Beery Christmas

Gift ideas for your beer friends:

Beer subscription -

East Coast - New York Post Beer Club 

West Coast - Craft Beer Club

A movie about beer: For When You Get Lost isn't really about beer but it features a lot of breweries and locations from the Pacific Northwest which you will recognize if you're a fan of PNW beers. (Available to rent or buy.)

Gift cards -

La Quinta Brewing is offering a $5 bonus gift card for every $25 gift card purchase (available at all three locations).

Or just buy your friend a beer. They'll appreciate it and time spent with you.

#BeerCareful

A pint full of beer news

Coachella Valley Brewing Company opens new location in downtown Palm Springs

" The downtown space aims to be a go-to spot for gatherings as it includes five big-screen televisions and more than 20 classic arcade games. Patrons looking to unwind after the workday can also enjoy a 16-foot firepit overlooking downtown Palm Springs. "

The new CVB location will also feature a full kitchen. The Desert Sun also reports that CVB plans to open a location in Palm Desert near the intersection of Hwy 111 & Monterey.

The New York Times is reporting ‘Everybody Is Drinking Guinness.’ We Know Why. 

The article reports that Guinness "is the fastest-growing imported beer in the country based on bar, restaurant and brewery sales over the last year. . . "  The reason has to do with a beer chugging ritual called splitting the G. Also,

" The stout is 4.2 percent alcohol by volume — about the strength of Bud Light — and 125 calories per 12 ounces, lighter than Modelo Especial. . . . That appeals to Americans wearied by craft beer’s dominance, said Mike O’Sullivan, an owner of the New York pubs Hartley’s and Grace’s. "

Surprising. 

• First, while Guinness may be the fastest-growing, Modelo Especial is the top selling beer in the U.S. according to CNN.
• Second, to consider Guinness as a "light" beer. 
• Third, that Americans are wearied by craft beer's dominance. Not this American. However, the next time my choices are limited to non-craft beers, I'll look for a Guinness. (But, no, I will not be splitting the G.)

Finally, At UN climate talks, “sewage” beer from Singapore highlights water scarcity and innovations. 

The beer is made with treated wastewater.

" For years, Singapore has been a leader in water management and innovations. The city-state island of 6 million people in Southeast Asia, one of the most densely populated countries, has no natural water sources. "

Asked if he was happy with how the beer turned out, the chief executive of Singapore's Public Utilities Board replied, “You know, beer is always very subjective."

Indeed.

[H/T 76003]

It's Good To Have Goals

 One of my goals for 2025 is to participate in the Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon in Tempe, Arizona, this coming January. Notice I didn't say "run." I don't run much anymore. I'll mostly be walking but it's still 13.1 miles no matter how you do it and there'll still be beer at the finish line. 

Actually, I'm assuming there will be beer at the finish line. There usually is at these types of events although it doesn't make much sense, does it? Thousands of athletes drinking beer at 10 in the morning... 

Nevertheless, while I'm in Tempe I plan to sample a little of the beer scene as well. Between the start/finish line and the Phoenix Convention Center, where pre-race events take place in the days prior, there are four breweries that can be accessed by Valley Metro Rail . Even better, an all day pass to ride is only $4.

Phoenix's light rail route covers 30 miles from northwest Phoenix through Tempe to east Mesa. I'm sure there are plenty more breweries along the way but if you're in town for the Rock 'n' Roll event, I have some suggestions.

If you're staying in Tempe near Arizona State University, you can catch a train at 3rd & Mill. It will take you about 40 minutes to get to the Convention Center if you go straight there. (Get off at 3rd & Washington.) If you want to sample some beer along the way, you might get off at 44th Street & Washington first and walk to Walter Station Brewery. Continuing on from there, you might save your next brew for after packet pickup at the Convention Center.

From the Convention Center, you can walk to Huss Brewing Company which is just north of the convention center on Monroe between 2nd and 3rd. To get back to Tempe, you'll have to walk to 1st & Jefferson or 3rd & Jefferson. Or, you could walk to 1st & Van Buren but then you might be tempted to stop at State 48 Brewery at 4th & Van Buren. Remember, hydration means water not beer and you have a race to participate in. Focus!

Hopping back on the train headed back to Tempe, regardless of your decision, get off at 24th and Jefferson to get to PHX Beer Company. This brewery is between two stops so whether you decide to go on the way to the convention center (stop at 38th & Washington) or on the way back (24th & Jefferson), you'll have a longer walk - almost a mile each way. If you're saving your legs (or had enough beer at this point), stay on the train all the way back to Tempe. There, you can head to Pedal Haus Brewery, getting off back at 3rd & Mill. Pedal Haus also offers food which, by this point, you will probably need. There's mac n cheese on the menu if you're carbo-loading. Alternatively, you can go after the Rock 'n' Roll when they will be serving brunch not to mention beer. 

I haven't been to Walter Station or PHX but I can enthusiastically recommend Huss, State 48, and Pedal Haus. Whatever your goals, I hope this provides a useful guide. And if you're participating at the Rock 'n' Roll, have a great race (however you get to the finish line).

