Tag: Orange County

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Windsor 10

I posted last month about a quick run to Windsor Homebrew Supply and today, happily, I have some information on their 10th anniversary party.

They have four truly special beers being readied for the June 13th event at both of their two locations including:

3 Fonteinen Amforen Lambik – Lambic aged in two different amphoras. An amphora being an ancient Greek style two-handled pot with a neck narrower than the body.

Monkish Brewing will be doing a special Hazy DIPA on draft and in cans.

Lastly but not leastly, Side Project will have bottles of an Imperial Stout and a barleywine both single barrel aged. The first in O.W.K. barrels and the latter in M.J.K. barrels.

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1st Visit – Broken Timbers Brewing

Tucked into a very sparsely populated industrial park, Broken Timbers Brewing has a country shabby chic interior and a tap list with an altbier as a mainstay. 

I went through a taster tray of a variety of non hoppy beers and came away impressed. I had a light lager which actually had some flavor and mouthfeel and their Dublin Dawn Irish Coffee Oatmeal Stout was redolent of Irish whiskey without going too far in that or a too sweet direction. The stout and altbier were also quite nice. 

My visit was to the main brewing location but they also have a nearby satellite tap room as well.

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1st Visit – Windsor Home Brew Supply

Not many places sell home brewing supplies, as well as craft beer to-go, as well as having a well curated beer bar too but Windsor Home Brew Supply does and has two locations to boot.

It is a Swiss Army Knife of shops just across the road from Bottle Logic Brewing but totally without the noise level. There is a small but mighty selection of craft beer, the tap list utilizes clip boards and bright yellow 8 1/2 by 11 paper to showcase an eclectic selection of beers for those looking for a deeper cut and less IPA than is normally seen.

I did not leave with any bottles but I did grab an ISM meets Threes beer, plus another collab beer from Highland Park and Pinthouse as well as a Czech Pale Lager from Solaris.

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Firkenstein 2024

One of the most unique beer festivals out there is Firkenstein, the ghoulish themed cask ale festival from Greg Nagel.

It has a great location in the park area between the Anaheim Packing House and Monkish Brewing. It always has a great roster of brewery attendees and is always a well run event.

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Barrel Day – Oaks & Owls

Even in the dog days of summer, I like to see barrel-aged beers released and Chapman Crafted, who recently hit their 7 year mark has a new one out…

“Oaks & Owls is our Barrel-Aged Barleywine aged in Blinking Owl Distillery (from nearby Santa Ana) rye barrels for 18 months. The American oak barrels give this brew a subtle spice with a hint of vanilla.This beer is malty and has notes of sweet bread, toffee, and dried fruit.”

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From LA, Now to OC

OC Beer Week is fast approaching and if, like me, you are in Los Angeles, it is A-OK to attend another county’s festivities.  Even though they overlap by a day or two. Because, I assume you attended a few or two LA County beer events during their week.

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Beer Review – 15th Anniversary DIPA from Bootleggers

It has been some time since I had a beer from Fullerton’s Bootleggers Brewery. But I found a nice, big beer to break that bad streak on…

This beer comes across first and foremost as strong. Big pine and earthy bitterness dominate. When first opened, I did get an initial grapefruit nose but that faded off quickly. Getting a tiny touch of menthol here too. Quite a different DIPA than the current fruit forward styles but not really to my liking to be honest.

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Holiday Cheers – Day 29 – Mulled Memories from Bottle Logic

Getting near the end here, let’s add in a new beer from Bottle Logic Brewing and one of their pastry-esque beers with a memory, a Mulled Memory.

“Apple Brandy Barrel-Aged Mulled Golden Ale with elegant aromas of wintery apple cider curl from the glass of this Apple Brandy Barrel-Aged Golden Ale. A subtle wisp of lactose twists through the base, tethering the delicate apple character to a warming blend of cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, and citrus peel.”

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1st Visit – Orange County -Part 2

I have to admit that Monkish Brewing has not been on my radar for quite some time.  Not due to quality or anything, they just blew up and getting in was simply harder to either avoid a can drop or big tap room crowds.  

But the Anaheim location has been on my radar, and I finally checked out M2 recently and here is what I found….

The old Anaheim Brewing space seems way more garden like.  Trees and shade on a hot day worked wonders. It is blocked off a bit but not so much that it is darkened.  Way less space inside. Gotta say, better than the cramped Torrance brewery.  Even though the seating is not what one would call comfortable.

If soft hops is your jam and you want to hit two breweries, Monkish and Unsung Brewing nearby would be a great 1-2 punch.