Category: Beer in the news

Great articles that you should read.

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Abigaile’s

I am not a road rage kind of person but I do appreciate when the craft beer comes to me and I don’t have to drive from the 405 to the 10 to the 5 to the 91 to the 57 for a beer. Not that I won’t, mind you. So it is great to see that kegs from The Brewery at Abigaile are heading out of Hermosa Beach to the wider SoCal world.
Brewery-at-Abigaile
The new California Craft Distributors will be handling the beer of brewmaster Brian Brewer and “for its distribution debut, The Brewery at Abigaile plans to offer something for every pallet and will start by bringing the following beers to the craft marketplace:

Amber Ale – A big Amber Ale with a satisfying caramel malt foundation. German Munich, along with British and Belgian Crystal malts all work together to add layers of sweet maltiness. Centennial and Liberty hops round out the palate. This beer is aged on a small amount of free-trade cocoa nibs to add a unique twist. 5.9% ABV, 26 IBUs

001 1st Anniversary DIPA – A hop lover’s dream, focused on hops. It starts with Magnum, Centennial, and Simcoe in the 120 minute boil, Simcoe, Centennial and Citra for the flavor and aroma hops, and is then dry-hopped two separate times with Simcoe, Centennial, Citra, Columbus, and Australian Galaxy. The finished hop profile is a mix of juicy, floral, citrus, peachy stone fruit, pine forest, and resin. 9.001% ABV, 100 IBUs

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The Return of Portland Brewing

The name change yo-yo at what was once Portland Brewing before becoming MacTarnahan’s is now back to being Portland again.
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As the press release notes, “The main change for consumers will be that the company, its beers and packaging will once again proudly carry the Portland Brewing Company name. Beer drinkers will still see the company’s flagship brew – MacTarnahan’s Amber Ale – continue, along with many new offerings.”

But the bigger news hidden at the bottom of the press release is this…..

“As Portland Brewing Company moves forward, the company plans to introduce several new beers in 2013. This spring alone, consumers will see three new beers:

· Portland Brewing IPA: a new year-round beer. With a darker golden color and some of the most popular citrusy IPA hops, as well as Sterling for a bit of spiciness in the finish, this IPA is hoppy like a Northwest IPA should be. Five different hops and a soft malt backing make for one great, easy-drinking ale. Available in six-pack, 12-pack, 22 oz. bottles and on draft.
· Rose Hip Gold: a new spring seasonal that is a Belgian-style ale with notes of fruit and spice and a little citrusy bite from a generous addition of rose hips in the kettle. Available in six-pack, 22 oz. bottles and on draft.
· Oyster Stout: the company’s first brew in a new small batch draft program that is exclusive to the state of Oregon. It will feature locally sourced oysters from Yaquina Bay.

Consumers will begin to see some of these beers in market as early as Feb. 1.

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Who’s Brewing at Haven

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I guess February 9th is Haven Day as two big announcements come from the OC and Pasadena outlets.

“Haven Brewing has announced the addition of Head Brewer Brian Thorson to its team, based at Haven Gastropub +Brewery in Pasadena. Thorson, who has produced many acclaimed beers at noted Northern California craft breweries, Drake’s and Trumer Pils, will now oversee all production of Haven Brewing’s small-batch, house-crafted beers. Thorson will help define Haven Brewing’s core brand by working to create base beers as a reference point for all future brews. He will be focusing on a range of styles, with emphasis on sessionable beers.

“Haven Brewing’s unique set-up within a full-service restaurant really opens the door to so many ideas and possibilities,” commented Thorson, who resides in Arcadia with his family. “For the majority of my career, I’ve been punching out beers at production facilities, now I’ll be able to better see how beers go with the foods they are served with. I’m already inspired to try different things.”

Thorson has been involved in producing many noted craft beers still available and praised today. Over his five-year stint at Drake’s Brewing, he was responsible for creating Hopocalypse in 2008, an Imperial IPA (9.3% ABV, 100+ IBUs). Thorson created it to, in his words, “blow off some steam” after the monotony of running the bottling line and toiling with all the brewing and cellar operations wore thin.

“You’ve got to have those ‘fly by the seat of your pants’ brews every once in a while to keep the blood pumping and also keep you from going insane,” Thorson explained. “All of the barrel work kept me on my toes, but also allowed for a lot of creative flexibility. I was lucky enough to have a number of different projects going on, so I got to see a range of different beer scenarios at any given time.”

“We are optimistic about Haven Brewing’s future with Brian at the helm. We have the utmost respect for Brian’s accomplishments and contributions to the world of craft beer – outside of Hopocalypse, he was responsible for the revamping of Drake’s Aroma Coma summer seasonal IPA in 2011,” commented Wil Dee, Partner at Haven Brewing. “What makes a brewer like Brian so valuable is his passion for the craft, supported by his tremendous industry experience in dealing with crisis situations, like the hop contract changes a few years ago, and being able to be flexible and remain focused.”

Haven Brewing currently has 12 house-produced beers in its catalog, led by the very first beer released in March 2012, “Hello World,” an American Pale Ale (6.3% ABV).”

First Golden Road snags a new head from points north and now Haven is raiding that tradition too.