#Goals, #BeerCareful, #DrinkLocal, #AZCraftBeer

Weekend Fun in Downtown Indio

 Two events are occurring at roughly the same time at roughly the same place in Indio on November 9, 2024. Looking for something to do this weekend? Take a look:

• For $40, you can get unlimited samples of beers at Indio Taphouse's Beer Goddess Brew Fest. The event is in remembrance of Beer Goddess Erin Peters-Valance who lost her life to ovarian cancer in 2022 and will present an unspecified donation to Shay's Warriors Life After Cancer. There will be beer from twelve breweries, music, cornhole, and a limited food menu. (Other beers and cocktails are available for sale from Indio Taphouse.) The event will be from 2pm-6pm in the beer garden.

• From 3pm-9pm, the Indio BBQ Festival, previously held at The Lights Indio Golf Course, will take place this year at the intersection of Miles Avenue and Smurr Street. Admission is free. There will be live entertainment, line dancing, carnival games, face painting, and a beer garden.  

Typically, November 9 would also feature a Second Saturday event with live music on Indio's Center Stage but it appears the BBQ Festival will take its place this month. Keep in mind, these are separate events. $40 at the Beer Fest does not include BBQ and the BBQ event does not give you access to the Indio Taphouse beer garden. You will, however, be able to hear the live music from the BBQ Festival while at the Beer Fest as the beer garden is adjacent to Downtown Indio's Center Stage.

While the beer fest is an inaugural event for Indio Taphouse, the BBQ Festival is in its 9th year. I can tell you that the food will be amazing and knowing the curator for the beer fest, Mychal Renteria from Stone Distributing (formerly of La Quinta Brewing), I expect the beer event will also be outstanding.

The weather is finally getting pleasant enough to spend time outdoors so grab a friend, get a designated driver, and head to downtown Indio this weekend. If you can't choose just one event, do both. 

I'll see you there. 🍻

#beercareful

As a final note: Jersey Boys will be playing at nearby Desert Theatreworks that night as well starting at 7:30. Tickets are still available. Grab a beer, get some BBQ, and take in a show! Whatever you do, have fun!

Hops 101

" Hops have become to beer drinkers what grapes are to wine aficionados: a connection to the terroir, a shorthand for personal taste and a password to the inner circle of beer nerdom. "

I don't know if it's behind a paywall but this Bloomberg article, The Bitter History of Beer’s Most Essential, Divisive Ingredient, is a good primer on hops. There are hundreds of varieties and each one has its own flavor, aroma, and bitterness profiles. To know hops is to know beer, much like knowing grapes and region informs the wine drinker of what to expect in the glass. (To be honest, you can also go down a malt wormhole but one thing at a time.)

This article focuses on six of the most prominent hops being used in craft IPAs. They are:

• Amarillo
• Cascade
• Citra
• Centennial
• Mosaic
• Simcoe

The Bloomberg article lists six beers to try as a tasting guide to train your beer palate. I found that some are difficult to find where I live so I won't list them here. You may need to do your own research. Plus, it's hard to find a beer that only uses a single hop. Most use some blend of hops to create distinct flavors. Nevertheless, it does beg for a tasting party which I would gladly host if I could round up some good examples.

There are many websites that discuss hop varieties. Beer Maverick has a good one where you can look each one up for additional information including background and a flavor wheel of sorts that diagrams the various flavors you might expect. 

Clearly, I've gone down a hops wormhole but you don't have to. Just start paying attention to what hops are being used in your beer, talk to your beer tender (or the brewer whenever possible), and try to identify the different flavors and aromas being presented. Also, pay attention to how the beer changes as it warms up. Sometimes you'll notice new things. Beware, sometimes it's harder to pay attention at the end of a glass than at the beginning so if you really want to geek out, take notes. And if you didn't notice how the beer tasted at the end of the glass - well, then, I guess you'll just have to get another one and try again.

#beercareful 

New Brewery Alert!

 29 Palms Beer Company recently opened in 29 Palms, California. I haven't been there yet so all I can tell you is what I've found online. In my experience, "new" means they'll be ripe to visit in about year - after all the kinks have been worked out. They have some very good roots, which I'll get to in a sec, meaning the kinks might work out pretty quick.

Their focus is a little all over the place but, again, I haven't been there. From what I can see, they intend to be a family-friendly, gathering spot appealing to locals. They feature breakfast and coffee drinks as well as burgers, dogs, beer, and sports on TV. They currently have six of their own beers on tap. (Menus are available on their Facebook page.)

That being said, I have two reasons to go visit. First and foremost, I want to support our local brewers. And, second, is their aforementioned roots. They are connected to the GRND SQRL restaurant. (There's something in the desert here that causes restaurants to lose their vowels. Maybe not enough water?)

GRND SQRL has a great backstory and brings together some highly talented people from the beer and culinary worlds. Their food menu appears simple but their goal is to be all from scratch, in-house made, and supplemented by weekly or bi-weekly specials. Their chef is classically trained in Copenhagen and has experience in upscale restaurants in both New York and Los Angeles. He also happens to be a home brewer which is, I suspect, the genesis for 29 Palms Beer Company. 

