Tag: Sonoma County

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Golden State Brewery # 3 – Old Caz Beer

I stumbled upon this Sonoma County brewery at Loyal Legion in Sacramento where I tasted their One Way IPA.

Here are some more Old Caz beers to sample…

Bukovany Pivo – “Tom’s great grandparents used to run a pub out of their house in the small Czech town of Bukovany. There is so much amazing brewing culture in that area that this beer was brewed specifically to pay respects to that. The beer showcases an array of noble hops, and the result is a light, well-rounded, easy to drink pilsner.”

Acreage Hazy IPA – “Named after another incredible road in the wilderness of west Sonoma County is a classic hazy IPA. We’ve used the Mosaic hop extensively in the West Coast IPAs but this was a first for the hazy.  The result is a soft, brightly flavored hazy, full of tropical, dank character!”

Catastrophe Rye IPA – “Rye tends to be an ingredient that is rather polarizing with beer drinkers, and there doesn’t seem to be much middle ground—you either love it or hate it (we are fully of the former). Catastrophe has the bones of a West Coast IPA, and the rye adds just enough spice to set it apart from the crowd.”

Cavedale Porter – “Tom and Bryan used to ride Cavedale Road while studying at Sonoma State University, and it is one of the most wickedly steep and windy paths in Sonoma County. Unlike our stouts, which tend to be bigger bodied and sweet, Cavedale is more restrained and light. This is a great beer to session while still getting in plenty of chocolate, nutty character.”

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Review – Ficks Blackberry Hard Seltzer

I now have officially had a “hard” seltzer. Just one flavor from a more artisanal producer but none-the-less, I have an idea of what this category is like. The Ficks Blackberry Seltzer was sent to me by the company after I e-mailed that I would be honestly reviewing it. Sometimes, I say that and the offered product never shows up so kudos to Ficks for believing in their drink.

Obviously, this has to be reviewed under different rules and parameters. I like my regular seltzer to have a good strong bubbly-ness to it and to not have a fake fruit flavor. I will take a lightly flavored but truer taste over a strong artificial note.

The blackberry flavor with Ficks does not have that candy note to it. This tastes like blackberry, not in the sour way that some of that fruit can be but more in the red wine area. It is not a super bubble filled seltzer. More lightly sparkling. One out of two parameters met.

Now this does basically taste like a wine cooler to me. A light wine cooler. It is better than quite a few regular seltzers that I have had but it doesn’t reach my go-to Trader Joe’s flavors like clementine and grapefruit. I can have those without the alcohol and not think about it. The Ficks Blackberry clocks in at 5%. It would be easy to quickly enjoy a couple cans.

And that is what this comes down to. Would Ficks be fun at a party? Yes, indeed. Will it replace my normal seltzer, no, because what I get at TJ’s can be utilized in way more situations. I can have one at work, or in the car on a hot L.A. day. Maybe the other flavors would blow me away, maybe another brand would as well but until that time, “hard” seltzer is just fine. If you can find one made well, like the Ficks brand seems to be, then go for it but I would take beer, spirits and wine in a fantasy draft before seltzer.