One of the many breweries that I wish I had more of is Captain Lawrence. And they have a barrel select series that I wish I could get a bottle from each release. Now they have cherry AND raspberry coming after 4 years of resting peacefully in oak.
BONUS – Video Review – Old Guardian Belgo ’11
I was lucky enough to get the 2011 Stone Old Guardian and it’s sibling beer the Old Guardian Belgo in February. I vacillated between what to do with them. Drink them up the minute they hit the right temperature? Cellar them? Break them out and do a tasting?
So I split the difference. I took one to a St. Patrick’s day party to go with corned beef. And now I will review the Belgo…..
a new(er) BoHo
BoHo is one of the beer places that are integral to a craft beer eco-system. They provide a solid list of overlooked beers that go well with food (which they do well, by the way).
So when I saw what looked like a move in the works, I worried at first that they would be going away or morphing into a more mainstream establishment.
Thankfully, they have kept the decor, menu and great beer list with recent taps being Anchor Summer, Cismontane Citizen and Oskar Blues G’Knight to a new location in the Hollywood & Highland complex.
So now tourists will be able to grab an authentic American craft brew while visiting us and if you are in Los Angeles, you should give it a try. Chris Sobolewski does an excellent job with 24 taps and is growing a bottle collection that will augment the kegs nicely.
Don’t put your tongue on it
Now that I have either intrigued you or disgusted you with that title. Here is worse news (especially for your palate).
Just read the website copy, “What is a Beer Froster? A beer froster is a specially-designed refrigerator (well, technically a freezer) that holds beer at 24 degrees… the absolute coldest temperature a beer can get without freezing! Not to be confused with any other appliance, the beer froster gets beer cold and holds it there at that exact, perfect magic temperature!
There are wine refrigerators for wine, and now beer frosters for beer. If you like chilled beer, and you like your beer at its coldest and most refreshing, a beer froster is your newest favorite appliance! For beer as it was meant to be!”
I like “perfect magic temperature” but the last line is the best “as it was meant to be”. Nope and nope. That line of copy is as brazenly wrong as the triple hopped whopper we’ve been served in too many commercials.
Just get a regular ‘fridge.
Galaxy Quest
Here is the press release for the latest Brothers Reserve…
“Since 1984, Kurt and Rob Widmer have been dedicated to creating the deliciously American and European-style beers. The Brothers’ Reserve Series is a showcase fo their innovative skills and creative passion for craft brewing.
Galaxy Hopped Barleywine is a new take on an old favorite. This beer pours a dark crimson, almost mahogany color. The yeast and Galaxy hops(TM) deliver a big bang of red and yellow fruit aromatics like banana, pineapple, cherry and strawberry. The experience begins with a taste of toffee and darkened sweet caramel overlaid on subtle tones of vanilla. All to be punctuated by the floral and citrus dry hop character.
I like the sound of a big barley wine that has hop fruity-ness to it.
Galaxy hops were bred in 1994 by Hop Products Australia. This company owns a hop garden called Rostrevor in North Eastern Victoria where they were grown for the first time. It’s now grown in both Victoria and Tasmania. It is a cross between an Australian female and a male Perle hop.”
This is the first I am seeing the Galaxy hop used unless it is hidden in another beer that I have. If you have tried it, let me know what you think.
Session Fest
11 beers. All under 4.5 in alcohol. What does that equal?
A packed crowd at Eagle Rock Brewery.
I was lucky enough to snag a stool at the crowded bar thanks to my buddy Johnny who got their before me. The first flight had my two favorites of the day. A Kolsch that was simply amazing and my gold medal winner and the Tarte Noir which was their Solidarity beer aged in wine barrels and soured with lacto. But there was a nice range of styles from a best bitter to saison to light red’s. Plus these were all homebrew, special 5 barrel recipes.
I am hoping that they continue doing these and that some of these end up on the regular menu.
PS 612
I have visited the Public School 612 in downtown LA twice now. And both times, I have come away impressed.
I took different people each time to get their impressions. My wife and best beer buddy both commented on the really nice interior. Very calming. Both hip and modern at the same time.
The food has been quite good. The chicken was good and spicy for this scovill wimp and the burger with Huntsman cheese is not for the faint hearted. Bold flavors that you really need to savor and not scarf down.
Beer wise. This is a nice list. I would say you go here when people want something hearty but don’t want to sacrifice craft beer for good food. (Because of this, they have been duly added to my list of places to the right and under my cellar list and links)
The only downside is the noise level. As the evenings wear on, it can get loud. Not Bottega Louie loud but needing to shout loud.
Go early. Settle in and enjoy a great opportunity to pair food and beer.
Get your Hops on!
71
As in 71 IPA’s in under one roof in Redondo Beach. A tremendous number brought together by the industrious Martin Svab and the Naja’s crew.
Here are some photos from the event.
I sampled the Gauntlet from Iron Fist, the new Black IPA from Strand Brewing and Drake’s Symposium IPA. And I wish I could have had more.
Innovate everywhere but on the product
The continuing attempts to improve the bottle while not fixing what is inside continues at Budweiser, home of the industrial water lager.
You can use a coin or a key or heck even your fingernail to write your name or something unfunny on a bottle.
Now if they would just combine all the wonderful technologies together in a vortex, wide mouth etchable bottle.
E-Tour of Whitstran Brewing
The last Washington state brewery to visit is Whitstran in Prosser. And they have a unique brand style that works for me. A little sci-fi’ish but cool. Compare that to their Friar Series of beers…
Friar’s Blessing Raspberry Lambic
“The essence of raspberries sweetens this lambic for a refreshing brew with little hop presence.”
Friar’s Decadence Chocolate Chocolate Imperial Stout
“This is a sweet robust dark ale, with just a hint of chocolate from the baker’s cocoa added to the boil.”
Friar Lawrence Belgium-Style Ale
“The use of caramel and honey malts gives the sweetness, Goldings hops provide the balance and Abbey-style yeast introduces a unique spice character.”
Friar’s Penance Barley Wine Ale
“Fermenting for 9 – 10 months allows the complex flavors to blend to produce a unique brew that is available for a limited time each year.”