Getting a smoked malt note in the taste..or could it be rye malt.
Latchkey Brewing Tasters
Three offering currently available with a fourth on the way next week. They took over Acoustic Ales space at Mission Brewery Plaza.
Logical Choice
Reached deep into the fridge and made the logical choice. Though it maybe a 3x IPA by Alesmith standards, on a Pizza Port scale it would be a San Diego strong pale ale. Tasty either way.
Throw Some D’s On It
A damn tasty collaboration beer from J. Wakefield Brewing and Alvarado Street Brewery. Based on flavor..no way I would call this an IPA. Sour and fruitiness overwhelm any hop bitterness.
New Generation IPA
Amplified Ale Works Backstage, their PB taproom downstairs from the restaurant, is finally open. New Generation is a juicy hazy IPA with a nose of citrus rind and refreshing taste with mild bitterness.
Stickee Monkee
….mmm…12.5% ABV barrel-aged dessert.
Thorn St Gutter Clown IPA
Happy with my choice. A 7.3% ABV American IPA with a pale malt body and a tasty blend of hops.
Cadejo Brewing W.A.P.A.
I grabbed this during my last bottle round up of Costa Rican beers. This American Wheat Pale Ale, pleasantly hopped over a very pale malt body, was actually from El Salvador…go figure.
Deep Ellum IPA
A nice option while on layover at Aeropuerto de Dallas-Fort Worth. Pleasent hop flavors /bitterness shine through any malty sweetness from the base beer.
Gallina De Palo
From Sin Corbata Cerveceria Artesanal, this 5.4% ABV, 40 IBU beer, is malty, but not sweet, with a somewhat herbal bitterness characteristic.
Beéche Black IPA
Nose is sweet dark roasted/toasted malts, but not burnt smell. Flavor is not sweet and more mild than the nose implies, like it’s been watered down. The bitterness tastes more like burnt malts and not hops. I believe the 5% ABV on the bottle, but not the 90 IBUs
Mi Tata and Tortuguero
Stoked to find one of the Costa Rica Beer Factory restaurants next to our San Jose hotel. Decent local list plus international offerings. Mostly bottles, but a few drafts. This stop I tried 2 IPAs. Mi Tata is an American IPA brewed by Corcovado Cerveceria Artesanal. A nice mix of pale malt body and citrus/pine […]
Rubia – Belgian Golden Ale
We both agreed that this beer from La Selva Cerveza Artesanal has been the best of the Costa Rican made beer that we’ve had so far. Pale malt body with mild sweetness, no bitterness, clean finish with notes of Belgian yeast esters. It’s got that 6.8% ABV going for it too.
Ambar IPA
Just as the name implies, it has a malty sweetness of an amber ale and the hoppy bitterness of an IPA. The combination is what I would expect of an double hopped English IPA, using Pacific Northwest American hops. 6.5% ABV from Costa Rica’s Cerveceria Del Centro.
Six Domingo Siete Beers
In the few days in La Fortuna we found six different beers from Domingo Siete/La Micro Brewing Company. All well made with no off flavors. The Lagarta fruity ale made with Matacuya & Pitahaya was unique. They did a great job of making a fruity beer without it being sweet. Ano Anso, their blueberry wheat […]
Treintaycinco Beers
Both of us were disappointed with our choices; a couple beers from a different craft brewery in Costa Rica,Treintaycinco. Both La Penola (IPA) and Lora (golden strong) had off flavors. Anticeptic/ bandaid in both. IPA had a grapefruit seed extract flavor on top of the anticeptic, and the flavor of…what reminded me of paste from […]
Mikhail Stone Espresso Imperial Russian Stout
The actual full name is Small Batch Escondido Satirist Mikhail Bulgakov author of The Master and Margarita Stone Espresso Imperial Russian Stout aged in Bourbon Barrels. According to the back label, they age it 14 months in American Oak Kentucky Bourbon barrels. This particular bottle has a brewed date of July 17, 2016 and bottled […]
#7 Golden Ale
From Costa Rica’s La Micro Brewing Company. A 5% ABV with pale malt flavors and no bitterness; just enough hops to round out the finish.
