Follow Sean Inman to the best in craft beer
Earlier this year Powell’s Bookstore teamed with Ex Novo Brewing on a bookshop beer and now it is happening in California between Topa Topa Brewing and Timbre Books.
If we can get even more of these beers maybe GABF would create a book beer category.
The final featured 12oz can from Ventura County’s Topa Topa is their Pale Ale, Level Line.
The Pale has a wort like aroma. Lots of woodsy notes in the taste. Getting loads of grassy. A good amount of menthol as well. Like Dos Topas this is more on the silky mouthfeel with some hoppy pricks on the tongue.
The second 12oz can from Ventura County’s Topa Topa is Chief Peak. Which their website describes as “the piney hops are first to arrive. The tropical tones of passion fruit, orange, and gooseberry aren’t far behind.”
Here is what I found… CP pours a dark orange color. Get a bit of candied orange. Aroma is pine and grapefruit. Rind note is the leader. Sticky on the roof of the mouth. Woody notes as well.
I have visited the Ventura branch of Topa Topa on two occasions and really enjoy the space and the cacti design. On the 2nd visit, I saw that 12oz canning had begun and when I saw them in L.A. I grabbed two beers.
First is Dos Topas. This lager pours a near orange but primarily yellow color. Great to have a malt forward beer. Cracker. Little rye spice. Maybe a tiny bit of pear at the end. Leans to viscous over crisp. Simple and effective.
I have really only heard Gustavo Arellano before and not read either of his books or his famous “Ask a Mexican” column. That voice is distinctive and opinionated which is why I like hearing his take on everything from Orange County politics on KCRW or tacos on the Netflix show Ugly Delicious with David Chang.
So, after watching the taco episode (finally, I know that I am behind), I picked up Arellano’s book Taco USA to further my knowledge.
And it was a fun survey of Mexican food and its impact on the United States and its food culture and how the tectonic clash has created all sorts of sub-styles across the country. I learned about so many different dishes but more interesting were the little histories of tortillas in a can or the creation of “American” salsa. Remember “get a rope” from the Pace commercials?
And, thankfully, Arellano’s voice comes through loud and clear in print as well. Whether it is a take down of Rick Bayless or describing a trip to see the shards of a tortilla that supposedly had the face of Jesus on it.
To drink while reading the book, it seems appropriate to head to Santa Ana and the Good Beer Company. Maybe have their Senorita Gose or Abuela Wild Ale.
Or you could pick up something from the not-as-hot now Mexican Lager category. Dos Topas from Topa Topa Brewing or Mexican Lager from Ska Brewing come to mind.
Or as an authentic option, pick up a bottle from La Insurgente, a Mexican craft brewery.
Each year, I know that more breweries and beer bars will open. I also know that I won’t get to them all. But I do have an agenda and at the top of that list are making my first visits to….
…and that is just the start.