BROTHER THELONIOUS at North Coast Brewing

Our final brewery stop on our trip brings us to the home of such greats as Brother Thelonious and Old Rasputin.  North Coast Brewing sits along the main street in Fort Bragg just north of town.  The tasting room and restaurant are situated across the street from the brewery itself.  We were lucky enough to chat with one of the brewmeisters.  She had just finished her shift and stopped in for a pint and some camaraderie amongst the locals.

It is fitting that this turned out to the last brewery on our trip as it boast the most "over the top" beers that I have had a chance to taste.  The brewmeister told us that she had recently left a brewing job on the east coast to try her hand out in California.  I have to say she is doing a fine job.

The taproom was quaint and warm if not a little crowded, but this was Holiday weekend and folks were getting an early start on the festivities.  We held off of the appetizers since dinner was waiting for us at home but the garlic fries looked and smelled delicious.  Visit when you have enough time to enjoy a few brews and some food.

As for the beer, I chose Brother Thelonious, a belgian style strong dark, named after jazz great Thelonious Monk. The Brewery makes a donation to the Thelonious Monk Institute for every bottle of Brother Thelonious Belgian Style Abbey Ale sold.  This beer is rich and robust with an ABV of 9.3%.  It was the most outstanding beer of the week but I couldn’t have more than one.  With a Bitterness of only 32 IBUs this one is just a little too malty for me.  Yet a tasty treat to finalize the brewery trip.

My lovely wife Amber opted for her old standby Blue Star Wheat Beer.  There is a reason this beer has been around and popular for some time now.  It’s delicious, crisp and satisfying.  Blue Star is unfiltered, the yeast adding a complex note to the flavor profile.  Although this was quite difficult to find back when she was in college it can now be picked up at most Northern California supermarkets.  

This post wraps up the brewery portion of the trip (which was my Christmas gift from Amber) but there is one more beer to come.  As it turns out we couldn't visit the brewery because it was actually at the brewer's house.  More to come....

Anderson Valley Brewing Company

What do Frisbee golf and beer have in common?  I have no idea but you can find both of them at Anderson Valley brewing Company. Our fourth brewery stop brings us to AVBC just outside of Boonville, California.  Besides the amazing variety of craft beers the brewery is also home to a sanctioned 18 hole disc golf course.

Anderson Valley brewing company was established in 1987 by David Norfleet and Kim and Ken ,Allen.  The original 10-barrel brew house which is now used for research and development, was designed and installed by owner and original brewer.

Since 1997, the brewery has hosted the Boonville Beer Fest. Details on this year's Boonville Beer Fest can be found here.

During our visit we tasted both the Hop Ottin IPA and the Mowkeef Saison.  The Hop Ottin is true to it's name with the bitter hop style synonymous with this region and the Saison is French style which 
I prefer to drink in the summer.  Both were great solid beers and would have stood out in a normal crowd.  This journey however has not been filled with normal beers.  

Besides the amazing variety of craft beers the brewery is also home to a DPA recognized 18 hole disc golf course.   Course fees are $5.00 per player, per day, and fees include a coupon that can be redeemed immediately for $5.00 OFF of any Anderson Valley Brewing Company retail purchase of $10.00 or more. The course is open from 11:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.  All holes are par 3 with distances ranging from about 200–350 ft. 

The patio outside is both dog and kid friendly so you don't have to leave either at home.  On a warm sunny day I can't think of a better place to sit outside and enjoy an Anderson Valley beer.  To compliment the beautiful surrounding and tasty beers the staff is both friendly and knowledgeable about the local folklore and the town's own American dialect called Boontling.  You can read more about bootling in my previous blog post about Anderson Valley. 

Cafe Racer 15 from Bear Republic Brewing in Healdsburg

The town of Healdsburg has been synonymous with wine for a lot longer than it has with beer.  That began to change when the Norgrove family founded Bear Republic Brewing in 1995.  

