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Here are two more Oktoberfest biers to add to your late fall beer cooler, one from north of LA and one from south…
First is a classic from the old world inspired Enegren Brewing and next to it is a good wurst from Radiant Beer Co.
Enegren Brewing’s Oktoberfest is on the way and if you are looking for a close facsimile of German fests, then this is a good one because it is not just about one beer, though they do have a Festbier ready. But you can get pilsners and lagers as well. Mark your calendars for end of September and enjoy.
This month we are staying in California for our beer shopping list but we will travel far when it comes to different styles so buckle up.
Enegren 13th Anniversary Czech-Style Amber Lager – 4.8% – This lager features a perfect blend of malt sweetness and mild bitterness, offering flavors of caramel, toasted bread, and a hint of spice. Crafted to honor our legacy, it boasts a clean, crisp finish that leaves you wanting more.”
21st Amendment Hell or High Twilight – 5.6% – “a citrus wheat ale brewed with sweet orange peel and natural flavor.” The latest in the Hell or series.
Ambitious Ales / Riip Beer All in the HIIPS – West Coast IPA – 7.2% – “Making a WCIPA that was truly a balance of both our house brewing styles. Starting with a super pale malt base to showcase the massive punch of Mosaic and Riwaka we threw in both the kettle and dry hop, then just a kiss of Hop Kief to round it out! Booming with big notes of dankness, pink grapefruit, melon, and fruit from the tropics!”
Time to play, one of these things is not like the other. I am a fan of collaborative beers and so that is two-thirds of the theme this month.
Enegren Brewing / Bierstadt Lagerhaus American Reinheitsgebot – 4.8% – “Being two breweries that share a passion for exceptional, filtered, and crisp German lagers, we decided to brew one of our all-time favorite beers for this year’s American Reinheitsgebot: an American Helles Lager. This classic beer is crafted with American malt and hops, staying true to its style. Make sure to swing by Frühlingsfest and grab a taste before it disappears!”
Santa Monica Brew Works Todo Chido Mexican-Style Lager – 5% – “this crisp Mexican-style ‘surfveza’ is pure golden refreshment. Enjoy the bright, well-balanced taste with delicate notes of orange blossom and a touch of tangelo.”
Wagon Wheel Brewing / Tarantula Hill Wagon Full of Tarantulas – 6% – “We set out to brew a Hazy Single IPA and the resulting brew is a Tropical fruit bomb that is out of this world! Wagon Full of Tarantulas is a Hazy IPA featuring HBC 630 and Mosaic hops. This beer is layered with flavors of papaya, grapefruit and pineapple.”
Staying local for March and also canvassing a wide array of styles so that your palate does not get stuck. And yes, I do not approve of green beer and the first selection is a green hued beer, but, in my defense, it is also a sour. So that means less of a points deduction.
Far Field Made With Luck Sour – 4.1% – “As luck would have it, your favorite clover-green sour ale returns to our shelves and draft lines just ahead of St. Patrick’s Day.”
Creature Comforts Spring Belgian-Style White Ale – 5.1% – “We’ve got Spring Fever. Our fresh take on the classic Belgian-Style White Ale is brewed with orange peel, coriander, and local wheat from Day Spring Farms.”
Enegren Brewing Doppel Valkyrie – 8.2% – “a double version of our beloved flagship altbier, Valkyrie and a throwback to some of our first anniversary beers. This strong, dark ale has rich flavors of dark fruits with hints of dark chocolate and rum, balanced with just a touch of Mt. Hood and Herkules hops.
Who among us has not bought themselves a late Christmas gift after looking at our haul from Santa and found it a bit wanting?
An Enegren Lager sweatshirt, would be perfect for that small window of kinda but not really cold SoCal January when you want to sip your lager outside and enjoy the slightly crisp weather.
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.
I certainly hope you were not expecting Enegren Brewing to bring out a 12th Anniversary IPA. Nope, only lager and pilsner guesses accepted.
This year, they are going for a Dortmund-Style Lager. Sounds like a fun break from the norm to me.
El Segundo Brewing is known for their hops but they dabble in other styles including lighter beers but do not expect IPL’s slash CIPA. What you will see next is Gemeinschaft a Hoppy West Coast Lager with Chinook, Centennial, Amarillo, and Citra hops.
Each year, Enegren Brewing releases a spring American Reinheitsgebot beer in collaboration with another pilsner friendly brewery, this year it is Firestone Walker.
“American Reinheitsgebot 2023 is a German Style Pilsner made with all American ingredients including malt from Admiral Maltings out of Alameda, CA and American grown HBC 1134 Hops, which are an American twist on classic Noble hops.”