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…for comparison

Can you say slick and overproduced? Can you say loud annoying Creed style music? Today’s other post was thoughtful and funny and this one just screams buy our latest thing, please. And it will be pushed hard during the Super Bowl.
ANHEUSER-BUSCH BUDWEISER BLACK CROWN
“Budweiser Black Crown retains the key characteristics of Budweiser with its clean taste and high drinkability. Featuring more body, color and hop character than the flagship lager, it also has a slightly higher alcohol content at 6% ABV.

Brewing History: Budweiser Black Crown proved to be the crowd favorite during “Project 12,” a nearly year-long process in which 12 beers from Budweiser brewmasters across the United States were ultimately narrowed to one winner through consumer sampling and feedback.

Budweiser Black Crown’s recipe was developed in Los Angeles with collaboration from brewmasters in Fairfield, Calif., and Houston.”

My guess is that if you can taste a hop then you are a super-taster and are to be congratulated.

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Old Hops

Snoqualmie Brewery up in Washington state has a new brew that uses hops resurrected from 130 years ago

“But a century after time and trouble all but erased the Snoqualmie Hops Farm from the Valley, beer is once again being flavored with the wild descendants of those original Meadowbrook vines. In September, volunteer pickers collected hops from vines preserved at the farm’s interpretive center. Those flower buds were used to flavor a special, limited edition dry-hopped Meadowbrook Farm Ale,…”

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Brew Food


San Diego’s Chefs Press has a companion cookbook for the recently completed San Diego Beer Week, “BREW FOOD celebrates the incredible range and versatility of beer and its adaptability to the home kitchen. The book highlights the culinary creativity of chefs, dessertiers, pro brewers, brewery staffers, restaurateurs, and craft-beer-bar owners. It provides recipes that will inspire cooks of all skill levels and interests — everything from Hefeweizen-Coriander Baked Sea Bass to Quad-Braised Osso Buco to Spicy IPA Burgers and IPA Mac-n-Cheese.

Includes more than 90 recipes from pro brewers (AleSmith, Aztec, Ballast Point, Green Flash, Hess, Iron Fist, Karl Strauss, Lightning, Manzanita, Mission, Monkey Paw, Mother Earth, New English, Port/The Lost Abbey, Rock Bottom, San Diego Brewing, Stone), restaurants (Bo-Beau, Bunz, Gingham, Handlery Hotel San Diego, The Marine Room, MIHO Gastrotruck, Local Habit, The Grill at The Lodge at Torrey Pines, PubCakes, Ritual Tavern, Riviera Supper Club, Searsucker, SOL Markets, Urban Solace, Urge Gastropub, Vine Cottage Restaurant) and great craft beer bars (Churchill’s, Company Pub, Hamilton’s, High Dive, O’Brien’s, Small Bar, Tiger! Tiger!, Toronado).”

So, if you know someone who loves beer and to cook and is a fan of San Diego beers, your Christmas shopping just got easier.

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Shakespeare’s Local


How does this sound for beer and history. (Two great topics to me)….
“Welcome to the George Inn near London Bridge; a cosy, wood-pannelled, galleried coaching house a few minutes’ walk from the Thames. Grab yourself a pint, listen to the chatter of the locals and consider this: who else has made this their local over the last 600 years? Chaucer and his fellow pilgrims almost certainly drank in the George on their way out of London to Canterbury. Shakespeare may well have popped in from the nearby Globe for a pint, and we know that Dickens definitely did. Mail carriers changed their horses here, before heading to all four corners of Britain — while sailors drank here before visiting all four corners of the world… The pub, as Pete Brown points out, is the ‘primordial cell of British life’ and in the George he has found the perfect case study. All life is here, from murderers, highwaymen and ladies of the night to gossiping pedlars and hard-working clerks. So sit back and watch as buildings rise and fall over the centuries, and ‘the beer drinker’s Bill Bryson’ (TLS) takes us on an entertaining tour through six centuries of history, through the stories of everyone that ever drank in one pub.”

Click HERE to learn even more about the pints that flowed at the George

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Coast to Coast

“The giant exravaganza called the Coast to Coast Toast, is taking place, tomorrow on November 15, 2012. It’s the largest single one day celebration of Belgian beer culture in the United States.”

Check out their this page to see what California spots are hosting a night and take part in the online and in glass festivities with your favorite Belgian beer or a new Belgian beer. Personally, Saison Dupont would be my choice. Then head to Untappd and get a badge for toasting too!

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Okto-Milkshake

I read the following press release with a bit of trepidation….

“As Oktoberfest celebrations come to a head this fall, Red Robin’s new shake will leave beer enthusiasts and dessert-lovers alike craving a cold one—a cold beer milkshake, that is! Now through Nov. 11 (or until supplies last), Red Robin is featuring the Samuel Adams® Octoberfest Milkshake – a unique 21 and over milkshake made with creamy soft serve ice cream, Samuel Adams® Octoberfest draft, vanilla and caramel. A sip of this one-of-a-kind shake will rouse a round of toasts and solve one epic food dilemma, right up there with coffee or tea, onion rings or French fries, and soup or salad. The Octoberfest Milkshake offers a sweet solution – a milkshake and beer – in, one satisfying drink.”

Now this sprung from the mind of the Master Mixologist at Red Robin. A position that I did not know existed. To be honest, I know of only a couple of locations where Red Robin’s are currently and neither are stops on my beer journey’s. It might be good but I would only want a small taster at first before I ponied up any money for it.