Huskies & Hop Valley Brewing Co.

Here is a video of a short trip I took my father on up to Husky Stadium in Seattle, Washington for the opening game of the 2011 college football season. The first part of the video is a few clips from the game against Eastern Washington University, the 2010 FCS (former 1-AA) National Champions. He is a life long Husky fan and I am an Oregon Duck, but it doesn't matter when it comes to this, we had a great time! On the way home to San Diego, however, we stopped in Eugene, Oregon- Duck country- for some VooDoo Doughnuts and picked up some fine brews from Hop Valley Brewing Company in Springfield, Oregon. Cheers!

Beer Review: Scuttlebutt Porter

Scuttlebutt Brewing Co. 
Porter
Everett, WA.
22 ounce bottle
Pint glass
5.5% ABV

Appearance/Color:  pours a very dark brown edged by deep ruby hues. Head is thin, about a quarter inch thick, but keeps a nice satin-like layer on top and a light lacing around the inside of the glass. Carbonation is low-moderate.

Aroma:  notes of chocolate make up the profile with hints of a dry breadiness, some toffee, and a tad roasty. There is also a faint hint of smokiness and perhaps molasses. Little to no hop aroma, at least I cannot pick any up, but chocolate malt is definitely present.

Taste/Mouthfeel:  I mentioned that the aroma carried a slight smokiness to it, but it is more evident in the taste. It's not overpowering, but it is there and I only say that because I don't think this beer is brewed with any smoked malts. Once again though, chocolate makes up the profile along with a low, but pleasant roast character. It has kind of a rugged character at first as it hits my palate along with a mild peppery feel. A bready character backs up the chocolate malt with very slight hints of toffee and molasses. It finishes moderately dry with a nutty, satin-like smoothness. Very tasty and delicious. Cheers!

Bump in the Night CDA, Full Sail Brewing Co.





Bump in the Night

Cascadian Dark Ale

Full Sail Brewing

Hood River, OR

22 oz bottle
Served in 20oz pub glass 

6.5% ABV

Color/Appearance:  Pours a dark brown color with deep ruby tints edging the body as it is held up to light. The head is slightly off-white, half to one inch thick, with tiny bubbles tightly compacted underneath a creamy lather on top, vibrant and lacing the interior of the glass as it slowly deteriorates. Moderate carbonation flows up the center of the glass with little to no haze. Overall, this a very attractive and inviting beer.

Aroma:  Bottle label indicates a big floral and citrus nose, but what I get is a dose of fresh northwest pine, which, for me, is not a bad thing. There is a mild floral note and little citrus to speak of, but definitely lots of good piney scents. As I allow the beer to sit longer there are more malty aromas coming through; mild hints of caramel, chocolate, and perhaps a biscuit like character. The pine, however, is the star of the aroma.

Taste/Mouthfeel:  Right away, a piney hop bitterness and a moderate roasted malt flavor are backed up nicely with a creamy medium body texture as it splashes my palate. A light, but noticeable citrus flavor creeps in as it goes down; somewhat grapefruit like that adds a pleasant sharpness. The hop flavors are pretty forward in the taste, but that good roasted malt character cuts in nicely with small notes of caramel, chocolate and a dry biscuit flavor. The finish is dry with a mild spicy hop and roasty goodness that does nothing except entice you to take another drink. 

The flavors in this CDA appear very clean and clear as they present themselves to my tastebuds. The head also continues to maintain a good consistency, maybe a 1/8 inch thickness is always present and leaving a good lacing inside the glass. To me, always a sign of a solid beer and these days I find myself leaving the bottle shop with more Full Sail beers. Cheers!

Anvil ESB, AleSmith Brewing Co.

