Tag: brewery tour

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English Brewery #1 – Pressure Drop

Time to see what is going on in England in 2014.  I wish we could get some of the more nano British beers but I guess that is what travel is for.  So count this month as a quick hit of three breweries to watch for if you find yourself ‘cross the Pond as it were. And we start with Pressure Drop in London.

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What caught my eye first was the cool bottlecap logo and the tech term name.  But digging just under a little and I saw this on their website, “three blokes in a railway arch doing lots of cleaning and trying to make the tastiest beers we can.”  Simple.  I like that.

Now usually I would pick a few beers that I would put in my taster tray but I would choose all of them from their list. So instead I am going to focus on the one beer that I think is the most English of the bunch.  And it is the one with the coolest label too….

Street Porter – “A classic London beer style with a long and colourful history, Porter originated in the city around 300 years ago. While there are conflicting accounts of the exact origins of Porter, it’s clear the beer has been enjoyed by hard-working Londoners for centuries. We use traditional malts and Kentish hops in ours, and we’ve also brewed experimental versions with tea, coffee, oysters, chipotle, and New World hops.”

I love the idea of taking a classic style.  Brewing that in traditional fashion and then doing experimental version offshooting from that.  The tea version is making my mouth water right now. Now if I was in a Picasso mood, I would try their Dunkelweiss, their version of a smokey wheat beer.

 

 

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Let’s Pour Brewery # 1 – Maine Beer Company

For Christmas, I received gift codes to the Let’s Pour craft beer website so that I could buy to my hearts content or the max amount that I was given (whichever came first) and the first brewery that I wanted to try a beer from was Maine Beer Company.

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The beer that I was most intrigued by was Lunch which sadly wasn’t available. But my second choice of Mean Old Tom a stout with vanilla beans was there!

Here are some of the other beers that piqued my interest…..

Peeper – “Our original hoppy American ale.  Dry, clean, well-balanced with a generous dose of American hops.”

Another One – “Intensely hoppy American IPA, brewed as the light-colored counterpart to Weez (both beers incorporate the exact same kettle and dry hopping schedule).  Another One has a very clean malt palate, leaving little but hoppy resins on the tongue, and finishes dry and crisp.”

Lil One – “Some may call this a malty double IPA, some a hoppy barley wine.  We prefer that it not be classified.  We think of it, simply, as our strong winter ale.  Intense hop aromatics and flavor (think pine, candied orange) blended with just enough malt sweetness to balance out the palate.”

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Holiday Brewery Tour # 1 – Picobrouwerij Alvinne

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Picobrouwerij Alvinne in West Flanders makes quite a few beers that have graced the SoCal area (and hopefully yours) for many years and I have chosen them because of the Three Wise Men.

They started with Balthazar which as the translated website describes it is, “..a spicy dark beer, which includes fresh ginger, cardamom and coriander.”

Then they moved onto Melchior, a “Strong barley wine, full of flavor, a companion for cold and dark winter nights.”

And then finished the trio with Gaspar, “Bitter and thirst quenching, unusual winter beer, hoppy, malty and just creamy. For those who get fed up with dark beers during winter.”

All three are very different from the American takes on winter beers so I suggest picking them up for a beer dinner before Christmas.

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California in November – Sante Adairius

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The final stop of California breweries (I think I could almost feature California every month) is up north of me.  Way north in the Santa Cruz area for some rustic ales from the hard to spell Sante Adairius.

This small but growing saison and more brewery (Has some Solera Method items going on to if I read correctly) has some really cool label artwork too.

Here are the beers that I would put into my sampler tray…..

“Saison Bernice is an exquisitely fermented farmhouse ale. Dry and refreshing, Bernice is made of the freshest on-hand and locally available ingredients. She receives multiple yeast additions, including Brettanomyces, and is further aged in the bottle.”

“Named for our three-legged brewery dog, Tripod is a Belgian-style tripel aged in oak-barrels.”

“Orange, lactic, and bursting with apricot aroma, West Ashley is built for consideration and conversation. While Ashley starts as a simple Saison, careful aging in French Oak Pinot Noir barrels with apricots, our house microbes, and warm encouragement transform her into a tart, complex and delectable beer.”

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Brewery Tour of Livermore, CA – Eight Bridges Brewing

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So, no Livermore beers were seen at L.A. Beer Week.  To be expected, a couple are still fermenting.  But maybe in a few years time, we will see places like 8 Bridges Brewing down in L.A. for at least a tap take-over.

Because I would like to try out these two beers when they become available….

Bay Bridge Brown (BBB)

Our Brown Ale was designed to be better than Newcastle and from comments we’ve heard, we succeeded!!!  While drinking this beer you’ll notice its flavors tend towards raisin, molasses, nutty and caramel along with the typical English hop flavors.  This full bodied ale is malt forward with low hop aromas.

