Beer Search Party – Page 771 – Follow Sean Inman to the best in craft beer

February 23, 2013September 11, 2018

Open House

This is a great idea that needs to be imported to Los Angeles. (All of California might be too big of an undertaking to start). It is the Open House for Washington Beer. Once a year, as the website puts it, “Participating brewers have some tasty treats in store for you—ranging from rare barrel tastings and new seasonal releases to savory food pairings and other unique surprises.”

I think that is super cool. Toss in some swag like stickers or a discount for tweeting or Untappd’ing a beer and you could pull in the curious and our adventure minded. Maybe as a kick-off to L.A. Beer Week.

Oh and if you are in Washington today, take advantage!

February 22, 2013September 11, 2018

The 2013 Birthday Beer – Revealed

Earlier this year, I made mention of two beers in the pipeline from Cismontane Brewing in Rancho Santa Margarita. And one of them, Oso (bear in Spanish) is my birthday beer for 2013. A singular honor bestowed yearly that is on par with getting an Oscar or a GABF medal.

All hyperbole aside, here is what the brewers behind Oso have to say about it: “The English yeast imparted a symphony of dark fruity esters which compliment the tasty vanilla/ caramel notes, graciously donated by the Rye Whiskey barrels.”

I certainly liked the smoothness of this beer. Plus the 10% abv displayed no heat at all. I got lot’s of vanilla notes and also some baking bread aromas. You could really taste the underlying porter underneath the whiskey which some barrel aged beers just can’t do. As it the beer warmed up, I detected some spice notes underneath as well. Between this big beer and the light Holy Jim Falls XPA, Cismontane has the beer style gamut covered.

I also have a second birthday beer in mind. It is the release of a collaboration between Ohana and the in Kickstarter phase L.A. Aleworks. It will debut at Beer Belly tomorrow night and you should check it out!

February 22, 2013September 11, 2018

Carillon Historical Park

Dayton Ohio is getting both a historical and a functional brewery. I read about it in the March edition of All About Beer and here is what the Dayton Daily News has to say, “When the Carillon Brewing Co. opens in Dec. 2013, Carillon Historical Park will become the only museum in the nation producing and selling beer and wine using historic tools and techniques that date back to 1850, according to museum officials.” (You can read the full article HERE)

You will be able to watch how beer was made in the 19th century and the beauty part is that you can taste the old versions against current commercial beers and either see a difference or not. And I am sure it will give a great comparison to the current brewery tours as well. I am sure the smell alone will be drastically different.

Sounds like a fun museum to visit.

February 21, 2013September 11, 2018

Thursday Flights

Yes, the Colorado Wine Company has moved a little west. And that is not the only change! Now this….
“By popular demand, we’re starting beer flights on Thursday nights. Each week we’ll offer 6 pours in varying styles and from breweries far and wide for $10, as well as our usual wines by the glass and full pints of beers on tap.”
You may well find me here relaxing after compiling the weekly L.A. Beer Blast.

February 21, 2013September 11, 2018

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.

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

February 20, 2013September 11, 2018

FoodGPS Teaser – Bludso’s

Tomorrow, I talk BBQ and the new Bludso’s on La Brea in my weekly FoodGPS post.

For today, here are some bottled selections that will go great with BBQ.

Full Sail Brown Ale – “The combination of 2 row pale, crystal and chocolate malts impart an array of malt and chocolate flavors in a medium bodied ale with an extremely smooth palate. Fuggle and Mt.Hood hops contribute a slightly spicy aroma and finish to complement this beer’s malt character.”

Anchor Bock Beer – “The dark satiny texture of Anchor Bock®, with its rich hints of chocolate, caramel and roasted barley, is our interpretation of the strong German beers that signal the coming of spring.”

or you could go with one or both of these XPA’s Holy Jim Falls from Cismontane (which was on tap at Bludso’s) or the Revolution XPA from Eagle Rock.

My final suggestion is…..
Trumer Pils – ” Trumer Pils’ aromatic nose, vigorous carbonation, and dry finish will satisfy the most demanding palate.”

February 20, 2013September 11, 2018

DC Brewery # 2 – Atlas Brew Works

Combine an experienced home brewer with a former brewer from Telegraph and Pyramid and you have the makings (along with a shared history at Vanderbilt University) for Atlas Brew Works.

Here is the back story for this DC area start-up:
“Experienced homebrewer Justin Cox is teaming up with longtime friend and accomplished commercial brewer Will Durgin to bring the District of Columbia fresh craft beer from Northeast DC. Atlas Brew Works plans to install its 20 barrel brew house at 2052 West Virginia Ave NE and begin producing unique local brews in the first quarter of 2013.
Atlas Brew Works’ beer portfolio will include American style craft ales and lagers along with an extensive sour and barrel aging program. The beers will be crafted with careful consideration to food pairings and a flare for experimentation.”

I hope to hear more about their beers and brewery in the future!

February 19, 2013September 11, 2018

Saint Archer Brewery

San Diego has (yet another) brewery to frequent! I know new San Diego breweries was my theme in January but I have a feeling that it could be my theme every month.

Here is their mission: “Saint Archer Brewing Company was founded on a unique strain of creative talent: World-class brewers. Artists and musicians. Surfers, skateboarders, and snowboarders…. All coming together with passion and commitment to express our collective true love — handcrafted beer. Saint Archer’s been a long time in the tank and we hope you taste our appreciation and gratitude in every sip.”

