Baird Brewery

Now this is a brewery that I need to sample from. Baird is a Japanese brewery that has some really unusual ingredients in their beers. Yuzu in particular goes great with spicy saison in my mind.

For instance:
bb_yuzu1
Temple Garden Yuzu Ale
“The spicy aroma and tart flavor of Japanese yuzu fruit, picked at a local temple garden, define this other-worldly brew. A luscious kiss of malt sweetness serves as a wonderful balance to the citric tang. This inspired ale surely is proof of the existence of a higher being.”
ABV 5.5%
bb_summermikan1
Shizuoka Summer Mikan Ale
“Brewed with fresh Shizuoka summer mikans (natsumikans) and citrusy American hops, this original ale is aromatic, effervescent, dryly acidic and unabashedly refreshing.”
ABV 5.5%

Zipp’s Liquors

Beer store day goes from sunny SoCal to the wintry climes of Minnesota to highlight Zipp’s Liquors.
503857691_118980cd80

They have a very spot on mission, “Zipp’s strives not only to keep you content and happy, but also to help you exlpore the ever expanding and changing world of craft beer.”

Need Surly Smoke or Goose Island Night Stalker? They are the place to try.

2618 East Franklin Avenue
Minneapolis, MN 55406-1188
(612) 333-8686

Hi-Time

Today (for no particular reason) is beer shop day. Since my dream job would be running a small craft beer store, I love highlighting places that sell a great assortment of beer.

First up is Hi-Time in Orange County, California.
hi_time

Be sure to enter in the beer area or you might get lost amongst the wine and spirits. They have a large selection of nicely chilled craft brews. Nice amount of Sierra Nevada, foreign beers and even more than just the Just Outstanding IPA from Kern River!

250 Ogle Street
Costa Mesa, CA 92627-3808
(949) 650-8463

Tony’s Darts Away interview

smalltaplogo

As threatened, here are the reasons why you should be beer geeked about Tony Yanow and the newly opened Tony’s Darts Away (TDA)…

REASON # 1
The hospitality at TDA will be strong from day one. Why? Because Tony has been doing beer tastings for awhile. Thanks to his “problem” of collecting great beer, he has had to occasionally purge which leads to people “helping” him winnow the size back to manageable. By doing this, Tony has not only exposed Los Angeles to great beer, he has learned how to find the right beer for people. And that is a gift in a beer world that some people are just discovering. Hence the TDA motto of “Bringing the fine beer of California to the fine people of Los Angeles.”

REASON # 2
The magical word NITRO. Tony is originally from Canada which is not afraid of the nitro. And I have had my share growing up in Portland. But is has been conspicuous in it’s absence from the burgeoning Los Angeles scene. Not now. And it won’t be confined to just porters and stouts. Nitro La Merle anyone?

REASON # 3
The staff at TDA will be educated. Tony has traveled up and down the state of California to familiarize himself with what beer the state has to offer. The staff has been assigned reading, has tasted the beers and has even brewed! Plus Tony has two aces in Paige Reilly and Dave Watrous. Fun and smart beer people.

Peace Tree Brewing

Who says that there isn’t good beer in the heartland?

Maybe if I am lucky, I will be able to mark Iowa off my list with one of the fine craft beers from…..
peacetree_logo1

Here is a little backstory (from their website) about the name Peace Tree.
“Our name, Peace Tree Brewing Company, is also a reminder, a prompting of our past where different cultures met to discuss, trade, and come to agreements. The Peace Tree is a historic grand sycamore tree that was located near the town of Red Rock under what is now Lake Red Rock. Supposedly the old sycamore was a place where Indians met for generations, then became a meeting place for fur traders. Indian treaties were negotiated here and there is some speculation that it marks the Red Rock Line.

Our hope is that the beer made under the Peace Tree label will be a shared with friends and strangers alike and catalyst for conversations, new friendships and important agreements – in line with the lore of infamous Peace Tree of Red Rock.”

And it seems they have an IPA that would be to my liking…
“Hop Wrangler: Joe’s multinational take on a classic IPA. IPA’s are known for their intense hop bitterness, flavor and aromas. First, Joe used American and English malt, then American and English hops are added during the mash, first wort, boil, and finally it’s dry hopped for aroma. Belgium gets involved with the yeast and a special candy sugar finish for smoothness and flavor.”

two MORE Welsh breweries

Our Welsh journey continues with two more breweries mentioned by Pete Brown that I thought should be shared with more people this side of the pond.

logo
Otley Brewing

Here are two beers from Otley that intrigue me.
O1
ABV 4.O%
Our flagship brew. A pale straw colour ale with
heavy hop aromas, a thirst quenching bitterness
and a big nose aroma.
O3 BOSS
ABV 4.4%
Traditional chestnut ale with Northdown
and Challenger hops, quaffable enjoyment.

kb
Kingstone Brewery

Here are the two beers that jumped out at me. The first two I will try if/when I get to travel through Wales.
Humptys Fuddle
“Our IPA, dangerously smooth at 5.8% ABV, is a warming, oaky-smoky tipple. Humpty has a slightly sweet floral nose, a balanced level of malt supporting the hops and finally a subtle but slightly citrusy finish.”

