Real Ale Brewing Company Brewhouse Brown Ale

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

In keeping with the “beer I drank while in San Antonio, TX” theme here’s another gem from the Lonestar State.

Tonight’s featured beer is Real Ale Brewing Company Brewhouse Brown Ale.

From the Real Ale Brewing Company website: “Caramel brown with a hint of chocolate, Brewhouse Brown melds four kinds of malt and American hops into a delicious dark ale. Rich and roasty, yet with a dry finish, it is the perfect companion for a hearty meal”

Let’s get started!

Appearance: Pours a dark reddish brown with a nice beige head and good lacing.

Aroma: Malts…roasted, caramel, chocolate and toffee.  A nice nutty scent…roasted almonds.  Smells great.

Taste: Sweet and roasted malts, chocolate and toffee with just enough hops for balance. Finishes with a nice nutty flavor. Great malt profile…great taste!

Overall: I was very impressed by Real Ale Brewing Company’s Brewhouse Brown Ale.  Highly drinkable and at 5.4% ABV I could see having a few of them. 

Cheers!

Mark Harvey

Victory Brewing Company HopDevil IPA

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

Here’s the third of the six beer reviews I did from that dark hotel room in San Antonio, TX.  Although many of the beers I picked up that night were from Texas brewers, I did manage to pick up a couple beers from brewers outside of Texas.

Tonight’s featured beer is Victory Brewing Company HopDevil IPA.  I had heard a lot about Victory Brewing Company and how good their beers are so I was very happy to find HopDevil IPA at the store.

From the Victory Brewing Company website:” Menacingly delicious, with the powerful, aromatic punch of whole flower American hops backed up by rich, German malts. HopDevil Ale® offers a roller coaster ride of flavor, coasting to a smooth finish that satisfies fully.”

Let’s get started!

Appearance: Pours a deep amber with a small white head and good lacing.

Aroma: Spicy hop aroma, citrus, grapefruit and pine with malts bringing up the backend. Great to breathe in.

Taste: Following the nose with grapefruit, citrus and pine hop flavors. Nicely balanced with sweet malts. Not as “devilish” as I had expected.

Overall: Solid and very drinkable, Victory Brewing Company’s HopDevil IPA isn’t the California hop bomb that I have grown accustomed to, but it is balanced well and certainly a top notch IPA.  At 6.7% ABV I could see drinking a few of these.

Cheers!

Mark Harvey

Real Ale Brewing Company Lost Gold IPA

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

In keeping with the “beer I drank while in San Antonio, TX” theme here’s another gem from the Lonestar State.

Tonight’s featured beer is Real Ale Brewing Company Lost Gold IPA. 

From the Real Ale Brewing Company website:” Massive additions of American hops in Lost Gold IPA provide the signature flavor of this Hill Country favorite. German Vienna and English Crystal malts give our IPA its rich golden-orange hue and subtle yet firm malt background. Lost Gold IPA is available year round, so there is no need to hoard this treasured brew.” 

Let’s get started!

Appearance: Pours a hazy gold color with orange hues with a thin white head and slight lacing.

Aroma: Nice hop scent – citrus and pine. A faint malt aroma in the back.

Taste: Floral, citrus and pine with a subtle malt balance.  Flavor is approachable and not the hop bomb that I typically drink which makes for a nice change of pace for me.

Overall: Real Ale Brewing Company's Lost Gold IPA is a great beginners IPA for those approaching hops carefully and gradually.  That isn’t to say that I didn’t enjoy this offering from Real Ale Brewing Company, I did and at 6.6% ABV it would have been easy to have a few of these.  I would highly recommend this one!

Cheers!

Mark Harvey

Saint Arnold Brewing Company Santo Kölsch

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

From a dimly lit hotel room in San Antonio, Texas I reviewed a handful of beers while away on business. I was happy to find a store that sold mixed 6’s and I picked up a six-pack of various beers for review.  I tried to pick beers that aren’t available in NorCal.  The next six reviews are from my time in San Antonio.

