Follow Sean Inman to the best in craft beer
Back to my neck of the SoCal woods with a new cold IPA from Absolution Brewing.
“Light bodied and crisp. Mosaic, Strata and Nelson Sauvin. Notes of blueberry patch, juicy berry, white wine and a touch of dank on the end. Refreshing and super yummy!”
Not the correct weather here in Los Angeles to ice skate but a good substitute would be a Trillium Brewing beer, Rink IPA.
“Glowing orange in color, with a soft, moderate haze, we’re immediately offered a synthesis of tropical notes. Upfront aromas of bright pineapple and ripe papaya transition to candied peach rings and dried apricot as the beer makes its way across the palate. The mouthfeel is what you’ve come to expect from a Trillium IPA, medium-bodied, plush, and well-rounded. Finishing dry with a gentle piney bitterness, we’re excited to share a rink-side pour with you while it lasts.”
One of my favorite new breweries in Portland is Fracture Brewing and I would love to fly back and try their winter ale, Little Log Cabins…
“Bold Ruby Red Grapefruit and PNW pine aromatics come off the glass from the initial pour. Honeydew candy and juicy grapefruit dominate the palate with notes of sweet pine sap. Our updated rendition of this classic style is brewed in collaboration with our friends at Stormbreaker Brewing.”
Staying on the West Coast for a bit longer but climbing to a High Camp…
“Named for the ski lodge atop our local White Pass Ski Resort, this apres-ski sipper warms from the inside out with aromas of caramel, coffee, citrus, pine, and spice. Taking Bale Breaker’s signature hop-forward style to the dark side with the addition of chocolate and rye malts, this balanced IPA is dry-hopped with Mosaic®, Simcoe®, and experimental hop HBC 630 hops.”
Right back to Portland and Wayfinder because I heard a whisper of a winter warmer…
“This pale lager will warm your dreary winter night with notes of slightly sweet malt, fruit & warm spices. Conditioned to have light notes of Garyana ( Oregon White Oak) from Westward Whiskey.”
It’s been a minute since I spoke of Ballast Point, most of it business related but lets get back to the beer and their seasonal …
Next up is a winter warmer with umlauts aplenty, Jägerhütte from Further Beer in the St. Johns neighborhood of Portland.
“A deliciously malty winter warmer with perfectly balanced spices. Grains of paradise, orange peel, and cinnamon.”
We head to the Midwest and Boulevard Brewing for their holiday Brewhouse One offering….
“Barrel-aged for 11 months in Tomcat Gin barrels, then rested on fresh juniper berries for 3 months, this quintessential holiday ale features crisp holiday spices with clean spruce essence. In addition to the pine and juniper, the wintry spice character is abundant, with hints of allspice, clove, and stonefruit esters, with light berry notes on the finish. All in all, at 9% ABV, it’s the perfect beer to bring to a party!”
Good to see one of my favorite breweries both bringing holiday cheer and bringing back in a new form, the infamous Wookey Jack.
“Wookey wonderland? We’re sippin’ in it! The Wookey has come in from the cold, and it’s fully reimagined for the season. Arctic Wookey is our classic black rye IPA reimagined with abominable amounts of flavor courtesy of a dank and resinous hop profile takes it to frigid new heights. It’s as black and cold as your blessed heart.”
Even Los Angeles gets a bit cold in the winter. Usually don’t need jackets but we do want some warmth. And something comfortable. Enter Backwoods Brewing.
“The warm notes of cinnamon, nutmeg and vanilla in this winter ale will keep you Comfy Womfy allseason long”