Tag: beer shopping

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It’s Handy

Handy Market has been a Burbank staple for years and with my love of going to non-chain grocery stores / grocery boutiques a miss on my part.  But after seeing a few beer posts from the store, I decides to drive a town over and see what I had missed.

It is a tiny space in comparison to most grocery stores but the first positive point was the availability of single cans. I picked up a pils from Highland Park and a pastry sour (never had one of those) from Ogopogo. The next positive was the double endcaps of beer. This was where most of the bottled and barrel-aged resided. There was Bottle Logic but also a couple Belgians and de Garde as well. Third positive was the prices were pretty fair. $5.50 for a local beer is pretty good.

The one down is that it is only the small cold case in the corner. It was a limited selection though one last up, was that it seemed to be curated well.

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Sean Suggests for March 2024

Staying local for March and also canvassing a wide array of styles so that your palate does not get stuck.  And yes, I do not approve of green beer and the first selection is a green hued beer, but, in my defense, it is also a sour.  So that means less of a points deduction.

Far Field Made With Luck Sour  – 4.1% – “As  luck would have it, your favorite clover-green sour ale returns to our shelves and draft lines just ahead of St. Patrick’s Day.”

Creature Comforts Spring Belgian-Style White Ale – 5.1% – “We’ve got Spring Fever. Our fresh take on the classic Belgian-Style White Ale is brewed with orange peel, coriander, and local wheat from Day Spring Farms.”

Enegren Brewing Doppel Valkyrie – 8.2% – “a double version of our beloved flagship altbier, Valkyrie and a throwback to some of our first anniversary beers.  This strong, dark ale has rich flavors of dark fruits with hints of dark chocolate and rum, balanced with just a touch of Mt. Hood and Herkules hops.

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Sean Suggests for February 2024

As much as I enjoy a good themed beer shopping list, sometimes you just want to go around the style horn and end up with a wide variety of beers. Here are three to try…

Highland Park Brewery Bird Bier – 5.2% – “Witbier brewed with locally grown Buddha’s Hand plus Purple Sage & Pink Peppercorn foraged from The Audubon Center at Debs Park!”

Topa Topa Brewing Pava Rosa Sangria-style Kettle Sour – 6.5% – “Brewed in collaboration with Carhartt Family Wines.” 

MadeWest 8th Anniversary DIPA – 8% – “West Coast Double IPA with notes of pink grapefruit, blueberry and pine. Hopped with Nelson, Simcoe Cryo and Mosaic Incognito in the whirlpool followed by a generous dry hop of Vista, Mosaic, Ekuanot & Columbus Cryo.”

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Sean Suggests for December 2023

One last trio of beers that you should be on the lookout for either for yourself or as Christmas gifts, or both!

Bottle Logic You May Ask Yourself Bohemian Style Lager – 4.6% ABV – “This once-in-a-lifetime Bohemian Style Pilsner collaboration with the new-wave post-punks up at Highland Park Brewery is as clean as it is complex. Brewed with a three-step mash and single decoction on the final step, a blend of ultra-traditional Pevec Pilsner malts lay a biscuity bass line for the spicy floral groove of Saaz hops. The magic of tradition intertwines with the avant-garde spirit in this medium-bodied, brightly carbonated banger.”

Beachwood Brewing Peak Pursuit –  –% – “a thrilling climb through layers of 6 distinct hops. This West Coast IPA is your ticket to a tasteful journey.  Citra, Mosaic, Idaho 7, HBC-586, Ekuanot, HBC-682”

Innis & Gunn Vanishing Point 07 – 11% – “Say hello to Vanishing Point 07. – “It’s back. And this time we’ve double matured it. First spending nine months in The Glenlivet 18yo whisky casks before being finished for three months in port casks. Get ready to experience a beer which is both rich and complex, with mellow flavours of mocha, caramel, berry and nut.”

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Sean Suggests for August 2023

Since IPA day snuck up on us on the 3rd of the month, I thought it would be proper to go hoppy with the beer suggestions as well as keeping it L.A. local.

Brouwerij West Scissor Run – 6.2% – “Indulge in this unique Hazy IPA and let it launch those tastebuds into a hoppy melon paradise. This dewy lil’ mama is packed with Amarillo, Huell Melon, and Ekuanot hops.”

Common Space Between the Lines – 7% – an intriguing flavor combination of mango, orange juice and pine.  Released for IPA Day.

Beachwood Brewing Dank Brigade – 9% – “We’ve assembled our finest battalion of hops for this massively aromatic double IPA! Hopped with Mosaic, Citra, Ekuanot, & El Dorado. 100+ IBUs.”

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Sean Suggests for May 2023

Staying SoCal local with three bigger picks than normal.  So come along to Venice, Anaheim, Long Beach and San Diego.

Firestone Walker Idaho Secret IPA -6.5% – “Limited-release West Coast IPA bursting with fruity and citrusy hop flavors of pineapple, blackberry, and mojito.  Idaho Gem & Vic Secret hops.”