Tonight’s featured beer is Saint Arnold Brewing Company Santo Kölsch.  I had a chance to visit the Saint Arnold Brewing Company a couple years ago while in Houston, TX.  Since I was there on a business trip I was finding it difficult to get over there, but knew I had to. When I finally arrived I found out that the tasting room was due to close in around five minutes.  I got to talking to the folks there and after talking brewing for those five minutes (and drinking around three tasters) they let me hang out for another 30 minutes or so to try the other offerings they had.  Super cool folks at Saint Arnold.

 From the Saint Arnold Brewing Company’s website:” Santo is a black Kölsch, which technically doesn’t exist as a style, but this is as close as we can come to describing it. Essentially it is brewed using a Kölsch recipe with the addition of Munich and black malt. It is light bodied and floral yet with a distinct dark malt flavor. Our goal was to create a dark yet refreshing beer that would pair perfectly with a plate of enchiladas.”

Let’s get started!

Appearance: Pours a very dark brown with amber hues, an off-white frothy head and nice lacing.

Aroma: Sweet and roasted malts with a touch of coffee, caramel and chocolate.  Very faint floral and citrus hop scents.

Taste: Much like the nose with a nice blend of dark chocolate and coffee combined with sweet malts and a light hop presence.

Overall: Although this is not a traditional German Kölsch, Saint Arnold Brewing Company’s Santo Kölsch left me wanting another (I had only picked up one).  At 4.7% ABV I could certainly see have a few of these.  If you find yourself in Texas certainly try this offering from Saint Arnold Brewing Company.

Cheers!

Mark Harvey

Russian River Brewing Company Damnation Golden Ale

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

Tonight’s featured beer is Russian River Brewing Company Damnation Golden Ale. Much can be said (and has been said) about Russian River Brewing Company’s beers. They rank among my favorite breweries.

From the Russian River Brewing company website:” Inspired pretty much by Duvel and other strong golden ales of Belgium. It is medium-bodied, has a fruity/banana bouquet, and a dry, spicy finish.”

Let’s get started!

Appearance: Pours a cloudy golden color with a thick white head.

Aroma: Fruity, spicy, bananas, coriander, Belgian yeast and malt.  Heaven.

Taste: Balanced with an initial mild sweetness and flavors that follow the nose.  This truly is an amazing golden ale.

Overall: As with other Russian River Brewing Company offerings, Damnation Golden Ale is stellar.  I feel blessed to live close enough where getting this beer isn’t difficult.  A must try for those who enjoy the style.  At 7% ABV a couple of bottles will do well for an evening session.

Cheers!

Mark Harvey

Lost Coast Brewery Tangerine Wheat Ale

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

Tonight’s featured beer is Lost Coast Brewery Tangerine Wheat Ale.  I thought for tonight’s review I would deviate from the IPA centric posts I engaged in last night and what better beer to do that with than this one!

From the Lost Coast Brewery website:” refreshing citrus ale, Lost Coast Tangerine Wheat combines our Lost Coast Harvest Wheat with natural tangerine flavors. Brewed with a combination of wheat and crystal malts, and finished with Perle hops.”

Let’s get started!

Appearance: Pours a cloudy orange with a quick to dissipate white head and a little lacing.

Aroma: Smells sweet and pleasant like tangerines which in no surprise.  Hints of malt and wheat as well in the nose.

Taste: Clean tangerine flavor, not as over the top as the aroma, but there in a big way.  Sweet toasted wheat and malts are there as well.  Very refreshing and extremely easy to drink.

Overall: A wonderful summertime beer, Lost Coast Brewery Tangerine Wheat Ale is an enjoyable beer and something I could certainly drink several of on a hot day.  At 5% ABV you may find your way grabbing one of these in the morning instead of orange juice.

Cheers!

Mark Harvey

Green Flash Brewing Company West Coast IPA

Hello beer lovers, Happy IPA Day and welcome to tonight’s last edition of the NorCal Beer Blog's brew review.