The owners, husband and wife, both have backgrounds in the San Diego beer scene. In looking at the restaurant's beer menu, I can see they source a lot of their beers from San Diego and for good reason. A lot of good beer comes out of San Diego. Their website goes so far as to say they have the "best beer list for 100 miles." 

(Indio Taphouse in Indio, CA, might take exception to GRND SQRL's claim. Indio Taphouse's beer menu is not only more extensive, it's more eclectic. Which one is "best" is a matter of opinion.)

I see a short road trip in my very near future to 29 Palms and maybe you will, too. I'm love road trips, good food, and good beer. Now we all have two new reasons to head to 29 Palms: 29 Palms Beer Company and GRND SQRL.

If they're good, I'll let you know right here.

CHRS! 🍻

Everybody's at Northwood

Everybody’s Brewing Announces Second Location 

Everybody’s Brewing is excited to announce that they are expanding with a second location in Southwest Washington. They will be assuming ownership of the Northwood Public House and Brewery in Battle Ground.

Their first location is in White Salmon, Washington, located about 70 miles east of Vancouver, WA. Worth the drive, if you've got the time. (If you do, make a stop at Walking Man Brewing in Stevenson on the way back.) 

Their second location in Battle Ground will be about 15 miles north of Vancouver. Northwood Public House & Brewery was a great neighborhood brewery and gathering space and they hosted the best Oktoberfest every year. Oom pah pahs and all. They will be surely missed.

Congratulations to Everybody's. Condolences and best wishes to Northwood Public House. Your contribution to the community will be remembered.

The transition is scheduled to take place November 1, 2024. Check it out and welcome Everybody's to Battle Ground. 

Aloha

We are visiting Hawaii for the first time in many years and one year since wildfires wiped out the historic city of Lahaina.

We had been visitors to Hawaii for 25 years. I'm not sure why we stopped coming but we decided in 2022 to return only to get COVID days before. Two years later, we finally made it.

One of the places we loved visiting was Koholā Brewery - a small, local brewery located in Maui Brewing's original location. It had the kind of vibe that comes with warehouse locations, a local hangout with no pretenses. And, the beers were reliably good. We got in the habit of buying small kegs for our longer visits, pulling the shelves out of the refrigerator to make it fit. (Food? What food? Put it all in the vegetable drawers!)

And then, it all burned to the ground. All of it lost in August of 2023. I can't even begin to describe all that was lost by the town and the people of Lahaina in those fires: lives, property, cultural history. It was tragic.

It was a devastating loss to so many. The fact that Koholā Brewery was able to find a way back in a relatively short period of time is a small miracle.

They partnered with Kona Brewing and within a year, they were back to business brewing their flagship beers. Moreover, they had found a new location for a taphouse and eatery in Wailea which only recently opened.

When the fires happened, all of the places we had visited over the years came to mind. One of them was Koholā. It was a joy to rediscover them in Wailea and even more of a surprise when it was across the street from the condo that we rented!

We stopped in for two of their flagship beers: Lokahi Pilsner and Talk Story pale ale, which also happen to be two of our favorites.

Welcome back from the ashes, Koholā. Too much was lost to hope for full recovery for the town of Lahaina. We can only be grateful for each of its successes. 

Beer Review: Belching Beaver Barrel-Aged Peanut Butter Stout

 This had been living in our refrigerator since November of 2022. It was brewed to commemorate Belching Beaver's 10th anniversary but is no longer available. In fact, it sold out immediately.

We had been introduced to this beer's non-barrel aged namesake at a neighbor's house. As I wrote earlier, I didn't expect to like it. Adding peanut butter to beer is like adding creamer to coffee. It's not right. Not pure. And while I like a little chocolate now and again, I'm not really into sweets.

I was surprised that the flavors were more subtle than I expected. It wasn't overly sweet and it got better as it warmed. So, when we found ourselves by Belching Beaver's Oceanside location almost a year later, we stopped in. My journal entry for that day reads as follows:

Instead, we continued on our journey which included a stop at Belching Beaver in Oceanside. I had the peanut butter stout - because that’s what they’re famous for - and Hubby had a pilsner which turned out to be his favorite one on the rest of this three-day excursion. We also bought two bottles of their 10-year anniversary barrel aged peanut butter stout to take home. While we only got two, the shelf was cleared out of the anniversary stout before we left.

We kept one of the bottles and gave the other one to the friend who introduced me to Belching Beaver's Peanut Butter Stout in the first place.

It lingered in the fridge for nearly two years before we finally opened it. Because of its high alcohol content (12.8%), we felt we needed a special occasion to open it. Certainly, it wasn't a day drinking type of beer. It didn't seem like a summer beer (which rules out most of the year for us). This was something to take one's time with and to savor. Something to be enjoyed at home with no plans to go out afterwards. Maybe by a fire.

And then, I was inspired. 

I had just taken my granddaughter out for ice cream and I had a scoop of Chocolate Peanut Butter. It was decadently delicious. I still had those flavors in my mouth when I got home and started preparing dinner. That's when it hit me. It was time to open the Barrel-Aged Stout.

This beer was a sweeter version of its non-barrel aged cousin. With my first sips, I was thinking this would be a great dessert beer. Maybe even served over ice cream like a syrup. What didn't hit me in the face was the alcohol like some barrel-aged beers do. The aging seemed to intensify the sweetness rather than alcohol flavors. Think, for example, of the flavors that are imparted to a Chardonnay from oak.

