8% ABV Belgian strong pale ale at Fathom Bistro Bait & Tackle.
Gold Record
A new 9.4% ABV Belgian-style golden strong ale at Amplified Ale Works. It’s somewhat sweet, a bit of black pepper in the finish, and warming alcohol throughout. Nice beer.
Toolbox Brewing
L to R Free Range Lettuce, Chéne Bretta, and Ruby.
It’s Dynamite IPA
New one in a long series of IPAs from BSB. Uses TNT and Motueka hops for a really fruity profile. 6.7% abv
Amplified Miramar Now Open
Now available east of I-5, Amplified Ale Works brew house, off Miramar Road, soft open has been happening since 3pm today. Enjoying the colaboration beer, Centerpointe, made with next door neighbor, Pure Project.
Twisted Pretzel Wheat
Odd for them to have made it. Odd also that we ended up with a bottle of it. 5.1% ABV. Smells like…stale kettle popcorn. Not much flavor…but I’m getting a watered down marzen, but a tad more sweet. Reminds me of popcorn flavored Jelly Bellys…but not in a good way.
Booze Bros Sauer Blanc
Very refreshing 6.5% ABV saison. Mildly tart, a bit of brett funk, some white wine notes, some sweetness too, but not overly so. Way way more to choose from compared to my last visit.
El Segundo Mayberry IPA
Chose over Firestone Luponic Distortion, and it was a close call between this and Three Weavers Expatriate…but happy with my choice.
Aurora Hoppyalis IPA
I’m very happy with Karl’s 7% ABV San Diego – style IPA. A well deserved bronze at last year’s GABF.
Midnight Jack Brewing
Of the 10+ drafts available, we chose 6. L to R, top to bottom, Belgian-style blonde, pale ale, IPA, coconut porter, milk stout on nitro, and double chocolate stout.
Lunch with Wild Lady
Pleasantly surprise with this Belgian-inspired farmhouse ale with brett from Santa Ana’s The Good Beer Company. 7% ABV, slightly tart, a little funk, clean finish. Nice beer. This was 2015 release.
Kook
An 8.5% ABV double India Pale Ale from the fine folks at Pizza Port Brewing Company.
Pineapple Sculpin
Nose is sweet, but I don’t think I could have identified it as pineapple if it wasn’t indicated on the label. Flavor is not sweet, but seems less bitter and doesn’t have the crisp finish of the original. I get the most pineapple notes after swallowing a sip and then exhaling through my nose. Exhaling […]
Aberrant
I’m not surprised that this farmhouse golden ale from Oregon’s Logsdon Farmhouse Ales is really good. We’ve been eyeing the bottle in the back of the fridge for quite some time now. A nicely balance combination of flavors. Funky/earthy notes with mildly tart notes…also a touch of sweetness. Not dry. The 8% ABV is a […]
Mac Wanda Pale Ale at Bartlett Hall
5.8% ABV made with Simcoe hops.
Black and Gold
Modern Times Black House Coffee Stout and Backstreet Schism Rye IPA shortly before Rhythm & Brews fest in Vista.
Casa Bruja La Fantasma
Brujeria edition #10 is a wonderful funky 10% ABV farmhouse ale we smuggled back from Panama City, Panama. Loosely translated…Casa Bruja = Witch House, La Fantasma = The Ghost, Brujeria = Witchcraft
Bsse Camp Pilgrimage Saison
7.1% ABV with a dry finish, and packaged in a cool aluminum bottle.
Pizza Port SB 152 IPA
Of the many options to choose from, this is what ended up in my glass….and I was not disappointed. Freshly tapped, and quite enjoyable, IPA.
De Garre Tripel
A small consolation after this afternoons tax appointment. Another consolation may be required.
Culver Beer Company Tasters
Still in the soft opening stage, but open hours are more regular than a week or two ago. L to R = top to bottom on the menu. First two glasses are both Daily Routine; the first is on nitro, the second CO2. Our favs were the Tiger Ride, the 8% ABV Belgian-style blonde, and […]
Southern Tier Choklat Oranj
A 10% ABV imperial stout from New York’s Southern Tier’s Blackwater Series releases. Good, but not as enjoyable as the Choklat version was by itself. We found Choklat Oranj more bitter and less sweet and dessert-like.