The first stop on our second day brings us to a brewpub on the corner of Healdsburg's historic downtown square where we found a lively atmosphere and outstanding food choices.  The intense flavors of Bear Republics beers are well paired with dishes like the vegetarian Roasted Garlic Plate and the Hummm Baby Crab Sandwich(Garlic and butter sautéed Dungeness crab from The Tides Wharf, fresh tomatoes on garlic-buttered, grilled sliced sourdough.Go Giants).

To complement such delicacies we had to find just the right beer.  Anticipating the overbearing flavor of the roasted garlic I chose the 100+ IBU Cafe Racer 15 Double IPA. This beer was originally  brewed to celebrate the 15th year of innovative brewing at Bear Republic.  The name also pays homage to the counterculture streetracer motorcyle.  I would not suggest riding a motorcycle the same day you drink one of these hefty brews though because it packs a punch at almost 9%.  

Even the high ABV can not hide the hoppiness so be ready for a wallop when you take your first sip. 

I suggest that you visit the brewpub and sit on the patio to enjoy the sunshine while you dine on their amazing food.  Cheers.

Russian River; Perdition, Biere De Sonoma

The second stop on our "Northern California Better Beer Tour" brought us to Russian River Brewing where we attempted to have dinner.  (Note to all: do not try to go to Russian River Brewing for dinner on a holiday Friday night and expect to be able to eat within 90 Minutes.   It will not happen).  The place was packed solid.  A friendly patron was nice enough to share his table and some dining advice.  We sat down long enough to have a beer and talked with him about the local cuisine.


While I couldn't pass up the chance to have a Pliny the Elder at the source, my ever increasingly daring wife took a shot at the Perdition.  (Note* Pliny the Younger will be pouring mid-February.)  

The Stats:

Original Gravity:	1.058
Alcohol by Volume:	6.1%
Color:	Reddish brown
Bitterness:	Mild

Perdition is called a Biere De Sonoma in the tradition of the great  Biere de Garde’s of Belgium and is available as a pub draft only.  Perdition is usually available year round in limited distribution only in California.  

Additional Beers on Tap included:

O.V.L. Stout, Happy Hops, Row 2, Hill 56, Blind Pig, Janet’s Brown Ale, Pliny the Elder, Erudition, Supplication, Damnation, Temptation, Consecration and Mortification.

Around The World at Lagunitas Brewing

Inspired by an article in Sunset Magazine my lovely wife planned a 4 day road trip to visit breweries from Petaluma to Fort Bragg.  Starting in Petaluma of course means a visit Lagunitas Brewing.  With so many wonderful beers on tap we couldn't decide where to start so we ordered them all.  The "Around the World" includes one taste of every beer on tap or in the cask that day.  As our waitress informed us today was a great day to be at the brewery.  Not only was there live music provided by the "crunchy rock" sounds of the Smokehouse Gamblers but also there happened to be 23 beers on tap.  As a bonus Brothers Comatose sat in for a few songs on the way to a gig at the Sebastopol Hopmonk Tavern.

Although we underestimated the time needed to sample all 23 brews and missed the free brewery tour we were treated to lively music and great conversations.  The outdoor beer garden style of the Lagunitas taproom makes it easy to meet new friends who casually sit beside you and share beers, peanuts and pretzels while joyfully discussing where they are from and why they are there.

Our "Around the World" tasting included; IPA with Nelson Sauvin, Doppelomyces, Fusion II, Bourbon BA stout, So Co Stout, Fillmore Fusion, 3B Bnarly,  Wet Dog, Imp. Stout, Gnarly Wine, Cappuccino Stout,   Shugga, FreshKronik, Farmhaux, Sebasto-pale, Pilsner, Pale, IPA, Maximus, Hop stoopid, Censored, Sumpin and Sucks.  Amber picked Shugga as her favorite while I was leaning towards the Maximus by the end of the 2 1/2 hours it took to finish.

