Tag: February

Posted on

In the Tap Lines for February 2015

header_attractions
February starts off with a Super Bowl and ends with my birthday.  Which is bigger?  Depends on the beer in the ‘fridge at the time.

~ e-visits to three breweries from new-ish brewers in France
~ special reviews of collaboration beers with an Oregon connection
~ Heads-Up on Los Angeles Beer Events
~ Three suggested beers to buy this month. One light, one medium and one dark
~ Beer-centric podcast review
~ I will tap the Firkin and give my no holds barred opinion on the craft beer world
~ … and Session # 96 will converge bloggers onto a single topic, this month it is Beer Festivals, Yea or Nay?

Here are two events to get your February started in the Los Angeles craft beer world:
1) February 1st – Golden Road Brewing Super Bowl Party
2) February 11th – The Doughroom hosts a Pizza Port Tap take-over

Posted on

In the Tap Lines for February 2014

header_attractions

February is the month for lovers. At least one day that is. And this blog will endeavor to show my love for the world of craft beer. Starting with the unusual assignment of writing a review without reviewing. Over this short month, there will be plenty of reviews from my recent Let’s Pour purchases sprinkled amongst the usual suspects, such as…

~ e-visits to three breweries from San Francisco starting with Fort Point, Magnolia Dogpatch and Cellarmaker Brewery
~ video reviews of Jai Alai from Cigar City. Both the canned version and the humidor series version.
~ two more beers will come up from the BSP cellar to be reviewed.
~ Heads-Up on Los Angeles Beer Events
~ Three suggested beers to buy this month
~ I will tap the Firkin and give my no holds barred opinion on the craft beer world
~ … and Session # 84 will converge bloggers onto a single topic, this month is “A Review that is not a Review”
~ plus many more posts about new beers, beer products and breweries

Here are two events to get your February started in the Los Angeles craft beer world:
1) Saturday, 2/8 to Sunday, 2/23 – Lucky Baldwins 15th annual Belgian beer festival
2) Thursday, 2/20 – H24 at The Hermosillo Eagle Rock – tap take over

 

Posted on

In the Tap Lines for February 2013

We move on to the shortest month of the year with the most Presidential holiday’s. Oh, and my birthday too! I am still deciding which beer to bring up from the cellar to celebrate this year. Plus…..

~ e-visits to the newest breweries in the DC area
~ video reviews tackles two randomly selected porters plus more reviews minus videos
~ Three suggested beers to buy this month
~ I will tap the Firkin and give my opinion on the craft beer world
~ … and Session # 72 will converge bloggers onto a single topic
~ plus many more posts about new beers, beer products and breweries

Here are two events to get your November started in the Los Angeles craft beer world:
1) February 1st – El Segundo debuts their new bottles at 5pm
2) February 3rd – LAB Brewing Super Bowl Party

Posted on

In the Tap Lines for February 2012


It’s birthday month!! For me anyway. And I get an extra day in my birthday month this year. Makes one want to leap with joy straight to what is coming up this month.

~ e-visits to three breweries that opened in 2011
~ video reviews of two beers from my cellar
~ Three suggested beers to buy this month
~ I will tap the Firkin and give my opinion on the craft beer world
~ … and Session # 60 will converge bloggers onto a single topic
~ plus many more posts about new beers, beer products and breweries

Here are two events to get your February started in the Los Angeles craft beer world:
1) February 2nd – Meet the Brewer from TAPS at Congregation Alehouse – Pasadena
2) February 3rd – El Segundo Brewing night at Sunset Beer Company in Echo Park

Posted on

The Firkin for February 2011

PtY madness is a disease. But it is treatable.

This month’s Pliny the Younger release from Russian River Brewing was a much smoother affair than last year. Growlers were replaced with glasses and more people went away happy with a bitter beer.

The only downside to PtY or Dark Lord from 3 Floyds or Black Tuesday from The Bruery or Kate the Great from Portsmouth is the mania that goes with each beer.

I’m not going to get into the nuts and bolts about how to fairly distribute a scarce product. It’s hard. And what works one year may not the next.

First, let me be clear, these are great beers. You do not get people returning, year after year if they are not. That is not my issue.

My concern is that the rest of a brewer’s line up is settled for at best and dismissed at worst. This mania creates a small sub-category of beers that are worthy of treasure hunts or put on pedestals. And to me that is the opposite of what craft beer is about.

We spent years drinking one type of beer. We now have choice. Why limit ourselves again? I want to have Russian River’s entire selection, not just one beer. The brewery should always be first and foremost. Not PtY but Russian River’s Pliny the Younger and then add, “one of many fine IPA’s brewed by Russian River”. It’s redundant but the focus needs to be fixed onto the brewery and not individual brews. Otherwise we can end up with one trick pony breweries.

PtY day is like beer Christmas. A day that people wait for all year long. But I want people to remember that the other holidays are great too.

Posted on

In the Tap Lines for February 2011

The shortest month of the year is upon us.

Here is what is planned this month for all of you readers/drinkers.

~ e-visits to four breweries of New Zealand
~ video reviews of two beers from my local, Eagle Rock Brewing (I mean it this time!)
~ Three suggested beers to buy this month
~ I will tap the Firkin and give my opinion on the craft beer world
~ my 2011 Beer challenge will be expanded
~ plus many more posts about new beers, beer products and breweries

Posted on

P to the T and the Y

For those who love the elusive Pliny the Younger, here are the details according to Russian River …..

We are releasing Younger at our pub in Santa Rosa on February 4th. When the pub receives it’s allocation, those kegs will be allocated to last for exactly 2 weeks. Therefore, we may run out at the pub each day, but will have more the following day for 2 weeks. It will be available in 10 oz. glasses only- no growlers or bottles to go. This will allow more beer enthusiasts like you, as well as our regular customers, to enjoy some Younger this year! And we won’t see it on Ebay!

Following are the markets to which we will send Younger (same as last year):

San Francisco
East Bay
North Bay
Southern California
Seattle, WA
Portland, OR
Colorado
Philadelphia, PA

I will celebrate the start of PTY season with a nice Blind Pig a great IPA that I don’t have to fight through a crowd to get.

Posted on

San Francisco Beer Week

Continuing the California theme, now is the time to check out the SF Beer Week website to see what you are going to either A) go to / buy tickets for or B) cry about not being able to attend. But you can’t get to every beer festival (or can you?).

Here is a teaser of events for the beer week that starts on February 11th….
-An Opening Gala at Yerba Buena Cultural Center on February 11th
-A Double IPA Festival at The Bistro on February 12th
-Triple Fermented: Cask Beer, Cheese, and Bread at ThirstyBear Brewing Co. on February 13th
-Beerunch with Mateveza and Dogfish Head at Public House re-airing Game 5 of the World Series on February 13th
-A Pig Roast and Barrel-Aged Beer Tasting at Drake’s Brewing Co. with Chop Bar Restaurant on February 16th
-A Barleywine Festival at The Toronado on February 19th
-A Chocolate and Beer Festival at the Craneway Pavilion on February 19th