Again, I felt the flavors mellowed and smoothed out as the beer warmed. I even felt like some of the sweetness had dissipated until we opened a Grimlock Rye Porter from Loowit Brewing Company and it was like licking an ashtray. The contrast was that stark and the Barrel-Aged Stout was that sweet. Still, I didn't think the sweetness was overly cloying.

But I was right in one respect. It was a special beer that deserved special attention. And now it's all gone. 

Belching Beaver has their 12th anniversary coming up in October. I don't know if they'll do another Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout but it's worth keeping an eye out for. They distribute in 14 states so if you live west of the Mississippi you have a good chance of getting your hands on one of their beers. Even if it's not a Peanut Butter Stout, my bet is it'll be good.

(If you're interested in more information, there's a good review of the Barrel-Aged Imperial Peanut Butter Stout on Beer Advocate.)

"Civilized life can't proceed without salt" - Pliny the Elder

 Or beer.

Industry developed around 100 AD after the Romans invaded Britain. Pottery and building materials were  needed to supply the Roman armies. Later, during the Third and Fourth Centuries AD, they got thirsty. 

Really thirsty.

Beer and salt among Roman 'mega-industries'

It's been a great summer for beers.

 Since our epic road trip, we have been on three more, albeit shorter, trips. We made all three in our BMW - the car that gave us so much grief earlier. The car did fine but we continue to pour money into it. Each time, Hubby declares that there isn't anything left to fix. That being said, we are heading to San Diego this weekend to get something fixed. (We are going there because it will cost $2k less than if we do it here which speaks to how much more money we plan to spend.)*

The argument seems to be this: While the repairs seem exorbitantly expensive, it's still less than a new car - versus - A new car will offer some peace of mind not to mention technological advances over the old car. 

You'll be first to know how it all gets sorted out. In the meantime, I will note that the upcoming repairs are to made at a BMW dealership. [Editor pause to dreamily look at new cars on BMW website.]

While we aren't planning any beer stops on this trip (it's a there-and-back situation), it won't be long before we hit the road again. Therefore, now is a good time to get caught up on where we've been.

Lately, we've traveled to or through four states: Arizona, California, Oregon, and Washington. We stopped in eight breweries and sampled three beers at non-brewery locations:

ARIZONA

Fate Brewing (Scottsdale)

• Keller Pilsner - three of our party of four had it so I guess it was good. I had an Alesmith NA IPA which was not my favorite NA beer but I was taking it easy. We also enjoyed an order of wings and the chicken tinga tacos. The wings were quite spicy and the tinga tacos were incredible. Both were big enough to share. 

Saddle Mountain Brewing (Goodyear) - a regular stop when we go to Arizona.

• Sun-Scorched Kolsch - three of our party of four ordered this. (I'm always the odd one out.) Easy and reliable.
• 5G (American Wheat Ale) - served with an orange on the rim. I had ordered a Belgian-style ale but they were out and this is what they brought me. American Wheat Ales are less interesting to me.
• Taildragger's Clan-Destine (Scottish Ale) - this beer has won medals five times at the Great American Beer Festival and three medal at the World Beer Cup. Even when it's hot outside, this is the one to get. 🍻

CALIFORNIA

Kilowatt Brewing (Oceanside) - I've twice ordered the Peach Cobbler Imperial Sour, an award winner at the US Open Beer Championship in 2024 in the category of "experimental." The first time I was into it. The second time, I didn't enjoy it as much. If you're not into funky, take a look at their online menu before you go. They have several award winning beers but they're not listed as such on the menu at the brewery so it's worth doing a little advance planning.  (Also, stop at Sancho's next door for a burrito. Outstanding! You might also consider going around the corner to Stone Brewing's Oceanside taproom. Their beers are reliably good.)

Pizza Port Brewing (Carlsbad) - Worth a stop. It's a weird name but it started as a pizza joint that added a brewery. I don't know about their pizza but their beer is outstanding, winning multiple metals in multiple categories. The name of the brewery threw me and for a long time I never tried their beer because of it. I didn't have much faith that a pizza joint that made beer on the side could make good beer. I was wrong. Their beer is outstanding and they are a very popular spot in Carlsbad (one of their eight locations). Try the Sharkbite Red Ale.

Oscar’s Brewing Company (Temecula) - We found the beer menu was a little funky. The Kölsch was reasonably good but definitely not our favorite. The feature here seems to be the food based on what we saw coming out of the kitchen. It's a nice venue on a pond that seemed to be quite popular for large groups. We saw little league teams with parents and coaches. There also seemed to be a church crowd which seems at odds with a brewery. Even non-team affiliated groups were wearing matching or similarly styled clothes. It was a head scratcher. Interesting, but I would recommend going to a Karl Strauss instead.

Stone Brewing (Escondido) - amazing venue and outstanding food, not to mention really good beer. Stone is becoming a favorite and I'm starting to think they can do no wrong. Granted, they were bought out by Sapporo Holdings in 2022 but the beer is still good and the venues are still amazing. Hopefully, that legacy will continue far into the future. 

