I made a trip slightly north with fellow beer afficionado Richard to catch up (as best we could) on the beers of Camarillo, Oxnard and primarily Ventura. Here are some of the photos:
Ventura Beer – Photos – Part 1
Ventura 101
Usually on the drive southward and home from Paso Robles, I will stop in Santa Barbara for beer and a leg stretch. This time, since I am so far behind when it comes to my Ventura County beers, I decided to make a double stop in Ventura at Topa Topa Brewing and the nearby Fluid State Beer Garden.
On a corner of Main Street, you can see the design ethos of Fluid State with their wrap-around name on the building. This is a great spot with a well-curated tap list and some pizza by the slice that isn’t too fussy. I had the Dr. Pepperoni which had both sliced and chunked pepperoni on top. I love the wood used for the bar and tables with mermaid blue chairs at the bar. This is a perfect summer patio spot. I sampled Corralitos Hot Tip IPA and Central Coast’s Fresh Kicks Hazy IPA.
A nice brisk walk in the vicinity of the Mission brings you towards Topa Topa. It is a small-ish space with another nice (enclosed) patio. They were quite a few style options on tap but I was most excited to try the Sespe Pilsner and Dos Topas Mexican Lager. Both were really nice entrants into their respective categories.
I then made a third (unplanned) stop at Leashless Brewing which is just down the street from TT. They are organic, Belgian and when possible, gluten-reduced beers. Since it was near the end of my long beer weekend, I settled on 1618. A Belgian Red IPA. The menu is neatly split amongst Belgian standards and IPA’s and again, they have a lovely patio that faces a park to calm your nerves as you drink.
Two from MadeWest
I was beer shopping and finding quite a few new Artifex beers in the coolers when I thought I saw some beers that were upside down. My eyes were deceiving me though. Artifex’s logo is similar in font to Ventura’s MadeWest.
I ended up with a pale and IPA and now is the time to render a verdict. Which can would I buy again?
Pale Ale – Pours a clear and dark yellow. Aroma is very herbal and grassy. Nice dank bite with a spritz of carbonation at the start that rounds into a lovely peach note. That bitterness sticks to the side of the mouth long after the sip is over. Right at the end is a wheat toast note. The combination is nice if stronger than expected for a Pale Ale.
IPA – Pours an orange color. Aroma has a touch of citrus but somewhat mellow. Picking up grapefruit here in the flavor, it is predominant. More silky than the Pale Ale. Less dynamic in certain ways too.
I think the peach notes puts the Pale over the top. Or maybe I don’t cotton to hop 07270.
More Brewing North of Us
In addition to Third Window that I touched upon earlier this month, two more breweries from north of L.A. have entered the fray in past months and the first, MadeWest Brewing Company of Ventura, CA started distributing their core Pale Ale and IPA in March.
The MadeWest tasting room is located at 1744 Donlon Street in Ventura, and is open 7 days a week with ample indoor and patio seating.
And in Goleta you will find the M. Special brewery whose brewhouse is helmed by Joshua Ellis and will have a “portfolio of beers … ranging from flavors IPA’s to a Crisp American Lager.”
Science
In Hollywood, there is the oft-repeated phrase, “But I really want to direct.” Actors become directors as do writers and producers. The same motivation seems to be in place for breweries. I want to brew but I really want to have a barrel-aging program.
Not, of course, a bad thing. It just came to mind when hearing about the second release in the Scientific Series from Surf Brewery, of Ventura. The limited release Oil Piers Porter, aged in French Oak Merlot barrels came out in mid-February.
“The culmination of close to three years of barrel aging in French oak and artful blending at their newly established barrel aging warehouse in Moorpark, CA., has resulted in this dark porter featuring lush flavors from the barrel on top of rich chocolate malt with just enough oak flavor to draw out the finish.”
Coming next from the Scientific Series barrels will be a Belgian Tripel, a blonde, plus more porter and a Flanders red sour.
HopHeadSaid
Not only did I meet Fred Waltman of the Franconia Beer Guide at the Beer Advisory Board meeting for the 4 Points Beer Hotel but I also got to meet Curtis who blogs at HopHeadSaid and covers the central coast of California and also puts a spin on beer and food pairings too.
There is an excellent map of breweries that goes as far south as Agoura Hills and one of my favorites, Ladyface and heads north up to Paso Robles and a certain teeny-tiny brewery up there.
It is yet another great resource for traveling and ideas.
Review – Surf Brewery Surf Patrol Black IPA
The last California beer to be reviewed this month comes from just up the coast and evokes the surfer lifestyle. It is Surf Patrol Black IPA from Ventura’s Surf Brewery.
Here are the details from their website:
“Our American Style Dark Ale features vibrant citrusy and floral American hops balanced against a complex malt profile of toasty dark malts with a hint of roasted barley. Just like an early morning surf session, once you start you keep going back.
16°P 67 IBU 37 SRM Alc.Vol. 6.5%”