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Naja’s Place 2nd IPA Festival

First Maat & I ventured to Redondo Beach. Sea worthy navigation by First Maat got us to the destination in good time. We were able to get a brew and find a seat without waiting awhile. Twenty-five dabloons got one a 5.5oz glass and six ber tickets.

1) Shipyard XXXX IPA
Quiet hoppy and heavy citrus taste. Something lingered on the back end. 9.25%

'Fear No Beer'

2) Sierra Nevada Hoptimum
Stong Hops!! Major citrus taste. Good head, slightly dark amber colour. Refreshing 10.4%

3) Bootlegger’s Knuckle Sandwich
Yes, it was due to the name that why I try.
Citrus, definate ruby grapefruit, tart. Dark amber colour. 10%

4) AVERY MAHARAJA – 2008
This was the favourite of the tastings.
Smoth, caramel. Aged nicely!!!!!
Cloudy in its amber colour. 10.5%

5) Port Brewing 3rd Anniversary – 2009
Not very hoppy, amberish colour.
10%

6) Ballast Point donado DIPA unfiltered
Cloudy, amber, small head. Strong IPA, not very sour, still grapefruit.
10%

I recommend this venue. It is on the beachfront so beware of crowds on nice days. Especially on the weekends and holidays.

As always thanks for taking the time to read this blog.

Yo Ho Ho.

April 2, 2010 A Most Infamous Day

A query has been put forth to the Cap’n.
‘What beer have I tasted recently that is worthy of their own day in the media sun?’

The answer without a doubt is St. Bernardus Abt 12 Special Edition. It was brewed for their 60th Anniversary.

According to the packaging: it is brewed with black, amber, munich and pale ale malts. It’s colouring is picturesque. The taste is subtle and very drinkable. The hops are not overpowering and adhere to ones tongue.

Cap’n had expected this to be great, based on all the prior research that was done. It truly lived up to all expectations!

Now moving onto another subject, that of release parties.
Cap’n and First Maat attended the tapping of Red Velvet brewed by  the  Eagle Rock Brewery. It is there version of a rye. Citrus, perhaps a double IPA? Very drinkable and coated the tongue nicely.
Red Velvet cupcakes along with the crepe mobile was on hand for the occassion.

Just a note:
When Cap’n and First Maat eventually host a release party, there will be much more fanfare. Picture a countdown, canon firing and streamers!!! Much like a ship leaving dry dock on its maiden voyage!!

As always thanks for taking the time to read this blog.

Also thanks so much for all the birthday greetings on this; the anniversary of Cap’ns birth.

Until next time
Yo Ho Ho

Visiting a Nearby Watering Hole

I could not let a Monday go by without an update to the Blog.

The event which is being blogged about actually took place a couple of Friday’s ago. It was at The Eagle Rock Brewery whilst waiting for First Maat and Mrs. First Maat to arrive. I part took in a few brews. Also the Grilled Chiz Truck was on its way.

The bier I shall comment on here is called:

Alessmith Horny Devil -
It is a Belgian Strong Ale. Hint of Citrus and corriander. Nice amber colouring. Very enjoyable to the taste.

The Blog shall be on Hiatus for a bit and as always,
thanks for taking the time to read.

yo ho ho.

Sampling Anniversary Biers

It was a grand night. One does enjoy partaking of anniversary biers and it even better when part of the proceeds go to charity! The town was Venice, Ca. The place the Library Alehouse. Certain Tuesday’s of the month a percentage of the profits are donated to a charity.

First Maat and I went in order to try a couple of biers.

1) Sierra Nevada XXX Anniversary Number 1

First Maat and Cap’n both drink a pint.
I found it to be roasted, stout and dark. Drinkable. Black in colour with a brown head. First Maat called this ‘espresso’. It had a 9.2% alcohol content.

2) Rasputin XII Anniversary

To use a previous phrase, this had a nice espresso head.
Bourbon taste. Dark, lingers on the tongue.

Both biers were very enjoyable. The Rasputin did not have as heavy a taste as the Sierra Nevada.

Also burgers were eaten with the biers. It did accentuate the meal.

Spring Break is almost here, so perhaps I can persuade First Maat to sample some biers that come to mind at this season. However, it may have to be after a week due to the Passover Holiday as certain grains can not be partaken of.

As always thanks for taking the time to read this blog.

Yo Ho Ho

Voyage To The Winter Warmer Festival 2010

One Saturday evening recently, First Maat and I traveled to the Cabo Taco Baja Grill’s Winter Warmer Festival 2010. For a mere few dabloons, one gets a pint glass, chips and salsa and 8 tasting tickets. 14 beers were on tap along with 8 bottles to sample. The food selection had items made with the beer. The Snow Cap Tacos made with Snow Cap Ale was grand!

An advantage of having a pint glass for the tasting vesell, is that, when talking to the pourer, the 2 or 4 oz. line is often forgotten!
Now on to the tasting:
Bottles:
1) Old Humbug
Traditional Ale; definate ale taste. Tongue holds it in. coca cola colour not to be confuse3d with taste. 8.2%

2) Bifrost Winter Ale
American Strong Ale, light amber cloudy colour. A bit of the hops, citrus to the palette. Nice and cold. 7.5%

3) Gift of the Magi:
“Cask” taste – did I smell/taste burbon?
Nice, hefty bier. 10%

Drafts
4) Sheep Eater
Scotch Ale, dark colour, heavy hint of scotch. roasted flavour and smooth. 9.5%

5) Brother David’s Triple
Belgian style triple. Nice amber colour, caramel, syrup 9%

6) Jolly Roger
Dark colour, hops, dare I say IPA?? 9.5%

7) Hop Sauce
Definate IPA, citrus double IPA 8.9%

I highly recommend this event. SWAG (Stuff We All Get) was given out. At last report I hears that Mrs. First Maat is still wearing the Beanie that was obtained for her!

