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.