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.