2015 Bourbon County Stout
Good, but not as good as previous years.
Not the Worst Place for a Flat Tire
….in front of Acoustic Ales. I chose a flight… L to R, Hop Way to the Danger Zone, a 10% ABV triple IPA, Shojo IPA, a 6% ABV IPA brewed with rice and fermented with sake yeast, Road to the Abbey, an 8% Belgian-style abbey ale, and Westbound and Down, a 10% ABV Belgian-style quadruple. […]
A 7.3% ABV red IPA from Stone Brewing. Reminds me of a rye IPA. Decent, but nothing great.
Lobster Telephone
A 6% ABV Automatic Brewing Company English strong pale at Blind Lady Ale House (BLAH). Much better than the ol’ run-of-the-mill English strong pale.
Artifex No Name IPA
Always a good choice. At Waypoint Public.
Altamont Brewing Scarcity IIIPA
A tasty 11% ABV triple IPA from Livermore, CA. It was not an easy choice between the three on draft. Benchmark’s 13.5% ABV Hildegard was good. So was Acoustic’s 10% ABV Hop Way to the Danger Zone. This is not the first time I chose something in the middle….this time it just happened to be […]
Don’t Call It A Comeback IPA
At Southpark Brewing Company. Sad to see they no longer are doing the fresh fish thing. Looks like many good options still…and beer is still good.
Grape Sour by Free Will
Nice mild 4.9% lambic with grapes added by Free Will Brewing in Pennsylvania. Picked up on a recent work trip in another state last year. Florida maybe…
Resident Brewing
Resident Brewing, located in the back of the downtown/gaslamp location of The Local, has been pouring their own beers for about a month now. Five on draft when we stopped by last Sunday. Nothing outstanding, but all were decent and clean.
Simarillo IPA
Aztec brewing.
Burning Beard Brewing Soft Opening
Of the 6 drafts available, 2 were CO2 and Nitro versions of the same beer. L to R we chose Dankness Visible IPA, Hopmata IPA, Holy the Voyd Stout on Nitro, and INGSOC with regular CO2. Happy with both IPAs.
De Troch 2014 Oude Gueuze
An interesting beer. Along with it being very sour, I get hints of a metallic thing and mild Anaheim chili pepper. No spicyness, just the hint when I exhale. I would guess it’s not oak aged. Nothing like the sweet fruit lambic beer we had from De Troch when in Belgium. Not bad, but not […]
Maredsous Tripel…
…in proper glassware, thanks to Blind Lady Ale House’s most recent “keep the glass” Belgian New Year celebration.
Sixpoint 2015 Sensi Harvest
This 6.3% ABV wet hopped IPA had a BB date on the can of 25 Dec 15. Virtually no hop nose. Flavor has a pleasant bitterness, but hops are more subdued and malty sweetness is more prominent. Need to try more fresh. I’m pretty sure this was something grabbed when back east recently and stuffed […]
NOLA Hopitoulas IPA
The last of the few smuggled back from our recent trip to New Orleans. Pleasant piney and resinous flavors and aroma, with balanced malt flavors. No sweet malt flavors, which is a good thing. All that and 6.5% ABV.