I have to say that this is one of my new favorite places to enjoy beer.  The staff is friendly and efficient.  The beer is amazing,  The music was lively and entertaining.  As it turned out all three groups that joined us at the picnic bench were fun to talk with and told great stories.  If you are in Petaluma and find yourself in need of a place to grab a beer I highly recommend stopping in the Lagunitas Brewery.

ACME IPA at the Heyday Cafe in Placerville

While visiting family in Fort Bragg last week I had the chance to grab lunch at the North Coast Brewery.  Unfortunately I had a 4 hour drive ahead of me so I stuck to the food and skipped the beer.  Not an easy feat for someone who loves to try out new beers.   As luck would have it I popped into the Heyday Café on Main ST. in Placerville yesterday to find that they were pouring ACME IPA.  I took this chance to redeem myself from last week’s bout of abstinence. 

In North Coast’s words: “Acme IPA is profoundly hoppy, finished with over a pound of fresh whole hops per barrel. The result of this generous hopping is a beer that is deliciously dry, and eminently drinkable in spite of its apparent strength.”  In my words this is a smooth and refreshing beer with a bit of a bite and a mellow finish.  It paired perfectly with my Mediterranean veggie wrap and roasted red pepper soup.

The Acme Beer Brand has a long and entertaining history.  I suggest you visit the online museum for more info; ACME Beer Museum 

If you have the chance I highly recommend trying out both the Heyday Café and Acme IPA.

Vitals:

Style: India Pale Ale
Color: Pale Amber
ABV: 6.9%
Bitterness: 55 IBUs

Ukiah Brewing Orr Springs IPA

A recent Photography Gig allowed us to spend some time in the wonderfully diverse town of Ukiah, CA.  Ukiah is full of organic taco stands, vegan lifestyle stores, quaint coffee shops and the Ukiah Brewing Company.  The UBC is a rustic place on the main street of downtown Ukiah that appears to be a great concert venue.  Although there were several Veggie and Vegan items on the menu they also offer some real (and tasty) food.  We split a sweet potato and coconut soup and fish and chips and Cajun fries and to wash it all down I chose their Orr Springs IPA. The Orr Springs IPS is a Light-bodied, heavily-hopped India pale ale featuring Rakau hops. This is big strong IPA with an ABV of 7.0%. 

 

The Beer is named for the Orr Hot Springs which is something I will definitely be checking out the next time I am in town.  

As a side note my lovely wife chose the Willits Wit which I actually liked better than the IPA on a hot summer day.

The next time you are venturing through this little hippy enclave I suggest taking a break at the corner of School and N. State Street.  Grab a beer or three and take in some tremendous people watching.  

  To learn more about the UBC click the link to Urbanspoon.

Santa Barbara Edition - Island Brewing's Weiss

Our family vacation brings us to Santa Barbara and more specifically Carpinteria.  Carpinteria, so named by the Spanish for the “carpentry shop” located on on of the few south facing beaches in California. Established by local Chumash tribe  the “carpentry shop” was used for building canoes and other sea-going vessels.  The site was chosen because of naturally-occurring surface tar which was used to seal the boats.  Less than half a mile from what is now known as the popular surf spot "Tar Pits" you will find Island Brewing . This spot is as laid back as it gets.  I could easily imagine myself wasting an entire afternoon sipping each and every one of their brews while sitting in the sun on the ample patio.

For today's post I sample the Island Weiss.  With the phrase "The Weiss is Nice" printed on the lable I had to give it a try.  This unfiltered Bavarian-Style Hefeweizen is bewed from 50% German Pilsner Malt and 50% Canadian Wheat, the result is a refreshing wheat beer with hints of vanilla ,citrus, bananas and clover.   The perfect beer to enjoy while sitting on the patio of the brewery enjoying the sunshine.  The next time you are in the area I high recommend stopping the brewery and sampling their spectatular offerings.

