Lost Coast Brewery Indica IPA

Hello beer lovers and welcome to another edition of the NorCal Beer Blog's brew review.

Tonight’s featured beer is Lost Coast Brewery Indica IPA. I’ve been drinking Lost Coast beer for years and I felt it was time to review their Indica IPA. Strangely enough, as I write this...I can't find it listed on their website. I'm not sure if they've discontinued it...I've purchased it recently...seen it even more recently...hmmm...

The Lost Coast Brewery’s commercial description "A hoppy full bodied beer, crisp and clean. Made with generous amounts of Columbus, Willamette and Centennial hops.”

Let’s get started!

Appearance: Pours a dark copper color with a thick white head and great lacing.

Aroma: Pine and citrus hops (grapefruit) with solid and heavy caramel and biscuit malt aromas.

Taste: A sweet IPA with a great malt backbone – caramel and biscuit – followed by a very nice hop bitterness.

Overall: At 6.5% ABV Lost Coast Brewery Indica IPA is complex and balanced IPA. If there is room for new IPAs in one’s life then this one is most definitely one to try. I just hope they're still brewing it...I think I may need to run out and buy a case!

Cheers!

Mark Harvey

Happy Thanksgiving

Here's just a quick blog post to wish you and yours a very Happy Thanksgiving.  I am thankful for BEER for it has brought us together. I am thankful for those who have found my blog interesting and enjoy reading it.  Beer is a great communal thing to share with others and I enjoy blogging, brewing and drinking with you all virtually.

Now get out there and DRINK SOME BEER!

Cheers!

Mark Harvey

Stone Brewing Company 15th Anniversary Escondidian Imperial Black IPA

Hello beer lovers and welcome to another edition of the NorCal Beer Blog's brew review.

Tonight’s featured beer is Stone Brewing Company 15th Anniversary Escondidian Imperial Black IPA.  I had an opportunity to try this on tap at Yard House when I was in San Diego and since it was SO good I figured I should pick some up and review it (officially).

(Stone Brewing Company 15th Anniversary Escondidian Imperial Black IPA from Yard House in San Diego pictured left) 

From the Stone Brewing Company website:” In the 15 years since we entered the craft brewing world, change has come not in a straight line, but as an exponential curve. The craft brewing movement has long been called a "revolution." But today the air is so thick with revolution, it's palpable. No longer is it only an awareness among the faithful; the unconverted are beginning to feel it as well. Denial and ignorance are disappearing in favor of opened eyes, curiosity and the sense that there's something larger out there. For far too long we have been lied to. For far too long we have been oppressed by the notion that dumbed-down-lowest-common-denominator-mediocrity was all that we could, and should, expect. You might think we're talking only about the world of brewing, but we're not. There is a myriad of products out there masquerading as cheeses, coffee, chocolates, breads...hell, there is stuff pretending to be 'food' that our great grandmothers would not recognize as such. Yet the craft brewing movement, together with the artisanal food movement, is making much progress. Where the industrial companies can't dismiss or bury us, they are attempting to copy us with cheap facsimiles. Yes, chances are if you are holding this bottle, you understand these things to be true about the world of brewing. You also likely understand the importance of our fight at Stone against accepted 'norms' over the last 15 years. We believed that America was ready to embrace things made with artistry and passion. You have spoken. Your response has been clear. We are not merely consumers to be spoon-fed whatever commodities need to be unloaded for a profit. We have only just begun to move the needle of this revolution, & mediocrity still reigns. Consider that when you reject dumbed down, industrialized food and drink, you also support craft brewing. The line is nearly seamless; we are fighting the same battle. We will not win in our lifetime, as the powers are too entrenched, and the masses too…fooled. And shackled. However, this is a revolution of ideas and of taste, and we will win. How do you want to be viewed by your children, and your children's children? As a hero, or as the oppressed? (Those that don't think they have been oppressed are already lost.) Ultimately, it's up to you to decide. We hope you'll stand with us. Strong and unyielding. You are needed. This bottle and its glorious contents are a celebration of you, brothers and sisters, and your importance in this fight. Cheers to all we've accomplished together in the past fifteen years, and cheers to the adventure ahead! “ 

Let’s get started!

Appearance: Pours a deep dark black with a big beige head and nice lacing.

Aroma: Aroma is hoppy, roasty and earthy.

Taste: Tastes malty sweet, caramel, toffee, butterscotch and a little vanilla with a nice pine hop profile.