Escalante
The first micro brew we had in Costa Rica was this Irish Red Ale from Costa Rica Beer Factory. Worked for me. It tasted like the Irish reds I’ve tried.
Stone Exalted IPA
Nose is nice resinous hop over malty base. Flavor has a herbal bitterness I’m not a fan of and the malty sweetness predicted smell. This is the second beer from Stone, that I’ve had on the last few weeks, that was made with Loral hops and I didn’t care for it.
Voodoo Ranger Juicy Hazy IPA
Poured a bit chunky, as it has been in the fridge for a bit. The nose is a mix of astringent hops, something wet ( which I can’t quite identify) and alcohol. Flavor is mild, and not offending, if only it had a better smell. It does have that 7.5% ABV going for it. Though […]
Mr. Cloudy
A tasty 9% ABV New England-style hazy IPA from the fine folks at Mikkeller San Diego. I couldn’t pass the $10 for selected crowler and fills during the recent “crowler awareness day”. I’m sure we need more awareness, and am willing to support the cause.
Electrocution IPA
Yep…this will work.
Inevitable Adventure DIPA
Another Stone double IPA, this one made with Loral and Dr. Rudi’s hops and clocking in at 8.9% ABV. I got a strong nose of melon, sweet malts, alcohol and resinous hops. Melon less pronounced as it warmed, and couldn’t identify another smell I was getting….she smelled cauliflower, which I’m not getting at all. Flavor […]
Golden Road: Ride On IPA
It’s light, crisp, clear, and citrusy. Golden Road is a local Los Angeles brewery. Their IPA is, while really good, a middle of the road beer given the competition they are up against with everybody and their cousin trying to launch a West Coast IPA. That said, it’s extremely drinkable and this is my all-time […]
Freak Out IPA
Tasty 6.3% ABV unfiltered IPA from the fine folks of Mother Earth Brew Co. Pleasent mild bitterness, nicely dry hopped with a more dry finish…somewhat in the NE style.
Orderville
Doing it easy…right from da can.
Modern Times Havnor
After trying a splash of Havnor at a local watering hole, I wasn’t super excited about the bottle we already had in the fridge. The bottle was way better. Pale malt body, pleasant hop bitterness with strong notes of sweet melon on the nose (which stuck around for the first half of the beer) but […]
New England Style Double IPA
I found this 8.4% ABV hazy beer from Temecula’s Black Market Brewing decent, but nothing outstanding. Pours hazy with a resinous hop nose. Flavor has more than a mild bitterness and finishes dry. Hop bitterness a mix of pine and grapefruit peel, which definitely gives is an east coast IPA vibe. No problem finishing it, […]
Patterns Double IPA
Quite happy with this 8.4% ABV DIPA from Alaska’s Anchorage Brewing Company. It pours hazy, but with pronounced hop bitterness it’s not really a NE-style IPA.
Toasted Coconut Milkshake IPA
I stopped by Toolbox Brewing to try their new release milkshake IPA…and it was good. I found the bitterness overpowering the coconut flavors. But…very happy with the 12.5% ABV pastry stout Truffle Dome. With a nose like rich hot cocoa, and a balanced bittersweet finish..what’s not to like.
BFFs & Faceplant
BFFs collaboration IPA from Pizza Port and Stone, for me and a PP Faceplant, Belgain-style Tripel, for the lady.
Cross My Heart
A juicy and tasty 6.5% ABV NE-style hazy with mild bitterness from the fine folks at Offshoot Beer Co.
Smoking Cannon Tasters
L to R, Parrott, Paxton, Phoenix, Gibbs, Spencer, Coehorn (on nitro) and Coehorn.
Trial by Combat
Quite happy with this 8% ABV double IPA made with passionfruit juice from Massachusetts Brewmaster Jack. The sweet malt flavors emphasize the fruit notes and do a great job of masking the 90 IBU indicated on the label.
Hildegard IIIPA
Via bikes, we had stopped by Benchmark Brewing on Sunday, a day after their Hildegard Day can release, and were pleasently surprised to find their 13.5% IIIPA still on draft. They don’t have crowlers, and I had no interest in adding to my huge growler collection (not to mention the difficulty transporting a glass growler […]
Graveyard’s Pale Ale
One of my favorite beers that Pizza Port Brewing offers in cans.
