Tag: beer reviews

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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.
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Up From the Cellar – Propagation 001 from Beachwood Blendery

I dipped back into my purposefully dwindling cellar stash since the weather has turned a bit cold at night and hot at day so I needed something in-between and I found this gem from the early days of Beachwood Blendery...

This brings back memories from the very start of Beachwood Blendery. The cage was harder to pry off than the cork but once inside I found a simple Brett-astic small Saison.  It made my stomach gurgle that night but this was a lovely sipper. Pours with a thick meringue foam.  The flavor is all Brett but not overpoweringly so.  It is easy to imagine this being a part of a blend. Lot of barnyard funk. Tiny bit of old hat as well. 

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In the Tap Lines for November 2019

header_attractionsWe are close to the end of the decade but we have two big holidays left on the calendar.  So some holiday beers will be seen popping up plus a bunch of other fun stuff.

~ e-visits to three breweries from Portland, Oregon to honor the start of the Portland Trailblazers 50th season in the NBA
~ special featured reviews of Saison Dupont matched against other Saisons
~ 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 Full Throttle by Joe Hill
~ A Podcast & A Beer listens to Startup to Storefront
~ I will tap the Firkin and give my no holds barred opinion on the craft beer world.

Here are two events to get your November started in the Los Angeles craft beer world:
1) November 2nd – Field of Drafts Festival in Lancaster
2) November 16th – Highpoint Brewing 1st Anniversary

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In the Tap Lines for October

header_attractionsHave we entered Fall?  L.A. has seen 90+ then practically shady temps, then back up again.  The weather whipsaw might be best suited to those lighter Oktoberfest beers.  Now onto what is coming up this month….

~ e-visits to three breweries from Ohio (see A Book & A Beer below)
~ special featured reviews of the Firestone Walker Hoppy Lion Variety Pack
~ 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 Hillbilly Elegy by J.D. Vance
~ A Podcast & A Beer listens to Eaters Digest
~ I will tap the Firkin and give my no holds barred opinion on the craft beer world.

Here are two events to get your October started in the Los Angeles craft beer world:
1) October 1st – MacLeod Ale night at Tony’s Darts Away
2) October 13th – DTLA Brewers United Fest

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In the Tap Lines for September 2019

header_attractionsThis month the big event is in Long Beach as the California Craft Beer Summit comes south for their 2019 iteration.  There will be tips about the festival as well as events surrounding the gathering of the state’s brewers in the coastal town.

~ e-visits to three breweries coming to Long Beach for the Summit Beer Festival
~ special featured reviews of beers in the tall chimney hat can format
~ 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 Kafka by the Shore
~ A Podcast & A Beer listens to 30 for 30 – The Sterling Affairs
~ I will tap the Firkin and give my no holds barred opinion on the craft beer world.

Here are two events to get your September started in the Los Angeles craft beer world:
1) September 21st – Craft Beer LB Festival
2) September 21st – Oktoberfest Kick-Off at Rasselbock Long Beach

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In the Tap Lines for August 2019

header_attractionsINTRO

~ e-visits to three breweries with “bear” in the name
~ special featured reviews of beers for super hot weather, from Angel City
~ 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 Porpoise by Mark Haddon
~ A Podcast & A Beer listens to Noble Blood
~ I will tap the Firkin and give my no holds barred opinion on the craft beer world.

Here are two events to get your August started in the Los Angeles craft beer world:
1) August 2nd – Brew at the L.A. Zoo
2) August 4th – New Original Breweries Beer Tour

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In the Tap Lines for July 2019

header_attractionsIt has been an up and down climate change type of weather year here in SoCal.  Lots of cloudy and not hot days leaving one free to not just desire lighter beers but heck, even barrel-aged north of 10% beers.  I can’t predict the weather but here is what is coming on the blog…

~ e-visits to three breweries with 4th of July patriotic ties such as Talea Beer Co., Backwards Flag Brewing and 14th Star Brewing
~ special featured reviews of Topa Topa canned beers
~ 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 This Searing Light, the Sun and Everything Else
~ A Podcast & A Beer listens to 13 Minutes to the Moon
~ I will tap the Firkin and give my no holds barred opinion on the craft beer world.

Here are two events to get your July started in the Los Angeles craft beer world:
1) July 4th – 4th of July at Angel City Brewery
2) July 13th – Lagerville at Figueroa Mountain