I have three bests for the final month of the year. Starting with the only non Christmas beer of the trio, Dunn of Darkness from Route 30 Brewing which I mentioned in an earlier post. A really nicely done dark Czech Lager. Struck the right balance of big malt taste and sprightliness.
The runner-up was Christmas Bock from Enegren Brewing. A little jolt of fruitcake energy for the holiday season along with a nice little punch of alcohol to it.
This months winner is the Rum Barrel edition of Santa’s Secret Stash from El Segundo Brewing. The oaky barrel quality shines through and there is enough of a rum presence to add a layer to an already impressive base beer.
There are Christmas lights and then there are Christmas LIGHTS. And the Mission Inn in Riverside has the latter. So my better half and I decided to spend the holiday at the massive hotel that takes up a large block and is a busy destination with food pop-ups all through the promenade that makes up a part of the Riverside Arts and Historical district.
The first drinks spot was BeerFarm at the Riverside Food Lab food hall near the Mission Inn. The spot has a nice variety over their nearly 20 taps. There was not anything local to the city but I was able to find a few choices and I went with a DIPA from Pure Project.
Before I checked out the two bars at the hotel, I made another close by stop. A taproom location of Route 30 Brewing which I had not had a beer from before. There were a limited amount of offerings but my choice of a dark Czech lager was really good and great to have while waiting for rain to arrive.
The Mission Inn had a bit of a disappointing beer menu. One bar is a multi-purpose space, the tequila bar looks great but the two times that I poked my head in, there was no one inside and no one manning the bar. A quick witted thief could have snared a bottle and left with no one the wiser.
The Presidential Lounge is the best choice but them prices is high. Since it was the holiday season, I was hoping to see a special cocktail or two. But none was to be had. Over the days there I had to different spins on an Old Fashioned. I had the Corn Silk version made with Nixta liquor de Elote and then the George Bush with Fernet. Both were just fine but just didn’t have a special kick or notes to it especially with plus $20 charge.
The better option is down the prom is a classy restaurant The State which did have special holiday cocktail, an egg nog riff, Coquito with coconut and rum. It was great and literally $10 cheaper. They have whiskey Wednesdays too with Happy Hour choices which made me want to re-visit.
Next we head to one of the two Riverside locations of Route 30 Brewing. There is the brewery on Sterling and then a downtown spot as well. I will grab a few beers from each list from their website to share with those heading there.
Downtown try the Citrus City a wheat beer with orange zest and also try the Colorado Cream Stout which comes on nitro. At Sterling go for Dunn of Darkness a Czech dark lager and then get hoppy with their tropical Pineapple Crazy Day Double IPA.