Societe Roustabout IIIPA…
…for me and a Gold Record for the lady.
Hazy Shades of Winter IPA
On my way home from dinner with my mom, and a quick visit to the library, an 8% hazy IPA jumped in front of my car and dragged me kicking and screaming into Wild Barrel Brewing.
Artifex Feeling Colors
Juicy and delicious IPA, in the NE hazy style, from the fine folks of San Clemente’s Artifex Brewing.
Expatriate IPA at Sunset
Founders Mango Magnifico
My friends had me try this as they knew I am a sometime fan of Tecate, lime, salt, and Tapatio. The mango makes it overly sweet. It’s got a very smooth feel with a slight banana taste. At the end is a firey rush. It’s not something I’d buy, but it was fun to taste. […]
Rock the Pale Ale
Thorn Street Brewing APA is working just fine. Listening to Bully and Melkbelly.
Draai Laag Apples & Pears
An interesting ale. Secondary fermentation with Brettanomyces, white wine yeast, elderflower and the namesake fruits results in a dry, funky and slightly tart beer. I’m not really getting apples or pears at all, but I am getting an essence of fruit. 4.3% ABV.
Post Bike Ride Pastry Stout
Omnipollo Noa Pecan Mud Stout was just the thing, after 36.8 miles and 4 beer stops, while soaking in hot water up to our necks. Yummy can of dessert in a pool safe decanter.
Absolution 405 No Coast IPA
The Torrance, CA brewer, Absolution Brewing Company, has expanded south. Absolution By The Sea recently took over the old La Jolla Brewing space. Currently pouring pints and half pints only. I tasted The Wicked and the 405. Between the hefe and the standard blond, the Peach Blond was no longer available, she chose the blond. […]
Fall Brewing Tasters
L to R Enormous Schwanzstucker, Goo Goo Muck IPA, 2am Bike Ride and Watermelon Jazz Hands.
Check Your Hops…
…and a Gold Record for the lady.
Check Your Hops & E11even
In preparation for tomorrows can realease…making sure the product is up to standard. Mmm..think I need to make more sure.
1-800-Tropics IPA Ext 228
I enjoyed this on draft a few times at the brewery and was happy to see it in cans. I was told that the Ext. varies with each change-up to the recipe. I enjoyed the can as well. Mild lemon citrus hop flavors with mild bitterness and 6.7% ABV.
Raceway IPA
Yep, this will work. Sadly, it’s my last one…and at the same time surprised it lasted as long as it did.
Eppig Waterfront Tasters
Greatly enjoy our stop at the soft opening of Eppig Brewing Waterfront Biergarten in Point Loma just a block east of Shelter Island. Tasty beer and nice outside deck overlooking the harbor. We enjoyed the Tootie Fruity, Moment of Weakness, The Wolf and Count Maltula. Yum. We will be back soon.
The Bell Marker Tasters
In the old San Diego Beer Co. location at 6th and Broadway. We tried the cream ale, hefe, session IPA and IPA, and all agreed that the hefe was the fav.
Smokin’ Kiwi
The new batch is quite good. They dialed down the smoked malts which puts more emphasis on the New Zealand hop characteristics.
Zero Moustafa
Per the label 4 Lbs per barrel of dry hopping and no hops in the boil. Easy drinking, but it ain’t gonna replace my love of bitter beers. A collaboration from Mason and Offshoot Beer Co. Hmm…looks like it cost $2.59.
Say When IPA
Right out of da can. Getting a lot of melon notes.
Chunk Machine
It may have been murky when bottling and when first on draft, but by the time I poured to enjoy this unfiltered double IPA, it was chunky. An enjoyable West Coast double IPA, but nothing outstanding.
Blueberry Spaceship Box
Good, but a bit too sweet for a full glass of the stuff.
Monster’s Park by Modern Times Special Release
I asked the cashier to check the receipt again. My Friday trip to the local beer and wine mart is used to high markups, but $44 for a couple of Modern Times releases couldn’t be right. He confirmed that the Modern Times Monster’s Park was indeed $29.99 w/o tax. What the hell, I’d give it […]
Scorpion Bowl IPA
Scorpion Bowl sounds like something I should be smoking. First few sips I tasted melon. Not so much now.