Classic Bitter
“The name says it all. This is our award-winning Classic Bitter – a balanced, disctinctively hoppy, dry ale with a floral nose and smooth well-balanced finish. Classic is brewed with pale and crystal malted barley, bittered with a quartet of hops – Northern Brewer, Cascade, Willamette (a Fuggles hybrid) and Brambling Cross.

The Great Taste Awards, which is organised by the Guild of Fine Food and often referred to as the Oscars of the food industry, is this year celebrating its 15th anniversary. A Great Taste Award is the authoritative, independent standard for Britain’s fine food sector: the gold & black logo is the benchmark for independently proven fine food. Our Classic bitter was awarded the 2* Great Taste Award in 2008.”

Pickled Hop shoots

The old adage that you learn something new every day is so, so true.
hop shoots
Just read this bit from the Cascade Brewing folks….Brewmaster Ron Gansberg is somewhat of a visionary, and he’s at it again. This week he’s in the hop fields, picking pounds of fresh hop shoots. Why? He’s going to pickle them, using white wine vinegar and several bottles of Cascade Kriek Ale. Young hop shoots are a culinary delicacy enjoyed in Belgium – they have also been called poor man’s asparagus! Fresh hop shoots are only available from mid-March to late April, after which they develop a bitter taste. Pickled hop shoots make a delicious garnish or tasty hors d’oeuvres. Look for them on the menu when the Cascade Barrel House makes its debut!

Tony’s Darts Away

smalltaplogo

Another beer bar is hitting the LA scene! And this time in Burbank.

Here are some of the highlights from their press release: There’s a new “Tony” in charge – Tony Yanow – who announced today plans to gently revamp the bar and restaurant, greatly enhance the beer selection and ramp up the menu. With beer, wine, and soft drinks on tap, this will be the city’s first “bottle-less” bar. The new and improved Tony’s Darts Away will be unveiled in mid-April 2010.

A dedicated beer enthusiast, and first-time restaurateur, Yanow will offer over 30 California craft beers in addition to California red and white wine and sodas – all on tap. He has designed the food and beverage component of the restaurant to create as close to a “no waste bar” as he can get. Meaning no bottled beer, no bottled soft drinks, and no bottled wine. Sticking to his motto, “Bringing the fine beers of California to the fine people of Los Angeles,” Yanow has tramped across California – from the Oregon border to the Mexico border – to source the best craft beers the state has to offer. About half the beers on the list will be fixed while a selection of seasonal and limited edition beers will rotate on the other taps. To encourage trial, Yanow will offer flights of beer, plus friendly and knowledgeable bartenders will guide customers to find their new favorite brew. Served in specialty glassware to maximize the experience, an “Honest Pint” will be priced at $4.50 for most brews.

Why only beer (and wine) from California? “Three reasons,” explains Yanow, “First, the quality and freshness of local beer can’t be beat. By offering only California beer, we’re able to serve beer the way the brewer wants it served – not something that was shipped across the country and passed through many hands. Second, I think it’s important for California businesses to support each other; we’re all in this economy together and it’s never been more important to support the small guy and buy local to help employ people in our community. Finally, the environmental impact – or carbon footprint – of shipping beer, nationally and internationally. I’m working hard to keep our ‘beer miles’ as low as can be.”

To eat, there will be a selection of locally sourced artisan sausages which are made with California meats plus four vegan sausages and a variety of toppings. The sausages will be served on a bun from a local bakery or a bed of organic lettuce. There will also be fried foods to snack on in addition to a selection of California cheeses. A few composed salads round-out the straightforward menu that is designed to complement beer, of course.

The space, which has remained largely untouched since the restaurant first opened in the 1960s will keep its divey feel and be refreshed with minimal cosmetic upgrades – most of the changes will happen behind the bar with the installation of the integrated beer tap system. There will be a “beer library” featuring books on the subject from Yanow’s own collection. Locals who have been regulars for decades will have a wall of homage featuring their photos, (plus a personal locked-in beer price). True to its name, Tony’s Darts Away will have dart boards for friendly games.
Tony’s Darts Away is located at 1710 W Magnolia Blvd, Burbank, CA 91506. The bar will be open Monday through Saturday from 11am to 2am and Sunday from 9am to 1am. Phone, 818-253-1710.

P.S. I interviewed Tony Yanow and I will post information from that talk as we get closer to their grand opening.

Beer Temple

Not to be confused with the Church of beer. This is a beer bar in Amsterdam that specializes in craft American beer. If you are in the area and you want a taste of home, this looks the place to be. Beer Temple has Anchor, Flying Dog, Great Divide, Uncommon Brewers, Left Hand and Southern Tier ON TAP!

Put it on the list of beer spots to hit before you can’t!