Trio of cervezas
Squatters, Sam Adams and Deschutes at a hole in the wall in Vegas
Hop Nosh
Had to go to Las Vegas to get this one. Unita in Utah
River Down Ale
A very nice 6.5% ABV blond from Panama’s Central Cerveceria. We found on draft at Lynchburg Beer & Blues. Lynchburg was a great find with 12 decent taps. The board indicated 5 taps of Casa Bruja beers, but one was out, 5 taps of Tres Gatos (another Panama micro brewery) beers, but one was out, […]
La Socarrada Cervesa Artesanal Premium
We found this beer from Spain at the local market and added to our cart. This 6% ABV ale brewed with rosemary and honey, unfortunately, is not doing it for me. I smell dirty leather. Taste and mouthfeel are like I’m drinking from a growler of gruit opened yesterday, recapped and put back in the […]
Oranjeboom Premium Strong
A 12% ABV light lager from Holland. Years ago I’ve has the regular stuff, available at Trader Joe’s and other fine establishments, but was not aware other Oranjeboom products. Interesting flavor/mouth feel. Somewhat like a regular lager, but a bit more sweet and once in your mouth you can smell the alcohol, with a slight […]
Chivo de Perro IPA at BrewStop
Nice bottle shop specializing in American craft beer. They have 4 rotating taps, and yesterday they had a Stone tap take over, which included Go To IPA, regular IPA, Arrogant Bastard and Ruination DIPA. They sold out in less than 3 hours. I was happy to find Chivo de Parra on draft, and while sipping […]
La Rana Dorada Black IPA
Only on draft at their old town location.
Aguila Light
A 3.5% pale light lager from Columbia. Not good, but not offensive either. For similar styles in the area, I preferred the Panama or Balboa.
Casa Bruja Chivo de Perro IPA
We found it on draft at The Londoner Pub, not too far walk from our hotel. They had 3 of Casa Bruja Brewery, a local micro brewery, beers on draft. Chivo de Perro IPA was my fav.
La Rana Dorada (Panama)
Much deserved Blanche and Pale Ale at a local Panamanian brewpub after a 3 mile walk from our hotel on this 91 degree day!
Hertog Jan Tripel
Interesting selection of beers at the market down the road. One was this tripel from Holland, and it was chilled. We are enjoying it. 8.5% ABV, slightly sweet with a clean finish.
Mumford Brewing Tasters
…and the selected tasters were… Koala Food, the 10.1% ABV tripel-style gruit was the unanimous fav.
Arts District Brewing Company
Of the many choices… four were chosen… .. not a bad beer in the bunch. The 7.5%ABV Mosaic hopped Traction IPA was my fav. The Belgian-style golden strong, Azreal, clocking in at 10.1% ABV is a close second.
Eagle Rock Brewery Zes
A tasty 8% ABV Belgian-style golden strong ale brewed in collaboration with Strand Brewing and Ladyface Ale Company, for Eagle Rock’s 6th anniversary. Very nice, but, as you would expect, the brettanomyces characteristics have not developed in the 30 days since bottling.
Lucky Baldwins Red Belgian Ale
An enjoyable, sweet and malty red clocking in at 7% ABV. Brewed by Belgium’s Brouwerij Van Steenberge for Lucky Baldwins 20th Anniversary. Only available at the three Lucky Baldwins locations.
Hockey Hair at Manzanita PB
The beer is a 5.8% ABV saison. I’m enjoying it. I envision hockey hair being sweaty and plastered to the scalp, like after wearing a helmet. Totally opposite of heat mizer hair.
Dry School Hop Out DIPA
Amplified Ale Works 9.1% ABV double India Pale Ale. Drinking at the source.
2014 DeuS
To share with my Valentine.
Hopslam from my Valentine
My sweetheart gave me a 6-pak for Valentine’s Day. She’s the best. Though we have had it on draft, I believe this is the first time enjoying from the can. Or should I be saying in the can. Hmm..either way out sounds like I’m in the bathroom…which I’m not. Enjoying directly from the decanter. Anywho…it […]
10 Barrel Apocalypse IPA
Decent, but nothing great.
Flying Fish Exit 4
A 9.5% ABV American Trippel smuggled back from a recent trip to New Jersey.
La Bonté with Fig
This tart farmhouse ale from Wicked Weed Brewing was very refreshing after an 80 + degrees day here in the lower left. Though a wonderful brew, I’m not really getting any noticeable fig notes. It’s also got that 6.5% ABV thing going for it.
El Segundo Power Plant TIPA
A nicely crafted 11.1% ABV triple IPA from the fine folks a couple hours north. Though the first couple of sips seem a bit strong, the last half of the glass goes down way to fast. Very good, but not sure it was worth the $12 bottle price. I was impressed that my local beerstore, […]
Hop Boxed & Propitiation
Big boy glass of the Alpine Beer Company IPA for me, and a dainty glass of Russian River Brewing dark sour beer for the lady. Very happy with my Hop Boxed…wish they didn’t already have last call, cuz I would like another. I like the smell, initial flavor and mouth feel, of the Propitiation. But….after […]
Scaldis Noël
No funky Christmas spices, just 12% ABV dark Belgian strong ale yummyness.