Hazy Little Thing IPA
I greatly enjoyed this offering from Sierra Nevada. The pale malt body is quite different than most of their choices, and showcases the hop characteristics well. Pleasent mild bitterness, with juicy flavors of citrus and freshly cut grass.
Mosaic IPA
Damn fine beverage, irregardless of current ownership. Perfect to sip and enjoy in the late afternoon sun.
New English Tasters
L to R – Training Wheels, Whole Lotta Hazy, Blueberry Blonde, Hop Slap’d No. 5. Greatly enjoyed their Whole Lotta Hazy IPA…it’s a keeper. Nice mix of juicy and West Coast-style hops over pale malt body. Also tried the cask of Pure & Simple, and preferred over the regular version.
Ho Ho Ho
Suffering through an old Christmas beer. Thinking it may pair well with the cheese and crackers leftover from the x-mas party that I haven’t gotten around to throwing out.
On Fleek
I was in the mood for a strong sweet stout while soaking in the jacuzzi, and found this in the fridge. A 13% imperial stout from gypsy brewer Stillwater Artisanal and Casita Cerveceria …hmm..brewed and canned in Stratford, CT. Not exactly what I was looking for, but very good. Sweet roasted malts on the nose […]
Windy Hill
I was happy with this NE hazy IPA offering from San Diego’s Mikkeller. 7% ABV, juicy, with slightly stronger citrus peel bitterness that lingers a bit.
Goo Goo Muck IPA
Goo Goo Muck = The Cramps…at least the first time I heard the song. Later with compilation album(s) “Songs The Cramps Taught Us” I found out it was a cover by a band in the early ’60s called Ronnie Cook and the Gaylads. Damn fine beer from Fall Brewing. Mild hop bitterness, grassy hop nose, […]
2017 Merry Christmas Happy New Year
Ho Ho Ho. Tastes like a black lager.
Destination Unknown
A delish 8% ABV double IPA in the NE hazy-style, from the fine folks at Alvarado Street Brewery. Found this gem at the Solana Beach BC.
Culture Mosaic IPA
A nice offering that seems to have grown in popularity. A good mix of bitterness and fruitiness in a glass.
21st Amendment Friday Night Variety
Tales from the Kettle — Scottish style and black tea ale Fireside Chat — Winter seasonal brew, strong ale with spices Sneak Attack — Winter Saison, crisp, dry rich Blah Blah Blah DIPA — Deep gold double IPA, 9 hops, juicy & chewy
Another Hoppy Hoppy Night
Pretty can. Belching Beaver’s 7% ABV 5th Anniversary beer.
Electrocution IPA
It seems like I haven’t seen Electrocution IPA on tap here since around the anniversary party in Nov. Don’t get me wrong, loved all the can releases, Top of the Dial, Faraway Towns…etc. but Electrocution is always a great option.
Primordial IIPA
It’s been years since I’ve had a Primordial IPA from Vista’s Mother Earth Brew Co. I remember the first place I had it outside their brewery supply store / nano brewery was Phileas Foggs in Poway. Quite good then. Quite good now. Nose is sweet maltyness with piney and resinous hop notes. Flavor is malty […]
Half Door Brewing Tasters
L to R = Buzzwords, Hypemachine, Bean Bar and Gimmick. Though all decent, but I preferred Buzz over Hype, she preferred Gimmick over Bean. Just saying..
Top of the Dial
Plus a Bee Side taster, and a Gold Record for the lady. Always a good stop.
Sierra Nevada Hop Bullet
While it is true, I’ve not had Torpedo in a while.. .I’m enjoying this offering more than I recall liking Torpedo. Lighter malt I’m thinking. And it has that 8% ABV thing going for it.
Happy New Year
Enjoyed some beers with friends during the eve.
Belgian New Year at BLAH
Well into or Belgian New Year celebration …with some damn fine options. Petrus with Passionfruit, Gulden Draak Calvados (aged in apple brandy barrels), Depont Avec Les Bons Voeur…on and on. The hard part will be biking the 10+ miles back home before it gets dark. Lucky for us it is mostly downhill.