Overall: 10.5% ABV and fantastic.  Black IPA perfected! Glad I had a chance to try it on tap and happy that I have a few more of these stashed for my future drinking enjoyment.

Cheers!

Mark Harvey

The Lost Abbey Judgment Day Belgian Dark Quad styled Ale

Hello beer lovers and welcome to another edition of the NorCal Beer Blog's brew review.

Tonight’s featured beer is The Lost Abbey Judgment Day Belgian Dark Quad styled Ale.  After having this beer on tap at The Lost Abbey/Port Brewing Company (here) I wanted to check it out in the bottle so I bought a couple. I asked the bartender there what he’d recommend if he could have only one beer (since I was only stopping by briefly) and he suggested a Lost Abbey Judgment Day Belgian Dark Quad styled Ale.

From The Lost Abbey website:” A massive beer in every sense of the word. A stronger and more contemplative version of our Lost and Found Ale. Judgment Day is the base beer for our Cuvee de Tomme. Many of the Trappist Breweries produce a version of beer which ages incredibly well for many years to come. And, since none of us knows when the end of the world is coming, we suggest you stock up with lots of Lost Abbey beers so that when the end of the world magically appears from no where, you’ll have a beer or two on hand for even the stingiest of angels. Available in 750ml bottles and on draft at select inspired locations.”

Let’s get started!

Appearance: It poured a dark brown with a nice head and nice lacing.

Aroma: Aroma is of raisins, biscuits, chocolate and caramel.

Taste: Tastes sweet with caramel, chocolate, vanilla, raisins, and candi sugar.

Overall: Liquid Heaven.  Overall I highly recommend this beer. I’m going to see about aging a few bottles…if I can stand the wait. At 10.5% ABV one 22 might be enough…but is there EVER enough?

Cheers!

Mark Harvey

Drake’s Brewing Company IPA

Hello beer lovers and welcome to another edition of the NorCal Beer Blog's brew review.

Tonight’s featured beer is Drake’s Brewing Company IPA.  Well, I figure it is time to review THE Drake’s Brewing Company IPA which is one of my favorite IPAs on the market.  I have fawned over Drake’s review after review (and I’m not going to stop now).

From the Drake’s Brewing Company website:” Drake’s flagship beer! A “West Coast” interpretation of an India Pale Ale. Copper-colored from additions of light Crystal malt and Honey malt which carry the malt weight of this hop bomb. Aromas of pine and grapefruit are delivered from the abundant Chinook, Cascade and Falconer’s Flight hops.”

Let’s get started!

Appearance: Pours a very nice orangish amber with a huge soapy white head with good retention and fantastic lacing.

Aroma: HUGE hop aroma – pine, floral and citrus notes with a caramel and toasted malt sweetness pushing through.

Taste: Amazing like the aroma with huge hop character – citrus and pine and a sweet bready malt in the middle that adds a ton of character.

Overall: Incredibly drinkable and enjoyable at 7% ABV Drake’s Brewing Company IPA is one of my favorites. A Gold medal winner, Drake’s Brewing Company IPA is one you MUST try.  One of the best around (in my opinion). Drink Drake’s!

Cheers!

Mark Harvey

High Water Brewing Hop Riot IPA

Hello beer lovers and welcome to another edition of the NorCal Beer Blog's brew review.

Tonight’s featured beer is High Water Brewing Hop Riot IPA.  After reading about High Water Brewing and then finding their offerings it was easy to pick up some 22s to check them out.

From the bottle and website:”Hop Riot IPA is our flagship beer. Brewed in the American IPA style with a definitive "Left Coast" attitude. We brew our IPA with an aggressive bittering level which is complimented and balanced by a defined malt backbone. Our final signature is the dry hop step where fresh hops are immersed in the finished beer to provide the floral and citrus aromas of our IPA, a Hop Riot indeed.”

Let’s get started!

Appearance: Poured an orange-amber with a dense creamy beige head and thick sheets of lacing clinging to the glass.

Aroma: Fantastic hop aroma.  Pine, citrus and herbal hops and some light caramel and biscuit malts.

Taste: Perfectly balanced with citrus and pine hops upfront and undertones of caramel malt.  Very, very tasty!

Overall: With massive hop character and weighing in at 7.3% ABV I would most certainly pick up some High Water Brewing Hop Riot IPA.  I highly recommend this beer!

Cheers!

Mark Harvey

Jack Russell Brewing Company Scottish Ale

Hello beer lovers and welcome to another edition of the NorCal Beer Blog's brew review.

