Follow Sean Inman to the best in craft beer
The Bixby Knolls section of Long Beach has not only The Factory for craft beer but now I have learned there is a bottle shop in those whereabouts as well. California Heights Market can be the place to check out their beer collection.
You can never have a big enough arsenal of beer stores (especially in the vast and quite often traffic ridden expanses of the LA area) so I am happy there is another location that offers up the good stuff.
A new (occasional) feature on this here blog is what I’m calling “Drinking with Mom”. I will be sending beers to her in Portland and she will send some to me in Los Angeles. Or we will pick a beer we can both get and we will compare notes on the beer. The point being to get a different perspective on the craft beer revolution. One beer at a time. A little background. My mom is primarily a wine drinker with a particular soft spot for champagnes. When it comes to beer she prefers the porter/stout style. But not the imperial stout.
First up is Equinox from Eagle Rock Brewery.
It is a sour blonde ale with Brett yeast. Now this was a reach on my part. This is out of my mom’s comfort beer range for sure. Back in 2010, my review of the beer when it first came out was as follows, “pours really yellow. aroma is faint but a little fruity. sourness is minimal but the acid does leave its mark. very refreshing. one of my favorite sour ales so far because it doesn’t try to pucker your mouth into a grimace” I gave it a 3.7 out of 5.
My mom was “pleasantly surprised” despite not being a sour fan. She found it refreshing, easy to drink and effervescent. She appreciated the light touch on the sourness. She explained that it was similar in many respects to champagne. The Brett didn’t register as too big either because she didn’t even mention it. Maybe the cage and cork played into the wine aesthetic?
On a final note, my brother in law tasted as well and with he gave it a thumbs up too. So there you go, three different enthusiastic reviews! Check Eagle Rock’s taproom to see if any bottles are left of that or their second anniversary beer, Deuce.
Looks like North Coast is following up on the popularity of the Old Stock Ale with a version by the name of Ōtsuchi 2012.
A quick search on the interwebs says that Otsuchi is a town in Japan or a war mallet. What meaning that imparts into the beer is your guess until it arrives and we can taste it.
Here is the full info on the re-scheduled Winter colLAboration event.
“Winter ColLAboration is back on! The mobile craft beer garden (from the brains behind Tony’s Darts Away/Mohawk Bend/Golden Road Brewing, Verdugo Bar/Surly Goat, Blue Palms and 38 Degrees) will be revived in the form of a weather-proof, indoor late-winter wonderland on Sunday, February 26th at the Belasco Theater in Downtown L.A. – located conveniently near the Metro Blue Line. 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.
As previously planned, the garden will feature a selection of winter brews and favorites from: Anchor Steam, Avery, Bootleggers, Bruery, Beachwood, Cismontane, Dogfish Head , Eagle Rock Brewery, Eel River, Firestone Walker, Hangar 24, Golden Road Brewing, Lost Abbey, New Belgium, Oskar Blues, Russian River, Sierra Nevada, Smog City, Stone, TAPS and many more.
Food will be available onsite.
Limited-edition Winter Fest Steins are $15 while supplies last. Any 2011 ColLAb glasses can be used for admission; most beers will be $5 to $6.”
The 2012 version of the classic barley wine from Stone will be hitting shelves in two days but even better, tomorrow at the World Bistro and Gardens, starting at 11am, you will have the opportunity to try this year’s model as well as the the previous 12 vintages. And that includes the VERY LAST CASE of ’99. The old century’s barley wine is almost history.
Ommegang has gone to the dark side. Putting their spin onto a dark Belgian ale. Might be one to put into the cellar to replace what I have taken out this month.
This month is all about opening up the cellar. Not only will I do it for two reviews this month but also for Open It! which occurs on the weekend of the 24th-26th and for my birthday as well.
It is time to see how the aging experiments are going. We start with White Oak from The Bruery…
For the month of February, I am highlighting breweries that opened in 2011. And our first stop is Florida and Tequesta Brewing Company.
And with beers like these Der Chancellor, Gnarly Barley, Terminally Ale, Julios Speltacular Weizen, Australian Amber, Vier Belgian Quad, Green Room’s Under Tow Barleywine, Green Room’s Head High IPA and Monk in the Trunks special release Belgian IPA, it looks like this new outfit is willing to take on many beer styles and many beer names as well.
Cheers to making Florida a better beer destination!
Fresh off the release of their anniversary beer, Deuce, the Eagle Rock crew will be bringing Libertine back in a release party tomorrow night.
Here are the details…..”Yay! Libertine is coming back online after a long long wait! Our Belgian Amber Wit is made with honey and is the perfect Valentine’s Day treat for you and your hunny bunny to share… Or if you don’t like to share, then get a growler for each of you!
Whether you’re having it for Valentine’s Day or not, hurry up and get some because it won’t last long!
@iHeartPies will be onsite as well, to feed you some amazing treats (and gift ideas?)
It’s also TRIVIA NIGHT, so come test your brains against our Trivia Hosts…ones MIT, one drives things on Mars. Three rounds per night, and your welcome to join in at anytime. Each round you and your team (no more than 4) can win the best prize off all, FREE BEER. The nights overall winner gets some ERB swag to go with their already great night. What more could you ask for?”
