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!!!!

Voyage to the NORTH VALLEY

It was time to be adventurous and once again prove that the world is round, so First Maat and I arranged to meet in dare I type, THE VALLEY.
The venue was LADYFACE. This was a difficult voyage for me. Leaving THE PEOPLES REPUBLIC of SANTA MONICA is not something I really enjoy doing on the weekends and during a STORM WATCH, however for bier……

LadyFace's HOME BREWED BIERS

#1 La Blonde Ale:
Light, watery, champagnesque (bubbly), It tickled me nose. Since this was served COLD & had settled; the flavour was stonger as it was drunk.

#2 Ladyface IPA
SMELL THE CITRUS!!!! Very “pink” grapefruitish and bubbly. Again tickled me nose.

#3 Trois Filles Tripel
Nice, caramel flavour; tasty, sans bubbly. Caramel like in a Dr. Browns Cream Soda.
NEEDLESS TO SAY THIS WAS THE CAP’NS FAVOURITE.

Stay tuned cuz this week Cap’n and First Maat will be making many journeys.

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

Post #10 The Year 2010

Since this is the first post of The Year 2010, I decided to join a few drinking buds at BoHo. Prices are quiet resonable during the happy hour.
The brewski that I shall comment on is picutered here:

Shakespear Stout:
It comes from Rogue. Now this one was nitro enhanced. It therefore gave a creamy, smooth and dark taste to it. Dare I say ‘Roasty’???
The head was almost picture perfect like a Guinness!!!

I highly recommend this one.

Look forward to future posts from a couple of festival tasting in the month of February.

Until then,
Thanks for taking the time to read this post.

Shakespeare Stout!

Post #9 – Bier I No Pay For

As I mentioned in a previous post, I am trying to update this blog every monday. YES FIRST MAAT, I realize that is the first day of the week, and Cap’n is usually not at his finest then. Let’s get right to it, shall we?

Today I start a section entitled, ‘Bier I No Pay For’. Here I shall evaluate that which is given to me FREE. None of the Cap’ns loot was spent at all.

Fittingly I shall start with a bier labeled:
SALVATION

Let me say, the name did scare me as well as the Gardening Shears on the label. I am perplexed as to its meaning, so if you have knowledge of this, feel free to pass it on.
The liquid refreshment was malty, dark, heavy and a hint of banana.
Yes my cap’ns palate did taste banana! I kid you not.

The next post shall be from a far off and distant land.
That is all I shall write for now.

GATORS 62 FIU 3

Thanks again for taking the time to read this blog.

Yo Ho Ho!!!!

BEAR REPUBLIC TASTING

This weeks voyage was to The People’s Republic of Santa Monica. Navigating The Black Pearl along Main Street, the port of call was the LIBRARY ALEHOUSE. Docking was a short distance away.

Bear Republic was conducting a beer tasting. Accompanied by First Maat, we indulged in the following:

1) NORCAL. This Pale Ale, on the lighter side of the tasting. Not much in the league of hoppiness.
2) RACER V. This IPA was heavier with the hops. Citrus, mostly a pink grapefruit taste was what was discovered.
3) RACER X. This double IPA was heaviest on the hops. Very citrus with an orange lingering taste.
4) HERITAGE. This was a Scotch Ale. The taste snuck up on you and definitely hit towards the end.

Along with the beer tasting was a cheese pairing was offered. Tasting the cheese and the HERITAGE, the flavor of the scotch ale was greatly enhanced.

Since my favorite of the evening was RACER X, I had a pint at the end of the night.

The ambience of the venue is dark, a bit on the noisy side and a good crowd. There is a patio area out back that has heat lamps. First Maat and I enjoyed an intimate table at the front of the restaurant.

All in all; a good time was had by all.

Thanks for taking the time to read this blog.
Until next week………..
Travels with Cap’n and First Maat will be in search of bier for you!

Post #7 – A Voyage To The Bruery

It has been awhile since I last wrote, so let me get right to the Cap’ns Journal.

A visit to The Bruery in Placentia, CA. is well worth the journey. It is fast becoming Cap’ns favourite port of call. During my last voyage there, I met a couple of shipmates. We were given a tour that was quiet informative. The brewing process as well as the bottling one were described.

A couple of brews were quaffed while there.
First bier was Snicklefritz.
This was a nice smooth taste. Sweet not sour flavour.

 

NOTICE THE HIGH QUALITY COASTER!!

Second was
#3 Mischief
Simalar to an IPA. Citrus, yet with a “kick”. Highly recommended.

The Bruery is located at
715 Dunn Way
Placentia, CA 92870
Tasting Room Hours
Fri & Sat 4 – 10pm.
Sun Noon – 6pm.
www.thebruery.com

To my loyal readers, I shall update this blog every Monday (give or take).
Thanks for taking the time to read.
Yo Ho Ho!

Post #6 – Hillbilly Canned Beer Tasting

Cap’n Log 20th of Sept. 2009. In continued celebration of the Jewish New Year., Cap’n went to Glendale and partook in ‘Hillbilly Canned Beer Tasting Event’.

The first beer sampled which was not in picture or on pre-made tasting notes list was:
#1 Tetley – English Draught.
No aroma, watery and a mere 3.6% alcohol content.

#2 Hell High Watermelon
Waterymellonish, sweet, slight head, light tasting and cloudy.
5.2% alcohol

#3 Pale Caldera Ale
Pale Ale, nice head and citrus flavours

#4) Moose Drool
Me must say ‘ugh’ to the name and yet it a luv hate relationship
Brown ale, foamy, plenty of head, dark and roasty.

