Prairie Artisan Ales Funky Gold Mosaic

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

Tonight’s featured beer is Prairie Artisan Ales Funky Gold Mosaic - A dry-hopped Sour Ale. I purchased this bottle at Caps & Taps in Dublin. As I’ve said many times before, please visit local shops and support them.  The guys at Caps & Taps (here) are really cool and if you go in there tell ‘em you heard about them here.

From the Prairie Artisan Ales website: “Funky Gold Mosaic is a dry-hopped sour ale. We took Prairie Gold and dry-hopped it with a huge amount of Mosaic hops. The end results are tropical, sour, and an all around new beer drinking experience! This beer is great fresh, but will continue to develop as the wild yeast continues to work in the beer.”

Let’s get started!

Appearance: Pours a pale hazy yellow color with a large white head and good lacing.

Aroma: Tropical and citrus hops, tart, funky, light grains and a slight mineral scent.

Taste: Sour and funky with citrus and tropical notes and finishes with a white wine tartness.

Overall: Crisp and incredibly drinkable, Prairie Artisan Ales Funky Gold Mosaic is delicious.  I picked up another bottle of this 6.5% ABV gem to give it a little time in the bottle to see how it evolves, but I’m not sure I can wait.  Funky, sour, juicy and just too easy to recommend to fans of the style. 

Cheers!

Mark Harvey

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Crux Fermentation Project Pilsner

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

Tonight’s featured beer is Crux Fermentation Project Pilsner.

Commercial description: “Crisp, clean, refreshing beer that prominently features noble German hop bitterness.”

Let’s get started!

Appearance: Pours a golden yellow color with a fluffy white head and lots of lacing.

Aroma: Sweet, malty, biscuity and cereal scents and grassy hops.

Taste: Light and grainy and a touch sweet with biscuit and cereal flavors balanced well with grassy hops.

Overall: Refreshing and light, Crux Fermentation Project Pilsner is delicious.  This 5.2% ABV offering is a nice Pilsner and worth trying for fans of the style.

Cheers!

Mark Harvey

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Coronado Brewing Company Anniversary – 18th Annual Specialty Ale

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

Tonight’s featured beer is Coronado Brewing Company Anniversary – 18^th Annual Specialty Ale. I picked up this bottle at Plaza Bottle Shop in San Leandro (here). They carry lots of special beers before many of the other local bottle shops. If you find yourself in San Leandro, check this place out!

From the Coronado Brewing Company website: “We are always looking for opportunities to get creative around the brewhouse, and the celebration of another year of passionate brewing is the best opportunity we can think of. As such, we revel in the challenge of coming up with a new and interesting brew each year under our "Anniversary" label worthy of both paying homage to our past and the new year of brewing that lays ahead.”

Let’s get started!

Appearance: Pours a light orange color with a nice white head and lots of lacing.

Aroma: Citrus, pine, floral and tropical hops mixed with caramel and biscuit malts.

Taste: Tropical, citrus and pine hop bitterness balanced nicely with caramel and biscuit malts.

Overall: Solid and delicious, Coronado Brewing Company 18^th Anniversary Specialty Ale is excellent.  This 10% ABV Double IPA is absolutely worth picking up if you’re a fan of the style.  I’ve purchased a few now…finally getting around to getting this review written.  If you can find some, try it!

Cheers!

Mark Harvey

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North Coast Brewing Company Ruedrich's Red Seal Ale

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

Tonight’s featured beer is North Coast Brewing Company Ruedrich's Red Seal Ale.

From the North Coast Brewing Company website: “Malt and hops are beautifully married in this full-bodied, copper-red Pale Ale. Red Seal is generously hopped for a long, spicy finish. An excellent accompaniment to grilled meats and rich sauces.

Let’s get started!

Appearance: Pours clear amber with a large slightly off-white head and nice lacing.

Aroma: Sweet toasted and caramel malts, toffee, citrus, earthy, herbal and grassy hops.

Taste: Sweet caramel, toffee, spicy, herbal, grassy and citrus hop notes stand out beyond the initial sweetness.

Overall: Another solid beer from a solid brewery, North Coast Brewing Company Ruedrich's Red Seal Ale is tasty.  While the style isn’t a “go-to” for me I found this 5.4% ABV offering completely enjoyable and would gladly drink it again.

Cheers!

Mark Harvey

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Saint Archer Brewing Company IPA

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

Tonight’s featured beer is Saint Archer Brewing Company IPA. I picked this bottle up at The Wine Club in San Jose (here). They have a small craft beer section, but they have an incredible selection.  If you're anywhere near The Wine Club go visit them and tell 'em I sent you!

From the Saint Archer Brewing Company website: “Everything you’d expect from a great American IPA: Hop-forward, yet civilized. Bitter but balanced. Cascade hops ring loud and clear with citrus/pine notes and are backed up by a chorus of our other favorites - Apollo, Centennial, Chinook, Columbus, Crystal, and Simcoe.”

Let’s get started!

Appearance: Pours clear gold with a nice ivory colored head and great lacing.

Aroma: Pine, citrus and floral hops with a very slight malt presence in the nose.

Taste: Pine, citrus and grassy hops, biscuit and caramel malts.

Overall: Crisp and tasty, Saint Archer Brewing Company IPA was very delicious.  This 7% ABV offering will probably make another appearance in my beer fridge.  I really enjoyed it!

Cheers!

