Category: Guide to better beer

how to discover new beer to try

Posted on

a new(er) BoHo

BoHo is one of the beer places that are integral to a craft beer eco-system. They provide a solid list of overlooked beers that go well with food (which they do well, by the way).

So when I saw what looked like a move in the works, I worried at first that they would be going away or morphing into a more mainstream establishment.

Thankfully, they have kept the decor, menu and great beer list with recent taps being Anchor Summer, Cismontane Citizen and Oskar Blues G’Knight to a new location in the Hollywood & Highland complex.

So now tourists will be able to grab an authentic American craft brew while visiting us and if you are in Los Angeles, you should give it a try. Chris Sobolewski does an excellent job with 24 taps and is growing a bottle collection that will augment the kegs nicely.

Posted on

Galaxy Quest

Here is the press release for the latest Brothers Reserve…
“Since 1984, Kurt and Rob Widmer have been dedicated to creating the deliciously American and European-style beers. The Brothers’ Reserve Series is a showcase fo their innovative skills and creative passion for craft brewing.

Galaxy Hopped Barleywine is a new take on an old favorite. This beer pours a dark crimson, almost mahogany color. The yeast and Galaxy hops(TM) deliver a big bang of red and yellow fruit aromatics like banana, pineapple, cherry and strawberry. The experience begins with a taste of toffee and darkened sweet caramel overlaid on subtle tones of vanilla. All to be punctuated by the floral and citrus dry hop character.

I like the sound of a big barley wine that has hop fruity-ness to it.

Galaxy hops were bred in 1994 by Hop Products Australia. This company owns a hop garden called Rostrevor in North Eastern Victoria where they were grown for the first time. It’s now grown in both Victoria and Tasmania. It is a cross between an Australian female and a male Perle hop.”

This is the first I am seeing the Galaxy hop used unless it is hidden in another beer that I have. If you have tried it, let me know what you think.

Posted on

Session Fest

11 beers. All under 4.5 in alcohol. What does that equal?

A packed crowd at Eagle Rock Brewery.

the first flight

I was lucky enough to snag a stool at the crowded bar thanks to my buddy Johnny who got their before me. The first flight had my two favorites of the day. A Kolsch that was simply amazing and my gold medal winner and the Tarte Noir which was their Solidarity beer aged in wine barrels and soured with lacto. But there was a nice range of styles from a best bitter to saison to light red’s. Plus these were all homebrew, special 5 barrel recipes.

I am hoping that they continue doing these and that some of these end up on the regular menu.

Posted on

PS 612

I have visited the Public School 612 in downtown LA twice now. And both times, I have come away impressed.

I took different people each time to get their impressions. My wife and best beer buddy both commented on the really nice interior. Very calming. Both hip and modern at the same time.

The food has been quite good. The chicken was good and spicy for this scovill wimp and the burger with Huntsman cheese is not for the faint hearted. Bold flavors that you really need to savor and not scarf down.

Beer wise. This is a nice list. I would say you go here when people want something hearty but don’t want to sacrifice craft beer for good food. (Because of this, they have been duly added to my list of places to the right and under my cellar list and links)

The only downside is the noise level. As the evenings wear on, it can get loud. Not Bottega Louie loud but needing to shout loud.

Go early. Settle in and enjoy a great opportunity to pair food and beer.

Posted on

Get your Hops on!

71

As in 71 IPA’s in under one roof in Redondo Beach. A tremendous number brought together by the industrious Martin Svab and the Naja’s crew.

Here are some photos from the event.

the base of all hop bombs
the menu, well part of it
Iron Fist throws down the Gauntlet
Strand & Cismontane in the house

I sampled the Gauntlet from Iron Fist, the new Black IPA from Strand Brewing and Drake’s Symposium IPA. And I wish I could have had more.

Posted on

LongShot

Here is the info on this year’s LongShot winners!

“With the 2011 Samuel Adams LongShot American Homebrew Contest – Category 23 Variety six-pack hitting shelves this month, drinkers nationwide can taste the two innovative homebrews that triumphed over more than 700 competitors to win the 2010 Samuel Adams LongShot American Homebrew Contest. Samuel Adams founder and brewer Jim Koch tapped homebrewers nationwide to think outside the box and develop a “Category 23″ style beer unlike any other. Georgia resident Richard Roper’s Friar Hop Ale and Illinois resident Rodney Kibzey’s Blackened Hops beer were named the 2010 winners at the Great American Beer Festival (GABF).

In addition to Richard and Rodney’s winning brews, Samuel Adams also honors Employee Homebrew Winner Caitlin DeClercq for her Honey B’s Lavender Wheat beer. All three winning homebrewers had the opportunity to brew alongside the Samuel Adams brewers in Boston. Their recipes were bottled and are now available nationally in the 2011 Samuel Adams LongShot American”

Posted on

Karl Strauss – Coastal Reserve series

I really enjoyed the Vanilla Porter that KS came out with and the BIPA is a style that I enjoy as well. Toss in the New Zealand hops and I am in.

“Blackball is a Belgian-inspired India Pale Ale with a robust West Coast hop profile. Belgian ale yeast, coriander, and Curacao lend a fruity and spicy character for an ale bolder than your average IPA. A blend of New Zealand and Cascade hops add a vibrant floral aroma and clean citrus hop bitterness that lingers through its crisp, dry finish. Drink up while it’s young, heavily hopped IPA’s are best enjoyed fresh.”

Posted on

Best Damn Beer Shop

To me, the sign of a healthy craft beer scene is that all markets are covered. Breweries from large to small, beer bars dedicated to the breweries in the region, restaurants that serve up the good stuff and beer stores.

Which brings us to the Best Damn Beer Shop. Located in the Super Jr Market in San Diego. They carry the locals from Alesmith to Lightning and do tastings as well.

Looks like a great place to do some one-stop SD Beer shopping.

Posted on

Taps at the table

City Tavern in Culver City is going the tap within reach route.


They have three tables (that I am sure will be booked solid, so don’t wander in and get upset that you can’t get one) that have taps built in. You pay and off you go.

City Tavern are planning on local brews with a spectrum of choices on the three taps. Let’s hope that they keep that up. I would not want a Bud Light table for sure.

Check out this article in Urban Daddy as well for other information.