They have a starting line-up that includes a blonde a pale and the de rigeur IPA. You can probably now spend a full month drinking in San Diego and not get your hands onto every brewery’s beers. Amazing!

February 19, 2013September 11, 2018

A Hoppy Odyssey for Green Flash

6 Hoppy Beers to be released throughout 2013. That is the trip or “Odyssey” for Green Flash and these beers are not just limited to San Diego! They will be on draft where you usually drink Green Flash.

Here is the info on the planned beers:

February – Black IPA:
“This American-style Black IPA is nearly jet black and perceived to have high hop bitterness, flavor and aroma with medium-high alcohol content, balanced with a medium body. The appearance may trick you into thinking you are about to enjoy a traditional stout beer when in fact your senses are about to be overwhelmed with our Black IPA. Juicy, fruity, floral, and pine from Pacific Northwest hops gives the beer a classic West Coast IPA hop character. The Black IPA is further characterized by a balanced and moderate degree of caramel malt and subdued dark roasted malt flavor and aroma.” 7.2% ABV, 85 IBU
Hops used: Warrior, Citra, Cascade

April – Imperial Red Rye IPA:
“Bigger, bolder, and hoppier is what you get in Green Flash’s Imperial Red Rye IPA…how unusual! This is quite possibly the most amount of flavor that can be packed into a glass of red ale. Columbus hops set the stage for the newly available Mosaic hops (released in 2013) to shine through the rich crystal malt base and a touch of rye malt adds a spicy dryness to accentuate the hop character further.” 8.5% ABV, 80 IBU
Hops used: Columbus and Mosaic

June – Citra Session IPA:
“When new and unique ingredients become available we often feel inspired to make a new brew highlighting that ingredient, here we are highlighting a newer hop variety called Citra. This pale gold Session IPA is brewed with high quality Maris Otter and Vienna Malt but the flavor is dominated by the Citra hop. 100% Citra hop is used to bitter and flavor the brew with additional Citra in the dry hop for aroma intensity. Citrus notes of lemon, orange and grapefruit are the main traits of the hop with light floral and lemon grass undertones. The abv at only 4.5% makes this hop laden brew an easily sessionable quaffer.” 4.5% ABV, 45 IBU
Hops used: Citra
THIS IS THE ONE THAT I BE WATCHING FOR (RIGHT AFTER THE CEDAR PALE)

August – Cedar Plank Pale Ale:
“This hoppy pale ale starts out as 30th Street Pale Ale and then undergoes Spanish cedar aging. Wood aging imparts an intense cedar aroma which dominates the dry hop. The flavor contributions from the Spanish cedar include peppercorn spiciness and a tannic dry mouth feel that makes the hop flavor and bitterness linger in the finish. The wood adds a fun and unique twist on a classic American Strong Pale Ale, “The wood is good!” “6.3 % ABV, 45 IBU
Hops used: Warrior, El Dorado, Cascade

October – Symposium IPA:
“We originally brewed this beer for the 2008 Craft Brewers Conference for the attendees that came from all around the world. The 2008 Symposium IPA was brewed a la San Diego Style with inputs from several brewers around town. This IPA is highly quaffable, pale copper in color, and lighter in body with a profound emphasis on hop extravagance as we added hops at every step throughout the brewing process. We all enjoyed the beer so much that we just had to bring it back for our 8th Anniversary in 2010. Now it’s being released as key brew for our 2013 Hop Odyssey”. 7% ABV, 75 IBU
Hops used: Simcoe, Tomahawk, Amarillo, Cascade, Centennial

December – Double Columbus IPA:
“Brewed with 100% Columbus hops this double IPA is an absolute Columbus hop bomb! Its resinous hop character comes through with huge grapefruit zest and pine notes throughout the brew. The big juicy, fruity, citrus hops add a resinous and almost sticky hop presence in the body making the medium body from crystal malts seem even richer and fuller. This is a hop head’s treat!” 8.8% ABV, 98 IBU
Hops used: Columbus

February 18, 2013September 11, 2018

Review – Samuel Smith’s Organic Chocolate Stout

I have passed by this beer many times and picked up others from the shelves but recently, I picked this and the Old Brewery Pale Ale up to make my ‘fridge more British.

Here is what Samuel Smith of Tadcaster says about this beer, “Brewed with well water (the original well, sunk in 1758, is still in use with the hard water is drawn from 85 feet underground), the gently roasted organic chocolate malt and organic cocoa impart a delicious, smooth and creamy character, with inviting deep flavours and a delightful finish – this is the perfect marriage of satisfying stout and luxurious chocolate.”

It pours a garnet brown with a tan head that fades really quickly. For a relatively low alcohol content of 5.0% abv it leaves some legs on the glass. A cocoa powder / milk chocolate aroma is pervasive. Every time I sniff, it comes across strong without overpowering the senses.

And that chocolate note is the first off the block when you take a sip. It lingers for a bit but then is followed by some coconut (almost Mounds candy bar). That initial two flavors are then quickly subsumed into a cloying sweetness that is then followed by a bitter metallic note. I am glad that it is complex with such a disparate set of flavors but I really like the first half and not so much the second.

For that reason, I have to give it a maybe buy. It may well work better with chocolate or vanilla cake where that sweetness can match up and hopefully dissipate a little.