Tag: July

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Best Beers of July 2024

I am going to start with two beers drunk later in the month starting in Mount Angel, Oregon at the Benedictine Brewery. Their St. Michael Helles was absolutely on point and very refreshing on a hot day. I do have to add that all their beers were good.

Dewey Beer Moelleux Au Chocolate Stout was the last beer of the trip and my first visit to Function PDX and their newer Alberta outpost. It was also my only “big” beer of the trip. It was super chocolately and very smooth.

Two other beers make the list of the month starting with the 2024 edition of Russian River’s Pliny for President. Not a surprising choice since Russian River hardly ever make a mis-step with hops. Lastly, El Segundo, also known for hoppy beers, came out with Crowner Kolsch which I think is one of their better “alternative” beera.

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Sean Suggests for July 2023

Los Angeles Ale Works Leisureland Lager – 4.7% – “Classic, crisp and clean at 4.7% ABV, you could say that this is “beer flavored beer” featuring subtle cracker flavors, floral aromas and minimal (but lingering) bitterness.”

MadeWest TRZ Flip Pale Ale – 6% – “X Games are coming to town and have inspired this brand new West Coast Extra Pale Ale hopped with Mosaic and HBC 586 from @yakimachief! This epic duo delivers bright citrus and ripe tropical fruit with notes of passion fruit and papaya.”

Trademark Brewing Neon Enigma DDH West Coast IPA – ??% – “A bright, flashy can bursts open – popping aromas of raspberry and white wine – while a dazzling trio of Enigma, Simcoe, and Cashmere dance with nuanced flavors of mango, tangerine and a touch of stone fruit.”

As a summer bonus, be on the lookout for this anniversary beer from Beachwood….

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Best Beers of July 2022

With all due respect to the beers that I had during the other three weeks of July, the beers tasted in Portland were the clear frontrunners.

From the three (yes, three) Grodziskies that I had to the retro All Cascade IPA at Assembly Brewing, the Best of July was picking from one week.

Tied for second for me were the two beers at brand new Living Haus including this tangerine bomb done with Great Notion, Little Haus of Horrors.

One of the juiciest beers I have encountered that also steps aside to be a big burly Imperial IPA.

But the winner was a can picked at random from a line-up of Rosenstadt beers at a tiny gourmet market near Mt. Tabor. Houblon, a French-style pilsner was just perfect. Crisp and hoppy, just a lively fun beer that made me wish I had bought all of their beers.

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Sean Suggests for July 2022

Summer might be the time for pilsners and lagers to shine but there are still a lot of IPAs out there with almost all the hops you can imagine.

Smog City Squall Line IPA – 6.4% – “the next beer in our Smog Days IPA Series. This is one bright & crushable West Coast IPA, coming in at 6.4% and featuring Azacca, Veteran’s Blend, & Simcoe hops. It’s got wonderful flavors of mango, pineapple, & stone fruit.

Fremont / Bale Breaker Cultivision Cold IPA – 7.5% – “we used Yakima Chief Hop’s 301 Mosaic Fresh Cryo Hops. Just because it’s not fresh hop season, doesn’t mean we can’t bring you a fresh hop beer. By using fresh hops it really accentuates the pine, grassy and fresh floral aromas.”

Societe Brewing Glorious Odds Hazy IPA – 7.5% – “a playful hazy with a boat load of stone fruit notes. Adorn your senses with aromas of peach, tropical fruits and lemon followed with some orange & sweet aromatics. Crafted with Idaho 7, El Dorado, Mosaic, and Azzaca hops, this spunky brew is mildly bitter with a heavy haze.”

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In the Tap Lines for July 2021

header_attractionsHalf of the year is gone by.  Time certainly flies by as do all the new beers.  Too many to count but I will find the beer news to keep you updated for the last half of 2021.

~ e-visits to (3) breweries that do these slushie brightly hued beers
~ special featured reviews of beers from Oregon purchased via City Beer of San Francisco
~Heads-Up on Los Angeles Beer Events (not as far in the future now, events)
~ Three suggested beers to buy this month. One light, one medium and one dark
~ A Book & A Beer reads 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea
~ A Podcast & A Beer listens to Gangster Capitalism
~ Great Beer names and Best Beers of the Month
~ I will tap the Firkin and give my no holds barred opinion on the craft beer world.

