Tag: November

Posted on

Sean Suggests for November 2023

This month really runs the gamut. Of styles, ABV’s and ingredients. Give thanks for the wonderful diverse world of craft beer!

Stone Brewing Liberty Station Centennial Pilsner – 4.7% – “American pilsner dry hopped with Cryo Centennial hops to celebrate 100 years of the naval base at Liberty Station.  Notes of white grape, pear and mild citrus.”

Cellador Ales Subtle Peaks: in Spring Bright Nectarine – 5.9% – “A Dry-Hopped Masumoto Nectarine beer will be the first release from fruit season”

Samuel Adams Utopias 2023 – 28% – “Now released every two years, Utopias is a blend of multiple batches of the brewery’s earlier Extreme Beers which are further aged in multiple types of barrels. Utopias has always been aged in charred whiskey casks, and this year the Sam Adams brewers expanded the kinds of barrels for more complex flavors.”

“In addition to American bourbon barrels, we use imported Scotch and peated whisky barrels. The peated Scotch barrels add a wisp of smoke to the flavor, while Ruby Port and Carcavelos casks from Portugal and Cognac barrels from France bring dark fruit notes. New to Utopias 2023 are the barrels from Pineau des Charentes – a rare, fortified French aperitif wine from western France. While Utopias 2023 has European roots, it’s a distinctively American innovation.”

Posted on

Best Beers of November 2022

I guess we should call November Topa Topa Month.

Two of the Ventura based and growing brewery placed as best of the month. First was their Howler Coffee IPA that balanced the hops and coffee very well and very smoothly. One step better was the Bourbon barrel-aged version of their Tux milk stout, King Tux. Just decadent mixing of spirits and sweetness.

Runners-Up include Green Cheek’s wonderfully named Thrives on Relaxation DIPA, Firestone Walker’s Parabolita Salted Caramel Stout and Ogopogo’s 4th Anniversary Pale Ale.

Posted on

Sean Suggests for November 2022

Three beers that will have you traveling all over SoCal. But each of these three beers would work well with your Holiday meal choices.

Malibu Brewing Company Railway Rye Pale Ale – 5.6% – “This gorgeous ale boasts rye-spiced richness and balanced bitterness, the perfect transition from Summer to Fall.”⁠

Trademark Brewing Get Toasty Hot Chocolate Porter – 5.8% – “Get warm and toasty with this Hot Chocolate Porter made with Letterpress Chocolate cacao nibs.  A roast-toasty body and silky smooth finish will carry you away.”

Radiant Beer Co. Home With You Hazy IPA – 6.8% – “This fresh & fruity hazy will bring cheer to any table.  Featuring a lush combination of Citra, Mosaic, Simcoe, Amarillo & Cashmere hops, this juice bomb hugs you with notes of mango, tangerine, peach and a hint of strawberry.”

Posted on

In the Tap Lines for November 2022

Halloween just passed, Turkey Day a’comin quick and before you can blink, Christmas. All of that means holiday beers and winter warmers and IPAs dressed up cold for the snow. Plus, this…

~ e-visits to (3) breweries from the Brewseum Breweries

~ special featured reviews of the Sierra Nevada Bourbon Barrel Bigfoot Barleywine

~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 Endless Night by Agatha Christie

~ A Podcast & A Beer listens to The Briefcase featuring Casey Holdahl

~ New Beer Releases and Best Beers of the Month

~ I will tap the Firkin and give my no holds barred opinion on the craft beer world.

Posted on

Sean Suggests for November 2021

This month, instead of a style or loosely tied together theme, I will pick three beers from one brewery. The new Wagon Wheel Brewing in Oxnard.

LIGHT – 6%

Salsera Sour – “A bright, sessionable fruited Gose. This sour ale is packed to the brim with Strawberry, Raspberry and Lime for a huge juicy kick. Finished off with sea salt to create the ultimate beach beverage. This fuchsia drink is ideally served in a glass. Tajin and Chamoy on the rim are encouraged.”

MEDIUM – 6.5%

Swanky Bear Hazy IPA – “Swanky Bear is our first Hazy Single IPA featuring Simcoe and Citra hops. Soft citrus and stone fruit flavors pair well with the silky mouthfeel of this crushable Hazy IPA.”

BIGGEST – 6.7%

Switchback West Coast IPA – “This West Coast IPA is light, pale and dry. Nelson, Simcoe and Chinook hops leap from the glass with pineapple and grapefruit aromas balanced with a crackery malt backdrop. This IPA is fruity and dank with a lean but expressive bitterness.”

Posted on

Cool Labels / Cool Beers for November 2021

First up is a great combo name from Burgeon Beer...

…covers both fishing and sports in a lovely gradiated blue color.

Second up is the 4th PRSC beer, Summoning. The color palette is striking. This is their final release until they open up their tap room next year.

“Our Summoning wrapped aluminum can features the colors of the pan-African flag accompanied by silhouettes of marginalized people coming together to be seen, heard and respected.⁣⁣”

Posted on

In the Tap Lines for November 2021

header_attractionsThe penultimate month of the year. We will start the month with some Central Coast beverage coverage. And as we slowly dig out and start to holiday like it is 2019 again, let’s ramp up the festive beer coverage to close out the month.

~ e-visits to (3) breweries that won in the fresh hop competitionat GABF
~ special featured reviews of beers from the Central Coast of California
~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 Normal People by Sally Rooney
~ A Podcast & A Beer listens to Jacked Ramsays
~ 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.

Posted on

Best Beers of November 2020

Brewyard is the winner of the month! Best beer two weeks running with the Bourbon Barrel- Aged Pumpkin Spice Dark Wheat which worked really well as an antidote for pastry or other barrel beers that are just too big. The other beer was Kalinga Pilsner which went for adding Calamansi fruit to the mix instead of doing a hopped version. It went against the grain like the pumpkin beer.

Special mention to a classic of Christmas which was my last beer of the month. Literally still drinking it now, the St. Bernardus Christmas ale which is just a wonder of holiday spice. So nice when the weather is cold.

Posted on

Sean Suggests for November 2020

November is a perfect month to crack open some stouts. Here are three to warm up your fall.

LIGHT

AleSmith Black Velvet Nitro Stout – 5.2% – “This velvety, nitro-infused oatmeal stout abounds with notes of chocolate, coffee, and cream. Its smooth body and luscious finish make it eminently drinkable on any occasion.”

MEDIUM

Allagash North Sky Stout – 7.5% – “Like a clear night lit by stars, this silky Belgian-inspired stout balances light notes of fruit and sweetness with roasty malt. Inspired by late evenings spent around a crackling campfire, North Sky is brewed to merge lightness and darkness into a super-sippable stout.”

BIGGEST

Beachwood Sadie Stout – 13% – “Bourbon barrel aged Dark Ale. Perfect for this weather, Sadie tastes of vanilla, oak, caramel, and oats.”

Posted on

In the Tap Lines for November 2020

header_attractionsOnly two months left in this dreadful year and maybe the twin holidays of a Thanksgiving and Christmas will raise the spirits.  Speaking of the latter, as per BSP tradition, I will begin posting Christmas beer labels after Turkey Day.  Have a great month!

~ e-visits to (3) breweries from GABF medal winning breweries
~ special featured reviews of the (3) Black Tuesday variants in their virtual tasting box. 
~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 The Good Soldier by Ford Madox Ford
~ A Podcast & A Beer listens to You’re Wrong About
~ 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.