Mark Harvey

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Russian River Brewing Company Supplication

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 Supplication - Ale Aged in Pinot Noir Barrels with Cherries Added.

From the Russian River Brewing Company website: “Brown Ale aged in used Pinot Noir barrels from local Sonoma County wineries. It is aged for about 12 months with sour cherries, brettanomyces, lactobacillus, and pediococcus added to each barrel. Flavors from the cherries, Pinot Noir and oak balance each other nicely with a little funk from the brett.”

Let’s get started!

Appearance: Pours a hazy orange/amber with a light cream colored head and light lacing.

Aroma: Vinous with heavy wine barrel, sour cherries, bready malts, funk and dark fruits.

Taste: Sour cherry, bready malts, oak wine barrel with lots of Pinot Noir notes, Brett funk, tart and vinous.

Overall: Refined, balanced and assertive, Russian River Brewing Company Supplication is a world class Sour/Wild Ale.  This 7.75% ABV offering is a must try for fans of the style. 

Cheers!

Mark Harvey

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Drake's Brewing Company Jolly Rodger Imperial Coffee Stout

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 Jolly Rodger Imperial Coffee Stout - 2014 - Brewed With Blue Bottle Coffee. I picked up this and three other bottles of this wonderful beverage at the brewery recently. If you find yourself anywhere near San Leandro you really should stop in.

Commercial description: “After years of amassing booty on the high seas, Drake’s Jolly Rodger naturally acquired a taste for the finer coffees brought to life by artisan, specialty roasters. That’s why this year, Jolly teamed up with Blue Bottle Coffee’s meticulous roasters in Oakland for his latest incarnation, Jolly Rodger 2014 Coffee Imperial Stout. Rich and complex, this beer features luscious chocolaty and subtle roasted malt flavors that blend expertly with a specially made roast of Kenyan Kangunu coffee to create aromas of caramelized stone fruit and flavors of black currant, tobacco, and caramel.”

Let’s get started!

Appearance: Pours black with a great tan head and loads of lacing.

Aroma: Huge coffee in the nose balanced nicely with chocolate, vanilla and roasted malts.

Taste: Coffee is way up front with chocolate and roasted malts, caramel and vanilla and a slight dark fruit note.

Overall: Creamy and delicious, Drake's Brewing Company Jolly Rodger Imperial Coffee Stout is excellent.  This 9% ABV offering is worth grabbing several of.  Nicely sweet and full-bodied this is something I plan to drink a lot of.

Cheers!

Mark Harvey

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Ballast Point Brewing Company Grapefruit Sculpin

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

Tonight’s featured beer is Ballast Point Brewing Company Grapefruit Sculpin - India Pale Ale With Natural Grapefruit Flavor. I picked this up at Santa Clara Liquors (here). If you get a chance, head in there and tell ‘em that Mark from NorCal Beer Blog sent you. You’ll be glad you did – they have an incredible selection!

From the Ballast Point Brewing Company website: “Our Award-winning IPA, with a citrus twist.
Our Grapefruit Sculpin is the latest take on our signature IPA. Some may say there are few ways to improve Sculpin’s unique flavor, but the tart freshness of grapefruit perfectly complements our IPA’s citrusy hop character. Grapefruit’s a winter fruit, but this easy-drinking ale tastes like summer.”

Let’s get started!

Appearance:  Pours a golden orange color with a big white head and tons of lacing.

Aroma: The huge zesty grapefruit in the nose is complimented by tropical, citrus and pine hops, peach, mango and a hint of malt sweetness.

Taste: Grapefruit zest, citrus, tropical and pine hops balanced nicely with a bit of malt sweetness.

Overall: Bright, crisp and well executed, Ballast Point Brewing Company Grapefruit Sculpin is worth the hype.  This 7% ABV offering is sure to be a go-to for many if they can keep it in stock up here in NorCal.

Cheers!

Mark Harvey

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Lagunitas Brewing Company Born Yesterday Fresh Hop Pale Ale

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

Tonight’s featured beer is Lagunitas Brewing Company Born Yesterday Fresh Hop Pale Ale. I picked this up at Santa Clara Liquors (here). If you get a chance, head in there and tell ‘em that Mark from NorCal Beer Blog sent you. You’ll be glad you did – they have an incredible selection!

From the Lagunitas Brewing Company website: “What good is using ridiculously fresh, un-kilned wet hops in brewing if you don’t get to drink the resulting beer when it’s ridiculously fresh? #BornYesterday is a newborn version of our reborn Pal, New DogTown Pale, with a fresh addition: Virgin hops from the trellised lands of the verdant Yakima Valley.  Unkilned for an immaculate reception.  Then deliver the resulting lil’ brew within 24hrs. Congrats. It’s a beer!”

Let’s get started!

Appearance: Pours a golden orange color with a dense off-white head and excellent lacing.

Aroma: Citrus, tropical and pine hops with a touch of caramel malt.

Taste: Citrus – grapefruit – tangerine - orange, tropical fruits – pineapple, mango and papaya, pine and a touch of sweet caramel and biscuit malts.

Overall: I had no doubt that I’d love Lagunitas Brewing Company Born Yesterday Fresh Hop Pale Ale since they top my list of favorite breweries and this one was off the charts good. Crisp, smooth extremely drinkable, this 7.5% ABV offering is something to source, drink and repeat. Two enthusiastic thumbs up!

Cheers!

Mark Harvey

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