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30 Sips

If there is anything this blog is known for, it is posts about collaborations and / or anniversaries and here is a little of both.  The Rare Beer Club is having its 30-year anniversary this year and they have teamed with the Lost Abbey on The Last Sipper, “an 11.5% blended oak-aged imperial brown ale which was brewed for our members to celebrate our anniversary, and Perennial’s Prodigal, an 11.5% Imperial Milk Stout with chocolate and vanilla.”

And don’t sleep on the other 4 beer clubs either, it is a good way to taste around the country and the world and make excellent holiday gifts.

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Colorado Report # 1

Left Burbank International Airport early in the AM and despite a little turbulence into Denver, everything went smoothly and by early afternoon, I was in Colorado Springs sipping beer at Ivywild an old school converted into food and drink with a brewery (Bristol Brewing) and distillery on site.

Over a bacon and bleu burger, I tasted four beers. A pale ale, a fresh hop IPA, a nitro IPA and for a change a pumpkin ale too. All four were above average which is not bad for a brewery that I had never researched at all. So good that I got a big ol’ bottle of their saison, which also rang true. A good start to the trip.

Next up was a drive south to the Cristo de Sangre mountain range town of Westclifffe, where the beer choices were a tad slim but luckily the stovepipe cans are around and I found a reliable Colorado choice in 90 Shilling Ale and flagship IPA from Odell Brewing and also a not so mini whiskey from Laws Whiskey House.

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Near to Jack

Uncle Nearest Distilling has been doing the bourbon thing and gaining accolades for it but now they reach into Tennessee Whiskey.  A lower proof whiskey for the godfather of Tennessee whiskey at a more approachable proof. 

It will be interesting to compare it to Jack.

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54

I have been lucky enough to find some Russian River beers at my local Whole Foods / Amazon and maybe I will see the new R –n- D Series beer coming from the Santa Rosa brewery because Hazy IPA #54 is coming and it is coming with Brewer’s Gold and Citra hops.  

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Walk

The Brew Walk Craft Beer Festival is back for its second year.

It has featured breweries / local favorites that are not the usual suspects such as Norwalk Brew House, La Bodega Brewing Co. from Whittier, Brewjeria Company from Pico Rivera, Cerveza Xteca from San Diego, and Cerveza Cito hailing from Santa Ana. 

And 100% of the proceeds from Brew Walk will directly benefit St. Linus School, that money goes to supporting educational programs and resources for the students.  Maybe one of whom will become a brewer in the future.

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A Beer Haven

A food hall in SoCal without a brewery presence is probably not really a food hall.  But what if your food hall has two breweries?

Haven City in West Covina, wedged into an already busy big strip mall has recently opened and when I visited had a big crowd (even before a Dodger playoff game had started).  Lots of food vendors right next to a big grocery store and there were still spots like Amboy not ready yet.

On one end is Ogopogo Brewing which had a full slate of their beers including two Fest-ish beers in Drude Marzen and Nachtkrapp Schwarzbier as well as a collab Nectaron Pils with Arrow Lodge.  They are in a quiet corner that could probably use more seating but Drude was quite excellent.

Over on the other side is Burning Bridge Brewing which also does a small menu of tacos.  They had quite a line-up on tap including a Belgian Dubbel, a PSL beer and, what I was told is a quite popular rice lager. I went with a hefty Hazy DIPA, Swing of the Axe, another beertender recommendation.  

This City was full of people watching and also has a nice outdoor seating area as well.  I would say pick a spot for a beer, then wander and choose some food and then have a second beer.

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Pizza Coast

I posted about Slice & Pint from El Segundo Brewing expanding to a second location down the road in Redondo Beach, well in no time flat, they already have a special beer for it.

Naturally, it is an IPA. Now to find the right pizza for it.

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Needed or Not – BarSys

Yes, the above does look like a Star Trek cocktail replicator down to the interior mood lighting. It also looks like a Dyson bladeless fan which could lead to trouble.

But it is the BarSys system. Kind of a boring name for basically a cocktail database plus pouring system plus light show. You pour your alcohol in the top as well as mixers on the other side, set your glass in the center and voila, time for a cocktail.

And yeah, it is cool that you can program your recipes plus others and it does look all future-y but part of the pouring a drink process for me is how it is calming and anticipatory to craft a drink. This robs you of that simple pleasure while also making you have to remember when you last cleaned the bourbon section of the device or if there is enough tonic.

Not Needed – make your simple favorites yourself and go to a fancy bar to have fancier cocktails made, that is so much simpler and fun.

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12 Best

Being the opinionated fellow that I am, I do like to express my opinions and now Chowhound readers know that too as I put in my two cents on good beer cities around the U.S.  Read it HERE.

Everyone has a different set of opinions as to what makes a beer city a Beer City but I believe that certain criteria need to be met: A wide variety of beer styles, a good amount of breweries, beer bars and bottle shops, some GABF medals would be nice, a scene in the suburbs of the city is good too.

Thanks to Fiona Chandra for reaching out and listening.