Follow Sean Inman to the best in craft beer
Well, my beloved Trailblazers are not in the finals AND the damn Lakers are! At least LeBron and AD eliminated the damn Rockets who I hate even more.
Typically each city bets local delicacies in a show of civic pride. This year though, I would like each city to promote their restaurants, sights AND breweries. Let’s have the mayor of Miami come here and have a beer.
When I think of Anchor Brewing, I don’t think lederhosen. But the Bay Area brewery has their spin of the Oktoberfest style with Haus Fest. Normally this ground has been ceded to a Chico brewery but it would be a good side-by-side drinking comparison.
When a brewery known for sours and barrel-aged beers bring stout a Pils. Be it German, Italian or Czech, it is probably for the brewers so they can have something light and fun to drink because making these right is not easy. So I will be on the lookout for this new canned Pilsner from Lost Abbey.
New Belgium has a special beer for National Coming Out Day next month. And it’s has a lot going on, sweet potato, cinnamon, apricot and honey on a Belgian ale base. Sounds like a fun and purple beer to try.
This week the hop news focuses on Fire and hop creep. Virtual Harvest from Yakima Chief via Zoom… plus some extra notes from what competitor Hopsteiner has going…
We are all getting used to having beer delivered. And now you can get a CURATED beer box each month plus some special goodies. L.A. Beer Hop knows our breweries and will certainly find you 6 awesome beers a month so take the subscription for a spin.
Cactus honey is the first ingredient that my eyes locked on when I saw this new label from Cellador Ales. But this “rustic Saison” also has some malt cred with grains from Admiral Maltings. The third piece of note is that ABV, this might need to be a shareable beer.
To infinity and beyond. To boldly go. Or just ride a hop rocket to the stars in this month’s beer picks.
Lightest
Modern Times – Perpetual Radiance Hazy Pale Ale – 5.5% ABV
“This infinitely sessionable hazy pale was loaded to the rafters with Galaxy, Strata and Simcoe hops. This killer combo of North American hops yields a super-choice amalgam of berries, citrus, & stone fruit underscored by ultra-refreshing notes of pine. It’s a pretty excellent way to approach a balmy summer afternoon.”
Medium
Fremont Brewing – Space Rex IPA – 7% ABV
“What do you do when you’ve crashed on a distant planet, befriended a T-Rex and run out of beer – Intergalactic Beer Run! Space Rex, a cosmically juicy and refreshing hazy IPA from the center of the universe. Moderately sweet with a subtle, growing bitterness in medium body with smooth carbonation.”
Biggest
Trademark Brewing – Star Guide Hazy IPA – 8.2% ABV
“Rocket through the intergalactic haze with this star studded Hazy IPA. Featuring a bouquet of Cashmere, BRU-1 and Hallertau Blanc hops expertly paired with oats, wheat and pale malts. Explore hints of green mango, melon and guava. This is starstuff in a silver can.”
This 3rd anniversary beer from Eagle Rock Brewery pours an opaque dark orange. Not much head in the pour. This Strong Ale has held up pretty well though for a seven year old beer. The rye spice note is still there. A little caramel/ cola sweetness as well. There is a component here that may be a degradation of the beer, I think it may have been where the alcohol burn may have been, a woody bass line.
It is going scorch today in the valley, so best to have beers ready, and instead of running around from brewery to brewery, you can head to MacLeod Ales (I suggest online) to get a valley variety pack. You can help out multiple breweries in these tough times all at once.