There are foods that are improved with the addition of beer in the preparation and others that I am not so sure about and as much as I like marshmallows (especially in hot cocoa) I wonder how Wondermade Beer Marshmallows will make them taste.
But I do know that I would pair them with Base Camp Brewing’s S’more Stout.
Featured Review – Lost Meridian Wit from Base Camp
Our last featured review is a wit by the name of Lost Meridian from Base Camp Brewing of Portland.
This found Wit pours a pleasing hazy orange color. You never know with witbiers, where the brewer wants to take it. Floral, perfumey could be an option or more citrus notes.
Lost Meridian has both. Layered with creamsicle orange and tea-like tannin notes there is also a potpourri touch as well, especially in the aroma. It is dry and bitter as each sip finishes. You could probably also characterize it as being redolent of orange jell-o. But that finish keeps that from getting too out of hand.
Neither flavor knock my socks off though and I would like an edge of spice to round out this beer.
Featured Review – Ultra Gnar Gnar from Base Camp
We turn to Base Camp for beer # 2 in the featured reviews for May. As opposed to many recent hop beers from Session IPA to Imperial have been a lighter shade but Ultra Gnar Gnar pours a near red color with tints of orange to it. Plus for a beer of only 6.7% abv, it has some nice Rorschach lacing on the glass.
The smell is close to apple tree. There is a cider-y undercurrent to this IPA along with a perceptible orange spice tea note. Getting some tannin notes in the flavor along with dried orange peel as well. The bitterness is fairly strong without being oppressive. As it warms up, I get more iced tea on the tongue as well as some grain to toast malt.
It certainly has multiple flavors going on but I wish it had a bit more orange juice to it to balance out the bitterness.
In the Tap Lines for May 2015
We are now moving toward the summer, silly season of festivals here in Los Angeles. Events will be held every weekend from here on out. Angel City first weekend, then Smog City the next (see below) and then Eagle Rock (again, see below) and that is only the tip of the iceberg. Plus a special Up from the Cellar re-visit.
~ e-visits to three breweries from new-ish brewers on the East Coast from Maine to Mass.
~ special reviews of beers from Base Camp of Portland Oregon and Anchor of SF
~ Heads-Up on Los Angeles Beer Events
~ Three suggested beers to buy this month. One light, one medium and one dark
~ Beer-centric podcast review, goes scientific with Gastropod
~ I will tap the Firkin and give my no holds barred opinion on the craft beer world
~ … and Session # 99 will converge bloggers onto a single topic, this month it is Localising Mild
Here are two events to get your May started in the Los Angeles craft beer world:
1) May 9th – Smog City Anniversary
2) May 17th – Session Fest at Eagle Rock Brewery
Video Review – Base Camp In-Tents IPL
The first review of 2013 in intense. It comes from Base Camp Brewing in Portland, Oregon and is an India Pale LAGER!
Here is the description from the website, “Our flagship India Pale Lager showcases a copper color that gives way to a crisp, clean lager beer perfectly balanced in its massive complexity. Dry-hopped and aged on an in-house toasted blend of white and red oaks. The IPL finishes clean and smooth, with hop aromas of wild flowers and pine, and a unique maltiness highlighted by the subtle oak character.”
Base Camp Brewing
I expect a little rustic-ness at most start-up breweries. Toss in the fact that I was in Portland and that the name of the brewery is Base Camp and the rustic quotient should be huge. And it was, but this was an impressive tap room.
Nice and roomy. Though still incomplete in spots the wood and rocks under the tables plus the carabiner’s hanging from the sparkly tap handles made for a warm and classy spot.
I picked up the 9 strong taster tray for a cheap price and set about trying the beers.
My favorite was the cleverly named In-Tents IPL. Nice and citric on the nose with a balanced load of hops. After tasting it I brought a can home to L.A. with me. Of course the can is shaped like a bottle but that doesn’t detract from the beer inside. Second and winner for presentation was the S’More Stout which came garnished with a toasted marshmallow. First time I had seen that effective touch. It was a lovely stout. Smooth with roast notes.
Some of the other beers tasted good but suffered from being style misplaced. The brown ale was more a hoppy red and the kolsch was way to un-crisp for that style though still tasty.
Enough promise is shown here and great branding style that I will return when next I hit Portland.
Portland in November & December
Flying the week after Thanksgiving is the way to go. Literally, no one was in the TSA line. I just walked right up and was through. That quickly, my trip to Portland had begun.
Each time that I head north, I make a list of places to go. Belmont Station is on it every time. Other points on the map come and go but for this trip, I wanted to make my first visits to two specific places and a long awaited return trip to an old favorite.
After buying way too much at Belmont Station, I headed along with my mom and wife to Upright Brewing. Near the Trailblazer’s Rose Garden. The brewing space is in the basement of a multi-use building. Little to no seating and no bar! The server was standing next to some taps and a chalkboard. You order and you try to find a spot to stand amongst the brewing equipment.
My sampler included Todo Modo, Pearwood Smoked lager, Bad Brains and Seven aged with Brett. Personally the lighter colors were the best. The two dark lagers were fine but could not compete with the flavors of the other two.
Next stop was Widmer. I haven’t visited the Gasthaus in forever. Checking their website before I left, I noticed they had a trio of New Zealand hop offerings. So I ordered that!
The Pacific Gem was the best of the group. But all really showcased the difference in hops from one part of the world. I got citrus, fruit punch and grape notes and pear too. All with a pleasant kick of bitterness.
My other new to me visit (though I have had a few of their beers was Gigantic Brewing. Tucked into (you guessed it) an industrial part of SE Portland is their very pretty space with Portland Timber and label artwork adorning the walls. No Axes of Evil. Though I wanted to try it. I started with Ume Umai…
…a red hued beer with a nice effervescence and a nice push of plum taste. A really great fruit accented beer. I finished with their winter tipple, Old Man Gower which was a pleasant strong ale.
The last stop was spontaneous and I will talk more about Base Camp Brewing in a later post but suffice it to say it was a beautiful tap room and their S’more Stout had a toasted marshmallow!
