Tag: California

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Review- Feminist from Monkish

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Great to see this Monkish flagship beer in Bruery style bottles. I think that Henry is doing some really creative things in Torrance and I am glad that I have a growler to use at will, or whenever the traffic allows.  Feminist pours a reddish brown color. I first get hibiscus notes. Followed by a dry, antiseptic Belgian yeast strain. Puts cranberries in mind for some reason.  I have found that hibiscus can be way too overpowering but it works here.  It also puts me in mind of Thanksgiving.  I think this would be perfect with turkey and stuffing.

 

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Two from Temecula

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I haven’t had the fortune to taste any beers from the Wiens (pronounced, “Weenz”) Brewing Co.  But I like the labels and I would like to taste these and maybe a bottle or two will find their way to L.A. County.  Nudge, nudge.

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Food GPS Teaser – 10 Great California Pale Ales

The “10 Great California brewed” series continues tomorrow over on Food GPS, with pale ales the topic of conversation.

Today’s tease though is that I want to run a different list by you good readers.  5 Underappreciated Craft Beers from California.

I would start with Scrimshaw Pilsner from North Coast – You see it everywhere but it gets no beer geek love.  Then follow it with Craftsman Poppyfields a British style pale that is chewy and malty but geeks either talk (and deservedly so) about 1903 or Triple White Sage.  Third up would be Anchor Liberty Ale.  A really pleasant beer that never fails to make a good impression.  Next would be Bear Republic Racer 5.  Everyone seems to try all the different variants but not the original.  Lastly, Kellerweis from Sierra Nevada is a great Hefeweizen and should get more cred.

What beers do you think people should be talking about more?

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The Brewing Lair

I read about this small brewing operation in Blairsden, California in the Celebrator magazine and it made me want to both delve a little deeper and to pass on the information to you all.

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If the gate is open we are open, come on up

Pretty easy instructions.  Of course there is a bit of a drive to get there, so to be safe, you may want to call ahead.

Because the following beers make me thirsty….

Solo Session Series – Single Hop series -featuring a different hop with each brew

“Simcoe Solo, was our first brew in the single hop session series, coming soon will be Columbus Solo followed by Citra Solo.”

After the Han Solo’s are tried, I would move onto the Bond-ian….

Odd Job Ale

“Our Fall/Winter session ale.  A hoppy brownish-amber ale featuring Zythos & Citra hops, great aroma and all around really tasty.”

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Growler Action

..inaction?

Check out this article on the excellent BrewBound site, HERE then come back for my thoughts

AB-647 would make this a possibility, “An empty Stone Brewing growler cannot just go to Sierra Nevada to be filled, Sierra Nevada would need to obscure all of the information that is on it and affix the proper labeling that is required from their brewery before sending it out the door.”

Sorry, but this is going to create two types of breweries.  Ones that can and have the time to do that nonsense and the others who will find it too cumbersome.  Compare that with Portland that will fill practically any water tight container with beer.  I found TWO grocery stores.  TWO that had self-serve growler stations.  One at New Seasons had two specialty Widmer offerings (and two wines available to fill as well.)

Zupan’s had six taps.  Two from pFriem, a cider and two from Firestone Walker. Amazed?  Here’s the photos to prove it….

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The cleanest way to do growlers is to have two containers that can be filled.  Brewery specific growlers that only can be filled at that brewery and BLANK ones that can be filled anywhere.  Put the same neck tag on them and ready to go.  Call me when that happens and I will be excited.

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Food GPS Teaser – IPA

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Tomorrow, the first in a series of California-centric postings on Food GPS.  With the recent passing of the 2013 IPA day, I will select 10 bitter bombs brewed in California.  Beer Styles will alternate with best beer spots in different parts of the vast and sprawling mega-plex that is Los Angeles.  Starting with Downtown L.A.

I fully expect and encourage comments and rants about what was included and what was left out.  Mostly I want people to know that you can come to Los Angeles and find the best in craft beer.

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North Coast is one of those California breweries that isn’t hip for lack of a better term.  Old Rasputin is known and loved but offerings like their Scrimshaw pilsner don’t get enough love.  But I am sure the geeks will have their interests piqued by this anniversary ale.  And the fact that they recently added three fermenters to their brewing operations.

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These guys know how to do a big, bad beer and I expect nothing less from this one.

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ManRock Brewing

One of my great joys in life is to travel and when I do, I love finding a local brewery that doesn’t distribute beyond its borders but supplies the community with great craft beer. That is one reason why I write this blog, to expose all these places and beers to the masses. So now we travel to Grover Beach in California to ManRock Brewing.

You will notice a them amongst the beer names. If you are paying close attention…..
“Reap Wheat You Sow” – Banana Wheat
“Dirty Reapin’ Blonde” – Blonde
“Fear The Reaper” – Amber
“Reapers Creepers” – Pale Ale
“Reaper-cussion” – IPA
“Apocalyptic” – DIPA
“Grim-onade” – Barley Wine
Their tasting room is open 7 days a week and all you have to do, if you are in LA like me, is to drive north a stretch and get out of the city.