Anvil ESB
AleSmith Brewing Co.
San Diego, CA.
5.5% ABV
22oz bottle


Color/Appearance:  The Anvil pours a very bright and vibrant copper color, almost a ruby red nearing brown. A slight haze appears as I lift the glass up to the light, but that is expected as it is a live ale, or bottle conditioned beer. The head was quite sizeable at first, maybe nearing 1-1/2 to 2 inches high and off-white in color, and rocky with a creamy top layer. The carbonation flow upwards is light. Overall, an outstanding and rich looking beer in appearance.

Aroma:  A nice malty nose up front; kind of a sweet and savory profile at the same time. Notes of tangy hops balance out the caramel and toffee aromas that mix well. There is almost a mild sour like character to the beer as well- nothing fruity, just a mild sourness....well maybe something of a dark fruit, like figs or prunes do come through. A different and very particular strain of yeast is sometimes used by some breweries for bottle conditioning. This could be the case in why the beer has a slighty sour character.

Taste/Mouthfeel:  From just the first sip there seems to be a lot going on. I don't really know how to describe it other than it tastes traditional. On the back of the bottle they describe the ales of Burton-on-Trent, England as being some of the most savory ales in the world. Thats the best way to describe it, savory. There is a mild malt sweetness there, but it is definitely more of a savory character. Just like in the aroma though, you get the tangy hops and that mild sour note. Hints of caramel and toffee also round out this medium bodied Extra Special Bitter right before it's spicy velvet rich finish.

AleSmith began back in 1995 in San Diego, CA. The Anvil ESB was the very first ale they produced and still remains their flagship beer. It has won numerous awards including both silver and gold medals at the world beer championships. The Anvil ESB is also thought to be one of the most traditional like bitters produced by an American brewer; very much similar to the traditional English bitters you find in Great Britain. I myself feel that AleSmith brews some of the most legendary beers available in the United States.
Pick up an Anvil sometime and taste the craftsmenship. Cheers!

Hop Monkey I.P.A.

Hop Monkey I.P.A.
Laurelwood Brewpub
Portland, Oregon
22 ounce bottle
ABV: Unknown

Appearance: pours a straight amber color with a slightly off-white head, about one inch thick. Carbonation appears low-medium and a light lacing coats the inside.

Aroma: a nice bouquet of citrus and floral hops on the nose are immediately backed by a moderate malt sweetness, nutty and toffee like in character. Perhaps some good earthiness to it as well.

Taste / mouthfeel: light to moderate bitterness and citrusy. Malt is a tad sweeter than I anticipated, but the beer is quite old, maybe close to a year. The balance is still pleasant on the palate, telling me that the Hop Monkey has held up pretty well. The mouthfeel, to me, comes off as creamy, mildly spicy, smooth, and medium body. The finish is moderately sweet with a light bitterness that lingers. That suits me!

All in all, a solid IPA from Laurelwood. For a beer that is likely pushing a year old (purchased in November 2010) it has held up pretty well. It still has a nice complexity of hop and malt flavors. I should have had this beer fresh when I was at PDX not long ago, as I did indeed, pay a visit to the new establishment inside the Horizon terminal at Portland International Airport. Regardless, I enjoyed this bomber of India Pale Ale and will be visiting Portland again soon. Cheers!

New phone test and last day at work!

Well, today was my last day at work! I am no longer a fully employed human being; just thought I would send a quick blog post about that! I also have a brand new phone that is much more diverse in it's capabilities, so this is the first official post with my new phone.

Hmm, now that I am an unemployed, fulltime broke college student; what beer should I celebrate with???

Maybe this would be appropriate!

 

Devil Dog Imperial IPA, Laughing Dog Brewing

Laughing Dog's Devil Dog Imperial IPA is a beer I've been wanting to try for quite some time. It's not that I couldn't find time to go and pick up a bottle at a local specialty beer store, it was it's availability. I have had the opportunity to try some of the brewery's other beers, like Dogzilla, Alpha Dog, CSB and DoggFather, but never came across the Devil Dog in any of my travels.

