Mike Drinks Beer

This list comes from the 2011 U.S. Open Beer Championship.  All entries are American breweries.  I don't know much about this competition, but if you're a Stout fan, check it out.

The Smith House Tap & Grill has just opened on the edge of Century City in Los Angeles, and boast a beer list of 120 beers.  I took a moment to look over the menu and it has some interesting options.  They offer themed flights of 5 beers for $10, which strikes me as a decent deal.  The Flights range from "California Flight" (Racer 5, Arrogant Bastard, etc.) to "Fruit Basket" (Lambics, Blueberry Ale, etc.).  Part of what interests me most about these flights is that some of the beers included cost almost as much alone as the flight does total.  Allagash Curieux is going for 9 bucks a Goblet, but you can get it as part of the "Belgian Flight" that costs only $10.

While it's exciting to have another beer haven in this city, I've got a little apprehension here.  (I'll give ya my two cents)  Having 120 beers on tap is a lot.  I worry about more than a few going stale.  How often will they be cleaning the lines?  Sometimes at places with more than 60 beers, I just ask "What's the last keg you put on?" and order that.  Also, I'd be more impressed if they had a large number of beers if they didn't have about 20 that can be purchased at any Gas Station in the U.S. of A.  Can you really brag about a tap list that's padded with Bud, Miller, Coors and the rest?  I don't really hold anything against those major brands, I drink them enough, but for a Beer Bar to brag about the number of product on tap, it seems a little sketch.

I stopped by Father's Office on the edge of Culver City to check out their impressive draft list and sample a few ales.  It's a decent spot, but overall, underwhelming.

Craftsman Brewing Company resides in Pasadena, California and has probably the most bare-bones website I've ever seen from a craft brewery.  Good on them, love it.  I encourage you to click the link and enjoy.

I've had a couple of Craftsman's beers before, they have a habit of making Specialty beers.  Never content with a simple mix, they blend complex ingredients to create bold and unique flavors.  They say the one shared ingredient in their various beers is Integrity.  I really enjoyed their Honesty Ale which is a Wild Ale brewed with Cherries, and nice tart beer.  I believe I've also tried an Orange Wheat of some kind, but I may be mistaken there.

Anyway, enough about their website and other beers, on to the reason we're here: Craftsman Triple White Sage.  This poured slightly cloudy yellow golden, with hints of orange.  The head was constructed of tiny white bubbles and quick to dissipate.  The aroma is spiced and rich, with fruity notes, I got a little banana off it.  The flavor matches the aroma, it has a nice strong finish and creates a slight catch in the throat.  I enjoyed the flavor, but don't think I could handle several of these in succession. 

Taste:  B+

Drinkability:  C+

[Today's reader submission comes from my pal TuckerBlogs.  He's on a nice trip to the midwest, and an ancient Hamm's is the first beverage he came upon I guess.  Enjoy.]

2 Year Old Hamms I Found In My Parents' Basement Refrigerator

It pours poorly, with a clear, pale color reminiscent or yellow, but without the joy. The musty yet chilly aroma is disappointing, not unlike Milwaukee, yet the taste lingers like a Mukwonago prostitute: surprisingly fetching given the price. This is a beer that I would highly recommend.

Taste: C

Drinkability: B-

Availability: Only 1 more remains of this specific category

The Joe Bob Briggs Factor: A

This poured super light colored, a pale straw, and slightly murky.  The scent is very bright and crisp, with floral esters and citrus notes coming through. The taste is similar, light and highly drinkable.  Dances on the palate, almost carbonated.  The flavors seem like just hints, and balance nicely to form a crisp, tasty Witbier.  A fantastic summer beer, something to enjoy on a warm day.

Taste:  B+/B

Drinkability: A

Here's a little Friday afternoon deliciousness for ya!  A recipe for some fantastic Guinness flavored cupcakes.  The Bailey's frosting is pretty killer too.

Special thanks to my co-worker Dee for introducing me to these, and making a great batch!  Yum!

I've covered Ladyface Alehouse and Brasserie in the past (Trois Filles Tripel) so I won't bother you with more details about the establishment (recommended).  This is a fantastic Quadrupel style beer.  Quadrupels are often darker in color and bolder in flavor and alcohol than the other Belgian style Dubbels and Tripels.  This 1st Anniversary Ale is no exception.

