Tag: December

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Best Beers of December 2023

I believe this will be a first for my Best of… lists. No IPA or barrel-aged stout taking the top spot.

But first, the runners up:

Enegren Brewing’s Single Hop Pilsner with Talus hops which I have had twice now and both times it sparkled. Next is Five Point Five Brewing and their Nitro version of their Proud Mary Irish Red which just showcased the foam and cream. Finally, Fremont Brewing’s 2023 B-Bomb. An old-school throwback bourbon barrel-aged monster.

But the winner was a draft taster of Bagby Beer Co.’s collaboration with Bierstadt Lagerhaus on a Weissbier, wEYESsbier. So good that I grabbed the last single can in the cooler.

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Sean Suggests for December 2023

One last trio of beers that you should be on the lookout for either for yourself or as Christmas gifts, or both!

Bottle Logic You May Ask Yourself Bohemian Style Lager – 4.6% ABV – “This once-in-a-lifetime Bohemian Style Pilsner collaboration with the new-wave post-punks up at Highland Park Brewery is as clean as it is complex. Brewed with a three-step mash and single decoction on the final step, a blend of ultra-traditional Pevec Pilsner malts lay a biscuity bass line for the spicy floral groove of Saaz hops. The magic of tradition intertwines with the avant-garde spirit in this medium-bodied, brightly carbonated banger.”

Beachwood Brewing Peak Pursuit –  –% – “a thrilling climb through layers of 6 distinct hops. This West Coast IPA is your ticket to a tasteful journey.  Citra, Mosaic, Idaho 7, HBC-586, Ekuanot, HBC-682”

Innis & Gunn Vanishing Point 07 – 11% – “Say hello to Vanishing Point 07. – “It’s back. And this time we’ve double matured it. First spending nine months in The Glenlivet 18yo whisky casks before being finished for three months in port casks. Get ready to experience a beer which is both rich and complex, with mellow flavours of mocha, caramel, berry and nut.”

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The Final Firkin of 2022

Before I dive into my quick thoughts for the end of the month, I would like to give a quick R.I.P. to Mumford Brewing in DTLA as they close after 7+ years. I visited when they first opened and thought the beers were only OK, but then a subsequent visit showed a fast growth. It taught me that some places need time to gel. From there on out Mumford was a solid winner especially with their hazy IPAs. Buy those few cans out in the wild still if you can.

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Bourbon Pursuit and Breaking Bourbon have noticed that bourbon and spirits tend to run the opposite of craft beer. Big brands dominate. Making it hard for craft distilleries to get air where in beer bigger seems to default to worse or boooring.

As we head to a new year, both good beer and good bourbon will need to learn from the other. Heritage breweries will need to figure out how ubiquitous brands like Jim Beam or Maker’s Mark can remain popular even though they are much larger than little distilleries.

Craft distilleries need to ponder how chasing new trends works for small breweries and how they harness that energy to stay on the tips of tongues and front of minds.

And what I think might be more important is how do bourbon and beer combine past the simple fill a bourbon barrel with an imperial stout.

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The Best Beers of December 2022

All my choices for best of December were hoppy. I did have sone really good Christmas beers but those lupulins won out again.

First is the MadeWest and Fieldwork Short Lived collaboration IPA. As usual the artwork was great. Comic panels work wellon a 16oz can and the beer was excellent. Another collab earns a place with Native Son and Common Space meeting up for an IPA called Step Sons. If only Native Son had made their new LA home more them.

Runner Up gets a Christmas bump, Docent Brewing’s Life Coach Pale Ale was nice and hoppy without leveling up to IPA status. Was also first Christmas vacation beer.

First was a new hoppy pilsner from Highland Park, Thiol Dial which had a great musty, fruity hop note to it. Proving that HPB and pilsner is a fantastic combo.

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Sean Suggests for December 2022

The last shopping list for the year and I think I found three beers that will close out 2022 in grand ( and collaborative) style…

Pedals & Pints / Driven Beer – Born to be Mild – 4% – “Dark Mild Lager, anew twist on an old world favorite.”

Beachwood Brewing / Green Cheek Beer – Always in Style IPA – 7.1% – “Like blue jeans and t-shirts, West Coast IPAs are always in style! Hops: Strata, Mosaic, Talus.”

