Just down the coastline, Brouwerij West has a late summer Pilsner out now that they brewed up with Altamont Brew works, the resulting light beer is Live Animals and is a 5.5% West Coast Pils.
San Pedro Day – Live Animals
San Pedro Day – Hess at the Harbor
San Pedro has some big waterfront plans in the pipeline in what is called the West Harbor Development ( see one of the proposed renderings below ) and some possible tenants are either onboard or linked to it at this point.
From the craft beer perspective, San Diego based Mike Hess Brewing is one of these tenants which means that you might be able to hit up both Brouwerij West and Mike Hess in a day down by ocean.
Review – Two Hazies from Brouwerij West
Doing a hazy double dip with Brouwerij West….
Frizzonaire with Citra, Enigma and Cashmere – hazy if not murky appearance. little sawdust and Concord grape on the nose. very soft mouthfeel with that grape taste there in the leas with some prickly hop bitterness popping here and there. as it warms a bit, I get a subtle hit of peach and creamsicle.
Next up is Scissor Run with Amarillo, Huell Melon and Ekuanot – this is very berry bright upon opening the swirling labeled can. a lighter yellow shade of haze in the glass. getting a berry, peach combo here. a little brisker upon the palate, but still soft mouthfeel. a little more piney bitterness as well.
Hard to pick a winner here but based on my haze guideposts, Frizzonaire hews closer to the line for me.
San Pedro 7
Somebody is about to turn seven. Not to draw things out, it is Brouwerij West in San Pedro.
If you go, start with the Popfuji, it is an underrated pilsner gem. Then you can head to their hazies.
Feral Earth
I don’t normally post about beers that are pert near impossible to land so think of this as an early recognition for what may be a new L.A. brewery.
The San Pedro nano is Feral Earth, helmed by Javier Rodriguez who also brews over at Brewjeria. Keep an eye out and snag a bottle if you can.
Review – Earth That Was from Brouwerij West
Making the most of a simple circular label on a silver can, Brouwerij West has been canning a few of their beers. This “skeletal” IPA is the first that I have tasted from the San Pedro brewery.
This canned Belgian IPA or NE IPA pours a slightly hazed straw yellow color. Woodsy and earthy spring to mind when drinking this beer. Has that NE habit of green hop taste that gritty sticks to the roof of the mouth. The bitterness does linger. Some lemon notes at the back. Super cool label. Love the name too. This beer warms my cheeks quick for some reason despite only rolling in at 6% abv.
Mix that Fermentation
Brouwerij West is calling it a year with a breakfrunch. Plus you get High Fives.
Here is the initial beer list:
•Our 1st Anniversary Beer: Barrel-Aged Tripel (NEW!)
A Belgian Golden Strong Ale aged for 3 months in red wine puncheons
•Animal Farm – mixed-fermentation beer aged on peaches (NEW!)
•Chinatown – barrel-aged mixed-fermentation beer (NEW!)
•Spelt Saison (Out-of-the-Cellar First-Year Favorite!)
•Buckwheat Sour (Out-of-the-Cellar First-Year Favorite!)
•Get Back (Out-of-the-Cellar First-Year Favorite!)
•+ surprise variations on some of our classics & more
B. West Cans
Brouwerij West of San Pedro will be releasing their first canned beers next week. 16oz Can-conditioned versions of 2 of our favorites: Dog Ate My Homework – blackberry saison and Mor Mor Belgian-style Quadrupel will be sold in limited run can-conditioned 16oz cans.
They go on sale Saturday January 7th when the coastal taproom opens at Noon and will be available as singles & in 4-packs.
To Drink When Watching American Gods
Brouwerij West has a new dry stout out. Small Gods is packaged in a big bottle and according to the brewery is “brewed with 20% roasted barley and fermented with our house yeast. It’s light-bodied, dry, dark, and toasty. Dark fruit esters in the aroma, as well as bittersweet chocolate and coffee.”
Return to Brouwerij West
A few photos and notes from my recent return trip to Brouwerij West to catch up with Brian Mercer and to see how the beers are evolving in San Pedro.
The Popfuji pilsner in just a few short weeks has become a number one seller in the tap room with the occasional IPA (2 distinct versions) being number 2 which is not at all surprising but I had hoped that the sours and Saisons would be selling more.
Production is ramping up but the logistics of which beers to brew and the waiting involved has slowed distribution but look for Popfuji in 4-packs and special releases to show up on shelves in the coming months.
Also look for more experimentation as a small tank has been added to increase taproom only specials. Think plums.
Big thanks to Brian and Dave for the tasting flight and informative beer talk.