Derailed Ale
A 5% ABV black cherry cream ale from Erie Brewing Company. Not surprising it is light bodied with a sweet malt finish, and no noticeable bitterness. Black cherry flavor emphasizes the sweetness, but does not overwhelm the cream ale flavor.
Parish Envie and Abita Mardi Gras Bock
At Blind Pelican where between 4pm and 8pm daily 1 dozon raw oysters are $3 and 1 dozen char-broiled oysters are $9, when purchased with beverage. The char-broiled oysters were spectacular. Hope to be back before 8.
Southern Prohibition 2016 IPA
Back again at Avenue Pub. Floral and citrus nose. Plesant bitterness with hints of grapefruit peel, lingers a bit after swallowing then is gone. 5.4% ABV.
Crescent City Brewhouse Tasters
Though celebrating 25 years, not really a good beer stop. I might be able to finish the Black Forest, which is a bit more roasty than a black lager but not quite a porter.
Join the Parade
A session IPA from New Orleans own nano brewery, Courtyard Brewing. Plenty of guest beers too.
Parish Envie and Mudbug King Cake
Envie is a hoppy pale ale and King Cake is a spiced golden ale. Avenue Pub is open 24-7-365..and has the best tap list we’ve seen since arriving. On parade days they dumb it down a bit and don’t pull from their extensive bottle list. We’ll need to stop by again.
Charlotte Airport Brews
The GABF gold metal winning, 7.2% ABV, west coast-style, Hop Drop n Roll IPA, from Charlotte’s own NoDa Brewing for me, and Shotgun Betty, the 5.8% ABV German-style hefeweizen from Raleigh, NC’s, Lonerider Brewing Company, for the lady. We we’re both very pleased with our choices. Carolina Beer Co. definitely has a better beer selection […]
60 Minute IPA at Orlando Airport
Yep…from Delaware to Orlando, and bottle to a glass to my mouth.
Icy Bay IPA at 35,000 ft
Alaskan beers on Alaska Airlines. Went well with free pretzel, corn nut snack thing.
Pure Project (pre-grand opening)
Very impressed! All 12 beers were very well made. We will be back!
Rosetta and Invasion
Rosetta is a 5.6% ABV kriek brewed by Belgium’s Liefmans Brewery exclusively for Ommegang. Though darker than expected, it was a very good blend of tart and sweet. No notes of wood, so I would guess aged in stainless. It’s hard to go wrong with Cigar City’s Invasion Pale Ale.
Caribbean Chocolate Cake
A collaboration beer from England’s Siren Craft Brew and Cigar City Brewing from Tampa, FL. An interesting mix of flavors that I thought very tasty. Dark roasted malts you may expect from an imperial stout, but smooth and not bitterness, like a milk stout.
Goblet of Jai Alai IPA
Last one in the fridge drawer.
Kensington Brewing Grand Opening
R to L…apricot wheat, IPA, imperial stout, coffee stout, double IPA, and brown ale.
Founder’s Backwoods Bastard
Still on draft at PB’s Iron Pig. 11.6% ABV barrel aged Dirty Bastard. Dangerously smooth and easy to drink.
Bottle Logic Passionate Dragon
A farmhouse saison brewed with passion fruit, dragonfruit and kumquats, and aged in a combination of white and red wine barrels. An interesting mix of flavors with a lot of wine characteristics, and 8.8% ABV.
Smash Hit IPA
68 and sunny in San Diego today. A delicious single malt single hop IPA from Back Street Brewing is the perfect way to enjoy it.
Electrocution IPA
An awesome IPA to go with our lamb tacos and spinach salad, with salmon kabobs, at…you guessed it…California Kabob / Amplified Ale Works.