Tonight’s final featured beer is Green Flash Brewing Company West Coast IPA.  After making a few trips down to San Diego I decided it was time to visit the Green Flash Brewing Company.  I had been urged to check them out by my friends at HopTech. For some reason I had not tried any of their offerings.  Perhaps it was the $9.99 price tag for a four pack.  Perhaps it was that there are SO many great IPAs out there.  I’m not sure, but one night on the way back to the resort I was staying at I had my wife pull into Green Flash Brewing Company for a set of quick testers.  This led to my purchase of two four packs and a Green Flash Brewing Company work shirt (yeah, some people think they’re lame, but I don’t care, I like ‘em).  I’ll review other Green Flash Brewing Company beers shortly as I’ve fallen for their beers big time.

From the Green Flash Brewing Company website:” A menagerie of hops is layered throughout the brewing process: Simcoe for unique fruitiness and grapefruit zest, Columbus for strong hop pungency, Centennial for pine and citrus notes and Cascade for floral aroma. A multi-dimensional hop experience.”

Let’s get started!

Appearance: Pours a deep dark orange with a huge white head and sticky lacing.

Aroma: Big hop aroma – floral, pine and tropical fruits with a slight malt scent in the background.

Taste: Wow…tastes like the aroma – grapefruit, pine and floral hops dance around on my taste buds.  As I drink this I can’t believe this is my first time tasting it.  Incredible!

Overall: Well, thanks to HopTech and my visit to San Diego I have another favorite IPA.  Weighing in at 7.3% ABV Green Flash Brewing Company West Coast IPA is tremendously drinkable, balanced and hoppy and everything a top notch IPA should be.  Believe the hype and pick some up. You’ll be glad you did.

Cheers!

Mark Harvey

Drake's Brewing Company Aroma Prieta IPA

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

Tonight’s second featured beer is Drake's Brewing Company Aroma Prieta IPA.  This past weekend Drake’s had an unveiling of their newest brew, Aroma Prieta along with the release of Aroma Coma.  I headed down to the Barrel House to get in line and acquire my bottles of both (two Prieta and four Coma).  I brought my sister-in-law along so I could get a couple more bottles of Prieta since I didn’t know if I’d see this beer again and didn’t want to be limited to a mere two bottles.  I love the scene at the Barrel House on release days.  There’s a buzz in the air and the usual Drake’s faithful are always there, in line and patiently waiting for the Barrel House to open and give them their first taste of a new offering.  Saturday was no exception and I eagerly awaited my first crack at Aroma Prieta. 

From the Drake’s Brewing Company website:” Shake out from Aroma Coma with Aroma Prieta. Aroma Coma’s sister beer mirrors its twin starting with primarily American 2-row barley malt and a touch of Caramalt for body. From there, we turn things upside down. This time, Prieta leaves behind Aroma Coma’s North American hops for some Southern Hemisphere hop action. New Zealand hops Nelson Sauvin, Pacific Jade, and Motueka and Aussie hop Helga in the double dry-hop give Aroma Prieta huge notes of tropical fruit, gooseberries, and grapefruit. Like Aroma Coma but different: breathe in these hops and enjoy. — Available in August in limited release.”

Let’s get started!

Appearance: Pours a pale golden orange with a frothy and dense white head and great lacing.

Aroma: Tropical fruits and citrus hops dominate the nose with some pine notes. Biscuit and caramel malts round out the aroma.  Distinctly different from Aroma Coma and fantastic.

Taste: A bit more tame than I would imagine with not a giant hop bite, Aroma Prieta has great hop flavor with pineapple, grapefruit, tropical, floral and pine bitterness.  Balanced nicely with caramel and pale malt notes.  Enjoyable and refreshing.

Overall: Incredibly drinkable with a great hop profile, bitterness and balance Drake's Brewing Company Aroma Prieta IPA doesn’t disappoint. The New Zealand hops add a fantastic twist to one of my favorite IPAs (Aroma Coma).  This is an offering I’d line up to pick up anytime.  At 6.75% ABV I could easily enjoy a few pints.

Cheers!

Mark Harvey