Modern Times Tasters
A bit ahead of schedule, thirsty and in need of a restroom break….so we found a place to stop. L to R, Ghost Train, Folding Ships, Elemental Magic and Transit of Venus.
Windows Up IPA
Enjoying this one from Alpine at 508 Tavern on the eve before New Years Eve.
Culture Mosaic IPA
It’s working for me right now.
Escondido Brewing Tasters
L to R is top to bottom on the menu (in the background). Greatly enjoyed Hopcondido IPA at first sip. Sadly, the others…not so much. Decided to save the Hopcondido while I attempted to give other beers a second, third…fourth chance/taste. We couldn’t finish most. While that happened, Hopcondido got weird. The nose was total […]
Happy!Happy!Happy!
Though it’s served hazy at the moment, the IPA has more a west coast hop profile with a lingering grapefruit-peel bitterness. Tasty.
Island Hopper
Greatly enjoyed this dry sour cider from Los Angeles’s 101 Cider House. Had I not known it was a cider, I would have thought a sour beer. It’s full-bodied, some sweetness up front with the fruit in the nose, but more tart on the palate. Quite nice.
Whispering Pine IPA
Hydration is key. This will work in a pinch. Big Bear Lake Brewing Company’s (not to be confused with older Big Bear Mountain Brewing) has a malty base with some risidual sweetness, and pleasent hop bitterness. Plus it’s got that 8.5% ABV thing going for it.
Sculpin IPA at Snow Summit
I chose over Lagunitas IPA, 805, Fat Tire and a few Coors options. As expected, premium prices for a crappy selection to a captive clientele.
Into the Sunset
An abundance of sweet orange zest on the nose. A pleasent mild bitterness at first. Maybe because of the sweet nose, but I’m getting more an unpleasant grapefruit peel bitterness that lingers a bit longer on the finish. I had no problem finishing the bottle, but likely wouldn’t buy again.
Joe-Joe’s Cookie Stout
Some Ho Ho Ho to go. Sweet roasted malts, with a hint of vanilla, up front. Mildly bitter finish…seems more roasty bitterness and not a hop bitterness. Flavor/mouth feel is like a milk stout. At 6% ABV is like a light pastry stout I kept sipping and sipping…until it disappeared. I enjoyed it.
Hangar 24 Betty IPA
Tempered Ego IPA
A newer New England-style hazy IPA from the fine folks at San Diego’s own Resident Brewing Co. Juicy with citrus hop flavors, mild bitterness and 6.7% ABV. Very enjoyable.
Santo Ron Diego
Pulled a beer from the fridge door that’s been sitting for a while to share. Nice carbonation with more oak characteristics and slightly lighter body than I recall originally. Deceptively smooth for 12.5% ABV.
Top of the Dial
A newer, but by now almost gone, 8% IPA in the hazy style. A mix of fruity and citrus, and west coast hop flavors. Tasty.
Por Favor
I found Baja Brewing Mexican IPA was more poor flavor than por favor. I dumped after a couple sips.
Unsung Brewing Tasters
R to L – Paler Ale, Nebuloid, Blackberry Sour and Will Rancher. Alway a good stop when in Anaheim. Now filling crowlers to go.
Thunderhawk Tasters
My fav being the Hot Liqqa Tank, a 4.7% ABV wheat based golden ale fermented with sake yeast and hooped with Nelson hops. Michele preferred the SS Friendship, the same wheat based golden ale but with a different hop, and Over There, a malt forward dunkelweiss.
Allagash little brett
Very nice. A session pale ale with great brettanomyces characteristics. Funky barnyard, mild hops over a very pale malt body.
Hoppy Hoppy Night IPA
Belching Beaver Brewery 5th Anniversary beer. First sip fresh after pouring, the hop nose was strong, resinous and piney, with an astringent quality, making first taste a bit harsh. The strong nose dimished fairly quickly and seemed to smooth-out the flavors.
Rock Bottom LJ Tasters
L to R, a blonde and IPAs….top to bottom…plus the BA imperial oatmeal stout on the far right. Both the La Jolla Mosaic IPA and La Lupula Blanc White IPA were both quite enjoyable…not that the others were bad, just liked the others more.
Electrocution IPA
Always a good choice.
aaron simon
Adam
Sage
Greg Bolcer
Michele
Terri
