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I am eager to try this upcoming anniversary beer from Ogopogo. The first anniversary beer is usually one that has that early years energy to it. Not quite sure what this artwork is though. Seems like bad landscape with your UFO (Vimanas) superimposed on it.
If you haven’t made your way out to Ogopogo Brewing, well the above beer should be another reason why you should make the drive out to San Gabriel and check out their lovely brewery. While there, I highly suggest trying the full range of their beers.
Yes, it is that David Duchovny of X-Files and Californication. And Miss Subways is his third book but the first that I have read.
The book follows Emer, a teacher in New York City whose romantic life is complicated not only by the usual pressures of life but by the existence of Gods of long ago erase her boyfriend Con, from her life, only for them to re-connect. It is a rom-com mixed with Neil Gaiman lite and chock-filled with contemporary asides.
Overall, I like quite a few of the ideas in the book. Quotes in the subway cars amidst the ads and people on phones is well done. Duchovny has selected telling quotes without being too obvious. I like the school characters as well. From the principal Sidney to her friend Izzy and even the three troublesome students have single but cool dimensions to them. New York is given a lived in and local character as well which adds a nice dimension.
The boyfriend with the weird Gaelic name seems a bit wimpy to me, especially in comparison to Emer. She could do a lot better, is something I uttered out loud on a couple of occasions. And that shortcoming sort of cuts the book’s knees out from under it. Con doesn’t have to be perfect but he seems weak even for someone who has proverbially sold his love.
Now if this blog came to you from New York and not Los Angeles, the beer choosing would be a lot easier. Most New York beer doesn’t really make it out to us but considering the romantic nature of the book, I really do need to pick an Other Half beer, so I will go for Short, Dark and Handsome, their Stout.
In wider release, since their is plenty of Irish in this book, Guinness would be a good choice. Or you could go light and go for Harp instead since that musical instrument has more romance behind it.
More local, head to Ogopogo Brewing in San Gabriel and pick up their stout, Ashrays. Those are mythical water creatures and the book deals heavily in myths but as the kicker, they are sometimes called the water lovers or water ghosts.
Since my last 1st visit blog post was on the Westside, I thought I would head East this time around and check out Ogopogo Brewing in San Gabriel.
I ordered up a taster tray and sampled the first two “mythical” creature names that the beers are bestowed with, Anjana Mexican Lager was solid. Good to see so many breweries adding this style. Super light but the malt was there to add heft to it. The Boeman Wit had a big menthol taste to me with an assist from a spice profile. I dug it but it might be a little too much for others
Of the two IPA’s (a third was tapped out), the Bheki was my favorite. Though 6.3% it came across quite light, almost to Session strength but it was well balanced. The Jinn IPA was much more in the traditional wheelhouse.
I also tasted the Taniwha Imperial Saison which tasted big and was quite good. A bit leathery and barnyardy with a nice use of yeast to bring it back to Belgian territory.
The space is open and bright and I really like the highly polished, almost mirror like backing on the taps and glasses. For a brewery only a week or so in, they have got off on the right foot.
The Ogopogo Brewing taproom will be open from 12-6 on Sundays (so the 16th, 23rd and 30th) this month. Way out in the valley in San Gabriel.