The seasonal Kumquat Saison that Smog City Brewing has done for a few years now with the fine folk at Food Forward has a new look….
…that is all about community and I think is one of the better labels from the Torrance brewery. Bright and sunny and makes you feel glad you are tasting the beer and not picking fruit.
Review – Unity 2015 Tart Saison from Smog City
On LABW8 eve, I am looking back to LABW7 and the tart saison that I stashed from last year’s Unity brew from Smog City.
The 2015 Unity pours really clear with a little bit of bubbling around the edges of the glass. The tartness is still there but it softens quickly into a bit of a buttery flavor. A bit viscous on the tongue until the next sip washes it away. Little to no aroma at this point. But there is some lemon rind notes going on. I wasn’t expecting a wonderful experience after a year for a beer that is mid 5% in ABV. More an experiment than anything else but it is a great way to get into the LABW mindset.
Hops in the SteelCraft
While we wait for Smog City to open their second taproom location in Long Beach, they brewery has kindly given us a bit of a preview with the new SteelCraft IPA. This Amarillo, Centennial, Citra and Simcoe hop bomb will debut in Torrance but will end up seeing only limited availability at the SteelCraft facility.
(In case you have forgotten, Steelcraft will be a grouping of shipping containers with retail establishments inside. Possibly coffee, waffles, ramen and ice cream could be setting up shop alongside Smog City beers).
Tomorrow night is your first chance to try the beer before it moves to the LBC.
Smogundo
Carve out time in your busy craft beer schedule for this birthday bash in the South Bay….
May 21st will be a bus day. Will you start at Smog City and then bus over to El Segundo or vice-versa?
Either way, get your tickets because there will be some rare and super special taps to taste when these two celebrate.
That’s a lot of Wishes
If your wishes weren’t answered during Year1 of Smog City’s release of Infinite Wishes their bourbon barrel-aged Imperial Stout, well you get another chance tomorrow with the online pre-sale. The brewery calls it “bourbon chocolate pie” and boy does that sound delicious.
Infinite?
Where are you going to be on Saturday, January 17th at noon?
Smog City of course! You can get your 2nd vintage of The Nothing so you can taste test the 2014 to the 2015 and then you will want to compare them both to Infinite Wishes (2014 The Nothing which spent 364 days in bourbon barrels).
You will be kicking yourself if you don’t at least taste these two chocolatey stouts. But you should really plan on buying some bottles.
Anni
Smog City will be celebrating their first year in their Torrance brewery on May 17th.
And if the thought of “delicious beer, crazy experimental beer and exceptionally balanced beer” sounds good then head down to their taproom.
They will also be releasing a special anniversary beer, a Strong Saison brewed with Merlot.
The festivities take place from 12-8pm.
The Casks are Battlin’ (again)
I missed the first battle of the casks that Smog City threw but the battle rages on!
Instead of a base porter style, this time around the Torrance brewery used “Amarilla Gorilla IPA Casks, all treated with a wide array of ingredients from fruit purees to tea and wine juice…”
Here is the list along with my quick thoughts…
Cask 1 – Orange Zest, Tangerine Zest, Coriander with Amarillo and Centennial hops
Strong taste of citrus zest. Quite sharp and aromatic. Hop taste is minimal.
Cask 2 – EXPLODED and out of the running with Panca Pepper, Vanilla bean and mango smoothie
My favorite of the day. Big pepper taste balanced equally by the vanilla. Slight citrus in the background.
Cask 3 – Merlot concentrate with Mosaic and Simcoe hops
The wine is there for sure but it was pretty tannic and bitter. First sip better than the last.
Cask 4 – Apricot puree with Amarillo and Sorachi Ace hops
There was trouble with this cask but the taste was fine. Apricot over everything else. Favorite with a few that spoke with.
Cask 5 – EXPLODED and out of the running with Lemon peel, lime peel, coconut extract, Pineapple/orange/banana juice with Amarillo and Simcoe hops
Passed on this one.
Cask 6 – Mango and Muscat Oolong tea, Peach puree and Simcoe hops
Probably the weakest of the group. No discernible tea notes. Mango was muted. More peach than anything.
BACK UP CASK – Juniper, Lemon peel and Sorachi Ace hops
This be the one that I voted for. Strong Juniper notes as well as barrel accents as well. Not nearly as good as the pepper/vanilla combo though.
And the popular vote winner? Chris Walowski won for the 2nd year in a row for his merlot accented IPA.
Cask Showdown
It won’t be a showdown with bloody knuckles at the end but rather a showdown with Bloody Knuckle as the base beer for some wild, cask beers.
And it all goes down at Smog City in Torrance on the 28th.
Here is the info for the event and if you miss it, you’ll have to wait until March for the next one. So get your calendars out.
“We’re going head to head in our inaugural Smog City Battle of the Cask!! Each member of our Smog City crew has designed their own cask recipe, yes, even Laurie and we need your help to determine a winner!
At Noon on Saturday, Dec 28th, we will be tapping all five at the same time in a. Who’s cask will win? It’s up to the fans to chose!
In honor of the holidays and the lovely chilly weather, all of the casks will be made using the Bloody Knuckle, our Robust Porter, as the base beer. “
Cask Line-Up
*Fruit and Maple Cask
Contains Dried Orange Cranberries and Maple Syrup
*Peanut Butter and Chocolate Cask
Contains Dried PB, Chocolate Powder and Cocoa Nibs
*Mint Chocolate Cask
Contains Chocolate Powder, Cocoa Nibs, Mint Oil and Vanilla Beans
*Toasted Coconut Cask
Contains Toasted Coconut and Vanilla Beanks
*5th- Raspberry chocolate sticks porter
Contains: Raspberry Purée, Freeze dried raspberries. Coco powder, Cocoa nibs, Vanilla beans
Appreciating the Fans of Smog City
Smog City wants to appreciate the people who appreciate them. Take a read….
“This year, we were among 11 breweries in L.A. entered into L.A. Hotlist’s voting for Best Local Brewery. To win it took your support, it took your votes and it took GREAT BEER! Thanks to YOU we were voted BEST LOCAL BREWERY of 2013!!
So….When you win something, it’s only appropriate to celebrate with a party and thank our fans!
Please join us
Saturday, Nov 16th:
12-4pm for celebratory $1 samples and $3 beers”