OCBeerBlog

I’ve been casually writing about beer in Orange County since there were literally three breweries. Although I no longer have the time (or pay) to keep doing so on the reg, one sleepless night had me thinking…what are the best and most memorable beers I’ve had that are crafted here in Orange County? For whatever reason, Orange County seemed to sweep world and national competition with Coffee…

So, I crept out of beer blogging semi-retirement to jot down some super important thoughts on GABF 2025 and what the Orange County beer scene has accomplished this year. In the past, I’ve usually jotted down a quick blog for historical purposes, but this year OC Register beat me to it as I was watching the award ceremony in bed, fighting a hangover from a night out with Brad Daniels…

In 2026, a lot of people are saying the traditional beer festival as we know it is DEAD.  And while I agree, I don’t ever want to wield a tiny plastic cup with ten sponsors scribed on it only to meet various beer reps pouring their most mainline IPA; “but come back at 1:34pm to get a special can pour of our latest triple hazy!” Ugh. With a beer festival, I want to be dazzled by beer…I want to…

upon entry – photo greg nagel I had so many questions before checking out Bardega, a new bar opening soon in Laguna Hills, right off the 5 at Alicia. “Can I do lotto scratchers while drinking a margarita on a bowling alley-lane bar while waiting for takeout?” The short answer is yes, which is intriguing for a bar/bodega. But the fun doesn’t stop there. margarita next to a real candle – photo greg…

On Tuesday, March 11th, a little bit of Hye, Texas gets high on top of Orange Hill Restaurant, where the city lights flicker like fireflies; bourbon royalty is about to hold court. Nancy Garrison has rolled into town, silver-blue eyes flashing like lightning in a Texas storm, a bottle of Garrison Brothers Balmorhea in one hand and a whiskey-soaked tale in the other. Nancy Garrison peers into the…

…plus seven breweries that have been every year. Evan Price (Green Cheek) and Matt Brynildson (Firestone Brewmaster, Fest organizer) have a laugh at FWIBF 22. Photo Greg Nagel Beer culture in 2025 feels different from every other year. Hardcore beer lovers from a decade ago have been distilled into a tight-knit family of old souls who appreciate what beer still brings to the table—and those still…

Debuting on the new menu soon, Winter Briii’s. Spiced Remy, brandy, Averna, lemon – photo-Nagel After learning German, I switched to trying my hand at French, and I was shocked to see the words crème anglaise simply translate to English cream. While at brunch, a lightbulb went off in my 11am cocktail buzzed head…”Does hollandaise mean Dutch cream?” My daughter, who speaks French, shakes her head…

Everywhere Grabs their first GABF Medal – image BA Livestream 250ish judges took nine days to judge 9200 entries (including 230 ciders for the first time) from 1,838 breweries at the 2024 GABF. Orange County brewers took home a tenner of medals overall, down a couple from 2023. At this year’s Alpha King hoppy beer challenge, Bearded Tang kept the coveted Yakima Chief hop helmet in OC, won last…

Every year at GABF, Yakima Chief Hops holds a little side competition to bestow the coveted “Alpha King” award to the brewer with the absolute best hoppy beer. “I’ve certainly had beers that have won Alpha King,” notes Andrew Bell of Radiant Beer Co. “I feel like most of the beers that win are in the 8-9% ABV range and are incredibly aromatic.” he continued in a video with Yakima Chief. Having…

photo – nagel Making pizza isn’t casual. Just like a job interview at the French Laundry being asked to make an omelet, there are a million ways it can go wrong. But this isn’t the French Laundry, and we’re outside of a brewery on Lincoln Avenue in Anaheim near the 5 freeway with cars buzzing by, and the pizza being made is from a food truck…Radiant’s first self-ran truck…well, tow a long thing…

image courtesy Firestone Walker A long time ago, I went to my friend Tom’s thirtieth birthday party at some swanky club, where they had bottle service for something lame like Korbel and Titos. The bill was like $599 at a time in my life I was sort of on the thin-wallet side of things. I quickly learned to hate bottle service and clubs in general. A decade later, when beer clubs became a thing, I…

20+ Wineries and 7 SoCal restaurants come together in O.C. for inaugural event photo credit Max Milla CHAAK Kitchen will host its inaugural Mexican Food & Wine Festival on Saturday, October 19 from 2—6 p.m., seven local restaurants and 29 wineries will come together to celebrate Mexico’s rich culinary and winemaking culture. Restaurateurs Ed & Gabbi Patrick, owners of CHAAK and Gabbi’s Mexican…

What Dad Wants: Puesto’s New Canned Beer Puesto Clara Canned Beer Six-Packs Half-Off on Father’s Day photo – Puesto Just in time for Father’s Day, Puesto Mexican Artisan Kitchen & Bar has introduced its first canned beer, Puesto Clara, now available for retail purchase at all locations. On Father’s Day, Sunday, June 16, Puesto will offer six-packs of the SoCal-brewed beer for half off to…

Sipping some small batch at the source. Photo by Greg Nagel After all these years, there’s one bourbon that has yet to be checked off of my whiskey bucket list. It’s cask strength, uncut at 140ish proof, and is blended from all of master distiller Donnis Todd’s best “honey barrels.” When it’s released, people fly into Central Texas and wait overnight in a long line of cars on a rural road just to…

1886 Nachos, aka a Matterhorn of crispy chips. photo – Greg Nagel Why do some people call it “the Orange Circle,” when it’s actually called “the Plaza Square,” I ponder, while sipping a rare brown porter in the brick-walled 1886 Brewing, just north of the newly rebuilt central fountain. I pick at my heaping plate of nachos, looking for the perfect bite, then gasp as I see the countdown to the…