Firestone Walker / Radiant Beer Co. – Camp Blanket Stout – 9% – “a S’mores Inspired Stout, in collaboration with Radiant Beer Co. And true to the “inspired” name, we captured the character of fire-roasted marshmallows and graham crackers without using any flavor extracts.”

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Sean Suggests for December 2021

Since the focus has been squarely on holiday ales, for this final 2021 shopping list, I have decided to spin the style wheel a bit. Enjoy!

LIGHT

Wren House – Lone Mountain Scotch Ale – “A taste of tradition awaits you in the next pour of our latest, Euro-style ale. You’ll be greeted with a beautiful hue of dark, ruby red. The aroma coming off of this Scotch ale is lovely too, mild toffee with subtle notes of cocoa. The mouthfeel is delightfully malty and roasty with a semi-dry finish.”

MEDIUM

Arrow Lodge – Wild in the Streets – “Cold IPA with Citra, CTZ and Centennial.

BIGGEST

Mumford Brewing – Super Merry – “Holiday Triple IPA with Nelson, Mosaic and Citra hops.”

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In the Tap Lines for December 2021

header_attractionsThis is where the Christmas rubber meets the holiday road.  This month we dive into seasonals every day until Christmas plus Christmas beer reviews.  Get your tinsel out.

~ e-visits to (3) breweries that made the Craft Beer & Brewing Best Of List
~ special featured reviews of beers with a touch of the Christmas.
~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 Foundation by Isacc Asimov
~ A Podcast & A Beer listens to My Dad Wrote a Porno
~ Great Beer names and Best Beers of the Month
~ I will tap the Firkin and give my no holds barred opinion on the craft beer world.

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Sean Suggests for December 2020

Ladies and gentlemen! We have made it tantalizing close to the end of what is easily the the most negative adjective year in my 50 plus years on this planet so let’s end with some serious cheer, right? Here are my shopping picks for December.

LIGHT

Beachwood Blendery Canbic – 6.5% – “Lambic-inspired sour ale with raspberry, cherry, and meyer lemon zest.”

MEDIUM

Fantome Printemps – 8% – “Light, fruity and champagne-like. Fantôme brews special seasonal beers, never repeating a recipe from year to year.”

BIGGEST

Fremont Barrel-Aged Dark Star Spice Wars – 12.7% – “This year’s release is a blend of 24, 18, 12, and 8-month Bourbon Barrel-Aged Dark Star in 7-12-year old Kentucky bourbon barrels. This special edition adds winter spices to complement the smooth oats and bring you a stout delight wrapped in the gentle embrace of bourbon barrel-aged warmth. A touch of sweetness dances in balance with the hops to finish with a wave, and then she’s gone.”

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In the Taplines for December 2020

header_attractionsHappy last holiday of 2020!  The rollercoaster year started high and then Covid cases went higher so it is a tough time for breweries so make this a give beer as gifts year.

~ e-visits to more GABF medal winning breweries
~ special featured reviews of holiday seasonals
~Heads-Up on Los Angeles Beer Events (Far in the future events)
~ Three suggested beers to buy this month. One light, one medium and one dark
~ A Book & A Beer reads The Midnight Library by Matt Haig 
~ A Podcast & A Beer listens to The Christmas Podcasts Podcast 
~ Great Beer names and Best Beers of the Month
~ I will tap the Firkin and give my no holds barred opinion on the craft beer world.

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The Firkin for December 2019

Many people approach the New Year as a chance to project what new adventures can be embarked upon. Travel is an obvious one as are improving ones future health or finding a new job or just general steps forward.

I see that view but also look at the calendar change as a chance to leave 2019 things in 2019 and not re-visit them. Don’t expect me to say “OK Boomer” in 2020. And there are quite a few beer things that need to stay in the past….

Sexist beer names and the social media shaming that comes with it. If you are still finding any body part humor funny, well, I cannot help you and I am not going to publicize it either.

Lining up for special release beers. We should all agree that there is literally more than enough great beer out there that waiting to buy your max amount possible is not the best use of time.

Dryuary. Oh, how the articles about you are all the same. I felt better. I lost weight. But I didn’t have as much fun and didn’t socialize as much. Blinding glimpse of the obvious the whole experiment is.

Bagging on Untappd. I understand that the reviews may not be helpful but at least it isn’t as bad or mercenary as Yelp. Take it for what it is, a small form of free advertising when I post what I am drinking.