• Stone Pilsner🍻
• Stone Cali-Belgique IPA👣

OREGON

10 Barrel Brewing (Portland) -  Try the Validation Sequence, a Czech-style Pilsner which earned a Gold Medal at the Best of Craft Beer Awards in 2024. Hubby had the Sinister Black which was the beer I tried when we were at their Boise location. It won a medal in 2009 but I didn't dig it. Hubby liked it.

McMenamins Edgefield (Troutdale) - This place has everything: food, concerts, accommodations, distillery, winery, coffee roaster, par 3 golf, and secret passageways! Oh yeah, beer. We went to see Lake Street Dive which was sold out.  The Hammerhead Ale is reliable but if you want something really fun to do, check out their Passport Program. You'll eat a lot of tater tots along the way but you'll also see some really interesting venues. 

While we were waiting for our return flight at PDX (home of the world's most famous carpet), I enjoyed a 

RPM IPA by Boneyard Beer (Bend OR) while Hubby had a Promiscuous Blonde from Heathen Brewing (Vancouver WA). Both reliable beers and a nice way to pass the time while hanging around an airport.

WASHINGTON

On our way to the airport, we crossed the border into Washington for a quick stop at Ben's Bottle Shop. They always have a well varied selection of good beers on tap. I tried the Don't Dance by Irrelevant Beer which is a brewery in Vancouver, Washington, that is so new that as of this writing their website is "coming soon" (however you can find them on FB or IG). It's no coincidence that they are located next door to Relevant Coffee. Not only was the beer good but I was blown away that there was a new brewery in Vancouver that I knew nothing about. I will definitely seek out this brewery the next time I'm in the 'Couve. In the meantime, there's a good writeup here, in Oregon Live.

*UPDATE: The trip to San Diego is cancelled due to the fact that the "repair" was preventative in nature. New information indicates preventing this particular failure could, in fact, lead to other problems and that we should just leave it alone unless or until there are indications that failure is indicated. Keep your fingers crossed!

Economics by the glass

 Hubby and I just had a serious exchange concerning the price of beer. Specifically, how to maximize the discounts offered by a local brewery.

One is an annual VIP Membership which will allow the purchaser to get a 20 ounce beer for the price of a pint. That's a 25% more beer. But, for a price.

That same brewery usually sells gift cards around Christmastime. Buy $100 worth of gift cards and get $120 in value, for example. That's 20% more value. 

We both reached the same conclusion but disagreed on the math. The point being, there was math. Not only that, we went back and forth on this issue. We argued about percentages and corrected calculations. Ultimately, we arrived at a formula that supported what we wanted in the first place. 

(Still, I'm tempted to build a spreadsheet to prove my point. Seriously, I need to build a spreadsheet.)

(Okay, I couldn't help myself. It's beautiful. Not only that, it undeniably supports our decision to go one way versus the other.)

See, kids. Math is useful.

This post has been interrupted to bring you the following . . .

 I came across the following post that I started months ago and then, apparently, forgot about. Since then, we've traveled quite a bit and sampled beer at numerous breweries along the way. By my count, we have visited 33 different breweries since the beginning of the year.  (We visited all but three since the beginning of June.)  Most of them were new to us; 11 or 12 of them we've been to before.

On top of that, we have had 22 different beers outside of breweries - in taphouses, beerfests, airports. At least 13 were beers we'd never tried before. This doesn't include all the beer still in my fridge that we haven't gotten around to yet!

Needless to say, it's hard to keep track of it all, assuming that's something to which one should aspire. Theoretically, my next post will be of the just beers we tried during our last three road trips. 

If you're following along, you may recall that we made a major roadtrip to the Pacific Northwest (Roadtrip! #BeerTravel). Since then, we've made smaller trips to Arizona, San Diego, and Portland and wouldn't you know? We sampled more beer!

My unfinished post is below. My next post will follow once I get it all organized. (You can imagine with so much beer, it's hard to stay focused.) Until then, stay cool and stay hydrated. 🍺

* * *

Pictured is only what we've sampled recently.

Through the benevolence of a visitor, we came into a treasure trove of beer.  We had cases of beer brought to us from the Pacific Northwest. So much that my refrigerator didn't have room for any food. Some of the beer was necessarily stored in the laundry room. Food was stuffed into vegetable drawers.

I considered setting up a neighborhood beer exchange program. In fact, I did make a couple of exchanges. In March, I traded some Even Par from La Quinta Brewing for some Zona Pilsner from 12 West Brewing Company (AZ). Both are award winning beers.

Later, after I came into my bevy of beer, I exchanged a couple of Pilsners from Pfriem (OR) for some Cutthroat Pale Ale from Uinta Brewing (UT) with a neighbor. It was a this point, I thought I would start writing about the various beers I was trying and exchanging with other beer lovers.

As these things happen, I never got around to that and in the interim, my inventory has been severely depleted. And for the record, I think I came out on top with both those trades. 

The Zona Pilsner from 12 West was highly drinkable (🍻) while the Even Par is an IPA with and ABV of 7.2%. Cutthroat (an award winning beer from Uinta) was more in the style of an English-style bitters than an American pale ale - more malt and pine rather than pale IPA-light. While not heavy with alcohol you could make a meal out of a Cutthroat in flavor.