Tonight’s featured beer is Jack Russell Brewing Company Scottish Ale.  My family takes an annual trip to Lake Tahoe and a few years ago I heard about Jack Russell Brewing Company in Camino, CA (which is on the way up to Lake Tahoe).  I always enjoy swinging by the Jack Russell Farm Brewery and Winery and the Larsen Apple Barn to pick up some beer, apples and pears.  This year was no exception except for the fact that now I am blogging about what I drink so I’ll be writing reviews for all the Jack Russell Brewing Company beers I picked up on this trip.  Every season is different at the Jack Russell Brewing Company so I look forward to heading back up there to add more of their beers to my blog (well…and let’s be honest, to DRINK in their fine brews). The first Jack Russell Brewing Company beer I had ever tried was their Scottish Ale so it makes sense to review this one first.

From the Jack Russell Brewing Company website:” A rich, malty-sweet ale from Scotland. Our Scottish Ale has a smoky, sweet taste derived from peat·smoked malt, reminiscent of single malt scotch whiskey”

Let’s get started!

Appearance: Pours a deep dark brown with a very nice tan head and not much lacing.

Aroma: Roasted malts, dark chocolate, perhaps coffee and certainly smoke.

Taste: Taste like the nose with roasted malts, smoke, hints of chocolate and coffee.

Overall: At 6.5% ABV Jack Russell Brewing Company Scottish Ale is worth trying.  

It is a very well done Scottish Ale (in my opinion).

Cheers!

Mark Harvey

Chicago Beer Adventure

Hello beer lovers and welcome to another edition of the NorCal Beer Blog's travelling beer reviews.

In September I had a chance to visit Chicago (I’m just getting around to writing up my travelling beer reviews) and I was told that I had to try some Goose Island Brewing Company beers and although I learned that a major stake in the brewery had been acquired by Anheuser-Busch I had heard that the beers they serve at their Clybourn location (Chicago’s Original Brewpub) were pretty fantastic.

The first Goose Island Brewing Company I had a chance to try was Honker’s Ale.  From the Goose Island Brewing Company website:” Inspired by visits to English country pubs, Honker’s Ale combines a fruity hop aroma with a rich malt middle to create a perfectly balanced beer. Immensely drinkable, Honker’s Ale is not only the beer you can trust but one you’ll look forward to time and again.”

Let’s get started!

Appearance: Poured a reddish brown color with a nice white head and minimal lacing.

Aroma: Mild floral and citrus hops matched well with caramel and biscuit malt scents.

Taste: Like the aroma with just the right hop and malt balance.

Overall: At 4.2% ABV this is a highly sessionable and enjoyable offering.  So far so good with their beers.  I was ready to for seconds (which I had) and then to try other offerings (which I did).

As I’ve mentioned in previous posts, it is very common when I travel that I convince my travelling companions to visit a brew pub, brewery or bar of some sort and this trip was no exception.  After doing my research I learned that we should visit Goose Island Brewing Company’s Clybourn location to get some of their more specialty offerings.

I started with a Goose Island Brewing Company Broad Shoulders Barleywine (8.7% ABV).  Poured a caramel color with a small head leaving a very small amount of lacing.  Aroma was sweet toffee, toasted and caramel malts, dark fruits and hops.  Tasted fantastic – surprisingly hoppy, toffee, sweet and delicious.  A very enjoyable beer and one that I’d be happy to have poured for me again and again.

Next up for me was a Goose Island Brewing Company Pere Jacques Belgian Style Abbey Ale (8% ABV).  Poured a dark amber with minimal head and nice lacing. Aroma was sweet and strong with dark sugar, malt, hints of cinnamon, Belgian yeast and dried fruit. Flavors were sweet and complex. Sweet caramel, dark fruits, hearty biscuit and mild Belgian spice. Another incredible beer and one that I’d love to experience again.

I was told by a good friend of mine that I couldn’t leave Chicago without having a Goose Island Brewing Company 312 Urban Wheat Ale (4.2% ABV) so on my final day I had one at Tavern at the Park. Poured a light straw color with a very small head and little lacing. Aroma was of slightly roasted malt, sweet wheat and spicy hops. Tasted like a wheat beer should taste with citrus overtones, wheat flavor, and spice notes.  Overall it was an easy to drink beer that I wouldn’t mind drinking on a hot summer day.

Well, that’s my beerventure in Chicago.

Cheers!

Mark Harvey