I first discovered Laughing Dog beers on a weekend trip to Portland, Oregon in the spring of 2009. I attended the Spring Beer and Wine Festival at the convention center and just had a really good time. While in Portland though, I was able to find time to visit Johns Market and Belmont Station to do a little beer shopping. I went a little crazy, but managed to fill up and ship home three cases of locally brewed beers, mostly bombers, That were not available in my area. The Devil Dog was exactly what it claims to be and I thoroughly enjoyed every sip. Cheers! 

Carbonation overload!

This is what happens when a bomber is over-carbonated! After it was all said and done, I still enjoyed the brew, and ESB from Harmon Brewing Company in Tacoma, Washington. The beer was getting up there in age, so I don't know if that had anything to do with this mild accident. Enjoy the video below and Cheers!

Wreck the Halls Winter Ale

Wreck the Halls Winter Ale
Full Sail Brewing Co.
Hood River, OR
6.5% ABV
68 IBU's

Color / Appearance: Darker amber color, nearing ruby or copper like appearance. About a one finger head forms, somewhat off-white and creamy.

Aroma: Tons of citrus fruit on the nose, I would say a mix of grapefruit and orange. Also a touch of earthiness. Also has a rich candy caramel malt aroma as well, but the hops are the tip of the spear in the smell.

Taste: Medium body and creamy on the palate. Citrus hops right away up front- obviously a generous amount of centennial hops are used, but the sweet candy malt balances quickly. Again, an earthy character follows on the finish, slightly bitter, but enjoyable.

Wreck the Halls is a combination of IPA and your typical winter warmer, which is usually more malty. It's a bit of a different type of winter warmer and I'm beginning to see more of these hybrid types of winter ales on the shelf.  Another example of the style is Bi-Frost from Elysian, both solid beers in my opinion.
Cheers!

SMC

Charlie Sheen-co de Mayo

Well this post doesn't have a whole lot to do with beer, but there is beer involved! Tonight, Thursday May 5th, 2011 at the Diamond in Lake Elsinore, CA, home of the Lake Elsinore Storm, single-A affiliate of the San Diego Padres, will be hosting a rather unique and controversial promotion.

Well, controversial for some, maybe, but I personally think it is nothing more than good old fashioned light-hearted American humor pointed at Mr. Sheen and to celebrate his delinquency and possible rehab. Of course, if you have attended minor league baseball games in the past, especially at the single and double-A levels, you know and have experienced some of the wacky promotional events they can come up with. Tonight is no exception! Sheen-co de Mayo will happen tonight at 7:05 pm sharp! I plan on being there myself and hopefully I will bring back some good video and photos to post on here. I can only say that I think pictures will definitely be like a thousand words to describe this one. Here is a short list of events that will happen on this night down at the ballpark:

Charlie Sheen bobblehead doll given away to the first 1000 people through the gate (see photo below).

A pair of wild thing eyeglasses to the first 500 people in honor of wild thing Ricky Vaughn from the movie Major League.

The #99 jersey will be retired.

2 for 1 Ho-Ho's special, with a possible appearance by the Goddesses, so I hear.

Tiger-blood cocktails will be served.

A pink taco eating contest.

And to cap it off, it is Thirsty Thursday! $1 draft beers, other drinks and sodas.

As for the beer part of this event, well, it's Thirsty Thursday! However, this is a staple promotion for every Thursday home game and I will most certainly be having a few beers from local favorite Black Market Brewing! Now I understand how some people might take this as nothing less than offensive, but with the exception of the name, I don't think this is in any way directed at, or making fun of a certain neighboring country on our southern border. Regardless, I look forward to a fun filled evening of California League baseball, and who knows, maybe Charlie will decide to drop in!

I'll check back in when it is all said and done. Cheers!

Beer Review: Rustic Rye IPA

Rustic Rye IPA
Bootleggers Brewery
Fullerton, CA
6.2% ABV

Appearance / Color:  Pours a deep golden to copper color with a bright white, rocky head. The foam was quite thick at first, but seemed to settle fairly quickly while leaving a nice thick lacing around the glass. It remains firm with no signs of disappearing and has a very clean appearance overall!