Pure Project / Radiant Beer Co. Clearer Thinking – 8.5% – “bold and flavorful West Coast DIPA brewed in collaboration with the 2022 Alpha King Challenge winners, Radiant Beer Co. We experimented with new techniques to create this beer and, as our first centrifuged West Coast DIPA, we are extremely pleased with the final result. Its sensory profile is sure to impress, with aromas of resin, dehydrated pineapple, and grapefruit rind that grace the nose, and flavors of melon, dank, and apricot that are rounded out by a clean bitter finish on the palate.”

Beachwood Brewing Barrel-aged Vanilla Fudge – 11% – “Bourbon barrel-aged imperial milk stout infused with cacao and vanilla beans.”

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Sean Suggests for December 2022

The last shopping list for the year and I think I found three beers that will close out 2022 in grand ( and collaborative) style…

Pedals & Pints / Driven Beer – Born to be Mild – 4% – “Dark Mild Lager, anew twist on an old world favorite.”

Beachwood Brewing / Green Cheek Beer – Always in Style IPA – 7.1% – “Like blue jeans and t-shirts, West Coast IPAs are always in style! Hops: Strata, Mosaic, Talus.”

Firestone Walker / Radiant Beer Co. – Camp Blanket Stout – 9% – “a S’mores Inspired Stout, in collaboration with Radiant Beer Co. And true to the “inspired” name, we captured the character of fire-roasted marshmallows and graham crackers without using any flavor extracts.”

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Sean Suggests for September 2021

I am looking forward to GABF ’22. But thought I would toss in a few beers out now that could describe the mammoth Denver beer fest.

LIGHT

Russian River It Takes A Lot Of Great Beer – 5.2% “There is an old familiar saying in the wine business: “It takes a lot of great beer to make great wine!” Winemakers, cellar workers, and grape pickers alike rarely (if ever) reach for a nice big glass of red wine in the middle of harvest. Wine is quite delicious, but not very refreshing on a hot summer day. The beverage of choice during harvest is BEER! Ice-cold, refreshing, and thirst-quenching BEER! The beer in this bottle is a toast to our winemaking friends who work around the clock during harvest to make world-class wine right here in our own back yard!”

MEDIUM

Cellador ++Good- 6.4% “Fermented and aged in neutral French oak wine barrels with a mixed culture of saison years, brettanomyces and lactic acid producing bacteria. Brewed with Bohemian Pilsner Vienna, Spelt, Oats and Wildflower Honey.”

DARK

Radiant Beer Co. Another Saturday Night DIPA – 8.5% “Another Saturday Night, and you’ve got this tropical and citrus-forward, low bitterness double IPA loaded with punchy hop notes of mango sorbet, Maui punch pixie sticks, fruit sherbet, pineapple, and peach gummy candy. In an awesome way, it’s balanced with notes of ruby red grapefruit, a hint of pine, and a dry finish with well-hidden alcohol presence.”

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Sean Suggests for March 2021

Pandemic sanctions might be lifted enough to have a small St. Patrick’s so get some Irish cheer while still playing it safe instead of hoping for luck.

LIGHT

Carlow Brewing O’Haras Irish Stout- 4.3% – “O’Hara’s Irish Stout has a robust roast flavour complemented by a full-bodied and smooth mouth feel. The generous addition of Fuggle hops lends a tart bitterness to the dry espresso-like finish. This sessionable stout beer is filled with rich complex coffee aromas mingled with light liquorice notes. The combination of traditional stout hops with an extra pinch of roast barley allows us to stay true to Irish tradition, recreating a taste so often yearned for by stout drinkers.”

MEDIUM

Indie Brewing O’Malley’s Irish Stout – 5.2% – “Dry, coffee-like. Bitter cocoa and mild earthiness.”

BIGGEST

Lincoln Beer Co. Paddy’s Favorite Irish Cream Stout – 8.5%- “‘Paddy’s Favorite’ is the harmonious result achieved blending chocolate malts, roasted barley and Irish cream together in a swirl of decadence known as an Irish Cream Stout. iIt’ssmooth and balanced but packs enough punch to kick-start your jig!”

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Sean Suggests for November 2020

November is a perfect month to crack open some stouts. Here are three to warm up your fall.

LIGHT

AleSmith Black Velvet Nitro Stout – 5.2% – “This velvety, nitro-infused oatmeal stout abounds with notes of chocolate, coffee, and cream. Its smooth body and luscious finish make it eminently drinkable on any occasion.”

MEDIUM

Allagash North Sky Stout – 7.5% – “Like a clear night lit by stars, this silky Belgian-inspired stout balances light notes of fruit and sweetness with roasty malt. Inspired by late evenings spent around a crackling campfire, North Sky is brewed to merge lightness and darkness into a super-sippable stout.”

BIGGEST

Beachwood Sadie Stout – 13% – “Bourbon barrel aged Dark Ale. Perfect for this weather, Sadie tastes of vanilla, oak, caramel, and oats.”