Replicant Beer is bringing back their Yuzu Blonde, Virtual Sessions into a full production run after a successful limited run so if you missed it the first time around, here is your second chance.
Replicant Yuzu
OgoBlackberry
Ogopogo Brewing has a new Pastry Stout coming from the blackberry bramble with a bit of menace and a 8.5% ABV, Beelzebub. If you are a fence sitter when it comes to this style, like me, this might be a good one to check out and see where you are now.
Best Beers of June 2024
June is now in the books so it is time to review the best beers that I laid my hands on this month.
It is a tie for first and a tie for second. And each has an IPA and then a German beer style.
Tied for 2nd are Russian River Brewing’s RnD IPA #44 and Human Robot’s Hallertau Pils. The latter is my first beer from the Pennsylvania brewery and boy was it good on a steamy LA day on the Highland Park Brewery patio. And what can be said about Russian River, whenever I see an RnD IPA, I buy it.
Tied for first was the Hana Munich Helles from Headlands Brewing. When someone says malt makes a big difference, this is what I will point to as Exhibit A. A luxury of a beer, Lastly, Monkish Space Cookie IPA just should not be as good considering it is such a weird beer but boy was it, standing out from a festival crowd.
NBA Draft – Blazers Edition 2024
The first bit of business to unpack is that my beloved Blazers sent Malcom Brogdon, the 14th pick (which became ) and future picks (a first and a pair of seconds) to the Washington Wizards for 23 year old Deni Avdija. A tall shooting forward (yeah) coming off a real good year. This move is good in two ways as it lowers the wage bill and it frees up space for our large group of youngsters to get playing time as we essentially free up two roster spots.
Now with just one pick in the lottery, it was just a matter of who would fall to #7 and wasn’t a 6’9″ forward. That person was NCAA Champ and second UConn Husky off the board, Donovan Clingan. A 7’2″ center with a strong all around game that could be a real strong piece for the Blazers. Might be considered a safe pick but a good start.
The newly split draft continued on Thursday and Portland kicked the 34th pick down the road for future picks, then cashed out on the 40th pick and during the wild and confusing ride that was the 2nd round trade-a-thon, also cashed out on pick 52. I would have liked to see them pick up Jamal Shead from Houston or Cam Spencer from UConn for backcourt hustle but it was not to be and now we see if we can trim a few veteran players off so that all of our young-ins can get some court time.
I guess I will need to find a Connecticut beer for Clingan and Israeli beer for Avdija.
Old Guardian Returns
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.
Italian Bruery
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.
Review – 7-ish from Los Angeles Ale Works
It is still close enough to L.A. Beer Week to sneak in another L.A. beer review so here we go with 7-ish from Los Angeles Ale Works…
This special anniversary IPA pours a dark orange color with yellow highlights at the bottom of the glass. The aroma is a little spicy and little orange. Getting a bit of a dankness and citrus on the first sip. The juiciness does linger if it is not super strong. It also lands a bit heavier on the palate which I kinda expected since I am tasting this not super fresh and some of the early vivaciousness might have worn off.
Exercise
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.
X Squared
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.”
A Ghoulish Dispatch
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.