Smog City is getting our hopes up for winter with….
…snow would be nice but a little dew to go with my hazy might be all I get.
Not in SoCal
Smog City – Part 1 – Cherry Nerd
Cool TV show callback from Smog City Brewing with Krieks & Geeks.
Here is the description of this Cellar Series beer, “This oak-aged saison is all about fruit! Deliciously crisp, dry, and tart is the name of the game in this 5.6% beauty. Our little nod to fruity lambic beers from Belgium, we incorporated heaps of Balaton and Montmorency cherries to sweeten up and balance out the saison funk.”
Smog City – Part Two – Beer Dinner
One of the beer-y events that I hope come back better than before is the beer dinner. Smog City will be hosting one at their Glendora Public Market location with owner / head brewer Jonathan Porter.
If you can’t schedule this one, start looking for the next one.
Review – Bourbon O.E. from Smog City
Time to barleywine, two ways with Smog City Brewing. Bourbon O.E.
For 2022, there is the OG O.E. aa well as a special variant that “was aged in Garrison Brothers Balmorhea Bourbon barrels and is absolutly oozing with bourbon characteristics. If you love bourbon, this variant is not to be missed.”
Bourbon Barrel – starting with the standard bearer. it has a subdued initial nose to it. the bourbon and wood is there but I also get a cherry note that is followed by a soft vanilla. There is no mistaking that this beer is nearly 14% abv but it is not heavy at all.
Balmorhea Barrel – this aroma tickled my nose literally and figuratively. Leather and vanilla are the leads and the first sip yields caramel as well. Oddly is a bit more fizzy and with much less of an alcohol burn to it.
Amazing how different these two beers are but I would nudge the Balmorhea ahead of the standard. The toned down alcohol brought the other flavors up a notch in my view.
Sean Suggests for July 2022
Summer might be the time for pilsners and lagers to shine but there are still a lot of IPAs out there with almost all the hops you can imagine.
Smog City Squall Line IPA – 6.4% – “the next beer in our Smog Days IPA Series. This is one bright & crushable West Coast IPA, coming in at 6.4% and featuring Azacca, Veteran’s Blend, & Simcoe hops. It’s got wonderful flavors of mango, pineapple, & stone fruit.
Fremont / Bale Breaker Cultivision Cold IPA – 7.5% – “we used Yakima Chief Hop’s 301 Mosaic Fresh Cryo Hops. Just because it’s not fresh hop season, doesn’t mean we can’t bring you a fresh hop beer. By using fresh hops it really accentuates the pine, grassy and fresh floral aromas.”
Societe Brewing Glorious Odds Hazy IPA – 7.5% – “a playful hazy with a boat load of stone fruit notes. Adorn your senses with aromas of peach, tropical fruits and lemon followed with some orange & sweet aromatics. Crafted with Idaho 7, El Dorado, Mosaic, and Azzaca hops, this spunky brew is mildly bitter with a heavy haze.”
Review – Humans Vs. Wizards
Time to choose a side. Wizards and Hazies or Humans and West Coasties?
This challenge comes to us from Smog City and Three Weavers and their two IPA’s…
We start with…
More Wizard Than Human Hazy IPA – fruit plus Sweet Tart on the aroma. Soft on the palate. The bitterness is there but more lurking than upfront. The spell of hops is from Strata, Cashmere and El Dorado. I get some tea like notes from the Strata plus a little twisted malt note.
More Human Than Wizard West Coast IPA – according to the label art, much bigger hops used. Though really it is the same big three just expressed differently. Tilted more British in styling with a bready note. More earthy and woody and no fruit.
Verdict – I like the fruity notes in the hazy over the earthy in the West Coast. I also like the wizard over the Thor like dude with the big H mash paddle.
Summer of Lagers – Part 1
My computer tells me it is 90 degrees as I type this. Summer is here and that means lagers and pilsners. A good start is this Helles from Smog City…
South Bay is #1 in the Torrance based brewery lager series so grab it and collect them all.
Not for Gandalf
Is that Aquaman’s dad in overalls?
Whomever you think it is, a hazy from the combined forces of Smog City and Three Weavers should cast a spell on your taste buds.
Smog Up to 11
No foolin’ Smog City is turning Eleven, so that needs to celebrated.
Head to their websites to snag your VIP tickets ahead of time.
Twisting
It is Smog City Brewing Day here at BSP so let’s talk gin-barrel aged saison.
In addition to being aged in gin barrels, there is additions of vanilla and lemon in this cocktail inspired beer that clocks in at 10.8%. Plus I like that French style font and the royal goblet on the label.