It pours a dark amber, with a nice thick head, it's a very clean body and a pretty beer to look at.  The scent has fruit notes; not citrus though, it's slightly cranberry.  The taste reveals raisin and a hint of toastiness.  Overall, it's a very smooth flavor for the high alcohol percentage.  The finish dries me out slightly, I couldn't tell if it was due to high alcohol or the toasty malts.  Enjoyable though, and I'd order again if in the mood for a strong one.

I have a couple friends that drool over the mention of this beer.  Unfortunately, Ladyface doesn't have it year around, but maybe, if we're lucky, they'll bring it back for next year's anniversary.  Or even better, make something else delicious.

Taste: A-

Drinkability: A-

ABV: 11.1%

This Belgian import, Lucifer, from Brouwerji Het Anker was on the bargin list for Blue Palms recently.  They needed to clear room for new stock, and I was interested in a super cheap ale.  This is where our two needs converged and became one solution.  This is a Belgian Pale Ale from Het Anker, a brewery famous for Gouden Carolus, a line of popular Belgian ales.  This poured a pale, hazy, straw/gold.  The head was a quickly dissipating tiny white bubbles.  The smell was sweet and gave off a slight fruitiness, was it plum?  Not sure.  The smooth flavor really fills the mouth, but isn't overbearing.  Great balance of flavor, the sweet with the dryer pale finish.  Very enjoyable, and a steal for the price I got it at.

Taste: A-

Drinkability: A-

ABV: 8.0%

Bottle (Bargin Bin price of 3 dollars!)

All you crazy Angelenos - This one's for you!

The recent explosion of craft beer in the Southern California area has started to spread beyond bars.  Bottle shops have started sprouting up, like the medical marijuana dispensaries were 4 years ago (okay, maybe not that quickly).

8th Street Bottle Shop recently opened it's doors inside the classic Golden Gopher bar.  This shop houses a carefully curated selection of some of the best bottled brews around, chosen by "The Beer Chicks"  (whom, one could say, wrote the book on Craft Beer).   The shop is tiny but mighty.  It's tucked just inside the entry of the Golden Gopher, situated, it seems, where a coat check used to reside.  They have a glass counter-top with limited glassware, and 4 shelves chalk full of excellent beer.  They keep a few brews cold too, for those in need of the immediate drink. 

The shop works off a "carry-out" liquor license that the Gopher has had for decades (1930s?), which is pretty awesome.  Fair warning, their hours are pretty limited, for now, Thursday - Saturday 8pm-2am.

Overall:  A great shop for rare and exciting beers, small but impressive selection.

Buzz Wine and Beer Shop - 5th and Spring just sprung (jeze, i'm full of bad puns today) a new bottle shop of their own.  Buzz is a little store front that carries plenty of wine, and a decent selection of beers in a cooler.  They really hit something that DowntownLA needed when they first opened.  The only other purveyors of beer in Downtown was 7-11, and frankly, their selection is limited.  Buzz has a great variety of styles and brands, they have some good imports as well as the choice domestic.  They sell cheap crappy beer too, if you're looking for that.  Also they deliver until 2am, which is clutch.  I'd say this store is more suited for the wine drinker, but their beer selection isn't too shabby, and is worth a look if you're in the downtown area.

(This photo is from the 1st ColLAboration Beer Garden, hence, the huge glass/pour.  I lucked out.)

I recently ordered a glass of Lost Abbey's Brandy BA Angel's Share at the Blue Palms on draft.  It came in a snifter, poured black with basically no head, just a ringed 'halo' of light tan bubbles around the edge (Get it? Angel's Share... Halo? ... too much?). The scent is subtle to start with and opens up as the brew warms; it hints at alcohol and sweetness, almost chocolaty. The mouthfeel is amazingly light and smooth for such a dark beer.  There's a sweetness that doesn't stick to the palate.  I really love this.  It's strong and warming, yet smooth and delicious.  I feel it warms to perfection, too cold and the flavors are locked in a bit.  The velvety mouthfeel and balance come through as it reaches room temperature.  I would very much compare drinking a glass of this to enjoying a "sipping whiskey," or something of the like.  It's so strong and sweet that one is enough for me, but a delicious one.  I am adding this to my Top Ten list, a worthy addition.

Taste: A

Drinkability:  B

ABV: 12%

Some interesting modern art pieces inspired by brew.  If I had 50 bucks laying around I'd pick one up.  

Created by Dave Murray.