Tag: beer reviews

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Featured Review – (Nuclear) Power Plant from El Segundo Brewing

It’s Meltdown time of year and due to obvious reasons, the trio of speciality beers from El Segundo Brewing moved to the can format, let’s dive into the capsule reviews of two of the three…

TIPA – Pours a bright vibrant yellow. This warms the cheeks real quick. Alcohol is right on the top of this TIPA but I also get cherry and grape notes filling the gaps in between.  When it comes to big beers like this heaviness can wear down the drinker. Especially in a 16oz can format but the PP is still sprightly even at 11.1%. 

QIPA – initial aroma and first sip is super close in profile with PP. I would say more grape notes emerge as well. Canned and drunk within 4 days. Has a good balance of boozy, hoppy and malt. Just a skosh spikier when you sip. 

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BrewDog AF – Part 2

Back to the Alcohol Free brewed in Columbus , BrewDog AF beer reviews. Who will win the crown?

I start the second set of beers with their most widely known near beer, Nanny State. A beer initially brewed to make a point about bar regulations and drunkenness.

Now, the can does not have the style on it. Without Googling, I guessed hoppy ESB or hoppy brown. Turns out it is slotted into the pale ale category. I get much more of a hop tea flavor profile here. The hops are dialed up a bit which helps make this one taste the least thin and watery of the group so far. Dare I say it is the one that is closest to tasting like a real beer.

Similar to the Elvis AF, this has a big grapefruit aroma and that’s flavor follows through into the first sips. Crisp at first. Almost a salty tang to it as well before it fades into a wet finishing mouthfeel. Little bit of pine notes tucked into this as well. Going on the, “Does this taste like beer” spectrum, it is closer than the group one beers. And closer than Nanny State which had more of a tea note to it.

Finally we get to the lone dark beer in the portfolio. Wake Up Call, subtitled an All Day Coffee Stout. It has a really nice fresh brewed aroma and the taste is lime a subdued cold brew without the acid bite you get from that form of coffee. Still a bit thin at the back but overall could fool one into thinking it is a session coffee beer.

That just leaves the ranking:

  • 6. Punk AF
  • 5. Hazy AF
  • 4. Nanny State
  • 3. Elvis AF
  • 2. Ghost Walker
  • 1. Wake Up Call
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Featured Review – Canbic from Beachwood Blendery

Since it is NFL Playoff time, I am calling a featured review audible and will be reviewing a variety of beers this month with no theme, starting with Canbic from the Beachwood Blendery.

This lambic inspired ale pours a rosy color and that first sip does transport you to Belgium. Fruity with a pucker stuck to it. Cherry is the first flavor that I get followed by lemonade and then a wee little touch of vinegar to cap it off. There is a medium level of barnyardy note in here as well. Get a nice spinach salad with blue cheese as a counterweight and this would really work well as a beverage type vinaigrette.

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In the Tap Lines for August 2020

header_attractionsI keep saying each month that the next month will be better.  And I see no reason to stop now, right?  August has to be better.  Anyhoo, let’s see the good beer news coming over the next 31 days.

~ e-visits to (3) breweries from the Garden State of New Jersey – Alementary, Fort Nonsense and Chimney Rustic Ales
~ special featured reviews of beers of Black is Beautiful beers and one Take Action IPA
~ Heads-Up on Los Angeles Beer Events (Far in the future events)
~ Three suggested beers to buy this month. One light, one medium and one dark
~ A Book & A Beer reads Unorthodox by Deborah Feldman
~ A Podcast & A Beer listens to Creating Cashflow
~ Great Beer names and Best Beers of the Month
~ I will tap the Firkin and give my no holds barred opinion on the craft beer world.

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In the Tap Lines for July 2020

header_attractionsJuly is the summer month for me.  A time to try to keep cool, have a staycation, visit the beach, use that accrued vacation time.  Two out of four ain’t bad.  But hopefully, I can brighten the world with news and fun about our favorite beverage.

