For a week long in June, Homage Brewing and its two location will be celebrating their 8th anniversary.
“You can expect BIG strawberries, BIG tunes, RARE bier on draft, food, wines and new merch.”
An Homage to Ocho
Golden State Brewery # 2 – Neon Bear Brewery
Stop # 2 is in Pomona where Neon Bear Brewing resides next door to a neon museum storage facility, hence the bright name.
Let’s shed some light on their beers…
….I would start with Honey Laundrin’ a rather hefty honey blonde ale at 7.5% then move on to the Near Dark Schwarzbier before going back a bit to their cream ale, Near Light. Gotta try an IPA so Beach Beer their WC IPA is my choice before finishing with a sour stout, Sweet Sorrow.
Pomona Now, Covina Later
Old time L.A. beer fans might remember Sanctum Brewing in Pomona, well that space is now the home of Neon Bear Brewery. The owner/brewmaster is Ryan Walton, who last worked at Last Name Brewing Co. They are now open and showing off neon signage because, for some strange reason, the City of Glendale’s Museum of Neon Art, has a storage facility not in Glendale. I digress, the brewery is now open and is on my to-visit list.
Coming later is Campsite Brewing settling in Covina and a planned opening date later this year. More info to come as they get closer to opening the taps on what should include a rauchbier or s’mores stout.
Prettiest Beer of the Year?
I would vote for Colour Orange from Homage Brewing…
And I might also vote it for best beer description as well, ” Ale Conditioned in Oak w/ Sauvignon Blanc Grape Must 8% ABV. We received a thousand pounds of Sauvignon Blanc grapes from Paso Robles, Central California. We pressed them and did a skin contact partial fermentation with the grapes for 10 days, spontaneously fermenting the juice using only native wild yeast from the grape skins. We then blended our aged hopped Saison base from hand picked barrels and allowed our house wild yeast to continue the fermentation until completion. This ale has notes of breezy citrus, fleshy apricot, and is intensely floral with aromas of rustic aged hops. Each component of this liquid art balances flavors harmoniously, with a lively carbonation. The wild yeast lays foundation for added depth, nuance, and complexity. Our goal was to create a Saison that blends influences from Orange wine (skin fermented white wine) and Lambic Beer, with the intent of making a true Homage style Saison. Restrained acidity, rustic funk, and bright fruit characteristics.”
Haunted
Most breweries are, lets face it, will not wind up in architecture magazines. Unless it is “Inudstrial Park Chic”. But Pomona based Alosta Brewing has done the next best thing. And it is a cool beer meets Halloween event minus pumpkins.
They are releasing their new DIPA “Second Empire.” Second Empire is a style of architecture which is embodied in Disney’s haunted mansion. But there is another example, the Philips Mansion in Pomona conveniently located next to a cemetary.
The DIPA houses a blend of Citra, Amarillo, Apollo, and Cascade hops at a striking 76 IBU’s.
The brewery has partnered with the Pomona Historical Society for a special bottle release event.
Here are the details from the website: “Pre-order your bottle(s) of “Second Empire” and then come by the mansion on Friday, Oct. 14th between 7:30-10pm and not only pick up your order, but enjoy a sample or two. Best of all, you will be able to take a nighttime tour of the mansion itself. A portion of every bottle we sell will be donated to the Pomona Historical Society to help in their effort of restoring the Philips Mansion for future generations to enjoy.”
Pomona x 2 (extra photos)
After a quick stop at the 3rd Anniversary party for Pacific Plate Brewing, I set got back onto the 210 freeway and headed East this time to Pomona to check out two fairly new-ish breweries. You can read the full review HERE on Food GPS. But I wanted to post some of the extra photos here to give you a feel for both Old Stump and Homage Brewing.
Homage Pomona
Looks like Pomona is becoming an even bigger beer town. Homage Brewing is setting up shop in the downtown Pomona area soon. To be more specific, May 14th.
Look, Smell, Taste, and Evolve is their tagline and with beer names like Reckoner, Unknown and Discovery, they are certainly aiming for explorers. There will be stouts and IPA’s but also sour and wild ale options as well as barrel aging.
More on this brewery coming in an interview with Brewmaster Mark over on Food GPS. And, of course, a report once I get a first visit in.