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Sean Suggests for July 2020

An all California list this month to celebrate staying inside for even more time than initially thought. You can also find Odell’s and Great Notion here in L.A. if you need more sheltering in place beverages.

Lightest

Almanac The Future is Fluid IPA/ 6% – “A West Coast IPA dry-hopped with Mosaic, Sabro, Simcoe and Glacier brewed by the women of Almanac in support of the Pink Boots Society.”

Medium

Common Space Cocoa Stout/ 7% – “This rich chocolate cocoa stout is a mouthful of deliciousness. Mmmmm. It will take you back o your childhood. It’s like chocolate milk for adults. Smooth, luscious, rich cocoa drink.”

Biggest

Stone Brewing Ruined Again IPA/ 10.8% – “In 2002, we introduced Stone Ruination IPA (and its imposing100+ IBUs) as the first year-round West Coast double IPA on the planet. Then in 2012, in commemoration of its 10th anniversary, we introduced a new beer that would grow to be known as Stone RuinTen Triple IPA. Now, we’re bringing that back in all its over-the-top, cranked-to-11, maximum hoppy splendor, using every brewing technique in our arsenal to squeeze every last bit of magic out of a truly staggering amount of hops. It’s been 18 years of beautifully bitter evolution, and this stage dive into a mosh pit of hops is bigger and bitter-er than ever.”

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In the Tap Lines for July 2020

header_attractionsJuly is the summer month for me.  A time to try to keep cool, have a staycation, visit the beach, use that accrued vacation time.  Two out of four ain’t bad.  But hopefully, I can brighten the world with news and fun about our favorite beverage.

~ e-visits to (3) breweries from across our nation to celebrate Independence Day and independence from bland beer
~ special featured reviews of beers from new Glendale brewery Paperback Brewing
~ Heads-Up on Los Angeles Beer Events (Far in the future events)
~ Three suggested beers to buy this month. One light, one medium and one dark
~ A Book & A Beer reads American Spy by Lauren Wilkinson
~ A Podcast & A Beer listens to Heaven Bent
~ Great Beer names and Best Beers of the Month
~ I will tap the Firkin and give my no holds barred opinion on the craft beer world.

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Sean Suggests for July 2019

This month, let’s go big and hoppy.  No session or lactose or fruit.  Just imperial.

~LIGHT
Arrow Lodge / Hush Money 8.00% ABV
“Hazy DIPA brewed with Citra and Amarillo hops”

~MEDIUM
El Segundo / Two Five Left 8.50% ABV
“Simcoe and Citra steal the runway, dominating the aroma with big tropical notes of passionfruit and papaya. We add just a touch of crystal malt (gasp!) to provide a backbone that plays well the the soft yet assertive hop profile.”

~BIG
Founders / Double Trouble 9.40% ABV
“An imperial IPA that was brewed to turn your world upside down. Hops will get you coming and going. Pungent aromatics up front pair with a malt-balanced backbone and a smooth, bitter finish.”

All of these beers can be found at Sunset Beer Co. (unless they got bought up real quick)

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In the Tap Lines for July 2019

header_attractionsIt has been an up and down climate change type of weather year here in SoCal.  Lots of cloudy and not hot days leaving one free to not just desire lighter beers but heck, even barrel-aged north of 10% beers.  I can’t predict the weather but here is what is coming on the blog…

~ e-visits to three breweries with 4th of July patriotic ties such as Talea Beer Co., Backwards Flag Brewing and 14th Star Brewing
~ special featured reviews of Topa Topa canned beers
~ Heads-Up on Los Angeles Beer Events
~ Three suggested beers to buy this month. One light, one medium and one dark
~ A Book & A Beer reads This Searing Light, the Sun and Everything Else
~ A Podcast & A Beer listens to 13 Minutes to the Moon
~ I will tap the Firkin and give my no holds barred opinion on the craft beer world.

Here are two events to get your July started in the Los Angeles craft beer world:
1) July 4th – 4th of July at Angel City Brewery
2) July 13th – Lagerville at Figueroa Mountain