Aroma:  I could smell the hops right from the get go. As soon as I popped the cap, my nose right away picked up the scent of fresh flowers. A quick swirl of the beer released fresh floral and resiny notes that are very pleasant to the nose, as an IPA should be. A couple more swirls and the aroma became more of a mix of floral and earthy scents. It really seems to linger, too, unlike some IPA's I have had in the past where the aroma tends to disappear as the beer sits longer and warms. Nothing overpowering about it, but certainly pleasant.

Taste / Mouthfeel:  Well the bottle says it finishes with a crisp hop bite, but I get that right at the beginning! A sharp piney and earthy like bitterness as it splashes my palate. The hops are dominant, but again, not overpowering, just very much at the forefront of this beer. Malty sweetness is light and stays in the background as the hop character remains center stage throughout. Finishes dry with a mild spice note- probably from the rye malt- and that clean, crisp hop bite as confirmed on the bottle!

Check out Bootleggers website for event information- Bootleggersbrewery.com. If you live in or are visiting the Southern California area, you may want to drop by the brewery sometime in Fullerton, CA. In the OC! I hear some of the food trucks that they have lined up on Friday and Saturday nights are simply outstanding, and I don't mean roach coach type food either! I have been told that some of the food trucks are quite gourmet and unique, depending on the featured beer. Regardless, great beer always pairs well with great food!

Cheers!  

  



Beer Review: Ashland Amber

Ashland Amber
Caldera Brewing Co.
Ashland, Oregon
5.6% ABV

Well, you know, I thought I would try something a little different this time. I've had a Youtube account for quite some time now, but just never got around to making a video to post. I've been watching other channels of people who do video reviews of different beers and I just could never seem to pull the trigger to do that first one. Well, I finally did! My first video, which is of the beer you see in the picture, Ashland Amber. A beer I enjoy quite frequently these days because of its very flavorful and session-ish nature. A good session beer I like to keep around the house these days on a constant basis. It's just a well rounded, easy drinking beer to have within reach, especially on Saturdays in the fall when I'm watching college football, especially PAC-10 games! I apologize if the video is boring, but it is my first one and I am not quite used to talking to a camera. I hope you enjoy nonetheless. Cheers!

Beer Review: Monkeyhead Porter, a homebrew.

Monkeyhead Porter

Bottled on 12/28/2010

5.2% ABV

A collaborative beer brewed by Sturgess, Montgomery & Crawford. Our mash efficiency wasn't very good because of time constraints and ended up having to rush the sparge. The beer, however, turned out mighty tasty nonetheless. Click on the title link above to view the recipe.

Color / Appearance: Pours a nice flat black color, opaque! A rich looking creamy off-white head forms, about a finger tip in height. Lacing is thick, but slowly erodes down the glass.

Aroma: Raisin and chocolate notes are abundant on the nose. Hop aroma is faint and carries a fruity, herbal like makeup.

Taste: Chocolate, chocolate, and touches of raisin. Chocolate dominates the palate with notes of raisin and a slight coffee roast character. Mouthfeel is medium body and finishes a little dryer with a nice earthy character. Rich, chocolaty and smooth!





This is a collaborative beer brewed on Thanksgiving weekend, 2010, by three homebrewers/beer geeks who share a common passion for craft beer.

Cheers!
SMC

Beer Review: S1NIST0R Black Ale

S1NIST0R Black Ale
10 Barrel Brewing Co.
Bend, OR.
Dark ale, Swarzbier style
5.3% ABV(stated on bottle)

Color/appearance: Pours a very dark brown with a ruby red tinge bordering the outer edge as you look at the beer in a lamp light. A much lighter head formed than I anticipated, almost bright white. Holding the beer up to a fluorescent light you definitely get the solid black color. A thick lacing coats the inner portion of the glass as I swirl it gently. That says a lot about the makeup of the beer and my glass, it means it is clean and residue free!

