Tag: beer reviews

Posted on

In the Tap Lines for October 2025

We are heading into back-to-back-to back holidays until the end of the year and we are heading into the same for craft beer. From Oktoberfest to Fresh Hop to Winter Ales, which should not be on shelves, Lookin’ at You, Deschutes.

~ e-visits to (3) breweries from Baseball Playoff Cities

~ special featured reviews of two drastically different choices from Sierra Nevada Brewing

~Heads-Up on Los Angeles Beer Events

~ Three suggested beers to buy this month. One light, one medium and one dark

~ A Book & A Beer reads The Paris Express by Emma Donoghue

~ A Podcast & A Beer listens to The Water Road

~ Sports & A Beer returns with NFL teams that have Regressed

~ New Beer Releases and Best Beers of the Month

~ I will tap the Firkin and give my no holds barred opinion on the craft beer world.

Posted on

In the Tap Lines for September 2025

September when one turns away from Oktoberfest beers because it is now Christmas season according to all the stores and because all the Festbiers came out early in August and are now kaput. But it is also the time for…..

~ e-visits to (3) breweries from Baltimore

~ special featured reviews of a bevy of hoppy beers from the likes of Russian River and Stone

~Heads-Up on Los Angeles Beer Events

~ Three suggested beers to buy this month. One light, one medium and one dark

~ A Book & A Beer reads some Stephen King

~ A Podcast & A Beer listens to Hard Knocks

~ Sports & A Beer returns with the Portland Trailblazers have been sold!

~ New Beer Releases and Best Beers of the Month

~ I will tap the Firkin and give my no holds barred opinion on the craft beer world.

Posted on

In the Tap Lines for August 2025

California is now entering the 3rd of three months of hot weather, sure, there have been some June Gloom mornings and it hasn’t be triple digits hot but it does wear on you and it does challenge one to find beers that don’t lead directly to naps. BSP will endeavor to help you chart a fun course through the sunny days to just the right beer(s).

~ e-visits to (3) breweries from Riverside, California

~ special featured reviews of a bevy of beer styles

~Heads-Up on Los Angeles Beer Events

~ Three suggested beers to buy this month. One light, one medium and one dark

~ A Book & A Beer reads The Murderbot Diaries

~ A Podcast & A Beer listens to All Systems Read

~ Sports & A Beer returns with the Premier League Kick Off

~ New Beer Releases and Best Beers of the Month

~ I will tap the Firkin and give my no holds barred opinion on the craft beer world.

Posted on

In the Tap Lines for July 2025

We are no entering the back half of this Annus Horribilus, aka 2025. And here I want to make a plea to Los Angeles craft beer fans to go out and visit an L.A. brewery. Use a vacation day, head out on a Sunday but please go out and support our breweries. Then post about it, let people know that L.A. (or your city) is not some bad place that must be warred upon by its own Federal governmenr.

~ e-visits to (3) breweries from Vinepair’s Best New U.S. breweries

~ special featured reviews of a bevy of beer styles

~Heads-Up on Los Angeles Beer Events

~ Three suggested beers to buy this month. One light, one medium and one dark

~ A Book & A Beer reads Weep – Slack Jaw by Eion Brady

~ A Podcast & A Beer listens to Lost Notes – Groupies

~ Sports & A Beer returns with Club World Cup

~ New Beer Releases and Best Beers of the Month

~ I will tap the Firkin and give my no holds barred opinion on the craft beer world.

Posted on

In the Tap Lines for June 2025

Back in the states for hopefully some June gloom as I was starting to like the rainy Irish weather. This is L.A. Beer Week Month, so expect some posts from around the Southland as we all celebrate L.A. even in these uncertain and troublesome times.

~ e-visits to (3) breweries from Northern Ireland, more specifically, Belfast

~ special featured review of the 2025 Unity Brew from ISM Brewing.

