Count me as a big fan of festivals that populate those smaller niches and Pale Fest from Institution Ale Co. easily falls into that category.
Keep up with their social media to get the date and ticket details.
Pale February
Shift
There is no slowing the collaboration train. Whatever happens this year will not move that needle. Speaking of, there is a LA – SAC out now from Arrow Lodge Brewing and Moksa Brewing, Tectonic Shift West Coast IPA hopped up with the quartet of Mosaic, Nelson, Nectaron & Motueka.
“a dank & crispy West Coast IPA – the type of pint we’d reach for after a long shift. It so happened that California got a bit of an earthquake and tsunami scare right in the middle of brew day, so we added that little bit of inspiration to the name! With its big dank and citrus zest aromas, super light and clean body, and a lingering resinous finish, we’re all shook up over this one.”
Blue and Gold Reality
Moonlight Brewing ended 2024 (or started 2025) strong with a winter pils. “A nod to our classic Reality Czeck Style Pilsner and the Czech holiday tradition of higher gravity beer. 14° P Special clocks in at 6.7% ABV with extra special hops, grains and all the mouth watering deliciousness of a Moonlight Pilsner with a little
extra to keep you warm and fuzzy.”
The Bracket is Set
Starting tonight, Native Son craft beer bar in Downtown L.A. is having friendly contests. Each Thursday is a Thirsty Thursday with two breweries going head-to-head.
The first duel is between ISM Brewing and There Does Not Exist. And the rest of the bracket is similarly stacked.
4.8% if by Land
Sierra Nevada will be going agricultural with their upcoming new Estate Series Heirloom Landbier that will be brewed with 100% homegrown purple Egyptian barley. This new 4.8% lager will come in 16.9oz bottles so quite different from the current can culture.
Wander
Firestone Walker has a heads up on a future beer release. Wandering Don a West Coast IPA brewed in collaboration with Colorado’s Odell Brewing has been unveiled as the official beer of what is now being called the FWBC Beer Fest which will be happening in Paso Robles on May 31st of this year.
Good Squared
Topa Topa will be canning up some 19.2oz beer this year but the Good Good Hazy Series of 19.2s won’t be flagship IPA or a high alcohol DIPA but instead “four staggered releases of hazy single and double IPAs each made in partnership with select 1% for the Planet non-profits…”
The first will be “a 7.2% hazy IPA in partnership with Heal the Ocean, a Santa Barbara-based non-profit that focuses on combatting ocean pollution that is caused by wastewater and ocean dumping. Heal the Ocean and Topa Topa will celebrate the launch by hosting beach cleanups in Ventura and Santa Barbara in late February…”
Trademarking Torrance
Long Beach’s Trademark Brewing is joining in on the 2nd location fun with a taproom in the very yellow, Enclave in Torrance.
This just adds to the large scene in that area which was already full day trip before.
Review – Yorkshire Stingo from Samuel Smith
I recently had the Winter Welcome from Samuel Smith and then I saw their Yorkshire Stingo (with a super classy logo) which I have not had in many moons and decided it was high time to review to see if I get the same notes of “fruit, raisin, treacle toffee, Christmas pudding and slight oaky flavours”.
The last item on that list certainly comes through but the rest, not so much but despite that adjective failure, this is a real classic of a beer. There is a slight hint of future souring in the taste in the amber coloured ale. I taste grass and wheat and pea shoots myself. Complex and strange for sure.
Would Love to Try – January 2025
We are in the heart of football action both in the U.S. and abroad. So when I see a beer with Irish football connections, it is right up my alley. And we have seen some Lough Gill beer here in SoCal so there is a teeny tiny chance that we might see this.
The sorta official beer of the Bit O’ Red – Sligo Rovers, 1928 Lager where 50 cents from each can goes to improving the club and jump up a level.