Aroma: Right away I get that note of chocolate on the nose and sort of a licorice scent that comes with it. The licorice, which is pretty mild, might be a roasty type character, but I can't quite pinpoint it and it certainly doesn't smell bad! I definitely don't pick up any coffee like roast, but there seems to be a hint of spiciness to it and an earthy hop character that lays low.

Taste: Smooth and spicy as it hits my palate, exciting my taste buds. Kind of leans towards the dry side with a medium body feel. It does not have that bitter roast character that you would normally find in stouts and some porters, but I do sense a combination of toffe, chocolate, and that licorice note again. Black licorice to be exact. I am thinking that the licorice flavor might be from a special malt, perhaps, and I would guess that there is a de-bittered type of black malt used in this beer, which would explain the avoidance of roasty flavors.

Last April, 2010, I was fortunate enough to take my family on a week long trip up to Bend, Oregon. It was kind of a birthday present to myself and I chose Bend because I had been there once before and just couldn't get over the beauty of the town and the welcoming attitude of the people. Did I mention there are some great breweries, brewpubs and restaurants in town?! 10 Barrel happens to be one of them and their new brewpub was just a short couple of blocks away from where we were staying. They had just opened the place about  two months prior to our visit, and for being in an off-peak season, the brewpub was jam packed every night. They have a nice patio area behind the restaurant with a good size fire pit and bench where people can gather around on chilly evenings with a beer in hand while waiting for a table. We quickly found out why this place was packed every night! The food and service was excellent, and of course the beer, which I had a number of. I was able to pick up a few bottles at a local market in town to take home with me, knowing I would post at least one of them on here. When I cracked this S1NIST0R Black Ale open it brought those memories back of our trip to Bend and standing around the warm fire in the back patio sipping on this liquid goodness. Check out their website, I highly recommend a stop at the 10 Barrel Brewpub if you ever plan to visit Central Oregon.

Cheers!

Beer Review: Orval Trappist Ale

Beer: Orval Trappist Ale

Country:  Belgium

ABV: 6.9%

Color/Appearance: Pale orange, light caramel color. Hazy from the yeast that escapes the bottle. Thick and creamy off-white head.

Aroma: Nose is extremely fruity! Noticeable amounts of apricot and plum like characteristics. Hint of citrus, only slightly, with earthy hops forming the background.

Taste: The first sip is almost of a pleasant tart apple, easy on the sweet side, more towards the dry side. The light to medium mouthfeel carries a smooth fruit character. A little spice rolls along my palate and the earthy hops are evident, but maintain a low profile. The flavor profile in this ale is definitely more about the yeast. A nice dry, fruity profile with a mild take, possibly, from cider.

I'm not too much in to the Belgian beer scene, if you will, but every once in a while a good Trappist or Abbey ale is just what the doctor ordered. This one doesn't disappoint, and it is a nice beer to enjoy anytime of the year. I recommend letting the beer sit for a few minutes out of the fridge before opening to let some of the chill wear off. The flavors present themselves better as it sits in your glass at room temperature. As mine sits longer and mellows, I notice some aromas that could be related to white wine. If you don't have an Orval goblet, I suggest serving in a wine glass with a larger, wider bulb shape. Either way, open and enjoy.

Cheers,

SMC

Beer review: Hop in the Dark

Hop in the Dark C.D.A.(Cascadian Dark Ale)

Deschutes Brewery in Bend, Oregon.

I just love the statement! Welcome to the curious place where the velvet dark of roasted malt meets the hop snap of IPA. That's the saying as you read the bottle! How can that not get your taste buds excited!

Cheers!

SMC

Beer Review: Carlsbad Chronic

Carlsbad Chronic
Pizza Port Carlsbad, Ca

Place: Pizza Port
Carlsbad, Ca.

Beer: Carlsbad Chronic

Style: American Amber

Color/Appearance: Deep amber to copper color with a bright white head.

Aroma: toasty, nutty malt that is very caramel like. Not a lot of hop presence in the nose, in fact, almost none.