As always I appreciate you’re taking the time to read this blog.
Until First Maat and Cap’ns next trip…

Yo Ho Ho

A Westside Place Has Opened!

Since my home port of call is near Father’s Office, The Library Ale House and The Pint to name a few, I do not often travel east of the 405. Now thought I have reason to. The Surly Goat has opened. It is a wonderful bar with 36 taps and quiet the bottle selection. I do enjoy the ‘On Deck’ part of the bier selection. It gives one reason to hang out until a selection moves up to a tap. Pay attention when looking for this venue as of todays blogging there are no markings on the gray building. It is located at 7929 Santa Monica Boulevard
West Hollywood, CA 90046-5107. The phone number is: (323) 650-4628.

Attending what turned out to be the Opening Day, my partner in Bier Drinking and I found street parking and went inside. My first beer was made just for the Surly Goat. It is from The Speakeasy Brewery entitled:
Public Enemy Pilsner
Very tasty,good colouring, eye catchy and nice pilsner flavour.

My two other selections were
a Sour from The Brewery and Sculpin from Ballast Point Brewery.
So you see it is quiet the place to go.

Stayed tuned as soon a festival in La Mirada will be blogged about!

Thanks for taking the time to read this blog!.

A Rough Voyage

After ‘w’ hours, First Maat and I headed east. Yes I know the saying is HEAD WEST YOUNG MAN, HEAD WEST. Being the renegades that we are, we set sail for a place known in Redlands as HANGAR 24. Due to the volume of vessels on the high seas, we did not make it by 2100. We did not despair, since my resourceful navigator and First Maat came up with a place in CLAIRMONT. How he did that I shall never know. It just one of the many reasons I enjoy my travels with him. THE BACK ABBEY is where we docked.

Avex les bons vouex is what was quaffed. It was dare I say, a holiday beer. Had a hint of mulling spices and lingered on the tongue. Eye appeal as the amber colour was catchy. Cap’n very much enjoyed this bier. The right glass certainly highlighted the experience.

The Back Abbey would be even better had it been a nice summer afternoon. It has much more outdoor seating then inside and only a few of the heat lamps were in working order.

Stay tuned as more venues are on the calendar for this week as well as a Mr. Bier tapping very soon!

As always thanks for taking the time to read this blog!

An Evening Whose Theme Was ‘Cupids Arrow’

A fine drinking establishment named The Blue Palms, was having a ‘Brown Bag Night’. First to show that I am not biased, it shall be mentioned that this is a BUCKEYE bar. Now for those of you that do not know what a Brown Bag Night is, let me explain:
One is to bring a beer that fits the theme, in this case, your first love, or that which changed your palate. If it a 750ml size bottle one is all that is needed. If smaller, then bring two. Carry them into the venue in a brown bag, so folks can not see what they are.

My trusted beer geek cohort and I, started the evening off with our biers from the taps. I chose:

Old Tempest

1) Old Tempest:
My choice was an amber, golden colour ale. Little head was present.
Oakiness flavoured and lingered on the taste buds. It was 9.0%

2) Imperial Comon Collaboration
Dark colour, scotish barrel, SFBW. Highly enjoyable.
8.2%

Now getting back to the event.
15 beers were tasted. After the bags were torn away, it was discovered that I truly did enjoy the beer that I brought: Gulden Draak.
The one that won me over was from Ballast Point Brewing.
Sculpin. Hoppy, citrus and highly enjoyable.

By the way I have been ordained BIER GEEK 4!

Stay tuned for more updates as there are still events that will be blogged about this week.

May your cupid arrow hit the right spot!

As always thanks for taking the time to read this blog.

VOYAGE TO ESCONDIDO,CA

How does one choose which venue to set sail to? Asking myself this querry, my beersearch compadre emailed me a link to a fine establishment. Coincidence??? Perhaps. The bier choices were plentiful, both on tap and in bottles. Foodwise, the choices were diverse.

Monday after working hours (that would be 5pm for us), we headed to North San Deigo. It was Stone Breweries 4th year of there
STONE WINTER STORM. 36 taps were on the list as well as too many bottles to count. One should go on opening day as the taps run dry as the next days approach. We were there on the second day and unfortunately for First Maat many of his choices were gone.

My first sampler was of:
SAWYER’S TRIPLE:
100% of the sale went to charity which for me was my number one reason for trying this. It proved to be bubbly and slight caramel flavour.

Number 2:
SMOKED PORTER
Very ‘porterish’ and yet light tasting. Nice dark colour.
Eye appeal

Number 3
OAKED ARROGANT BASTARD ALE
Bourban and citrus flavour. Now the bourbon grew on you as this was drunk. Now I must admit I was speaking to my friend while tasting this and low and behold, it took my breath away. Sort of woke up my taste buds!

Number 4:
STONE OLD GUARDIAN BARLEY WINE 2009
Citrus and made in a red wine barrel. This may be classified as a sour bier. To me, the Grapefruit overpowered my taste sensation.

Stone Winter Storm Event

Last of the evening was
Number 5
Brew DogCambridgeStone Juxtaposition Black Pilsner
A nice dark, roasted flavour. Smooth. It was a good choice to
finish on.

Stone-Style Soft Pretzels

To Re-Cap
Cap’n enjoyed
OAKED ARROGANT BASTERD ALE
a close second
Brew DogCambridgeStone Juxtaposition Black Pilsner

Stay tuned as other events are to be partaken of shortly.

As always, thanks for taking the time to read this post.

*This is a PRETZEL!!!!