~ e-visits to (3) breweries from across our nation to celebrate Independence Day and independence from bland beer
~ special featured reviews of beers from new Glendale brewery Paperback Brewing
~ Heads-Up on Los Angeles Beer Events (Far in the future events)
~ Three suggested beers to buy this month. One light, one medium and one dark
~ A Book & A Beer reads American Spy by Lauren Wilkinson
~ A Podcast & A Beer listens to Heaven Bent
~ Great Beer names and Best Beers of the Month
~ I will tap the Firkin and give my no holds barred opinion on the craft beer world.

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Smog City Crowlers

I ordered up some can, bottle and crowler goodies from Smog City and now is the time to give my thoughts on …..

Starting with the crowler of Practicing Perfection Pale Ale which pours a dark orange color. I get a bit of Sweet Tart in the aroma along with some orange zest. The juicy bitterness really lingers on the palate. Getting a bit of lime and grapefruit here as well.

Next up is the wordplay of Mosaic Me Crazy. The crowler cracks open with a really nice aroma.  Bright and citrusy.  Clear yellow in color. Pear notes and some lime lemon citrus.  Strong bitterness.  Crisp. 

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In the Tap Lines for June 2020

header_attractionsWe start off June with a five question interview with Partake Brewing who is in the N/A beer space and will quickly move on to….

~ e-visits to (3)  breweries who might need a re-introduction to fans
~ special featured reviews of (5) beers from Partake Brewing!
~ Heads-Up on Los Angeles Beer Events (Far in the future events)
~ Three suggested beers to buy this month. One light, one medium and one dark
~ A Book & A Beer reads The Great Influenza by John Barry
~ A Podcast & A Beer listens to Forgotten Stories of Football
~ Great Beer names and Best Beers of the Month
~ I will tap the Firkin and give my no holds barred opinion on the craft beer world.

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Review – Beer of the Month Club – Rare Beers

It is always good to get a box of beer in the mail and in these times of unopened taprooms, it is a safer way to get your beer to you and then if you want something that not everyone can get? Well then you really should take a look at the Rare Beer Club. The two beers that I received came with a full story on the brewery and the beer as well as an extra tidbit of info on beer in general. And for the beers, if the photo did not pique your interest, maybe the reviews below will.

17 – Pours a jet black color with dark brown bubbles around the rim. The mint is shy at first but as the beer warms really dials up. Chocolate lies underneath the mint as a subtle counterpoint. It really tastes like a mint chip ice cream even without any lactose. 

Righteous Son – I want to say sweetness at first but the better word pairing is rustic caramel.  There is a slight bourbon undertone but instead of being a featured performer it is more background. There is a pleasant mustiness here. English meets restrained America. Aroma has a leather quality to it.  A Sunday sipper.

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Review – Crowlers from Brouwerij West

I made a drive while the roads were still clear by LA standards to pick-up some crowlers from Brouwerij West. I went overboard on the beers chosen. Going for a certain theme.

Little Baby Satan – You can smell the citrus right away. Very Orange Julius. Pours a super hazy light orange/yellow. Thick tasting.  Getting a creamy note followed by a pillowy bitterness. This hits all the hazy hallmarks.

Stigmata – Orange pekoe tea smell.  Nice bitterness level.  Floral notes here as well. Getting some grape flavor as well Really diggin the experimental hops used here, quite a complex profile. . Bright and clear in color.

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In the Tap Lines for May 2020

header_attractionsWell April was not a fun month either  maybe May will break this bad streak that we are on.  Remember, do not drink bleach or Tide Pods, drink local

~ e-visits to (3)  breweries that have done Quarantine themed beers
~ special featured reviews of beers from Cerveceria del Pueblo and others
~ Heads-Up on Los Angeles Beer Events (Far in the future events)
~ Three suggested beers to buy this month. One light, one medium and one dark
~ A Book & A Beer reads We Ride Upon Sticks by Quan Barry
~ A Podcast & A Beer listens to Deciding Westworld
~ Great Beer names and Best Beers of the Month
~ I will tap the Firkin and give my no holds barred opinion on the craft beer world.