Taste: toffee malt, but not too sweet and a soft nutty caramel flavor.  Medium body and quite smooth on the palate. The head laces the innner portion of the glass nicely, which to me, is one of the signs of a well crafted brew and clean glass.

Cheers,

SMC

Beer Review: Sunset Amber

Place: Oggis Pizza & Brewing Co. Temecula, Ca.

Beer: Sunset Amber Ale brewed by Left Coast Brewing Co.

ABV: 5.4%

Color/Appearance: deep copper body nearing red with orange hue outlines.

Aroma: strong nutty malt flavor, almost like a mix of toffee and peanuts. Slight roast, very mild.

Taste: malty up front, but not too sweet because of a nice hop presence. A nice bitterness cuts nicely into the sweetness of the malt creating a collision of flavor on your taste buds. A kind of nutty hop flavor when it first hits your tongue then leading to a nice hoppy finish. This amber ale has a smooth and refreshing medium body mouth feel to it and goes great with my Santa Fe style pizza.

Cheers,

SMC

Brew review: Firehouse IPA

Firehouse India Pale Ale

Firehouse Brewing Co.

San Diego, CA.

Tasting glass: oval tulip

ABV: 5.9%

Being a hophead I didn't hesitate to pick up a six-pack of this IPA when I saw it on the shelf at my local market. It is brewed locally, so I always lean towards supporting my local breweries first, especially when it is one I have not yet had. For an IPA it is slightly lower in alcohol than your typical 6-7 percent range IPA. The artwork on the label I found pretty cool. Sketched in the background is an old world map with an English ship shown as if it were sailing from England to India. I was met with a crisp swish like sound as I broke the seal of the cap and began to pour this nice pale orange color of a beer into my glass. The head formed quickly and has a bright white foamy appearance about an inch thick. Right a way I was met with those wonderful aromas, so typical in an American IPA. Better yet, a west coast IPA from San Diego! The nose is chocked full of pine, grapefruit and fresh flowers. There is a noticeable amount of malt flavors in the aroma, but not necessarily sweet, more like a nutty malt flavor. The taste, as I take the first sip, is quite balanced. The big hop character is evident right as it hits the tongue, but quickly balances out nicely with that nutty malt flavor. Judging from the thick lacing of the head around the glass you can tell that this brew is crafted with a lot TLC. I don't have any particular rating system, so for now I'll just give a rating of a "Must have"! Because of the lower volume of alcohol, this will be a nice beer to have around the house during those hot summer days!

Cheers!

SMC

Brew Review: Red Chair IPA

Red Chair IPA
Deschutes Brewery
Bend, Oregon
http://www.deschutesbrewery.com/



I'm travelling up to Bend, Oregon for a week in April for my birthday. I try to make one annual trip a year to the great beer state, usually around my birthday, to give myself a nice beer getaway. For me, what better place to go and try different beers then Central Oregon in the High Desert? Well, outside of Portland, San Diego and Denver at least, but Bend is unique when it comes to breweries. I mean, it's a town of 50,000 people and they have somewhere in the neighbor hood of eight breweries. Eight breweries! Anyway, the anticipation of my trip to Bend has led me to pick up a bottle of Red Chair IPA at the local BevMo. This beer is the newest in the Deschutes Bond Street series of excellent craft beers, feel free to correct me if I'm wrong. I'll get right to the point! This beer is fantastic! It is basically an IPA without the the bitterness! An IPA without bitterness? Yep, at least very limited bitterness, but still hoppy. The nose is a brilliant mix of a caramel malty sweetness and a nice pleasant citrusy hop aroma. When you taste the beer you get the same notes across your palate. The mouthfeel is moderately dry yet nice and smooth. I used a nice wine glass to taste this beer and I think it definitely brought out the full bouquet of flavors. Deschutes has always been one of my favorites and with this brew they won't be losing any fans anytime soon!

Cheers!

SMC