Tag: September

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Best Beers of September 2024

This month we are going to toggle between Fest and IPA for the best of the month.

My fest best are the always good Oaktoberfest from Firestone Walker and Paulaner’s Oktoberfest Bier. A journey from Germany to Paso Robles.

Hops wise, the Stone 28th Anniversary DIPA strayed a bit from their heavy format to a balanced fruity and big beer. The other is a spooky season named beer from ISM Brewing with Ghost Town Brewing, the 6.66% Death Dealer IPA.

As an added bonus, the Strudel Cider from Benny Boy here in Los Angeles literally tasted like an apple pie. Even though it is not fall yet here, it sure tasted like it.

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Sean Suggests for September 2014

In honor of fresh hop season, this month it is all about hop varietals.  Three choices filled with all sorts of different hops to feed the bitterness that we all seek.

Everywhere Beer Co. Branching Out  – 5.6% – Modern Pilsner hopped with Krush (586), Nectaron, and Nelson

Beachwood Brewing Lupulin Lounge – 7.1% – IPA hopped with Citra, Strata, Idaho 7 Cryo and Columbus 

Green Cheek Beer Co. Playing It Loud – 8.6% – DDH Hazy DIPA hopped with Citra and sprinkled with Mosaic, Motueka and Strata

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In the Tap Lines for September 2024

Here in Los Angeles, September is the last real dry and hot month and I am so happy to see fall on the horizon. Except that fall brings the always too soon Fall Y’all Pumpkin Spice nonsense, followed concurrently by always too soon Christmas. So let’s do our best to stay in the present and keep our eye on all things Oktoberfest.

~ e-visits to (3) breweries in Colorado in anticipation of GABF

~ special featured reviews of Oktoberfest beers + tips on Fest Biers to buy in SoCal

~Heads-Up on Los Angeles Beer Events

~ Three suggested beers to buy this month. One light, one medium and one dark

~ A Book & A Beer reads The Watchmaker of Filigree Street by Natasha Pulley

~ A Podcast & A Beer listens to the NPR 4th Grade Podcast Challenge

~ Sports & A Beer returns with beer prices in the Premier League

~ New Beer Releases and Best Beers of the Month

~ I will tap the Firkin and give my no holds barred opinion on the craft beer world.

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Best Beers of September 2023

It was grand to have some draft Trillium this month so I need to put Headroom Hazy DIPA on the best of list for the month. I also have to shout out a dopplebock from Ventura Coast Brewing, Earth Day for being such a pleasant style change from all the hops. Speaking of, I was shocked to see that my AmaWhole FoodsZon had bottles of Russian River’s Hop Growers IPA – CLS Farms edition in their cooler. It was light and delicious.

But my winner is from Oregon, Cascade Brewing’s Tartini. Sour but not puckeringly so. And by goodness, it had botanicals not only in the beer description but in the beer itself. Lovely light spice note. On the nose for gin fans.

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Best Beers of September 2022

Part of the month was spent in Kentucky but only one beer made the Best of the Month roster.

Let’s harshly rank this month…

  • 4th – West 6th Brewing Dankechain Oktoberfest
  • 3rd – Malibu Brewing First Point IPA
  • 2nd – Firestone Walker / Green Bench Dabbling in Decoction
  • 1st – Ambitious Ales Dream Tea Hazy IPA
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In the Tap Lines for September 2022

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This month I will be making my first ever trip to Kentucky, specifically, the Bourbon Trail from Louisville to Bardstown.  So get a snifter out, there is going to be some bourbon talk this month.

~ e-visits to (3) breweries from cities that also distill spirits
~ special featured review of Kentucky
~Heads-Up on Los Angeles Beer Events
~ Three suggested beers to buy this month. One light, one medium and one dark
~ A Book & A Beer reads Bourbon Empire by Reid Mitenbuler
~ A Podcast & A Beer listens to Bourbon Pursuit
~ New Beer Releases and Best Beers of the Month
~ I will tap the Firkin and give my no holds barred opinion on the craft beer world.

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In the Tap Lines for September 2021

header_attractionsHello September.  Where the first two weeks are filled with Fest and Pumpkin beers which then disappear before tge month is over.  Why? Cause ‘Merica needs to move on to the next holiday pronto.  But let’s drink in the here and the now this month.

~ e-visits to (3) breweries in college football towns
~ special featured reviews of beers bought from City Beer Store
~Heads-Up on Los Angeles Beer Events
~ Three suggested beers to buy this month. One light, one medium and one dark
~ A Book & A Beer reads Tell the Machine Goodnight by Katie Williams
~ A Podcast & A Beer listens to Gene & Roger
~ Great Beer names and Best Beers of the Month
~ I will tap the Firkin and give my no holds barred opinion on the craft beer world.

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In the Tap Lines for September 2020

header_attractionsSoCal just suffered through some heat but I hope that September begins the slow winding down of temperatures.  Still no good news on the ol’ Virus front but it seems that breweries are still being left out of the open up groups.  I will say it again, here is to hoping September will be better.

~ e-visits to (3) breweries from the Oakland area in honor of Kamala Harris.
~ special featured reviews of beers from Fieldwork Brewing.  One hazy and one dark lager
~ Heads-Up on Los Angeles Beer Events (Far in the future events)
~ Three suggested beers to buy this month. One light, one medium and one dark
~ A Book & A Beer reads Utopia Avenue by David Mitchell
~ A Podcast & A Beer listens to Land of the Giants – Netflix
~ Great Beer names and Best Beers of the Month
~ I will tap the Firkin and give my no holds barred opinion on the craft beer world.

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Virtual Hop Picking

Yup, every damn thing I see going to have the word “virtual” in front of it. But, this virtual harvest is making me look forward to September. Check out the SCHEDULE and you will see som technical stuff but they are going g to name a new hop and other fun stuff too. If you are a hop fan, this will make you bitter in a good way.

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The Firkin for September 2019

Best of Show. Considering that to truly find the best IPA brewed in the US would probably take you years and thousands of dollars and your liver, I am finding competitions less illuminating and below that are the internet Best in Style pieces that pop up from time to time.

Recently the California Craft Brewers Association held a Cup but only a 1/3 of breweries participated and none sent their full range for obvious logistic reasons. I have no doubt that the winner was a damn fine beer but “BEST”? Methinks the sample size is not full strength.

Same with a recent Vinepair Top 15 IPA list. There are so many variables at play. Availability, freshness, judging styles, palate fatigue but one each from Washington and Oregon with the Washington one being Elysian? That strains credulity. I can’t imagine trying to crown a best IPA in Los Angeles. There are too many. Some gone in a blink of an eye.

Maybe if I was made of money and had a Tardis to get me to that just tapped moment, I could do it. But until that day arrives, I just don’t hold much stock in these lists.

Currently, I prefer the personal, party of one list. The totally subjective form where one knowledgeable (hopefully) person submits what they like.