Tag: brewery tour

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Icelandic Brewery Tour # 3 – Vifilfell


We make our final Icelandic stop with a day to spare in the month. But here we are at Vifilfell. Also known as the Viking Beer. They are known for their Thule and Viking labeled beers but here is what I would put into a taster tray.

Organic Pils – Pilsner
Katla Geopark Lager – Helles
Thule Jólabjór Lager – American Amber
Thule Svartbjór Lager – Euro Dark
Black Death – Stout
Viking Stout – Stout

Happy New Year to everyone and if you have a hankering for Icelandic beer, your best and easiest to find are the beers of Einstok.

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In the Tap Lines for December 2016

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The holiday beers have been rolling onto the site fast. And it will continue until the Big Day arrives. Enjoy our last holiday season before the dark times

~ e-visits to three breweries from Iceland. Olgerdin, Olvisholt Brugghus & Vifilfell. Don’t forget about Einstock too.
~ special featured reviews of (wait for it) Christmas 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 Valiant Ambition about George Washington & Benedict Arnold
~ I will tap the Firkin and give my no holds barred opinion on the craft beer world.

Here are two events to get your December started in the Los Angeles craft beer world:
1) December 7th – Far Bar hosts a ‘retirement’ party for Firestone Walker beers that are being discontinued.
2) December 14th – MacLeod Ales C.U.P. Hearing

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Coastal Oregon Brewery # 3 – Chetco Brewing

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Chetco Brewing is based in Brookings, Oregon. And thanks to Radio Shack downsizing have a home next to a Thai restaurant on Chetco Boulevard where they serve up 16 taps to the crowd in the Brookings Harbor area.

My first taster tray would include:
Chetco Logger
“Pale Ale, sweet, lightly malted with a small percentage of Maris Otter grain.”

Re-leaf Session IPA
“Delightful blend of Summit, .Cascade & Zeus hops. Might just be all things to all IPA fans. But then again, we’re a wee bit partial. A little avante garde dry hopping with Magnum, gives it a surprisingly bold, strong finish despite the low 4.3 ABV”

Appreciation Ale
“A nice, soft, sweet IPA to say “Thank you!” to all our our investors and supporters – it takes a village to get a Tap Room up and running and that village likes it’s hops! Tangy Chinooks and fruity, sweet Mosaics make this IPA very drinkable.”

Our Unite Series
“An eminently drinkable pale with hints of raspberry in both aroma and finish as the flagship standard. As seasons allow, we also do plum, blueberry, and kiwi offering a bright, lively finish”

Imperial Coconut Porter
“Brewing with 60 organic lbs of coconut is not pretty, my friends. But it sure is delicious! Rich and weighty, but not too sweet.”

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Sacramento Brewery # 2 – Track 7

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The very first Sacramento brewery that I visited was Track 7 after Day 1 of the California Craft Beer Summit. My beer buddy and I Lyfted to the Curtis Park location and ambled outside to enjoy the beers and the weather and the smell of the food truck nearby. You can currently get Panic IPA and BeeLine Honey here in Los Angeles. So I am going to give you info on three other beers to look for when you head north….

1. “This is no typo. Yes, the spelling of Trein Wrak looks jumbled. But that is only because we opted to use the Dutch translation, since Dutch is the primary language of the Flemish region of northern Belgium. Fitting for a Belgian-style IPA, right? In our take on this amalgamation of beer styles, Belgian malts, American hops and Belgian Abbey yeast collide creating a bold IPA boasting an unbridled union of citrus and spice. This winter seasonal is a fan favorite, so enjoy it while you can. When it’s gone, it’s gone. Proost!”

2. “Riot Act Rye IPA boasts 11 hop additions that marry earthy and citrus hop flavors with the rustic spice of rye malt. Failure to comply with this proclamation may be met with looks of mockery and disdain from your friends.”

3. “Burnt Fog is a dark, smooth and complex porter with rich chocolate flavors suffused with subtle smokiness from the addition of smoked malt.”
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New Portland Brewery # 2 – Ferment

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It is not new to have a main brewery in Hood River and a taproom in Portland. Full Sail trod that path first. And now a second brewery will be bi-river. (Columbia and Willamette)
Ferment comes from former head brewer at the excellent pFriem Family Brewers, Dan Peterson. The plan is to eventually brew in Hood River and operate their taproom at the new building called The Yard on 3rd and Burnside.

The brewery is aiming for a fall 2016 opening. You can read more about them and why they are so anticipated HERE.

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Minnesota Brewery # 1 – Venn Brewery

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You may see the word Venn and think diagram but it is also Norwegian for “Friend” hence the head brewer working at another area brewery while Venn gets up and running, later this year.

When Venn Brewery does open, these are the beers I will be trying in their Minneapolis taproom:

SCHWARZBIER (BLACK LAGER) (4-5%)
“Sometimes called a “Black Pilsner,” this beer is deceivingly dark. It is nearly black in color, yet light and refreshing, and offers a mild roasty flavor with hints of bread crust. If you’ve never thought of yourself as a dark beer drinker, this is the beer that will make you think again.”

