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Our second stop in Eugene, Oregon is Claim 52 Brewing. The name “refers to the donation land claim settled by pioneer William Luckey in what is now part of South Eugene.”
Here are the beers that I would be ordering for my initial taster tray….
Starting with their Kolsch and then moving on to Willamette Wit before heady to hoppy with their Good Neighbor IPA, their Krispy Brut IPA and then off to their My Brother’s Farmhouse IPA. I would finish with their Voyager Strong Ale.
Our last NBA city to visit is Toronto, home of the Kawhi’s. Sorry, Raptors. Before the season began there was a lot of back and forth about making the coaching change and adding Kawhi Leonard. But so far, so good for the team that always seems close but hasn’t gotten over the hump.
The brewery for the purpose of this post is Bellwoods. They have grown to two breweries as well as bottle shops. Below are my choices for an initial taster tray before or after the Raptors play.
Jutsu – “an American pale ale made with a blend of two different yeasts. This APA is highly drinkable with low bitterness and refreshing citrus and melon notes.”
Bring Out Your Dead 2018 – “Our annual (so long as we didn’t open a production facility that year) imperial stout aged in cognac barrels has emerged from oak classy as ever, ready to impress in a glass near you.”
Goblin Sauce – “a huge imperial IPA that utilizes a simple pale malt bill while harnessing the unrivaled intensity of Lupulin Powder – a magical, concentrated hop potion that contains exponentially more alpha acids and way less vegetal matter than regular hop pellets. And we loved the first dry hop round so much that we decided to double up.”.
Grisette – “earning the esteemed title of our very first beer fermented entirely in oak (aka The Foeder Pyramid™). It’s a low ABV, refreshing sipper dry-hopped with French Strisselspalt hops (a variety that’s as fun to say as it is delicious). The beer itself is dry, with soft brett aromatics, and complementary herbal, floral, and citrus notes.”
Hoppy Table beer – From the Ossington brewpub comes a sessionable, refreshing beer brewed with wheat and pilsner malts, that we lightly dry hop with a mix of noble varieties (and a pinch of citra). Quenching, subtly fruity, and incredibly easy to make disappear.
https://www.danielmarksbrewing.com/beers
For the second stop in Wyoming we head to Cheyenne and Danielmark’s Brewing. The backstory is another homebrewer to pro scenario which shows, once again, how important home brewing is to swelling the ranks of breweries in all states across the country.
Now let’s get introduced to what I would pick for my initial taster tray if I found myself in the Cowboy state….
“Hello, I am indeed the CORSON. I was forced to briefly describe myself so here it is. I guess I’m a Pilsner, but that’s just because I hear people say I am. My makers always mad at me, I think it’s because I’m the odd one of the bunch and I take forever to make.Oh, well, I don’t like him either.”
“So my name is Bluesitra, I love Citra® hops. My maker tells me I am the best seller, which makes me the coolest beer here. I have Belgian roots and I love long stumbling walks on the beach. Did I say that I love Citra® hops?”
“Most people call me Old Regret, I’m named after a horse from one of my makers favorite movies. My friends call me Red, not sure why. I’m special because I overheard my maker tell someone I am his favorite. This is also why the others don’t like me.”
and throw in one seasonal
Hot Iron Chili Stout – On Tap November 5th Until Empty
Two Tigers from Auburn University, Chris and Stephen Bivins are the folks behind the Torched Hop Brewpub.
Here is what I would put into a taster tray if/when I make it to Atlanta…
Anthem of the Angels – a Porter with coconut & cocoa nibs
Southern Haze – a Hazy Pale Ale
Once You Go Nelson – a 100% Nelson Hopped IPA
Cinnamon Golden Crunch – a Cinnamon Vanilla Cream Ale
Raspberry Lucy – a Berliner Weisse w/ Raspberries and Blackberries
This month we head to Durham, North Carolina. A family friend was in town from the land of Duke and it prompted me to take a peek at breweries in the area. Let’s head to one now….
http://ponysaurusbrewing.com/
Ponysaurus Brewing has an origin story unlike others in that they started brewing in an attic. In what must have been a claustrophhically tiny space that was above the entrance to The Cookery in Durham, NC.
They have been named a “Next Level Brewery” by Food & Wine, and thrillist.com calls their beer “the best pint in Durham, and one of the 50 most underrated breweries in America.”
So here is a sample taster tray to peruse….
Oyster Saison
“Brewed originally in collaboration with Durham’s St. James Seafood Restaurant and Raw Bar, this dry, hoppy Oyster Saison is the perfect ode to the sea. 50 pounds of fresh, whole oysters infuse a whiff of ocean breeze, along with underlying notes of minerals and brine.”
Don’t Be Mean To People. A Golden Rule Saison
“North Carolina Farmhouse Ale. Proudly handcrafted and canned by Ponysaurus Brewing LLC in Durham, NC, with the help from other proud brewers and people, who believe in Rule No. 00000001.”
Bière De Garde
“An homage to higher-gravity French farmhouse ales, Biere de Garde roughly translates to “beer for keeping.” Our version reflects the historical realities of this style of farming, when brewers made do with what was on hand. With three types of barley, wheat, rye, and oats, its aroma smacks of apple, pear, almond, and vanilla, with just a hint of lemon rind.”
“Weizenbock”
“German style, using many of the same ingredients in the Weissbier/Weizenbock but with the addition of some darker malts and a little higher ABV. We brew this beer with all German malts, hops, and yeast.”
Our final stop for 2017 is in Minnesota and true to their name, Able Seedhouse and Brewery does both grain and beer. Two very different disciplines to master.
Here are the beers that I would give a whirl (focusing on the malt)….
