Category: Beer in the news

Great articles that you should read.

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The Sun is Setting

**unverified rumor alert**

It looks like, barring some late save, that Sunset Beer Co. will be forced out of their corner bottle shop and bar in Echo Park. Personally, “losing their lease” is both worded wrong and makes it a little too bloodless. And those who rally around the no gentrification cause should spend more energy here.

Back to beer. This shop has been my main go-to. I buy beer elsewhere but Sunset Beer Co. is where I can find the widest selection. I look forward to their weekly newsletter every Friday and usually have to fight the urge to just leave work and browse.

L.A. beer fans should send this iconic beer spot out on a high. Amp up your beer runs over the next couple months.

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On the Vista

Don’t go out looking for a single hop pale or IPA just yet but there is a new hop varietal in the pipeline to look forward to, Vista

The link above is for a dedicated website just for it. You can even buy Vista merch. As for the hop itself, melon and stone fruit are the hallmarks of what it brings to the mash kettle.

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A New Look Fig

Figueroa Mountain has performed a label refresh of their beer line-up and it looks good. Vibrant colors, good font choices and art but take a look at the right side of the line…

…that is Hiker’s High Hazy IPA – a new “bright and tropical IPA that’s as hazy as those foggy mornings at the top of your favorite peak. The new 6.8% beer is now available in 6-packs of 12oz cans throughout the state”, as well as at their other California locations, my closest is Westlake Village.

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Blue and Yellow

To the Universe: When I said to myself that I could not wait until Covid wasn’t the lead and only story, I didn’t mean that I wanted something worse. So, please help Ukraine, OK Universe.

In the meantime, drinkers from all over can help in three different ways by visiting one website, Drinkers for Ukraine.

There is a collaborative brew for brewery owners, an auction for beer fans as well as a live stream fundraising event later this month. Hopefully, this will be resolved in Ukraine’s favor before then.

You can also be on the lookout for local, to you, events where proceeds go to assist the Ukranian people. I have already seen at least one beer in a blue can with yellow accents.

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The Dog has Retired

Looks like Alan Sprints has decided to retire which means that Hair of the Dog Brewing, the much lauded Portland brewery will be retiring as well.

From a video that Sprints posted, he will be done in the summer, there will be a few more new beer releases but mostly, it will be selling what is in stock until the last bottle is sold.

This is a legendary brewery and I highly recommend snaring a bottle or two to have for special occasions.

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Will the Next Haze Please Stand Up

Cascade Lakes Brewing may have put a name to a new IPA trend, Red Haze.

Here is their description, “Our Seasonal NW Red is full of sticky, dank tangerine hop character with just the right amount of malt to accompany you through to warmer days ahead.”

Is the current IPA customer needing a turn back to dank, will the malt add enough sweetness. We will see of 2022 brings more of the red haze.

Or, who knows, maybe French Pilsner is the next new thing.

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Sweeter California

SweetWater Brewing Company recently announced expansion all across California. The march west includes the opening of SweetWater Colorado in Fort Collins plus the acquisition of passed around San Diego beer brands, Alpine Beer Company and Green Flash Brewing Company.

The Georgia based brewery is the nation’s 11th largest craft brewer and is turning 25th this year, both impressive numbers but I don’t think if you asked California beer fans to name five out of state breweries they would like to see here that SweetWater would make the list except for Marvel movie crew members who shuttle from L.A. to Atlanta.

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4 of 8

Modern Times is halving their West Coast footprint as they seek a less perilous financial footing.

Portland, Oakland, Santa Barbara and Los Angeles will be closed. Not coincidentally, those are the furthest away from HQ and in the case of Los Angeles and maybe the others as well, the smallest outposts.

The San Diego brewery bolted out of the gate when they opened and followed that with ambitious plans but the last two to three years have brought lots of challenges and a new leadership team which did not like what they saw and hit the re-trench button.

Hopefully, Modern Times can navigate back with a leaner company.

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Indie is Done

You have this month minus a day to visit Indie Brewing as the Boyle Heights brewery announced on social media that it is closing on the 27th for good.

With Dry River already closed practically next door, that means that south of Downtown is bereft of breweries. Sadly, this is probably not the end of closure notices but maybe there is a next generation that can use the equipment or space. Trying to stay positive here.

Thanks for the beers Indie and may your future endeavors in beer or elsewhere be bright.

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Sallanches is Where?

It is not often that you see a second location announcement with the location being the French Alps. But that is what Colorado’s Outer Range Brewing is doing…

“Colorado’s Award-winning craft brewery and apres hub, announced Saturday that they are taking their quality craft beer and mountain lifestyle concept to the heart of the French Alps, with a second location in the picturesque, quaint town of Sallanches, France. Set to open in winter 2022, the Sallanches brewery will include a Nashville Hot Chicken restaurant, coffee roaster, a private event space for large parties or weddings, and a climbing wall with floor-to-ceiling views of Mont Blanc.”