East Bay Breweries

On Sunday, Mark had a block in the middle of the day void of fantasy football commitments so it made for a perfect couple hours for beer drinking!  We have pretty much tapped out the south bay and San Francisco for new breweries so are now expanding our brewery radar to the Easy Bay.  We started our afternoon at Main Street Brewery in Pleasanton.  

The sampler at Main Street Brewery included their five house beers on tap for $1 each. 

1. First, we began with a Golden Lager.with a 5.0% ABV.  This beer came with a lime on the rim.  The lime made Mark immediately guess one beer.  Think of the two beach chairs and couple on a quiet island commercials...The flavor was similar as well.  It was a very light beer but had a slightly sour aftertaste. Neither of us really liked this one. 
2. We then moved onto the Strawberry Blonde Hefeweizen with a 5.1% ABV.  The strawberry flavor was subtle and added a nice flavor.  Mark doesn't usually like the fruit flavored beers and enjoyed this one. 
3. Then, it was time for the Pale Ale with a 5.1% ABV.  The smell was definately that of a pale ale with the hop aroma and the flavor matched.  It was a flavorful pale and nice tasting but nothing notable. 
4. After we moved into the dark beers with a Black Lager.  This beer was described as "deceptively light" which scared Mark and I into thinking it would be lacking in flavor.  However, this beer was still malty and roasted in flavor and we both enjoyed the brew. 
5. We ended with the Porter and the highest alcohol content at 7.2% ABV.  Another good beer.  There was no one flavor that stuck out in this beer but it was a beer I would enjoy post dinner watching TV.  Mark commented that it was one of the porters that he likes a little closer to room temperature.  And that ended the line up!  Overall, we enjoyed 4 out of the 5 beers we sampled.  It was definately worth our time and money to try a new brewery.  However, none were particularly memorable so we probably won't be back in Pleasanton soon. 

Onto Drake's in San Leandro!

Drake's Brewery has a barrel house where visitors can come and sample the beer.  The barrel house is a large open warehouse with a bar and indoor and outdoor seating for tasting.  We each did their sampler platter which included your choice of 4 of their year round beers and 1 seasonal.  Mark and I planned it so that we sampled 10 different beers. 

With the samplers, we were given a tasting note paper to take notes on about each beer as we drank.  We thought this was a cool idea and had fun tasting, taking notes, and comparing ideas. 

Mark's Sampler:

1. CS Brown.  Mark noted, "tasted like a brown, nothing special but good."  I would agree.  The beer was malty and sweet, typical of a brown.  No particular flavors or anything to make it stand out though.

2. 1500 Pale Ale with 5.5% ABV and 48 IBUs.  Mark noted "hoppy bitterness-tastes like an IPA."  When I sampled this beer, I said the same thing to Mark about it tasting like an IPA.  It was a little too bitter for a pale ale for my tastes but that made Mark enjoy it more.

3. IPA with 7% ABV and 65 IBUs.  Mark wrote, "floral aftertoones-almost citrus."  I smelled the floral aroma in this beer right away.  It was hoppy and bitter as well.  Mark enjoyed it but would pick other IPAs over this one. 

4. Dry Stout with a 6.5% ABV.  Mark noted, "very dark with a nice creamy head" about the appearance.  He said the aroma was "roasted" and the flavor was "roasted-chocolate-nice and warm."  This stout is served on nitrogen which I think gives it the thicker head.  It also is the kind of stout that Mark likes more at room temperature.  We also both tasted the chocolate flavor which Mark appreciated since he doesn't like the overwhelming coffee stouts.  Overall, we agreed this was a good stout. 

5. Jolly Roger Imperial Dark IPA.  Mark wrote that he could "smell the hops but not overpowering."  He also noted that it reminds him of Ruination with lots of floral notes.  The hops and bitterness were too powerful in this beer for me but as an IPA, it was good. 

Mark and his beer.  

My Sampler:
1. Hefeweizen with 4.5% ABV.  This was a Bavarian style wheat so I immediately guessed I would like it but Mark wouldn't.  I noted the traditional banana and cloves smell but then upon tasted commented that it was a less pronounced Bavarian taste compared to the smell.  When Mark tasted it, he said the same thing.  I liked this Hef but based on the smell, would have liked the Bavarian style to stand out more.
2. Amber with 5.9% ABV.  The hop smell was stronger in this beer than I would usually think for an Amber.  After tasting, I then wrote that the taste "does not match smell.  Malty and sweet.  Bitter aftertaste."  The first flavor in this beer was sweet but then the stong hops stood out at the end with the bitter aftertaste.  This was a good beer and I enjoyed it. 
3. Red Eye Ale with 6.5% ABV and 50 IBUs.  The smell in this beer was malty and less hoppy.  I then noted that it had "medium hops, bitter finish."  No memorable flavors in this beer otherwise.  Pleasant but not special.
4. Robusto Porter with 5.4% ABV and 25 IBUs.   I noted that this porter was "roasted, malty, chocolate, more like Stone Smoked. Very good."  This porter reminded me of my favorite Porter, the Stone Smoked.  I really enjoyed it.  After tasting, Mark commented that it was like the Stone smoked as well.  I will be looking for the beer at Bev Mov to have at home. 
5. Drakonic Imperial Stout.  I wrote that this beer was "roasted, malty but sweet aftertaste."  We both thought this beer was good but liked our other Porters and Stouts better. 