"Purple Haze" by Abita (supplemental beer number 1)

A recent trip to LA provided me with several hours of "nothing to do" so I pulled up a bar stool at Dillon's Irish Pub at the corner of Hollywood and Vine.  I counted 37 beers on tap and they were all just $3 a pint.  Since I had already tried many of the beers I decided to try something new.

The Purple Haze by Abita look interesting.  Abita's description of this beer reads; "Purple Haze is a crisp, American style wheat beer with raspberry puree added after filtration. Therefore, you may see raspberry pulp in the beer. The raspberries provide the lager with a subtle purple coloration and haze, a fruity aroma, and a tartly sweet taste."

It was definitely worth trying and I would suggested to anyone that likes fruit in their beer.  For me I will stick to a lime in my Corona if I want fruit in my beer.  Luckily there were 36 other choices for my second pint.

Day 30 "Christmas Ale" from Anchor Brewing

It's beginning to taste a lot like Christmas..... la la la la.  With December only a day away, Black Friday and Cyber Monday behind us the Christmas season is officially upon us and tonight presented the perfect excuse to break out a magnum of Anchor's Christmas Ale.  With notes of nutmeg and gingerbread this exceptional ale rounds up our 30th day of great beers.  Although Anchor has been brewing this delicious holiday treat since 1975(click here for some history), 2010 is the first time that I have had the pleasure of sampling it.   

Anchor Brewing has played a significant role in California  brewing history. For the past 36 years the Christmas Ale has been brewed using a top secret and anually adjusted  recipe. 

Even after sampling 29 beers I still had a plethora of options when it came to filling the final post of the 30 Beers of November Blog.  Somehow Anchor's Christmas Ale just seemed to be the best choice.  You can find the Magnum of Christmas Ale at BevMo and Nugget Markets.  The magnum makes for a great gift to bring to a holiday dinner and you can purchase six packs to keep in the fridge.  If you happen to find it on tap please let me know where.

I would like to send out a huge thank you to all of those that followed the blog.  I had a lot of fun creating it and I hope that you enjoyed reading it.  My lovely wife suggested that I continue the tradition once a season so keep an eye out for future posts.  Also look for auxilary posts with beers that were great but didn't quite make the cut.

Cheers,

John

Day 29 "Alaskan IPA" from Alaskan Brewing company.

Surfing in Alaska???  You bet.  The inspiration for this beer is comes from Alaska's own surf mecca Yakutat.  The label features a surfer riding a wave while Mount Saint Elias looms at an impressive elevation of 18,000 feet in the background.  Who would have thought to go surfing in Alaska?  Probably the same adventuresome folks that will enjoy this bold and tasty brew.  I normally stick to the Alaskan Amber but had to try the IPA since I had never seen it on tap before.

Tasting notes come from the http://www.alaskanbeer.com/ website; "Alaskan IPA is honey gold in color with a fruity, citrus aroma. An enticing blend of hops and our dry hopping process, in which hops are added directly to tanks during fermentation, give this brew a very intense, complex aromatic character with a refreshing hop finish."

I enjoyed my Alaskan IPA at Plainfield Station (see day 28 for more info) where we braved the cold(but sunny) weather to enjoy the back yard/picnic area.  The kids played football and others played horseshoes while I sat back enjoyed the late afternoon sun and sipped my Alaskan IPA. 

Alaska has a long history of brewing and beer drinkers from the explores in the 1700s through the miner's gold rush there was plenty of local beer to be had.  Of course prohibition put a damper on most of the local production.  In 1986 Marcy and Geoff Larson opened the first brewing company in Juneau since prohibition and the Alaskan Brewing Company has flourished ever since.

Day 28 "Guiness Stout" at Plainfield Station

Well of course Guinness needs no introduction as it is probably one of the most recognizable beers in the world.  When you have been making beer for over 200 years you certainly know how to do it well.  But in case you haven't taken the leap of faith and tried a Guinness it is about time that you give it a taste.  As my sister stated today "That's pretty good for a beer of that color".