~Heads-Up on Los Angeles Beer Events

~ Three suggested beers to buy this month. One light, one medium and one dark

~ A Book & A Beer reads Going to the Match by Duncan Hamilton

~ A Podcast & A Beer listens to DC High Volume – Batman

~ Sports & A Beer returns with the off season

~ New Beer Releases and Best Beers of the Month

~ I will tap the Firkin and give my no holds barred opinion on the craft beer world.

Posted on

In the Tap Lines for April 2025

Heading into the 2nd quarter of a truly horrendous 2025 here in America. If you are reading this in an airport or dock as you make your escape Casablanca style from this country, I will keep you updated on the beers of SoCal and the rest of what’s left and I hope I will hear about wonderful beers from other countries.

~ e-visits to (3) breweries from Vinepair’s Breweries to Watch list

~ special featured reviews

~Heads-Up on Los Angeles Beer Events

~ Three suggested beers to buy this month. One light, one medium and one dark

~ A Book & A Beer reads Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir

~ A Podcast & A Beer listens to Setting the Table

~ Sports & A Beer returns with NBA tanking

~ New Beer Releases and Best Beers of the Month

~ I will tap the Firkin and give my no holds barred opinion on the craft beer world.

Posted on

In the Tap Lines for March 2025

Spring sprang into summer in February so lighter, crisper beers are already in season as it were. Also in season is basketball and soccer plus….

~ e-visits to (3) breweries that will be pouring at the Firestone Walker Invitational Beer Festival

~ special featured reviews

~Heads-Up on Los Angeles Beer Events

~ Three suggested beers to buy this month. One light, one medium and one dark

~ A Book & A Beer reads Watford Forever

~ A Podcast & A Beer listens to Good Hang with Amy Poehler

~ Sports & A Beer returns with Why does March Madness not seem a sell-out but College football does?

~ New Beer Releases and Best Beers of the Month

~ I will tap the Firkin and give my no holds barred opinion on the craft beer world.

Posted on

Review – Capital of Craft SD West Coast IPA

A bit late to the 2024 party but when I saw an October canned San Diego Brewers Guild IPA, I thought it would be a good opportunity to review a hoppy beer a couple months on and if anyone could do it, it would be six San Diego breweries.

You have Black Plague, Ketch Brewing, Blah Brewing, Hoponymous Brewing, Fall Brewing and Hodad’s Brewing involved this time.

The Beer pours a light orange color with a dried citrus aroma and a pineapple note. There is a nice creamsicle taste to this with a firm malt backing to it. Nice and light but not anywhere near watery.

Posted on

In the Tap Lines for February 2025

My favorite month is here. Mostly ’cause it is my birthday month and I use all 28 or 29 days that I get to the point of exhausting everyone else. For this blog, I will do my best to exhaust you with beer news.

~ e-visits to (3) breweries from Oregon

~ special featured reviews

~Heads-Up on Los Angeles Beer Events

~ Three suggested beers to buy this month. One light, one medium and one dark

~ A Book & A Beer reads Our Share of Night

~ A Podcast & A Beer listens to An Arm and a Leg

~ Sports & A Beer returns with How to Fix the Blazers

~ New Beer Releases and Best Beers of the Month

~ I will tap the Firkin and give my no holds barred opinion on the craft beer world.

Posted on

In the Tap Lines for January 2025

Strap in folks, there is gonna be some turbulence in 2025. I have mentioned, just yesterday in fact, that economics are going to be bad and the now annual Dry January will not help the beer world so be kind and helpful to counteract the bad vibes that are sure to be spinning.

~ e-visits to (3) breweries from Hop Culture’s Best of List

~ special featured reviews

~Heads-Up on Los Angeles Beer Events

~ Three suggested beers to buy this month. One light, one medium and one dark

~ A Book & A Beer reads Knife by Salman Rushdie

~ A Podcast & A Beer listens to Sherlock Holmes Short Stories

~ Sports & A Beer returns with teams that are easy to hate

~ New Beer Releases and Best Beers of the Month

~ I will tap the Firkin and give my no holds barred opinion on the craft beer world.