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SoCal gets a nice amount of Fremont Brewing beers and they are collaborating again with a local brewer, this time Beachwood Brewing. The resulting beer is Tidal Track IPA. Look for “aromas and packed hop flavors from Mosaic, Citra, Centennial Cryo, and Chinook hops.”
We finish off the spooky beer reviews with the appropriately ghoulish label for Institution Ale Co. and their Fall Seasonal IPA which has been given the three descriptor treatment as Dank, Citrusy, Balanced.
Pours a very clear Halloween orange in the glass. First notes are of fruit punch and softness on the palate. The aroma is very, very red berry. Tastes much less than 7.1% abv for sure. Tilts more pale ale to me. There is a bit of woodsy, earthy bitterness in the background like a scarecrow.
There is a new hopped up collaboration out from Beachwood and El Segundo following on the heels of Eyes to the Sky earlier this year.
Get out your brewing dictionary, it’s time for…
Still trying to catch a bead on who or what Skyduster Beer is or where they are. No idea where Mission Junction is. But it is the liquid that matters, so let’s test out their West Coast IPA…
Described as “firm, yet restrained bitterness, this beer is aggressively hopped with Citra and Mosaic.”
Packaged in the stovepipe 19.2oz can and weighing in at 7% abv, this is a pretty good West Coast IPA. Did not know what to expect from this brewery. Has an initial bright and grassy aroma with a hint of citrus to it. Initial taste is a pleasing leafy and vegetal with a nice level of bitterness to it, A bit pillowy but as it warms takes up more West Coast notes.
The State of Oregon and The Oregon Brewers Guild has gauntlet in hand for a new beer competition – “the Best of the West Coast IPA: National Throwdown.”
This is for West Coast IPA’s between 6 and 8% ABV ONLY.
“Registration for the competition is open through July 7th and is open to breweries from all 50 states. All beers entered must be produced on a fully licensed, commercial brewery with a TTB Brewer’s Notice on file. Breweries-in-planning and homebrewers are not eligible. All proceeds from the competition will go to supporting the Guild.” It will be interesting to read about the turnout for this new competition and if indeed all 50 states will have an entry.
You can get additional information about the competition, HERE .
LA Beer Week has an official beer but I am all for having more, so a side project from Ten Mile and fellow family-owned brewery Burnin’ Daylight present A “Family Hopportunity” West Coast IPA featuring Citra Incognito hop product and Mosaic Cyro Hops.”
Firestone Walker ain’t resting on their IPA laurels, and here is an upcoming new IPA from the Central Coast brewery….
Karl Strauss Brewing continues their collaborative IPA series with Squawk Box IPA. The name should clue you in to the partner in this hop flight, it is Green Cheek Beer Co..
“Inspired by the famed citrus groves of Orange County, this beer is the liquid equivalent of a sun-kissed orange. With a tantalizing mix of Talus, Citra, and HBC-586 experimental hops, every sip is a burst of citrus and stone fruit flavors and aromas”
You may know of Vic Secret hops but what about Kohia Nelson? Both are Australian varietals and both are in the new triple IPA, Laughing Kookaburra from AleSmith in San Diego (which is not Australia).
Spice and me are not generally friends. I prefer the bite of ginger over chiles but that said, a Thai Chile meets Citra hop IPA does intrigue me. And since Institution Ale Company is using their White Walls IPA as base, you can taste both versions.