Ode to Groll Pilsner

Josef Groll, the “Father of Pils”, energized the beer world by making the first pilsner in 1842. Our intent in designing this Pilsner is to do the same by bringing more flavor like a good German Pilsner has but with a little bit of a California twist.  Our Pilsner has the typical Pilsner taste but has a stronger flavor which is achieved by using multiple malts and increasing the hop presence.  The aroma is Malt dominant but the addition of hops late in the process gives a broader hop flavor to the beer.  This Pilsner is a crowd favorite where ever we go!

For now, though you will just have to follow their progress on Facebook or Twitter.

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Brewery Tour of Livermore, CA – Brotherhood Brewing

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Our second stop in Livermore, California is at the Veteran Owned, Brotherhood Brewing.  This is a group of veteran marines who have moved into the brewing arena.  And I personally think it is beyond cool that are armed forces even realize, as they put it that, “American zymurgy has consisted of lifeless, thin, unimpressive beer.”

Oh and that they “aim to change that!”

According to a semi-recent Facebook post, they are in the talking with the city phase that also involves finding just the right landlord and location.  Then soon we can all taste their Steele Curtain IPA and Loblolly Porter.

I will update their status when I learn something new.

 

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Brewery Tour of Livermore, CA – Working Man Brewing

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There has been a burst of brewing energy in Livermore, California which is located on the eastern edge of California’s San Francisco Bay Area. So this month, we highlight three breweries that are both open and soo to open and we start at Working Man Brewing.  And let’s jump directly to the beers with the first two being tapping into the brewery’s theme.

Whistleblower Wit

5.2% ABV 28 IBU’s Belgian style beer with wheat, barley and oats for a smooth malt character. Additions of elderflower, coriander and orange peel give this traditional wheat beer a spicy character.

Wage Slave Pale Ale

5.5% ABV 30 IBU’s A medium golden ale. Well-balanced with a mild maltiness and an overall smooth hop finish.

Tourada Pale Lager

5.5% ABV 30 IBU’s California Common or “Steam” beer, laagered and aged three times as long as our regular beers for supreme smoothness.

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Iowa Brewery # 3 – Exile Brewing Company

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Our last stop in Iowa is Exile Brewing and if you are in the mood for German style beers for a hot night, then this is the place to be. You can get one of the following names to quench your craft thirst. They are aiming for “European Style, American Craftsmanship”

Ruthie

Munich Gold Lager

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Munich Dunkel Lager
And what better place to enjoy your lager? “An American Beer Hall housed between the brew house and fermentation room.  With clear views of the brewing process, the Beer Hall is a perfect spot to sample our beers and grab a quick lunch during the day, or to indulge a tankard and cocktail in the evening.  The historic, industrial hall greets our beer garden through a roll-up door that transforms the entire area into a patio.  The Beer Hall is great for a casual beer, private get-togethers, and spontaneous parties alike.”
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Iowa Brewery # 2 – Okoboji Brewing Company

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The second stop in Iowa is Okoboji Brewing Company. And these are the beers that caught my eye from their brewhouse in Spirit Lake off of Highway 71.

Boji Beach Golden Rye Ale

“Light golden in color, crisp, smooth and dry with slight bitterness to balance the sweetness of the malt. This beer will be well received by American Lager fans even as an ale. The rye adds a bit of spicyness and some bakery qualities which enhance the complexity of this beer.”

Midwest Charm Farmhouse Ale, with Ginger

“Traditionally brewed seasonally in the barn and other farmhouse buildings, thus the name. This style almost died out due to the perception of being a “regular person’s beer” but was revived by craft and home brewers with the love of its diversified flavors. Cloudy amber color with some spicyness and earthy flavors from the yeast. This semi-dry, medium bitterness beer has been revitalized because of “regular people” loving great beer.”
 

They also have an adjacent homebrew shop so that Iowa home brewers have a spot to find their ingredients and equipment!

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Heartland Brewery # 3 -Indiana City Brewing Company

Yes, I know my definition of heartland is strange but I could not think of a better term to cover these three breweries.  That being said, here is our last stop….

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Indiana City is the uber literal term for Indianapolis.  Which is much better than living in a town which literally means Valley Valley, like I do. Enough word play though.  What beers does this place have?

Here are my picks:

SHADOW BOXER oatmeal stout
“This is a black, full-bodied ale with mild roasted grain aroma, coffee flavor and moderate spicy hop bitterness. A diverse combination of flavors all below a creamy brown head.”

YACHT ROCK wheat ale
This Belgian style wheat ale is a light-bodied, crisp, slightly tart and lightly hopped golden beer with a fine-bubbled bright white head.

plus the HOOVILLAIN kolsch style ale