So there it is!  An afternoon of East Bay breweries.  Although nothing wrong with the beer at Main Street in Pleasanton, we tasted some good brews at Dranke's and will be looking for some of our new finds in store.  The note taking added a fun component to our tasting at Drake's.  It also made writing the blog easier today to remember what we thought about each beer!

California Beer Tasting Night

On Friday night, we hosted a California brewery beer tasting night.  I picked up a bunch of 22 oz. beers in a variety of styles from a variety of breweries in CA.  We had friends over and sampled all of the beer.  I was the pourer and blindly poured each beer to the tasteres.  The tasters then gave their opinions on the beers, making any guesses as to kind or brewery location they had.  It was really fun!  Some of the guesses the tasters had were right on and in some cases they were able to guess the beer.  I picked some old favorites as well as some ones I knew no one would have had.  All in all we sampled 13 beers.  Whew!

The Wheats and Weizens

We had 2 beers from this family. 

We started with the White Ale from Telegraph Brewing Company in Santa Barbara with a 6.2% ABV.  This one was corked like a champagne bottle.  When I took off the metal top the cork just exploded off the top of the bottle!  Guesses imediately went to a Belgain.  This beer then took awhile to the pour because the pressure release created a lot of bubbles in the beer.  Once I was finally able to pour, we tasted.  Comments about the style generally were that this was a Belgain or wheat beer.  Tasters felt it tasted more like the banana, clove flavor of the German style wheats.  Reviews were overall positive.  When the beer and location were revealed, no one had had any beer from Telegraph.  

We then moved onto Our Own Bavarian-Styled Doppel Weizen from Lagunitas in Petaluma with an 8.5% ABV.  There were no specific guesses about brewery location on this one and again comments leaned toward a Belgian.  The flavor in this one was sweeter and the beer was generally well liked by all except Mark who always passes on the Weizea/Belgain flavored beers.  I would buy this beer again.  Gotta be careful about that high ABV though!

The Ales

We then moved out of the wheat/weizen family and into the Pale Ale family.  Let's start to taste those hops!

First up was the Southern Hemisphere Harvest from Sierra Nevada with a 6.7% ABV and 66 IBUs.  This is a seasonal, nontraditional brew from Sierra Nevada so although we've all had our share of Sierra Nevada beer I knew no one would have had this beer specifically.  Comments about this beer were impressively very close to the the actual beer itself.  Mark commented that it tasted like a Sierra Nevada Pale but he know it couldn't be that because I would buy the pale for a tasting night.  Nice job, Mark!  Other tasters commented that it tasted like a  like a pale ale but "suped up" some so not quite an IPA.  Well, it is wet hopped and it's claim to fame is that it is the first American beer to bring hops from the Southern Hemisphere so I'd say that's pretty close too!  We all really enjoyed this beer.  It was definately a hoppy change from the first two beers and I have yet to find a Sierra Nevada beer I don't like. 

We then stepped up the hops even more with the Hop Stoopid Ale from Lagunitas.  This beer is 8.5% ABV and boasts 102 IBUs.  The initial hop flavor caused many tasters to jump straight to an IPA.  One taster commented on the floral smell which caused Mark to jump to his favorite Stone Ruination.  However, one smart taster commented it could be the Hop Stoopid.  Another taster quickly squashed that idea saying there's no way.  Well, taster 1 stuck to his guns and turned out to be right!  We've all had this one before and all like it.  However, due to the high hops, I'd pick many other ales over this one.  Another high ABV too!

 Next cam the Sublimely Self-Righteous Ale from Stone Brewing in Escondido, CA.  This one is 8.7% ABV with 90 IBUs.  As we all turned 21 in San Diego, Stone was one of the first craft breweries we went to.  I picked the Self-Rightious because I knew it would be no one would immediately guess but would still add a Stone beer to the mix.  The hop flavor was again obvious but the flavor didn't lend itself to any immediate guesses about location.  Definately a good beer.  But Stone beer always is!

The Browns

 Time for a palate cleanse before moving into the IPAs.  First, the Hazelnut Brown Nectar from Rogue Brewing in Newport, Oregon.  Hold on.  A Oregon brewing at the California brewery tasting night?  I know, I know.  My bad.  I have been to the Rogue tasting room in San Francisco and so therefore completely forgot it is actually a Oregon brewery when making my beer picks.  Immediate scent caused all tasters to guess a brown.  Tasting caused tasters to comment on the nuttiness.  Then one taster went so far as to guess the Hazelnut Brown from Rogue but retracted that guess when he realized that Rogue is not in CA.  That is when I realized my mistake and came clean.  I really like this beer.  It is sweet but not an overwhelming sweetness.  The hazelnut flavor is nice but not overwhelming.  A very balanced combination of flavors make it a winner. 

