Tag: beer reviews

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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.

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Review – 2 from Angel City

Thanks to the kindness of Angel City, I got the chance to try two new lighter beers from the DTLA brewery. Here are the quick reviews…

To Live and Thai in L.A. – I expected a little more lime zing or a bit something extra from this pilsner. It is solid, I would have liked it a bit more crisp and less bready but mostly was looking for the Thai part of it.

L.A. Blonde – First off, I am a Timbers fan so this beer, clothed in LAFC colors needed to win me over, and it did. It had the easy drinking blonde ale down. Looked a very pretty, bright yellow and hit the malt notes and mouthfeel that I expected.

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In the Tap Lines for April 2020

header_attractionsMarch was not a good month.  I wish I had my receipt so that I could get my money back on those 31 days.  Hopefully April will be full of washed hands and six feet of distance and less bad posts on social media.  I will keep up the parade of good beer news while talking about what will happen when the virus dust has settled

~ e-visits to (3)  breweries from states hit hard from CoronaVirus
~ special featured reviews of canned IPAs from Strand 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 Dutch House by Ann Patchett
~ A Podcast & A Beer listens to Gangster Capitalism
~ 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 March 2020

header_attractionsEnough of Oregon blog posts.  Well, I don’t say that but after a trip north, it is time to re-focus on what is happening here in Los Angeles, along with the following fun….

~ e-visits to (3)  Las Vegas breweries – Able Baker, Banger and Crafthaus
~ special featured reviews of beers from the Wheel O’ 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 Tightrope
~ A Podcast & A Beer listens to Dead Eyes
~ 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.

Here are two events to get your March started in the Los Angeles craft beer world:
1) March 14th – Select Beer Store 8th Anniversary
2) March 21st – Common Space 2nd Anniversary

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Super Beers 2020

Yesterday, the ol’ pigskin was tossed around at…

Here is my ranking of the beers tasted during the pre-game, the game, the half-time and finally watching the Chiefs accepting the trophy after a very long wait.

  1. Stone 02.02.2020 Epic Palindrome Ale -sort of an amped up Witbier meets Belgian Golden. This had a touch of spice and a smaller touch of citrus but after a pile of IPA’s this was the most interesting beer sip after sip.
  2. Port Brewing Wipeout IPA – Solid and nicely bitter in the West Coast Style. Light malt base and one that I did not forget during the game.
  3. Strand Brewing White Sand DIPA – As is usual with Strand, malt forward with hops filling in gaps like linebackers. Very old school.
  4. Track 7 Left Eye, Right Eye DIPA – Fine. Didn’t move the needle for me.
  5. New Belgium Voodoo Ranger IPA – This gets a pass because I think it was old and stale.
  6. Cellador Petalum – First, this gushed. And it gushed bright red. Then the smell of beets just took over. No sour, no wild just beet juice. I took a few swallows and was done.