Some interesting developments from Portland’s organic HUB, “Hopworks is introducing a new series of bottle conditioned beers featuring classic European styles through our own Northwest perspective. The first in this series is an Abbey Ale. The second in the series is a Belgian Pale Ale, launching in July.
Hopworks Organic Belgian-Style Abbey Ale is made with this year’s Portland’s Cheers to Belgian Beers yeast, Abbey is made with five different organic malts and organic dark brown sugar, resulting in a complex multi-layered aroma. The flavor is equally rich with a caramel malty sweet, fruity flavor finished with effervescent carbonation and a smooth, warming alcohol finish.”
I am a big fan of 10 Barrel beer and of Tonya Cornett. Heck, I am a big fan of beer from Bend. Of which, I can’t get much except for Deschutes. But a Brown ale forward ale with some hops sounds good to me.
I would love to see a mobile cannery in these parts for the small guys but I don’t know how feasible it is time and money wise for the brewer, canner and customer to all succeed.
Seems like the dynamic duo of Grossman and Calagione have more on their minds than just Life and Limb. They also want to build a better glass and just for IPA’s. They took time to taste Stone’s IPA as well as their own offerings in different glasses from the famed Riedel people. Sounded like a fun way to spend two hours.
Check out the story from The Philly Beer Scene HERE! Then look forward to a better way to celebrate the hop.
I slowly am visiting all of the new and (at this point, not so new) L.A. beer locales. And last Tuesday, I finally checked in at Buzz Wine and Beer in Downtown L.A.
The Beer is just inside the front door to the left and all chilled as well with many a style including what I purchased, Adnam’s Broadside and Grand Teton’s Snarling Badger Berliner Weisse as well as locals like Eagle Rock and Golden Road.
And if you are not grabbing to-go, you can also take a seat at their small beer and gaze upon the taps.
I went with the new 2012 Hoptimum from Sierra Nevada which to my palate tasted better than I remember from the past.
Good to have another addition to not only Downtown LA but to the L.A. Craft Beer scene in whole.
Firestone Walker Backyard BBQ with (8) Firestone Taps + Surprise Keg!
BBQ gets fired up at 5pm!!! and featuring:
Wookey Jack
Double Jack
Unfiltered Double Barrel Ale
Union Jack
Solace Summer Ale
Walker’s Reserve Porter
Pale 31
Double Barrel Ale.
There will also be a SURPRISE CASK ALE flowing from a hand pump that Firestone Walker is bringing especially for this momentous night.
BBQ Menu
We’ll be serving a Firestone Walker inspired BBQ menu, including the
“Juicy Dolan” – named For Firestone’s own Cathy Dolan – This Port Salut Stuffed Ribeye Burger is topped with all the fixin’s including a proprietary Firestone Walker Double Barrel Ale BBQ Sauce!!!
Summer Solace Salad – which is a stone fruit salad topped with a Solace Vinaigrette.
The Sloppiest Beef Po Boy that You’ve Ever Eaten rounds out the menu for the night with Slaw and Grapefruit Union Jack Reduction Sauce.
Twisted Pine out of Boulder, Colorado has started a Farm to Foam project and in the process have created an IPA with carrots!
Yup, Bugs Bunny approved. I am not a big carrot juice fan, I miss the texture of the actual carrot but combined with hops. Who knows? At least worthy of a taster. And if nothing else, it puts a spotlight on Farmer’s Markets which is a good thing because they have much in common with the craft beer community.
Here is another SoCal brewery to keep an eye on as it puts the brewing equipment into place, Rip Current Brewing. You can check them out on FaceBook and eventually on their own website in the future.
The pace of new breweries is simply amazing, especially in locales that you would think have enough already. Now if we can get some East Coast brewers to build in LA.
The week began in flight. A flight of Craftsman beers in Highland Park at Maximilliano. Three of which I hadn’t had before including Ochre (a sour ale), Point Five (the session IPA), Juniper (made with, you guessed it juniper) and the new Maximilliano House beer which is on a 1903 lager base but with oregano added. It is the one on the far left in the photo below.
Tuesday was a double shot. Finished at the Pub at Golden Road and had some Double Jack and Parabola from 2010 in Burbank at Tony’s Darts Away during Firestone-Walker night. the new Golden Road Berliner Weisse Parabola from 2010
Wednesday was Beer Belly and the Bruery, hello again Fruet!
I also got a taste of Carmen with cranberries. Though not as sour as Filmishmish this was two distinct sour notes. One from the beer and one from the fruit.
I took Thursday and Friday off in preparation for two events on Saturday. First was the Farmer’s Market FestivAle at Blue Palms and second was the Eagle Rock Session Fest.
Blue Palms put quite the menu together in honor of fruit and vegetables. . Of the beers that I sampled the Honey Bee Hefe from nearby Golden Road was my favorite. Lost some of the hefe-ness but made up for it with a strong honey and pollen taste. And it was beautifully cloudy. I was a bit disappointed by the Almanac Fennel Biere de Mars and the Magnolia Gruit but the Ballast Point Winter San Salvador with all San Diego ingredients was quite nice though heavy on the bay leaves.
Then lastly on to Session Fest at Eagle Rock and boy was I shocked by how much I enjoyed the two beers that I had. By far the most flavorful and interesting of 2012. I started with the Citrus Basil Party and it was just that. Both ingredients there in ample amounts but not over the top. Light and refreshing and a pretty yellow. (Though not as pretty as the pink Kolsch). I followed that up with the Brett-a-Colada which was fantastic. Funky light farmhouse nose and initial taste followed by a wallop of coconut and fruit and then a gentle cooking spice note. Really interesting take that I enjoyed.
Occasionally, some Randall action happens at special beer events. But it is not commonplace at bars. But now for an Andrew Jackson you can get the Jr. version from Dogfish Head and start experimenting.
“So you’ve tried to acquire the Randall 3.0 and it’s either out of stock or out of your price range, right? Well, we heard you and here’s the answer! The same concept in a much more convenient size and price tag. The Randall Jr. allows you to infuse your favorite brew with just about whatever ingredients you can think up. Midas Touch with lime and mint? Yes please! World Wide Stout with espresso beans? You betcha! Just place the ingredients in the Randall Jr. and pour the beer right over them. Place in a cold climate such as the fridge for 10 minutes or so and you’ve got an amazing concoction on your hands! Share with a friend…or not…we’re not judging.”