MUNICH HELLES (5%)
“Pronounced Hell-ess, this golden lager is evenly balanced between malt and hops. Easily drunk, yet plenty flavorful, it will satisfy both the craft beer connoisseur and the dedicated light lager drinker. We call it our gateway beer, because, well, taste one and see.”

CLASSIC AMERICAN PILSNER (5.5-6%)
“Light gold in color, this hop-forward lager has notes of fresh bread dough with a crisp, floral, slightly spicy finish. A throwback to the way pilsners were made pre-Prohibition, this beer takes the best American ingredients and treats them the way our German immigrant ancestors did. It’s a pilsner with the volume turned way, way up.”

SAHTI (7%)
“Venn’s take on a traditional Scandinavian farmhouse ale. Mashed with rye and oats and boiled with juniper berries, Sahti offers an earthy and complex malt profile with a bright, piney finish. We may not make it over burning wood fires in the forests of Norway during the deepest part of winter, but we do imbue this unusual brew with all the flavors of the northland for a beer that’s as captivating as it is delicious.”

BELGIAN TRIPEL (9%)
“The complex union of lemon, orange and black pepper compliment the soft and elegant malt character of this amber Belgian ale. It is very dry and carbonated, a refreshing drink for spring and early summer. If champagne died and was reborn as a beer, this is what it would come back as.”

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In the Tap Lines for April 2016

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Water retention is up in NorCal but the weather has been 99% dry here in SoCal. Maybe April will bring some wet weather which would be better for drinking some cozy up by the fire stronger beers. Maybe that is just the hopeful April Fool in me.

~ e-visits to three breweries in North Carolina and Georgia. The theme being states under fire for possible/future oppressive laws
~ special featured reviews of beers from Portland (continues)
~ 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 One City-One Book for Glendale.
~ I will tap the Firkin and give my no holds barred opinion on the craft beer world
~ … and Session # 110 is hosted by ME! and covers the topic, “Twitter”

Here are two events to get your April started in the Los Angeles craft beer world:
1) April 1st – The Doughroom will tap a rare keg of Panil Barrique.
2) April 3rd – Southland Beer will host a sipping session with Tahoe Mountain Brewing

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GABF Gold & Unknown Brewery # 1 – Melvin Brewing

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We start in Wyoming with a brewery that had roots in a much lauded restaurant and brewery, Thai Me Up.  Melvin Brewing is now moving from a 3bbl to a 30bbl system.  And that may boot them out of the category that they won this year, Small Brewpub of 2015.

They won gold for Chchchch-Cherry Bomb in the American Fruit Beer category and a bronze in the Fresh/Wet Hop Ale for their namesake IPA.

Let’s check out some other beers to try:

Killer Bees – “Clean, smooth, slow motion, easy drinkin’, honey. The palette cleanser extraordinaire. Perfect for mowing your unwatered lawn, sipping in the shower, or fishing on a Sunday. ”

Hubert MPA – “Some would just call him an IPA, but we call him an MPA. The Melvin Pale Ale. A welcomed hand shake to your taste buds.”

Clinic ISA – “This medicinal India Session Ale is perfect for drinking at work under your desk, on a deck under the sun in your skivvies, or chilling out on a chairlift. Let Melvin Clinic make it all better with this light, crisp, and fresh taste. ”

..or try their Trip Out Tripel.

 

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Portland brewery # 1 – Baerlic Brewing

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We are back in Portland (my hometown) for a month of brewery “tours” to celebrate Oregon Craft Beer Month. The starting point is Baerlic Brewing which translates to “of barley” for those who speak olde English.

Here are the beers that I would have added to my taster tray:
Cavalier – Classic Cream Ale
“A brazen take on the style, our classic cream ale is as complex as it is refreshing. Aromas of hop spice and lemon balance perfectly with a soft and fluffy malt body. Brewed with Himalayan Basmati Rice.”

Primeval – NW Brown Ale
“A NW take on an American Brown Ale. Aromas of evergreen, cocoa & sweet orange dance with biscuit, roast and malty sweetness that finishes dry with bittersweet chocolate and citrus.”

Eastside – Oatmeal Pilsner
“Traditionalists would curse our addition of raw oats to this style of beer, but we just love the texture it adds. And it pairs perfectly with the spicy and fruity flavors & aromas of Czech Saaz and Santiam hops.”

Nice & Easy – Salted Oat Gose
“Gose (say “gose-uh”) is an ancient salty & slightly sour beer originally from Leipzig, Germany. Big aromas of floral hop spice, malt and oats are complimented by a slightly tart and saline finish.”

Altera – India Red Lager
“We paired the rich and sweet malt of a Northern German Altbier with the citrussy, tropical and piney hops of a modern West coast IPA and fermented warm with a German lager yeast.”

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Denver Brewery # 1 – Former Future

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Our first stop for Denver is Former Future Brewing Company.  Bronze Medal winner at GABF this year in the experimental category.  They opened in February of this year with the purpose of “combining modern science and innovation with historic styles and traditions.”  They only brew 120 gallons at a time so I would hazard a guess that the beer goes fast and changes frequently.

Here is what I would put on my first taster tray…..

Countinghouse – a pre-prohibition cream ale

Ryetly Oaked – a rye ESB fermented in red wine barrels

Golden Feather – a golden sour aged in sherry barrels

Salted Caramel Prim & Porter – a salted robust porter