As you can see from the picture, we also received some RPM IPA from Boneyard Beer (OR). Another IPA (not pictured because we drank it all) was Shadow Shinobi from Loowit Brewing Company. Both were outstanding. I've strayed from IPA in recent years but these were so good that I may need to find a way to get more. I'll just out on a limb here: IPAs from the PNW are the best. 

We still have some of the Pyxis Pilsner from Ecliptic Brewing which is quite tasty and something we had not tried before. (Neither the brewer in Oregon, nor their beer anywhere.)

Still remaining in inventory are

[This post has been interrupted.]

Roadtrip! #BeerTravel

We just completed an epic roadtrip. It wasn't epic as in we visited national parks. We didn't see majestic animals in their natural habitats. We didn't see glorious vistas the likes of which nature and travel channels are made of.

It was 3,500 miles of U.S. Interstate and nothing but car trouble. But we survived it and through it all we managed to find a lot of really great beer. (The whole story is here.)

Along the way, we passed through four states, stopping at 11 breweries, and sampling 28 beers. I would love to review them all but there were so many that a summary will have to suffice. 

We purchased several to bring home, filling the fridge once more with beers from the Pacific Northwest. If anyone is interested in a tasting party, let me know and we'll put something together. Bring your own favorite to share. In particular, I would like to try a NEIPA if someone has one that they like. I'm convinced the West Coast IPAs are the best. Please feel free to prove me wrong.

This isn't even our latest trek. We've made one more short one since we were in the Pacific Northwest and we're about to head out on another one. But that's what summers are for: roadtrips, and discovering new places and experiences.

The breweries and brews are listed alphabetically, rather than in the order of our travel, and the standouts are highlighted. Underlined breweries or brews are ones we've visited/tasted before. Everything else was a new adventure.

BREWERIES:

10 Barrel Brewing, Boise ID

• Bad Boy Pilsner
• Sinister Black

54-40, Washougal WA

• Kölsch, Washougal WA

Barbarian Brewing, Boise ID

• West Coast Pilsner 5.0%

Bellevue Brewing, Bellevue WA

• 425
• Pilsner

Boise Brewing, Boise ID

• Hip Check IPA

Brothers Cascadia Evergreen Pub, Vancouver WA

• Lowlands Lager

Common Block Brewing Company, Medford OR

(We didn't sample any of their beer! But, we had a surprisingly good Mediterranean Wrap from their food menu.)

Ghost Runner

• Last Mile Kölsch 5.0%
• Running Up Pils 5.0%
• The One Dark Lager 4.5%

Loowit, Vancouver WA

• Loowit Lager 4.2%/12 IBU
• Astromech Pale Ale 5.5%/42 IBU

Mother Earth, Boise ID

• Boo Koo West Coast IPA, 6.5%

Whipsaw Brewing, Ellensburg WA

• Pilsner
• Blonde
• Stout

BEERS:

• 3-Way IPA (collab), Fort George Brewery (Astoria OR)/Brujos Brewing (Portland OR)/Ghost Town Brewing (Oakland CA)
• Black Butte NA, Deschutes Brewery (Portland OR)
• Bodhizafa, Georgetown Brewing Company (Seattle WA)
• Columbia Kölsch, Ice Harbor Brewery (Kennewick WA)
• Morning Provision, Sockeye Brewing (Boise ID)
• NA IPA, Freemont Brewing (Seattle WA)
• No Bad Days, Barrel Mountain Brewing (Battleground WA)
• Northtown Pilsner, Larrabee Lager Company (Bellingham WA)
• Ramble West IPA 6.8% (Chico CA)
• Shadow Shinobi, Loowit Brewing (Vancouver WA)
• Summer IPA, Reuben's Brews (Seattle WA)

HONORABLE MENTION:

The Underground Taphouse (Pasco WA): Friendly service and great tap list. If you need food, order from Saag Thai, next door. It was notably good. (Jill, our bartender gave us this tip: don't order it spicy!) If you ever find yourself in Pasco getting your car repaired on a road trip and you're stuck for a couple of days, The Underground is right next to Firestone Complete Auto Care.

Mystical beer

As mentioned, we recently trekked to New England visiting a number of breweries in multiple states. A notable highlight was veteran-owned Bank & Bridge Brewing in Mystic, Connecticut, where we had a tasting flight consisting of Joker (Pilsner), Grenade Wade (pale ale), Monkee (Kolsch), and Major B (lager). We also ordered their Black Bean Burger with a side of fries.

We sat outside on a perfectly pleasant and sunny day and watched the tourists stream by. If ever in Mystic, I would recommend a stop at Bank & Bridge. It’s hard to miss, located at a main intersection next to the infamous Mystic Pizza, in a stately stone building that once housed a bank.

We enjoyed all of the beers we sampled. Hubby and I both picked the lager and the pale ale as our favorites. The lager was slightly hoppy but not disagreeably so although more than might typically be found in a lager. The pale ale was pleasant balance between an English bitter style and a light American ale - lots of flavor that wasn’t overly aggressive. Again, both beers were satisfyingly drinkable.

