A damn fine idea…

..if you ask me.
Double-Mountain-Brewery1124746
French for “good idea,” “Bonne Idée” is an Americanized Saison (8+%) from the “other” Hood River brewer, Double Mountain.

If you get the chance, try this at Saraveza in Portland or at the brewpub in Hood River. (Also check out their other fantastic seasonal, Molten Lava)

Seattle Beer Week

Tomorrow is the kick-off for Seattle Beer week, so if you are lucky enough to be in the general vicinity of the Pacific Northwest, it would behoove you to sample some of their events and beers.

One tradition that I am glad to see catching on is a signature beer for the festival. Hales Ales has the honor of doing the official DIPA for the week.
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LA Mill and not just for coffee

Here in Los Angeles we are not only blessed with great beer but great coffee too. Groundwork and Intelligentsia to name two. But a case could be made that LA Mill is the strongest of the bunch. And now they have added beer to the menu. Check out the following:
boutique
Black & Black
North Coast Old Rasputin and hand drip iced Lamill Coffee
Ozeno Yukidoke IPA
Using five times the hops of other beers, this IPA is well balanced, with smooth flavor, mellow bitterness, and citrusy tones. This hoppy IPA is surprisingly California in style.
Tama No Megumi
Bottle conditioning is the process of putting live yeast into the actual beer bottle. This process is used to continue aging the beer, even as it sits on the shelf. It can be aged for 5 years.
Coedo Beniaka
Fermented for an extended period of time, this premium lager features an aromatic sweetness in its amber tones. This truly unique beer is a rare combination of high quality malts and “Beniaka”, the roasted Kintoki sweet potato of the Kawagoe region.

38 Degrees Alehouse

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Last night I had a great beer conversation with Clay Harding from 38 Degrees Ale House in Alhambra. It will be appearing either in next weeks FoodGPS beer blast or the next. (Depending upon my writing speed).

In the meantime, I highly suggest making the trek to Alhambra. Clay has a some really good draught beers and some amazing bottles. Victory at Sea from Ballast Point is on there. Also be sure to ask if there are any special bottles not on the printed beer bible. As you can imagine it is hard to constantly update a list in this ever growing beer world.

Italian Beers & BBQ

The hot brewery country is still the ever re-imagining US but if you haven’t tried Italian craft beer yet then you are missing out on something amazing. It is influenced by Slow Food, Belgian beer and food. And if you are in Southern California between the 6th and 9th you can taste some truly imaginative beers that Celebrator writer Tomm Carroll has selected along with Gabe Gordon from the great Beachwood BBQ

Two Great tastes that taste great together.
beachwood

Farmer’s Tan

Beer labels are artwork in my opinion and this one from Southern Tier is even better than their Christmas Krampus…
southern-tier-farmers-tan
It is for a new pale ale from the New York brewery that they dedicate to “… our farmer friends of today for cultivating the ingredients the are responsible for the beers we now enjoy. Their laborious days spent ourdoors under the hot sun earn them respect, as well as a mark of distinction: the farmer’s tan. Yes, the inevitable red and white hallmark of hard work.”