Mississippi Brewing

Living in a “catching up to the craft beer leaders” city like L.A. gives me empathy for other locales that are now ratcheting up their own beer community. So a shout out to the south today for a beerier 2013.

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Southern Prohibition Brewery will be brewing (hopefully by spring) in a former furniture warehouse to house a 20-barrel brewing system capable of producing up to 3,000 barrels of beer a year.
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Gordon Creek Brewery is mere blocks from Southern Prohibition and they will be brewing on a small 5 barrel system near the creek that provided the name of their business starting in (again hopefully) February.

Both are in Hattieburg, Mississippi.

In the Tap Lines for March 2013

My March is full of birthday’s, so it is full of occasions to crack open those beers that have been down in the cellar. What will you be cellaring or drinking during March? It is traditionally a time for bocks and more maltier offerings but in our crazy American beer culture it can be time for anything! Plus…..

~ e-visits to the newest breweries in Tennessee like The Smoky Mountain Brewery and Saw Works
~ video reviews tackles two brown ales (one canned and one not) plus more beer reviews minus the videos
~ Three suggested beers to buy this month
~ I will tap the Firkin and give my opinion on the craft beer world
~ … and Session # 73 will converge bloggers onto a single topic
~ plus many more posts about new beers, beer products and breweries

Here are two events to get your November started in the Los Angeles craft beer world:
1) March 1st Beer Appreciation Night at Far Bar with Ohana Brewing/Bierkast/LA Ale Works
2) March 28th Hangar 24 Brew with the Brewer w/ release of Pugachev’s Cobra at all (3) Congregation Alehouses

A Hoppy Odyssey for Green Flash

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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

Firestone-Walker Invitational

Last year’s Invitational from Firestone-Walker was a rousing success from all accounts. (I did not make it, can’t make every event) and the tickets will be going on sale in a week for the 2013 version.
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Firestone-Walker Invitational Beer Festival
40+ breweries 20+ restaurants
Ticket price: $75 (plus fees) includes:

An afternoon of tasting amazing domestic and international craft beers with the brewers themselves, as well as delectible bites from the best restaurants on the Central Coast. The event will run from 1:00pm to 6:00pm, however, food and beer service will end at 5:00pm.

There will be live bands playing throughout the day on the Frontier Town stage, with the headliner band taking the stage around 5:00pm.

“Behind the Beer Sessions” will occur each hour and feature beer tastings and Q & A sessions with the brewmasters themselves.

A commemorative tasting glass

In the Tap Lines for January 2013

Now that the Mayan death apocalypse (and New Year’s Eve) has passed and beer is still being brewed, it is time to jump into 2013 with both feet for another great year with our favorite beverage. Here is what is on tap here at the Beer Search Party for January.

~ e-visits to the newest breweries in the San Diego area
~ video reviews tackles two randomly selected ‘fridge beers plus more reviews minus videos
~ Three suggested beers to buy this month
~ I will tap the Firkin and give my opinion on the craft beer world
~ … and Session # 71 will converge bloggers onto a single topic
~ plus many more posts about new beers, beer products and breweries

Here are two events to get your November started in the Los Angeles craft beer world:
1) January 5th – Sierra Nevada Tap Take-over at Blue Palms
2) January 29th – L.A. Craft Beer Blogger meeting at Chloes at the Pub at Golden Road

The Firkin for December 2012

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Now that we have almost finished 2012 without the Mayan Apocalypse destroying us all, it is time to mentally prepare for our 2013 beer year but first I want to lay down some ground rules to remember before popping the cap or tab on your first beer of the new year.

1. Be adventurous – The name of this very blog is part of my beer mission statement. Search out new beer! It doesn’t mean you don’t go back to old favorites from time to time but don’t just stagnate. For example, I am not a fan of Black or Cascadian IPA’s. But I will try some in 2013 nonetheless. Why? Because I may find my new favorite beer.

2. Be Constructive – If you don’t like a beer, don’t just slam it like some crazed Yelp reviewer. If it is to minerally for your taste then say that. If it is a host of reasons, then list them. At the very least, give an example of a beer you like in the style and why it is and this beer isn’t. At least express your opinion without being opinionated.

3. Make a beer trip – OK this is more for me than maybe others. But set out for a weekend beer excursion. From L.A., you could hit Temecula and their new breweries or head to the San Diego area and hit 400 or so breweries. Whichever direction the winds take you, do it.

Lastly, remember that beer is fun. Don’t get too uptight about it.

Happy New Year!