2014 El Mole Ocho
10.5% ABV Mexican mole inspired beer from New Holland Brewing Company, Holland, Michigan. Not mole like the critter that burrows, but mole the savory cocoa-chili sauce. Sweety malty with cocoa flavors and mild chili spicyness. Not picking up on the coffee so much.
Benchmark Hop Chunks
A tasty 8.5% ABV double IPA.
Post Bike Ride Hop Crisis
Grabbed a 9.7% ABV imperial IPA aged with oak spirals, from San Francisco’s own 21st Ammendment Brewing, packaged in a pool-safe decanter, to enjoy in the warm spa after our ride. Still quite good though a bit past it’s best by date.
Citraholic and a Blushing Monk
Founders Brewing ‘s 9% ABV sweet framboise lambic Blushing Monk for the lady, and Beachwood Brewing’s 7% ABV Citra IPA, Citraholic, in the big boy glass for me.
2014 Gardin
Another well made beer from Propolis Brewing. This amber saison made with brettanomyces is tart and funky.
Sculpin at West End Dive Bar
One of the two draft beers available.
Sierra Nevada Six Rights IIPA
A nice malty 8% ABV imperial IPA from Sierra Nevada. I’m surprised I haven’t heard of it before now.
Straffe Hendrik Wild
Not wild like pants on backward and underwear on your head. Wild as in re-fermented with brettanomyces yeast. Very nice. Their 9% ABV tripel is already quite good. Add to that the funky brett characteristics and it’s a different kind of good. Only wish we had more so we could try again as it evolves […]
Scary Jesus Rock Star
A 6.5% ABV apricot chamomile pale ale from Marshall, Michigan’s Dark Horse Brewing Co. When first poured it smelled similar to pumpkin pie spices. Very malty up front with dry, mildly hoppy finish. Not really getting any apricot or chamomile, and trying to let it warm up….but keep taking sips trying to figure out what […]
Urge O’side/ Mason Ale Works
Totally open, and last night diner wait was about an hour. Bar area has open seating, and though packed we had beers in hand and found a seats at a shared table within a few minutes. Six beers available…the list below… ..plus a session IPA called “The “C” Word”, and a collaboration saison with Sierra […]
Our first visit to Vista’s newest brewery…open for maybe a month now. Clockwise from top (the foamy one), a fruit IPA, a scotch ale, a nelson IPA and a sour beer.
Bitter Brothers Brewing
The first brewery to open in San Diego in 2016 is also San Diego’s newest brewery. Go figure being only the 5th of January. As expected I preferred the hoppy beers. Michele preferred the Black Sheep coffee porter on CO2 over the nitro version. Just down the street from the Morena Costco, I can see […]
Dirty Blonde
Nothing surprising, but a decent interpretation of a Belgian-style wit beer…or that’s my guess based on what I tasted. 4.5% ABV from Detroit’s Atwater Brewery.
Happy Root Beer
Tasted 6 different hard root beers at today’s New Year Day party. 5.0% ABV to 7.5% ABV. From San Diego, CA to Brooklyn, NY. Many different flavor profiles. Though all were sweet and distinctly root beer-ish, some were more sweet than others. Some had more of a black licorice/anise flavor, and one I recall having […]
THREE WEAV3RS Blood Junkie
Very nice hoppy imperial red ale. Nice hop nose and flavor up front, and a clean finish without the lingering bitterness. 8.7% ABV.
Monkey King Saison
Very pleased with this light Belgian-style farmhouse ale from New Holland Brewing. Though not on the label, per the brewery website only 5.6% ABV and 23 IBU.
Mother Earth Brew – Winter 2015
8.8% ABV barrel aged Sin Tax is their fourth of Four Seasons of Mother Earth. The strong whiskey notes overpower the flavors of the peanut butter stout when first poured cold. Flavors mellow to a nice blend of wood and whiskey on top of the original base beer as it warms.
The Second Day of Christmas
I found a bottle of 2014 Lazy Marmot Maibock from Grand Teton Brewing in the fridge.
Orval
‘Nuf said.
Scaldis Noel at Brabant
A wee bit of the 12% ABV Belgian Merry Ho Ho libation.