The other two, we disagreed on slightly. Hubby picked the Kolsch as his least favorite while I picked the Pilsner. Interestingly, those are his two favorite styles of beer yet these were his least favorite among the ones we tried. I favored the Kolsch over the Pilsner. It had a soft mouthfeel, and tasted of cracker which I found pleasant enough. For me, the Pilsner lacked a certain crispness and brightness on the tongue. But I'm not complaining. All four beers were good but we found we liked the lager and pale ale over the  Kolsch and Pilsner.

Our meal was great and now that I’m studying the menu, there’s more that I wished we tried. Besides other food items, I would like to sample the brewer’s IPAs since I’ve learned he’s from San Diego. I like the west coast beers, being from there myself, so I’d like to sample his interpretation now as an east coast brewer. All that to say there's a lot to sample and my bet is it's all good.

With any luck, we'll be back in Mystic again next year and we'll undoubtedly take the opportunity to check into Bank & Bridge Brewing. You know, just be be certain it was as good as we remember. Because we're all about quality control and accurate reporting here at Beer Here and that requires frequent sampling.

Cheers!

Just so you know, “Time for a nap” means “Time for a beer”

We probably did’t fool anyone but when we said we were ready for a nap, what we really meant was it was time to do some beer hunting. And we hunted a lot of beer.

We just spent seven days in Massachusetts with quick side trips to Connecticut and Rhode Island. During that time, we visited quite a few breweries or other establishments serving beer. The following generally outlines our trek. Favorites are indicated thusly.

Bank & Bridge Brewing - Mystic CT

• Joker (Pilsner)
• Grenade Wade (pale ale)
• Monkee (Kolsch)
• Major B (lager)

Gardner Ale House - Gardner MA

•     Park St. Porter - Moon Hill Brewing
•     Run Wild IPA - Athletic Brewing Company

Apponaug Brewing - Warwick RI 

• Marigold Witbier
• Pawtuxet Pilsner
• Cohesive NE IPA
• Overflow Munich Dunkel

Hitchcock Brewing Co - Bernardston, MA
Back Room Brewing Company - Northfield, MA
Powder Hollow Brewery - Deerfield, MA

Berkshire Brewing Company - Deerfield, MA

• Czech Style Pilsner
• Sun Love Pilsner

Red Heat Tavern - South Windsor, MA

• Fuzzy Baby Ducks IPA - New England Beer Company

Country Club at Greenfield - Greenfield, MA

• 60 Minute IPA - Dogfish Head Brewery

The tally is seven breweries, two pubs, several eating establishments (not listed) and perhaps two dozen or more beers - not all listed because that's a lot of beer to keep track of. Not all of them were full pours. A couple we had more than one - or would if we stayed in one place long enough. Some were excellent. Two (not listed) were too awful to finish. There are a couple of places we would go out of our way to go back to and others we will avoid.

The point is to have fun and try new things. We are from the other coast and prefer west coast beers. But it was good to try different things and meet some new people.

And see some old people, too.

Great trip.

#NEBeer, #BeerTravel, #BeerCareful

Seven Breweries, Six Days in Three States

Two standouts so far.

One more day to go….

Have you ever had a Nickel Beer?

If you've ever been to Julian, CA, you would know that it's a mountainside village about an hour northeast of San Diego. Driving through the area, you would easily glean the major attractions are pie, wineries, and cideries. For a small town of about 1,800 people, it attracts a good amount of tourism in its central core which is all of about four blocks long. The whole town is a historical landmark measuring roughly 8 square miles at an elevation of 4,226 feet. Amazingly, it has two breweries. One is Nickel Beer.

I'd neither heard of Julian nor of Nickel Beer until very recently. 

I was introduced to Nickel Beer after completing a half marathon earlier in the year. It was in Palm Desert, CA, and even though it was ten o'clock in the morning, by golly, I was going to have a celebratory beer as soon as I crossed the finish line. Nickel Beer was pouring. 

I remember I had the Take A Hike (extra pale ale). Hubby had the Lake Cuyamaca Lager. Even thought it was months ago, we still remember those beers.

I looked up the brewery and noted it's remote-to-us location in Julian. Nevertheless, I tucked away the idea of going to Julian and checking out the brewery. It's somewhere between where I live and San Diego but not necessarily the most direct route. (Although relatively close to San Diego, it's about two hours from where we live.)

Then, I heard a couple of neighbors say they always make it a point to drive through Julian when heading to or from San Diego and that was all I needed. That, and a couple of tickets to a San Diego Padres game.

It was well worth the stop and only added about 20 minutes to our drive. The owner, Tom Nickel, is an award winning brewer who previously brewed for Pizza Port, Oggi's, and Julian Beer Company (Julian's other brewery). If you take a look at Nickel's beer menu and search for the word "medal," you will find seven references to award winning beer. It's a small, hard-working brewery cranking out some amazing beer. In fact, looking at the beer list on their website, it's hard to imagine they could produce so many beers. And so good. I had the Hook In Mouth Chinook Wet Hop IPA (🍻) which was one such medal winner and featured hops grown in nearby Ramona, CA. Hubby had the Stonewall Stout (🍺).

