Tag: The Bruery

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Review – The Bruery Batch 1000 Bryeian

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I was lucky enough to steward at the Bruery competition for the Batch 1,000. I didn’t taste the eventual winner from Brian Pramov & Bryan Keas of Denver who won best in show. But I did taste a few contenders that tasted more Bruery-esque than what I find with this Cascadian Dark Rye Ale.

Not to intimate that this is a bad beer. It is a solid example of the dark IPA category. It just is not what I expect from the Placentia brewery. It is hoppy first with rye and chocolate behind it. Has a bright sparkle to it. It just doesn’t have the “house” taste to it. Maybe that is what drew the final judges to this beer. It drew me in for sure.

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So I finished the Owen King book, Double Feature which I give a mild recommendation to and I am now up at night reading NOS4A2 by his sibling Joe Hill. The book jacket promises alternate universes which I am a sucker for.  Oh and the whole good vs. evil thing is a draw as well.

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Food GPS Teaser – Friendly Banter

Before the main event at the Brewbound – Brew Talk at Golden Road. A diverse panel of speakers covering three sectors of the craft beer ecosystem were called to the podium to talk about the State of Beer in Los Angeles.

Included were Anne Conness the chef for Simmzy’s, Jace Milstead the beer guru for Ace Distribution and Jeff Sapsford from Sunset Beer.

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Here are some tidbits from their talk (in no particular order of importance).
You have to “earn” the privilege of pouring special beers. You don’t get the uber rare beer if you don’t support the rest of a breweries beers.

It would be great to go to signature L.A. landmarks and see signature L.A. beers served there.

You have to have IPA’s on at least 1/3 of your taps.

If you are brewing beer, two key things: Consistency and Availability.

Seems like anyone who gets fired decides to open a brewery.

Be a part of the market.

On Food GPS tomorrow, what I took away from business discussion between The Bruery and Golden Road.

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Bois

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Here is a peak at the pretty label for the latest anniversary beer from The Bruery.   “Bois” is French for “Wood.”  Each year the names of the anniversary ales correspond with traditional wedding anniversary gifts as translated in the French language.  Though I don’t recall getting anything wooden on my fifth.

These are big blended beers that utilize the Solera method where each beer is partially comprised of a blend of past anniversary beers.  So you will taste Fruet and Coton and Papier in Bois.

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Review – Melange # 3

After stewarding at the Batch 1,000 Home Brew contest at the Bruery, I got a bottle for all of my “hard” work.

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I last reviewed Melange # 3 way back in 2011 and I said this, “This is a big boozer. Way too sweet for me. Followed by a big ABV taste that I don’t cotton too. Pours a dusky brown with a big barrel aroma to it.”

The Bruery describes this beer thusly, “Melange #3 is a blend of three bourbon barrel aged strong ales. White Oak Sap, a wheat wine, our Anniversary Series old ale and our imperial stout, Black Tuesday, join forces in this luxurious strong ale that links some of the best characteristics of each of the contributing beers. Chocolate, dark fruits, oaky vanilla and rich toffee-like character reach through the bourbon veneer for an intensely satisfying quaff.”

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And now, this is the 2013 updated review of Melange # 3, It pours a dark brown with a tint of red to it.  Foamy head disappears somewhat quickly but a big sweet bourbon aroma takes over.  I get some coconut and caramel notes in the aroma as well.  This is a viscous beer that leaves alcohol legs on the glass and on the palate too.  Very sweet.  Almost a bourbon coconut ganache.  And very strong, their is a bit of an alcohol burn that holds on for awhile.

I have to agree with previous me from 2011.  This is just too sweet for me.

 

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FoodGPS Teaser – The Bruery Batch 1,000

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Tomorrow on FoodGPS, I head to The Bruery to check out their Batch 1,000 homebrew contest. (Information on the winner will be there tomorrow)

Here are some photos from the day…..

I was stewarding for Victor from Taps and we started with Russian Imperial Stouts.
I was stewarding for Victor from Taps and we started with Russian Imperial Stouts.

But first we had to get the home brews out of storage and into the hands of the judges.
But first we had to get the home brews out of storage and into the hands of the judges.

Judges like Patrick Rue and Lee Bakofsky.
Judges like Patrick Rue and Lee Bakofsky.

Even the beer was excited to be there.
Even the beer was excited to be there.

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FoodGPS Teaser – Top 10 Beers of 2012

For every 10 Best List, there are a few honorable mentions. And in the craft beer world, many honorable mentions. But I have decided to tease tomorrow’s FoodGPS countdown list with the three that I agonized over not including. So here are beers 11-13 that I wish I could have cheated and snuck in….

13. Bear Republic – Dry Creek Home Grown
Our tribute to the annual hop harvest brewed with Cascade hopes grown in the Dry Creek Valley just 10 minutes from our pub & brewery. I said, ” The aroma alone is worth the price of the pint. Citrus and flowers spring up. Nice light bitterness that doesn’t interfere with the flavor and is distinct, not a muddle of hops. Makes me want to visit this Dry Creek.” Might be available on tap. Window may be closed on it though since it is a fresh hop beer.

12. 21st Amendment – Hop Crisis
A imperial IPA aged on oak using Columbus, Centennial and cascades as the bittering hops and dry hopping with Simcoe, Ahtanum, Amarillo, and Cascades. I said, “Big but not muddled DIPA that shows off the oak aging and finishes strong with a great pineapple, citrus fruit bitterness that really worked well together. Not super aromatic but just a great beer. Super smooth.” This one is canned and is available in San Francisco and via Let’s Pour at times.

11. The Bruery/Hangar 24 – Ichigo Highway
The base style is a sessionable sour red ale that we aged in oak barrels along with a whopping amount of strawberries, most of which were picked from the fields besides Hangar 24’s brewery. I said, “Nice whiff of strawberry. Initial taste is sourness followed by a jam taste. Tastes really fresh. Good sparkle to it. Some farmhouse notes as well. Excellent mix of flavors.” Head to Bruery Provisions for this fruit find.

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Review – Ichigo Highway

In my mind, the Bruery has been on a roll in 2012. So many beers covering a wide range from light to dark and some great local collaborations with Eagle Rock and Bootlegger’s to name just two beers. Now they have teamed up with the high flyers at Hangar 24 for a strawberry accented beer called Ichigo Highway. Here is the review…

Here is the label copy, “Ichigo Highway is a collaborative beer that we created with Hangar 24 Brewing from Redlands, CA. The base style is a sessionable sour red ale that we aged in oak barrels along with a whopping amount of strawberries, most of which were picked from the fields besides Hangar 24’s brewery. Aged for approximately 8 months, this beer has developed a pleasant funk and a delightful acidity that is balanced by the intensely sweet aroma and flavor of the strawberries as well as a unique dryness achieved by using a sake yeast along with our house strain along with souring bacteria.”

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In the Tap Lines for December 2012

Every December here on this very blog, I highlight a holiday/Christmas/winter warmer every day up until Christmas. Some of these beers aren’t available here in Los Angeles but your holiday travel plans may take you near one of them that you can taste.

~ e-visits to three breweries from the Austin, Texas area
~ video reviews tackles two new beers from The Bruery
~ Three suggested beers to buy this month
~ I will tap the Firkin and give my opinion on the craft beer world
~ … and Session # 70 will converge bloggers onto a single topic
~ plus many more posts about new beers, beer products and breweries

Here are two events to get your November started in the Los Angeles craft beer world:
1) December 1st – Mohawk Bend features Oregon’s Ninkasi Brewing all month
2) December 6th – Beachwood BBQ in Seal Beach will be hosting a Firestone-Walker 16th Anniversary event