Follow Sean Inman to the best in craft beer
These are the beers that I wish I could taste for the first time.
Stone Brewing has done a good job of retiring then bringing back old favorites by not going too overboard on but also not letting interest flag in beers like the newly back Old Guardian Barleywine. Though I do think that a 12oz can would be better for such a big beer.
Ya’ gotta admire The Bruery for sticking with sours whilst also doubling down on pastry flavors at the same time. The latest to get my attention is a sour blonde ale, Hold the Cart. This beer brings together tangerine flavors, milk sugar and pistachios. An Italian sorbet of a beer.
SoCal can get its first half taste of the popular Brujos Brewing from Portland with the cleverly named Exercising Demons a DDH Hazy DIP made with Everywhere Beer Co. Loaded up with Citra, Cryo Citra, Galaxy and Rakau hops.
San Diego’s Karl Strauss has added some math to their Tower 10 IPA with the release of Tower X² Double IPA on draft and in 16-oz cans. The new variant is an 8.5% ABV bringing it in 1.2% higher than Tower X West Coast IPA.
Per tasting notes, “Tower X² has elevated notes of citrus and pine, a medium body, and a dry finish with a lingering citrus hop bitterness. Tower X was originally named in honor of collaboration partner 91X FM Radio and Karl Strauss’ origin story from Tower 10 in Mission Beach in 1989.”
I took a pass on the last released One Batch Dispatch from Stone Brewing but a future one has me interested…
I think that the combination of maple and oak could really work especially on a lighter canvas like the base lager.
You may think that El Segundo Brewing is just for big IPAs, bigger DIPAs, and biggest QIPAs but they can do just PA and surprisingly can do beers without a hop emphasis too.
So if you want to dial back the ABV…
…and if you want to do that and dial back the hops…
Or, if you are a Gelson’s shopper, you can fortify yourself before rolling through the aisles with Gelson’s Markets “first ever beer collaboration with ESBC, Gelson’s Summer Blonde Ale. Beer lovers can drink in sunny vibes with this expertly crafted brew that promises a summer getaway with every sip. It’s only available on tap starting today at Gelson’s wine bars throughout Southern California.”
Time to start looking for the summer IPA from Institution Ale Co. This summer it is all about staying cool with Cryo Columbus, Cryo Citram Cryo Centennial and then some Mosaic.
Last week this time, Smog City Brewing unveiled a new more charitable Gorilla.
Combining with Crowns & Hops and their 8 Trill Initiative and the mission of achieving racial equity in craft beer and supporting up and coming black owned breweries is….
“This colossal Double IPA draws inspiration from our OG ape Amarilla Gorilla, the 8 Trilla Gorilla turns everything up to eleven and beyond. A ferocious infusion of Strata, Simcoe, and Citra hops rampage out of your glass with every sip. Strap in and prepare for an onslaught of amazing grapefruit, passionfruit, and fresh resinous pine so fresh you’ll swear you’re drinking hops straight from the bine.”
As much as I enjoy both Bourbon and Bourbon barrel-aged beers, I like to see alternative barrels being used which is why I am highlighting this upcoming release from The Bruery…
Hard to believe that Daisy Cutter from Half Acre Beer is 15 but time does fly. In honor of that anniversary comes DC Select Double IPA, a collaboration with Sierra Nevada Brewing.
“For Daisy Cutter Select Double IPA, both teams hand-selected special lots of freshly harvested Centennial from CLS Farms, a fifth-generation family hop grower in the Yakima Valley. All agreed on a selection that presented punchy notes of sweet, bright citrus, with a touch of background earth. We used it to build a recipe that echoes the ages – Classic IPA.”