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This natural and plant based collaboration with the Theodore Payne Foundation pours a yellow/orange color. Nice biscuity aroma. Has a nice crispness. I don’t know the (3) specific plants added but I am not really tasting Woolly Blue Curls or California Bay Laurel. I do get a bit of sage. But I don’t know if it screams Black Sage to me. There is a bit of pepper-ish note as well. I sorta wanted it to be bigger and brasher from Eagle Rock.
Sleek, silver cans that have the look of rocket fuel boosters for the space themed To the Moon IPA from Eagle Rock Brewery. This was my first curbside pick-up beer and the system in place worked like a charm. The beer is earthy and pungent. I get a Simcoe hop flavor myself. A bit of lemon peers through the window here too. This is a sustained bitterness IPA. It tastes stronger than 6.8% to me.
BPLB, the first Los Angeles release from Crowns & Hops with an assist from Eagle Rock Brewery, doesn’t pour super hazy. Haze being hard to nail down. The first taste leads me to think Session IPA more than the ABV on the can. A bit watery to me with a grassy aroma. Some haze softness and a decent amount of hop bitterness. Part orange, part grapefruit taste here. I want to like it more than I do. I am still looking forward to trying more of their beers as they move towards their own brewing facility and tap room.
With Eagle Rock celebrating Mardi Gras style for their 10th anniversary tomorrow, I thought I should give a review of their numbered IPA.
Number 10 pours a bright orange. Very West-Coast style which I am either buying more or seeing more of on shelves. Getting pine and Cascade Hop notes. Some tiny grapefruit flavors come in as well. Aroma is pith, citrus rind in character. Earthy on the back with a little bit of ABV burn.
Two things to know for next year’s big 10th anniversary party.
Head over to the Eagle Rock website for ticket information.
This looks like a fun beer from the Woodwork Series from Eagle Rock for whenever cold weather decides to grace Los Angeles with its presence, “Dovetail is an oud bruin inspired sour ale, with notes of semi-sweet chocolate, unripe plums, and black cherries. This complex yet smooth dark ale will pair handsomely with robust holiday feasts.”
As we head into LABW11, look for more beers on shelves, such as these two upcoming summery offerings from Eagle Rock Brewery. The first is another collaboration (L.A. brewers sure like each other) and the second is the one that struck my fancy, ” The newest addition to our Daytrip series is headed your way! …. featuring produce from Schaner Family Farms, the inspiration for this citrusy ale.”
Wanna know what fun and super low ABV beers were being offered at the 2019 version of Session Fest? Well, read on…
…and that was just the inside tap list. There were still beers outside to try. Let’s get the bad news out of the way first. I was excited to see Brewery Draconum on the list. This is a brewery on my to visit list and their Kolsch did not strike me well. Tasted kind of green and un-kolsch-y. I also had a Mexican lager from Absolution and it was another below par performer from that Torrance brewery.
On the positive side of the ledger, the Malty AF from host Eagle Rock was a delight. Doubt it would sell in a 16oz can but it was as name suggested a dive into malt. Loved it. The other winner for me (unsurpisingly) was from Cellador. Their Famille is a past Food GPS Beer of the Week and it was delicious. Tart and earthy and malty and fun.
I really like this festival because of the depth of beers. There is a deep bench of beer styles that are not seen and this event showcases them. It may not be as sexy as a DIPA Fest but the true craft believers will find themselves at this event.
In case you forgot to check out the fantastic food coverage on the Food GPS website, then you may have not seen the beer coverage either.
Here is your handy link spot to read what I covered in Brew & You in April….
April 4th – Ventura Beer Tour, Ventura Light from MadeWest + Smog City 4 20 Celebration.
April 18th– Bite Sized Beer News, Ginger Saison + #LABW11.
Session Fest 2019 is evolving. In the past, Eagle Rock Brewery has offered low ABV beers from their brewers and staff but the 2019 version has been opened to other local breweries + proceeds from the excellent deal of $25.00 per ticket will go to the LA Brewers Guild, a local nonprofit representing Independent Brewers.
That ticket price includes (5) pours of any of the available beers as well as the Session Fest glass. It is a great way to see how flavor and ingenuity can create beers that don’t sit close to the average craft beer.
If you are a fan of creativity and something different than the same old fest, get your Session Fest tickets.