Based on the total of four beers we tried and the friendly and knowledgeable beertender, Nickel Beer may forever be a stop on any future trip between to or from San Diego. It's a quaint, friendly brewery housed in a previous Sheriff's office (complete with holding cell), with a relaxed, local vibe and mostly outdoor seating (making it dog friendly). It's now one of my favorite places and I would definitely go back.

Rating: ❤️ 🔙🐕‍🦺

Is there an Anchor Sour in the future?

Anchor Brewing gets new lease on life after it finds an unexpected buyer

" Hamdi Ulukaya, the billionaire founder and CEO of yogurt maker Chobani, announced Friday on LinkedIn he has purchased the San Francisco-beer brand with plans to revive Anchor Brewing’s taprooms and beloved brews. "

BTW, yogurt + beer = sour beer. 

TCBC

This stands for Transplant City Beer Company and it's located in Litchfield Park, Arizona. We last visited in April 2024 and I'm happy to say I would go back.

I didn't take notes so I can't tell you what we tasted. We went with a group of friends and everyone chose something different. Overall, the responses were good. I remember that I enjoyed my beer (and if I had to guess, I tried their hefeweizen which I liked enough to get a refill).

To tell you the truth, I had been hesitant to visit TCBC as they are a self-described nano-brewery. While small batches give brewers the flexibility to experiment and provide a wide variety of brews, the brew drinker never really knows what she's going to get. "Experimental" doesn't always translate to "yummy." It sometimes translates to "weird." That's been my experience in the past and so I will usually pass by anything that suggest "nano" or, for that matter, "new."

New breweries are often the first professional step past the home brewer stage and sometimes there's a translation problem between the recipes brewed at home and the recipe needed to brew on a larger system. Sometimes, it's more than just math and it takes it a while for newly professional brewers to get the same results they were getting at home. If you have a beer you don't like at a new brewery, come back in about a  year. They will have likely worked out the kinks by then (or suffered the consequences).

TCBC took over the spot vacated by Peoria Artisan Brewery when they moved to their Peoria AZ location. TCBC made significant improvements to the space, updating the interior and adding seating both inside and outside on a new, adjacent patio. It has a local community vibe, which I personally prefer to a touristy vibe, and it's in a good location.

It's possible we visited TCBC in their early days. Certainly, I remember seeing their beer menu and thinking it was a little too experimental for me. That was years ago.

When we were invited to visit this past April, we couldn't resist the opportunity to be with friends, make new friends, and try some new beers. We were pleasantly surprised. 

To be fair, as I look at what's on tap today, there's still some weird stuff on the menu but weird can be good and sometimes I even seek it out. If you'd rather steer of weird, there's plenty of styles to choose from. Stick to your lane or venture from it but give TCBC a try. It's a laid back neighborhood spot where you're bound to feel welcome. It might just become your favorite local watering hole. I know I'll be back.

Rating: 🔙 👫🐕‍🦺🍻

Grand Opening of Indio Taphouse

The grand opening was yesterday (March 26, 2024). It's called Indio Taphouse although a better name might be Big Bar. Owned by the same people who own Little Bar, Indio Taphouse only has five taps pouring the usual suspects (around these parts): 805, Even Par, Poolside Blonde, Ultra, and Modelo.

Meanwhile, the bar itself is thirty feet long in contrast to the bar at Little Bar which is - well, very little. It stretches the length of the establishment then turns the corner and continues on. As you can see, it is very well stocked with everything - except beer.

Big bar at Indio Taphouse.

Appearances, however, are deceiving. The beer menu is quite extensive with selections available by can or bottle. If you're looking for a beer, they will have what you're looking for whether it's a Trappist quadruple from Belgium or a cider from San Diego. I would not be surprised if this evolved into more of a bottle shop with a wide variety of packaged beers to go at some point in the future as it seems that is what they're really set up for.

In addition to beer, Indio Taphouse serves upscale bar food and inventive cocktails. We tried the falafel which was excellent but I would recommend getting the dragon sauce on the side!

Indio Taphouse is located on Miles Avenue in downtown Indio right next to the new outdoor Amphitheater, currently under construction. Anyone attending Indio's Second Saturday events should be able to hear the music while enjoying a drink at the bar or on the patio outside of garage-style doors.

But, wait! It gets better. Right next door to Indio Taphouse is a space which will house an upscale Italian restaurant: Italica. It's owned by the same people and shares a kitchen with the taphouse. Currently, there are no signs for Italica (not that I noticed) which gives it a speakeasy vibe. (The door is located next to the taphouse on its west side.) We mistakenly went through the door thinking it was another entrance to the taphouse and caught a glimpse of the restaurant's interior. Very cool; I can't wait until it opens.

As if all that isn't exciting enough, while I sat on my barstool at the taphouse, enjoying a Hellcat from Brewdog and Iron Maiden, I spied yet another new-to-Indio storefront just across the street: Gabino's Creperie. This will be Gabino's second location, the other location being in Palm Springs. Claim to fame: their Palm Springs location was featured on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives.

So now you have your to-do list for this weekend: Check out Indio Taphouse and keep your eyes peeled for Italica and Gabino's to open soon.