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I am a sucker for a niche beer festival and Green Cheek Beer Co. has one on tap for the middle of the month….
Those who have had Phantasm (thiol) beers will know that they are the real deal. This new hop – yeast combo is well potent and delightful so this looks to be a fun event.
In startling news, Bagby Beer Co. in Oceanside is transitioning into the southernmost Green Cheek location.
You can read the full adieu HERE but this is a big change. Oceanside is a well beer-ed city, Bagby has a large sprawling location which combined with a general craft beer downturn probably laid the groundwork for the change. A type of change that will be happening more often in 2024.
It is too bad as you will tell from today’s other post that I really liked their beers. Solid quality. On the good side of the ledger, Green Cheek is pretty solid too, can’t really quibble with them taking over.
Recently, I was chauffeured around the Huntington Beach area to check out some beer locations on my long list of need to visit spots.
First up was actually some hotel beers. 4 Sons Brewing supplies the Shorebreak Hotel with two beers for rooms and for their social hours each night. There was a session pinepapple IPA and a light lager. Safe choices for a vacation crowd. The lager was too light for my taste and did not have the needed zing. The pineapple was better but, again, not zingy enough with the pineapple. (I will return to this fruit again)
Way past my bedtime (you do not want to know) was my first visit to Beachwood Beer + Pizza. I really likes the spot even though it starts at a disadvantage of being in a typical corner mini mall location. It is bright and airy and the beer selection is all over the board. The Rustic pilsner, Barrels to Bavaria worked well with the excellent pizza. I also had a dessert beer of Mocha Machine Picoso which had a little chile kick but was still filled to the brim with coffee.
Next day was two close to each other PCH breweries. First up was Riip Beer where I went for my first taster tray of the day. And it was all IPA, NELTRA, Stratacaster, Cache is King and my choice for best based on uniqueness alone, Pineapple Panacea which was the least hoppy and has a crazy pineapple smoothie look and taste.
Last up was Green Cheek in Sunset Beach. In an all blue building, no green, this is like an In ‘n’ Out but with Evan Price’s beer. My smashburger was super carmelized and delicious and my taster tray had a golden coffee stout, a Fest Bier and a couple more IPA’s. The space also has an upstairs seating area which is great on beach days. I probably should have tried the G&T inspired hard seltzer but stuck with the beer this time.
A few days ago I saw a cryptic post about the timing of the sale of Barley Forge. It seemed on its face as a simple explanation for fans who might want to schedule last visits to the Costa Mesa brewery, but it also was a foreshadowing that the brewery was changing hands. Greg Nagel from OC Beer Blog broke the news that new that….
It looks a strategic parry to their neighboring brewery, Gunwhale Ales which opened a second location near Green Cheek and now Green Cheek is returning the favor. Also, it is interesting that this will be the second brewery space that Green Cheek will take over.