Next was the Imperial Brown from Bay Hawk Brewery in Irvine California with a 7.2% ABV and 18 IBUs.  I choose this beer because Mark and I wanted to go to Bay Hawk when in Orange County but they are not open for tastings.  Well, this beer was definately not the favorite of the night!  Tasters felt you could taste the alcohol in the beer or it was trying to be a really big beer.  It was too sweet as well.  Some tasters didn't even finish this one and we had a pour out glass.  I wonder what we didn't like about it.  The Imperial part?  The oak barrel conditioned?  Either way, it won't be purchased again.

The IPAs:

Time for the IPAs and Mark's favorites.  We started with the IPA by Blue Frog Groc and Grill in Fairfield.  While tasty, there was nothing notable about this beer.  It was hoppy, high alcohol, but just ok overall.  Tasted slightly watered down.  More like it was trying to appeal to the masses and not offend with big flavors.  Probably not one that will be purchased again as there are so many other IPA options.

Next up was the Double Daddy Imperial Pale Ale from Speakeasy in San Francisco.  The 9.5% ABV was the highest of the night.  Definately a high hop beer with some bitterness to it as well.  Much more like the IPA flavor I expect.  Tasters have all had this one before and the strong flavors caused a few to guess the Double Daddy. 

The Porters and Stouts:

Porters and Stouts are some of my favorite beers.  First, was the Payback Porter by Speakeasy in San Francisco with a 7.5% ABV.  The Payback Porter recieved overall positive reviews from the tasters but no guesses about brewery or location.  The chocolate flavor stands out in this beer but it is slightly bitter and doesn't really have that smoked, roasted flavor that I like in the Porters.  Still looking for that Porter I like as much as the Stone Smoked Porter. 

Finally, the Velvet Merlin from Firestone Brewery in Paso Robles with 30 IBUs and 5.5% ABV.  This beer has more of the coffee flavor in it in addition to the chocolate.  It gives it more of the roasted flavor I like.  The coffee is a little to obvious in this one for Mark though.  Tasters liked this beer and one taster guessed the beer.  We have been to the Firestone Brewery but this is a seasonal beer and I have just recently had it.  I will purchase this beer again as it is available in the fall and winter. 

Well there it is!  The whole line up and an evening of California beer (and Rogue).  Definately a fun night.  It was interesting to hear opinions with the blind tasting going on.  Now to think of a theme and idea for next time. 

TV, Couch, and Beer

On Wednesday, Mark and I put a dent in the DVR shows we have saved up.  To go with our couch lounging and TV watching, we made it the ultimate lazy night with some beer drinking too, including two new brews.  First up for review, the Hoptober from New Belguim Brewing.  New Belguim also brews Fat Tire which we both will order pints of out and like. 

The Hoptober lives up to its name and is a nice, hoppy pale ale.  It had a good balance of hops as Mark (who really likes hops) and me (who thinks some IPAs are too hoppy) both liked it.  I would buy this again.  So far, I have not found a New Belguim beer I don't like.  It's a good brewery.   

Then we tried Drake's IPA brewed by Drake's Brewing in San Leandro.  I picked up this as an individual beer at BevMo because since San Leandro is close, hopefully we'll make it there someday. 

I enjoyed this beer as well.  Mark thought it was weak for an IPA though.  Actually that's probably why I liked it more...Definately had the hoppy flavor of an IPA but less of the hoppy bite that the stronger IPAs have.  A slightly watered down IPA?  I'm curious about the brewery and the rest of the beers. 

We also had one of the KBC Pumpkin ales but I've already reviewed that one.  Gotta start finishing up all these fall brews.  Stores have moved onto the winter brews!

Cooking with Beer

Beer in my food?  Sounds good!  Mark and I went to the Pyramid Brewery in Berkeley in July.  Before going, I was purusing their website and found a section of recipes that use their beer.  Last night I made the Hefeweizen Shrimp Ceviche while we answered the door for Trick or Treaters.  However, when you have a party Saturday niught and have random beer leftover, you use the beer from your fridge rather than buying Pyramid Hefeweizen.  So Shock Top Shrimp Ceviche it was!  I figured the belgain white Shock Top was close enough to a Hef to give the recipe a similar flavor.  Benefit to using beer in your recipe.  When the recipe only calls for a 1/4, you get to drink the rest yourself!

To make the tostada bowls, I took soft taco size flour tortillas and folded them over the top of a bowl.  I then put them in the microwave for about 1 minute.  After letting them sit, they harded into tostada bowls.  We put chopped cabbage on the bottom and then the Shrimp Ceviche on top.  Mark liked this recipe as well and gave me the go ahead to make it again.