PROPERS PUB ALE – “Back to the land of pubs properly pouring smooth, toasty, caramel-noted ales.”
HOUSE RED – “Building a beer is not unlike building a house. It needs a solid foundation. It has to feel familiar and updated. And you have to be able to return to it each day without hating the color, or the broken garage door. Our House is built on a sturdy foundation of berry-hinted hops, as well as biscuit and caramel malts. It takes those familiar American Red Ales and updates them with a hopped finish.”
BLK WLF STOUT – “Black wolves were once thought to be their own unique species. Then a smart person declared them variants of red wolves. Until an even smarter person determined they’re actually a gray wolf. Our very own BLK WLF perpetuates the confusion. Dry like an Irish stout. Hoppy like an American stout. Nutty like an oatmeal stout. Creamy like a milk stout.”
FOUR CORDS OLD ALE – “It takes roughly four cords of wood to heat a Minnesota home for the winter, if you’re a Renaissance man bucking the modern heating system. But it’s gonna take more than that to heat yourself. You’re gonna need a hearty, bready, slightly fruity, totally malty 7.9% Old Ale to warm your northern soul.”
The first “random” brewery tour for December is one that might be sending some of their NE IPA our way. Saw a job posting for a sales manager for Lord Hobo on the West Coast.
Massachusetts brewed for both “Lords and Hobo’s alike, we all deserve to drink like royalty.” Here are the four cans that I would drink from a regal chair or couch.
Steal This Can IPA
“This West-Coast inspired IPA features 4 notable hop varieties to produce poignant citrus notes with pine and hop bitterness. A malt bill that includes Pilsner malts and American Red Wheat gives this IPA a healthy mouth feel.”
Consolation Prize Double IPA
“A full-bodied Double IPA that glows a magnificent hazy orange. Heavily dry-hopped with Jarrylo, Azacca & Mosaic resulting in big notes of pineapple, mango, honeydew with a notable Pilsner malt backbone. Dangerously drinkable and surprisingly mellow.”
Glorious Galaxy Pale Ale
“This beautifully smooth New England-Style Pale Ale pours a hazy, straw color. A double-dose of sought-after Galaxy hops delivers a silky peach-grape aroma, tropical fruit flavors, and an elegant mouth feel.”
Hobo Life Session IPA
“Hobo Life Session IPA is heavily dry-hopped with Citra and rests on 20% flaked oats. Refreshing and bright with notes of lime and grapefruit zest to entertain the palate, Hobo Life is a go-to for any session.”
Our first GABF Gold stop is in New Jersey and their new democratic governor.
The beer that won was a Porter Aged on Palo Santo Wood. and the brewery is Spellbound Brewing based in Mount Holly.
Here are the beers that I would try if I found myself in their taproom…..
Peach IPA
“Light in color and body, refreshing hoppy citrus notes intertwine with the peach. The peach rounds the edges of the hop.”
Pale Ale
“Light in color and body. A classic American pale ale dry hopped with Citra hops to give it a bright citrusy aroma and flavor. Low in ABV, high in flavor.”
Belgian Tripel Cherry
“Dark golden in color. We add sour cherries to the fermentation on our tripel. Aromas of cherry and fruity esters from the yeast. Finishes with a hint of honey sweetness and lingering cherry.”
Vices Coffee Porter
“VICES – Coffee Porter is our porter aged on Small World Coffee Crispy Hippie Coffee beans. The result is a huge coffee aroma with notes of roasty malt and chocolate.”
Most brewery websites have the same generic “origin story” on their About page. The Honky Tonk Brewing site has that too, but they also convey this funny story about a classic Johnny Cash song that “tells the tale of a GM assembly line worker’s ingenious plan to steal all the parts to build a Cadillac one piece at a time and put it all back together before he retires. Johnny’s plan worked out just about like our plan to build this brewery one piece at a time. It’s fired up and running but we get a few strange looks every now and then. The beer tastes mighty fine and “It didn’t cost us a dime!” I like that a brewery has a sense of humor and isn’t full of themselves.
Now onto what beers I would put into a taster tray….
TN Jed
“A unique American wheat beer created especially to be a year- round beer for a broad TENNESSEE audience. It’s crafty, but you don’t need to twist your mustache to enjoy. Slightly sweet from a healthy does of Caramel malts, finishes clean with low bitterness.”
LeBrown James
“A dark, chocolatey brown ale brewed with flaked oats making it smooth & full bodied with a dry finish. This beer is rounded out with a generous dosage of hops, giving it just the right amount of bitterness.”
West Coast IPA
“True to the style, our West Coast IPA is a Hop BOMB! loaded with “C” hops to 85 IBUs. We dry hop it for a big hoppy aroma. It’s dry, citrsuy, with notes of grapefruit & orange with a lasting bitterness.”
Blackberry Berliner Weisse
“Our Spring Seasonal Blackberry Berliner Weisse is tart & approachable. The addition of ripe Oregon Blackberries is the perfect compliment to the taste bud tingling sour affect of the Berliner Weisse style. This beer pours a beautiful magenta color and sits at 4.3% ABV”
March Madness is almost done and it is time to settle in the heart of spring. That means reading about apples and hops and agriculture since it is integral to our beloved beer. Plus the following monthly features….
~ e-visits to three breweries from Oakland, Sacramento and Anaheim. Trebek says, where Golden Road has plopped down “local” pubs.
~ special featured reviews of Double / Imperial IPA’s
~ 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 Apple Orchard by Pete Brown
~ I will tap the Firkin and give my no holds barred opinion on the craft beer world.
Here are two events to get your April started in the Los Angeles craft beer world:
1) April 13th – Lessons in Beer at Verdugo West Brewery
2) April 29th – Session Fest at Eagle Rock Brewery