Tag: Brouwerij West

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In the Tap Lines for November 2016

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We now begin the holiday season. Of course, we still have to get past the election but then we can be merry with holiday ales and big beers by the fireside. So be thankful for our bounty of beer.

~ e-visits to three breweries from the Southern Oregon coast – Defeat River in Reedsport then to Devils Brewing in Coos Bay and finally Chetco Brewing in Brookings.
~ special featured reviews of beers that can pair well with Thanksgiving meals.
~ 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 Inside the Apple
~ 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 16th – Bruery Share This Dinner at Sausal in El Segundo
2) November 20th – Lutefisk & Lefse Dinner at Brouwerij West

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Return to Brouwerij West

A few photos and notes from my recent return trip to Brouwerij West to catch up with Brian Mercer and to see how the beers are evolving in San Pedro.
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The Popfuji pilsner in just a few short weeks has become a number one seller in the tap room with the occasional IPA (2 distinct versions) being number 2 which is not at all surprising but I had hoped that the sours and Saisons would be selling more.
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Production is ramping up but the logistics of which beers to brew and the waiting involved has slowed distribution but look for Popfuji in 4-packs and special releases to show up on shelves in the coming months.
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Also look for more experimentation as a small tank has been added to increase taproom only specials. Think plums.

Big thanks to Brian and Dave for the tasting flight and informative beer talk.

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New from Brouwerij West

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If you haven’t made your way to the Navy Warehouse that is the cool new home of Brouwerij West, well, here are three more reasons that this weekend (or the next) might be opportune times…

…they have added three new beers including an IPA for those insatiable hop monsters.

Spoonful: “A Belgian farmer’s table beer (or, if you prefer, a Belgian single or Patersbier or Enkel – it goes by many names in Belgium), this beer is earthy, fruity, rustic and has been aged 4 months in stainless.

Grapefruit Radler: We first made this beer two weeks ago and it sold out quickly… but we just got another 600 pounds of grapefruits so it will be back again this Friday. We took a blonde base beer and added a whole lot of fresh-squeezed grapefruits from a farmer friend of ours.

Pinkerton: Yes, it’s an IPA! We were being asked almost everyday in the tasting room to please make an IPA. We had never intended to make one but we thought it would be a fun project. So our goal with this IPA was to incorporate the malts and yeasts we use currently into a Brouwerij West IPA. It sure was fun to make. Pinkerton is brewed with a blend of Dingemans Pale Malt, Bohemian Floor-Malted Barley and oats. Entirely late-hopped in the kettle and then dry-hopped with over 3 lbs per barrel of Wakatu, Dr. Rudi, Cascade and Denali hops. We combined an English ale yeast with our house Brett for primary fermentation. Super fruity and hoppy aroma with soft bitterness and a dry pallet. Hazy gold in color with a soft creamy mouthfeel.

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First Look – Brouwerij West

Grand Opening day finally arrived for Brouwerij West and I ambled down to the former Navy warehouses in San Pedro to taste the beer and see the sea.

First on to beer # 1 which was Sour Orange A witbier that was redolent of wheat with a slight orange kiss to it. I wouldn’t call it sour by any stretch of the imagination. Though the sour is present in the aroma more than the taste. The Seville orange flavor (marmalade-ish) grows as it warms. Nice but mis-named.
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I checked my notes and I was here basically a year ago. It is still just a cavernous space. Even with brewing equipment, tables and a crowd, it is still has plenty of elbow room. With the cargo doors opened you get rectangles of light but the interior is cold but it becomes less dark due to the strings of light in the rafters which are more than just Instagram decoration. Sorta wish there was a bit of history of the building somewhere. Some naval nod. There was a pretty big crowd outside in the sun. The grand opening was strong on organization. IDs checked at one station. Tickets at the next. Beer inside with ticket takers on one side of the table and pour volunteers on the other. Makes for fast delivery.
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Next I had to go with the Super Orange – now this is tart. Sour right at the front followed by the orange. Seems a bit lighter than the regular orange. More of the peel than the regular orange.
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It is a lovely space and perfect for drinking beer. I will be back to get a taster during normal hours. Have to see what the rest of the new and expanded tap list is like plus taste the old favorites that have been missing from shelves.

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Brouwerij West is (finally) almost here

In what seems like eons ago, I along with other members of the media, toured the empty warehouse space that would be the home of Brouwerij West in San Pedro.

It is a really huge spot with endless possibilities but news out of the brewery was scarce. But now it appears that it will arrive this month on the 27th! With a tentative beer list: “new versions of our classic beers like Saison, Tripel, Mør Mør (quad), My First Rodeo (100% Brettanomyces saison) and Dog Ate My Homework (blackberry saison), we’ll be introducing a handful of new beers, like a hoppy bitter blond; a traditional Wit with sour oranges.”

Check out what Farley Elliot has to say about the upcoming opening right HERE.
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Brouwerij West IS Coming. 

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After speaking with Brian Mercer of Brouwerij West, tasting his beers (which include a lightly hopped blonde that is in the testing stage) and walking around the cavernous Navy warehouse that will be the future home of the brewery, you sense both hope and fear.

The potential of the space is stratospheric. It will be seriously green from a solar and water standpoint. There is plenty of parking and a billowing sea breeze that could make this a destination for beer. The beers that I have tasted have been better than others on the market, especially the fruit tinged The Dog Ate My Homework.

Cruise ships lie to the right and left, Port of Los Angeles workers inhabit the town of San Pedro and an USC Oceanic Lab is in the works so customers will be there to be drink.
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But years of contract brewing and diminished visibility of their super cool labels on their bottles means that they have been passed by to an extent. Beachwood and their upcoming Blendery has stolen thunder and there is already a well established operation in San Pedro Brewing that is also expanding with Port Town.

I certainly hope they make it because it will be a great place to kick back with a beer and the potential of making more and better beer should improve with new equipment under their own control.
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