the L.A. area you have many choices for the anniversary party. You can go classy at 38 Degrees for their fancy flight night. (They always do well with their flights) or you can head to Beer Belly like I will to try the latest and mispronounce the name.

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Wild Sierra


I have had the pleasure of having a few Mammoth Brewing beers and this looks like another winner and a bit of a departure what with the Lactobacillus and all. And the label is nice and soothing. Now this is 3rd on my Mammoth list behind the two bear beers, Dos Osos and Tres Osos.

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Imperialized Strauss


Karl Strauss has doubled down on some of their most popular beers and a new series of beers were born. Off the Rails was the first and now it is joined by two friends.

Off The Rails
“A spin on the company’s Gold Medal winning Red Trolley Ale, Off the Rails takes Red Trolley to the next level with a robust toffee malt character, balanced by an earthy Willamette hop flavor. This Imperial Irish Red Ale will age well, but we won’t tell if you drink it now.”

Tower 20 Double IPA
“We first brewed this beer last year at the Karl Strauss Wall St. Brewdown and the feedback was unanimous—Tower 20 IIPA had to be bottled. Our brewers packed a huge amount of Centennial, Cascade, and Crystal hops into each barrel of this deceptively smooth double IPA and then dry-hopped with Crystals for an intense, citrus aroma. Resist the urge to stockpile and drink this one fresh.”

Wreck Alley Imperial Stout
“Our brewer’s work is equally fueled by beer and coffee, so it made sense to combine the two into one tasty beverage. The result is Wreck Alley Imperial Stout. This opaque, black beer is brewed with a slightly fruity variety of Ethiopian coffee and then “dry-hopped” with cacao nibs for a rich chocolate flavor in the finished beer. Wreck Alley’s ready to drink now, but will only improve with time.”

Karl’s Imperial Collection will be available year-round across California in select retail stores beginning April 2012. For more information, visit .

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Triskedekaphobia

13 grains (Pale Two Row, White Wheat, Aromatic, Weyermann Chocolate Rye, Light Munich, Brown Crisp, Oats, Crisp Light Crystal, CaraMunich, Baird’s Chocolate, Lightly Peated, Simpsons Dark Crystal, Crisp Amber) and 13 hops (Bravo, Target, Columbus, Cascade, Delta, Warrior, Magnum, Apollo, Calypso, Perle, Galena, Chinook, Mt. Hood) were used in the brewing of an anniversary beer to celebrate Bottleworks’ 13th Anniversary.

Here is what Stone has to say about the beer that they made with the Matt’s of Seattle, “The result is an Imperial Porter loaded with malt flavors, and the hop notes run the gamut from citrusy and fruity to herbal, piney and spicy. This is a beer designed to drink fresh, or lay down and cellar for several years.”

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Preservation

First there was Commonwealth by Ninkasi that helped out the city that they call home and now Marin Brewing is helping out the parks which have really been taking a budgetary beating from the state of California.

“Marin Brewing Company announces the release and limited distribution of Preservation Ale, a session beer created specifically for the 40th Anniversary of Marin County Parks.

Preservation Ale is mellow; an easy drinking beer, not too hoppy, not too crazy. Marin Brewing Company owner Brendan Moylan has always been a huge supporter of Marin’s local parks and preserves. “The outdoor scene in Marin makes the county the great place it is. Marin County Parks are our backyard and it’s important to give our support to those who work to protect our beautiful community! During these tough economic times, Marin County Parks needs our support more than ever.”

So it was only natural for the brewery to lend a hand, (and a limited-edition beer) in order to properly celebrate the 40th Anniversary and raise awareness of our open spaces and local preserves in the county. The official release date and kickoff party for a “Summer of Celebration” commemorating 40 Years of Marin County Parks is on Thursday, April 19th at 5pm, at Marin Brewing Company, 1809 Larkspur Landing Circle, Larkspur, CA. All proceeds from the sale of shirts will be donated directly to Marin County Parks. “It’s wonderful have a Marin institution support our ongoing efforts to provide low and no-cost outdoor opportunities to Marin residents and visitors,” says Linda Dahl, Director and General Manager of Marin County Parks, “we appreciate the support of Marin Brewing Company during these tough economic times.”

Marin County Parks is dedicated to educating, inspiring and engaging the people of Marin in the shared commitment of preserving, protecting, and enriching the natural beauty of Marin’s parks and open spaces. Local visionaries in the 1960s and 70s started a heroic movement to preserve critical natural lands and family farms in Marin. Their efforts resulted in creation of two National Park Service units, the Marin Agricultural Land Trust, and voter approval of the Marin County Regional Park District (now Marin County Parks). In the past four decades, Marin County Parks has acquired hundreds of undeveloped parcels from willing sellers, totaling more than 20,000 acres. Much of this acreage became open space preserves—now 34 in total. The preserves are complemented by four regional parks with a variety of outdoor recreational opportunities- from boat access to ball fields and a swimming pool.”

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Cucumber Saison


I have heard of cucumber soda (too scared to try it) but up until I saw this Cigar City label, I did not know of anyone else popping a cuke into a beer. I am sure it will give more ammunition to the grouches who say that craft beer has jumped the shark but the correct fruit or vegetable matched with an appropriate style can work wonders and accentuate the positives of each ingredient.

Case in point, The Bruery’s Sour in the Rye with kumquats. Everything melded perfectly. And maybe the cucumber will too.

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Get worried.


I am already behind on Heretic beers. Haven’t had Shallow Grave yet and now this beer….“This golden blond Belgian-style ale is a symphony of bold and delicate wrapped into one. We took our 9.8% Belgian-style golden ale and aged it in Grgich Hill Estate Chardonnay barrels. It has a gentle warming with a light alcohol sweetness and a tantalizing fruity character full of apples, pears, and oranges. The barrel aging give it a great Chardonnay character and a dry finish.”

Plus Miscreant and Torment are coming soon too!