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Readers of the blog know that I am a sucker for collaborations and also for cocktail styled ales. Creature Comforts Brewing has added a garnish to that by teaming up with Tip Top, makers of RTD cocktails for Jungle Bird.
I cannot recall having this cocktail so I will not be able to compare and contrast but maybe I can have the inspired ale first and then compare later.
We are going full on L.A. Beer Week beers for this month’s shopping list. From two Freaky Friday South Bay friends to a Crenshaw collaboration.
El Segundo Squirrel-Toothed Tiger – 6.7% – “We went hoppier, Americanier, and, dare we say, downright more majestic than a pre-historic squirrel on their best day. Sure, the tiger may look friendly, albeit a little funny, but it remains a tiger with an inherent instinct to kill nonetheless!”
Crowns & Hops / Los Angeles Ale Works Down Crenshaw IPA – 7% – Mosaic, Nelson and Enigma hops headline this dank West Coast IPA Boulevard.
Smog City Smogberry IPA – 7.2% – Smog City re-imagines the iconic Mayberry IPA.
There Does Not Exist is a bit of a darling in the beer world so it comes as no surprise that they have teamed up with Firestone Walker on a highway series, a hippie highway of hops.
Smog City has a new beer coming in their Community Impact Series, tomorrow.
Park Hopper Hazy IPA was brewed with a little brewery you might know, Alvarado Street.
More info: “This 6.8% hazy IPA was brewed to bring awareness to the great work Parks California is doing, a nonprofit we support through out 1% for the Planet commitment.”
I should probably check what percentage of beer posts are about collaborations. I guess as an introvert, I am intrigued by the camaraderie shown inside the brewhouse.
One of the more prolific collaborators has been Beachwood. They are at it again with Radiant Beer and a lagered IPA using The Californiana lingo for the name.
A cross state IPA with honey from each state is the elevator pitch for the new collaborative IPA, Let’s BEE Homies.
Both Stone Brewing and Deschutes Brewing brought their respective sweet stuff to this new hazy
Some collaborations are easy. Neighbors from the same city type of thing. Others involve a double-digit amount of people in the brewhouse. Looks like Ogopogo had the latter. What is even crazier is that there are (4) breweries that I had never even heard of before involved as well as midwest folks too. Watch for it later this month.
Ecliptic Brewing of Portland, Oregon is turning 5 years young and will be releasing 5 special beers throughout the year called the 2019 Cosmic Collaboration Series.
John Harris, Ecliptic Brewing’s Owner and Brewmaster has reached out to Brooklyn Brewery, Breakside, Bell’s and two California breweries too.
Here is the full line-up:
Ecliptic Brewing + Brooklyn Brewery: Tangerine Farmhouse Ale (February)
Ecliptic Brewing + Firestone Walker Brewing Co.: Galactica Hazy Double IPA with #692, Idaho 7 and Kasmir (April)
Ecliptic Brewing + Breakside Brewery: Nectarine Sour Ale (June)
Ecliptic Brewing + Bell’s Brewery: Juicy IPA (August)
Ecliptic Brewing + Russian River Brewing Company: Hoppy Belgian Strong Golden Ale (October)
Before I finish up my trip to the PNW, I thought I would highlight a cool idea that the now 30-year old Deschutes Brewery has concocted…
The Bend based brewery has “invited several Deschutes Brewery alumni to return and collaborate on seven exciting new brews.”
Per their press release, “The Deschutes Brewery 30th anniversary collaboration “family tree” includes John Harris, Deschutes Brewery’s original brewmaster with Ecliptic Brewery, Frank Appleton a brewing consultant responsible for creating the recipes of Deschutes’ beloved brands such as Black Butte Porter and Cascade Golden Ale, Tim Gossack from Bell’s Brewery, Tony Lawrence from Boneyard Brewery, long time brewer Mark Vickery, Paul Arney from The Ale Apothecary, and Cam O’Connor and Larry Sidor now with Crux Fermentation Project.”
There is also the little thing with….
Alexandra Nowell from Three Weavers has gone big. Teaming with Portland based Gigantic Brewing to concoct Play Date, “a barrel aged golden ale. It’s a “cocktail beer” that weighs in at 8% ABV and features fruity pomegranate and ginger melded and mellowed by months spent in bourbon barrels.”
Let’s hope some of this ends up in Inglewood and L.A. in keg and bottle form.