I enjoyed my Guinness at one of my favorite watering holes, Plainfield Station.  Plainfield Station is an old gas station on Road 98 between Davis, Woodland and Winters, Ca.  It is a place were a group of hunters in their orange hats can sit next to two nurses in scrubs who are sitting next a pair of burly looking bikers in black leather.  At the table across the room a young couple (with their newborn asleep in the car seat on top of the table) dined on half pound burgers while I along with 7 other family members enjoyed a large plate of nachos.  This hole in the wall bar has a substantial selection of beers on tap which ranges from Pabst to Guinness and from Widmer Heff to Boont Amber Ale.  And of course they have all the old standby beers like Coors and the line of Buds.

Plainfield has a very large back yard with picnic tables, a horseshoe pit and a stage for small concerts.  The food is great and the menu boasts everything from jalapeno poppers to teriyaki chicken sandwiches but for my money the Tacos are the best around. If you are ever in the area you must stop in a grab your favorite libation and game of pool.  Everyone is welcome and the staff (at least these days) is very helpful and friendly.  The beer is always cold and the people watching is second to none.

Photos by Shoop's Photography

Day 27 "PU 240" from Auburn Ale House

With Thanksgiving past us I have heard that the "autumn beers" are about to give way to the Christmas beers (4 weeks ago I had no idea that beers changed with the seasons).  As I understand it the Christmas beers have more of a lean towards maltiness and sweetness.  If that theory holds true I am glad that I had a chance to sample this 100+ IBU creation from the Auburn Ale House before switching to the "holiday beers". 

The Auburn Ale house puts out some seriously flavourful brews to match their tasty food offerings.  The PU 240 is no exception to this rule. 

"Named after the isotope essential for nuclear grade weapons, this
“Weapons Grade Ale” is the hop bomb you didn’t see coming!
At 100 bittering units, PU240 captures the explosive hop flavor and aroma necessary to achieve a critical mass that you won’t find in other high-hop ales. A classified and combustible amount of Summit and Galena hops along with a double Dry-hop bombardment of Simcoe, Columbus and Nugget contribute to PU240’s high rate of spontaneous hop fusion."

If you enjoyed "Pliny the Elder"and the beers profiled in Day 12, Day 21 and Day 23 then you will love PU 240.  Word of warning, this is nuclear grade stuff so be careful with it.  You can find this wonderment at the Ale House located in Old Town Auburn or in Old Town Folsom at Samuel Hornes.

Day 26 "Powerhouse IPA" from Lockdown Brewing Company

Long before I moved within miles of Folsom Prison and called “Old Town Folsom” my home I was a fan of Johnny Cash’s ”Folsom Prison Blues”. I have long been fascinated by the lure of the famous granite walls that surround one of the most infamous correctional facilities in our American culture. My morning jog often includes touching the perimeter fence of the area aptly named Represa, CA.

Accordingly I have been intrigued by the beers produced by Lockdown Brewing Company (LBC). Since I moved to “Old Town Folsom” I have heard rumors that LBC would open a brewery on our famed Sutter Street. I have heard friends rave of their beers for years. So when I noticed the hand written Lockdown IPA label on a tap at the local Beach Hut Deli I had to try it out.

The Beach Hut Deli is known for their enormous sandwiches so I was pleased to find that the the Lockdown “Powerhouse IPA” was a bold enough libation to wash down my mammoth sandwich. Further investigation of this almost "underground" brewing company produced more intrigue. I have discovered that LBC has recently opened a facility in nearby Rancho Cordova.
LBC’s most recent release is an exquisite example of an American IPA with a ABV of 7.5 and an unknown (to me) IBU which I estimate around 80-90.  This IPA is a crisp and very drinkable brew with enough flavor to catch my interest even after 26 days of tasting many wonderful beers. If you are lucky enough to find it I insist that you try it out.


Cheers.

Day 25 "Painkiller IPA" by Paul Crescione

Home brewer and member of Team Pain Train (a local cycling group) Paul Crescione's most recent brew is humorously named Painkiller IPA.  Paul is an established home brewer and friend of mine who lives just across the river from us.  His Painkiller IPA is an example of a true home brew using Chinook and Cascade hops grown in the backyard hop garden of one of his neighbors in Orangevale, CA.  In his words the beer is not as hoppy as he intended but I felt it was a perfect mix of flavor and drinkability.  The members of Team Pain Train like to train hard and require a beer that will take the edge off after a hard ride.

After 9 years of producing exclusively kegged beer Paul chose bottled this brew to test out a beta version of a mini keg that another friend is developing.  The mini keg is a whole other story which will most likely be making its way to the commercial market soon.  You won't find Painkiller in stores but if you are lucky enough to know Paul you may just get to try some.

Cheers.

Day 24 "Celebration Ale" from Sierra Nevada

Day 24 brings us back to Folsom and my trusty neighborhood pub Samuel Hornes.   With 16 beers on tap I don't expect to run out of unique beers to profile.  That said I have whittled away at more than half of their selection for this Blog.  Luckily their inventory rotates on a regular basis so I should be able to sample a few more of their offerings before the end of the month.

Today's beer comes from Chico, California's Sierra Nevada Brewing Company.  Officially dubbed Celebration Fresh Hop Ale this seasonal masterpiece was originally brewed in 1981 and has continued as a holiday tradition to date.  Here is the stat sheet for the 2010 version of this dry hopped ale:

Alcohol content 6.8% by volume	Bittering hops Chinook
Beginning gravity 16.0 Plato	Finishing hops Cascade & Centennial
Ending gravity 4.0 Plato	Dry hopping Cascade & Centennial
Bitterness units 65	Malts Two-row Pale & English Caramel
Yeast Top-Fermenting Ale Yeast

Day 23 "Hop Rod Rye" from Bear Republic

For Day 23 I am profiling another fabulous beer from Bear Republic.  The Hop Rod Rye is a high gravity IPA brewed with 18% rye malt.  I enjoyed this hoppy little number along with a cheese plate and sausage roll at Murphy's Irish Pub in Sonoma. 

According to the Bear Republic's website "Hop Rod Rye has a floral hop aroma and subtle caramel notes with a slightly earthy and spicy rye character."  According to me it is a delicious compilation of malt and hops. 
Hop Rod Rye is essentially a Strong Pale Ale with a huge hop aroma and a sweet malty finish.  Awards include  2004 California State Fair, Silver Medal Winner; 2002 National Real Ale Festival, Chicago, Gold Medal Winner; 2001 San Diego Real Ale Festival, Silver Medal Winner & Best of Show (Runner Up).

Hop Rod Rye is no joke folks.  If you are serious about beer and you haven't tried this little gem then you are doing yourself a major disservice. This is a great beer and I would suggest picking some up for Turkey Day this year.

Cheers.

Day 22 "Alley Pale Ale" from Murphy's Irish Pub in Sonoma

If you have never been to Murphy's Irish Pub then the name of their flagship beer may sound a little funny.  If you have been there then you will certainly understand.  Murphy's is located in an alley (really more of a paseo or breezeway) smack in the middle of downtown Sonoma.  Voted the number one place to hear live music in Sonoma this quaint little bar serves up multiple beers on tap and some delicious pub grub including traditional Irish fare. 

Their Alley Pale Ale is brewed exclusively for Murphy's by Dempsey's Brewing in Petaluma.  With an ABV of 5.2% this beer is a medium bodied smooth & flavorful pale ale with gentle hop character.  This very drinkable and flavorful beer that goes perfectly with their Fisherman's Pie.