#6 Siamese Twin Ale
This was my favourite beer of the event.
Citrus on the backend!

#7 Young Double Chocolate Stout
My friend Hermione would luv this beer.
Very little head, smooth and chocolatey as well as coffee
5.2% alcohol.

Kudos to Beer Geek Hobbit and thanks for sharing your knowledge.

A good time was had by all!!!!

An interesting side note, of the 6 folks that were present, 2 were non beer drinkers. That goes to show one the charisma that Hobbit has!!!!

Til the next time,
Travels with Cap’n and First Maat will be in search of beer for you!

Beer Geek Hobbit and audience

Stone 13 Anniversary & Invitational Beer Festival AKA Men In Skirts

Cap’ns Log: August 22, 2009
Destination: Cal State University – San Marcos
Event : Stone 13 Anniversary & Invitational Beer Festival

Due to First Maat’s fine navigational skills; we arrived in perfect timing of event. We obtained our necessary equipment. It consisted of ‘Tasting Glass’ and ‘Wrist Band with 10 Tabs’. After which we were fortunate to wait in shade until the “Opening of Session B”.

#1 Bier was Proto P. This had a crisp taste which added to its sourness.

#2 was a stop at the Maui Brewing Co. for Big Swell IPA.
Very much on the hoppy side of things. Reminded me of my running of the Honolulu Marathon – oh the memories.

#3 Green Flash Brewing Co. Imperial IPA.
Cap’n is partial to Green Flash!~
Extremely citrus! This was my 2n favourite of the tastings.

#4 Stone Brewing Co.
Stone Cali-Belgique IPA. Very creamy with a vanilla taste.
FAB U LOUS! My number 1 FAVOURITE of the event.

#5 St. Somewhere Brewing Co.
Saint Somewhere Saison Athene. Smooth, somewhat citrus. Dare I say watery??? Cap’n not a fan of.

#6 BrewDog
Punk IPA. 6% Alcohol. Scottish not real hoppy.

#7 Ballast Point Brewing Co.
Dorado Double IPA
Citrussy

#8 St. Feuillien & Urthel
St. Feuillien Saison. Amost a tripple. Nice

#9 The Lost Abbey/Port Brewing Co.
Sangre DC. Talk about SOUR!

#10 Craftsman Brewing Co.
Triple White Sage. Not bad.

Funny a theme seems to be IPA!!!

A good time was had by all and much funds were raised for Charity.

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

Post #4 Christmas in July

Capn’s Log:
Saturday July 25th, 2009
Destination: Port Brewing & The Lost Abbey
Side Voyage: Stone Brewery

7.25.09 @ 10:00hrs, First Maat and I began what would become trip code named Patients.
The trek to San Marcos did not have many vessels in the shipping lanes. However; on the return it was quiet a different adventure. We arrived in San Marcos at the business strip that was home to Port Brewing and The Lost Abbey. After docking, we proceeded to wait in a line that lasted one hour to purchase bier and gain entry. After entry was gained, we went immediately to the Food Court. There was Cap’n friendly pizza whilst First Maat had the carnivore special. He picked off all tomato looking substances. Which made his plate look fuller then when he actually had the slices of pizza on it.

Next was insde to the Purchase Bottle Bier line. This lasted one hour and thiry minutes give or take.
Now while inside, First Maat went to get “sampler” size bier while Cap’n held place in line. The Band arrived and struck up a conversation with us. It was Cap’ns turn to get bier upon First Maat’s return. A pint of Wipe Out IPA was obtained. Nice, light and refreshing, citrus flavor. Clean on the palette.

Now upon Cap’ns return, he found First Maat conversing with a person of the female persuasion. *side note – Wingman will be discussed in future posts* The ‘lady’ had her picture taken with Santa. Then it was Hobbit and Santa. Of course Cap’n and Santa enjoyed the spotlight.

As the Line moved ever so slowly, Cap’n went for the ’sample’ size of Witch’s Wit (yes spelled correctly). This was a bit on the sour side. Cap’n not a fan of!

Finally purchasing our bottles from ‘Neil’, we went to pick them up. this was the shortest line of all – five minutes top!
The review of Santa’s Little Helper will be in a future blog.

Back to the ship and next port was at Stone Brewery. Let’s just say ‘Air Conditioning’!

Stone 13th Anniversary bier was quaffed. The 9.5% alcohol content made it a strong taste.

After recharging our batteries, it was back to the People’s Republic. Three hours later….

An enjoyable trip was had by all……

until next tim……….

Post #3 Voyage to Bottle Rock

Captain’s Log:
July 16th, 2009
Destination: Bottle Rock, Downtown Los Angeles

Located just a short walk from the Metro. The decor of the restaurant is modernistic, perhaps the furniture was used in the t.v. show Nip/Tuck.
The walls are lined with bottles of wine and bier. They are for sale.

We, First Maat and I, arrived during ‘Rush Hour”. During this time, some food items are $5 each. The gnocchi as pictured here in the spaceship dish was wonderful. It was complimented with a pint of Telegraph California Ale. The bier had quiet a kick to it. Also had the citrus taste, highlighted with a lemony rather than grapefruity taste.
Next bier to be quaffed was Allagash Four. A combination of lemon, orange and grapefruit; all rolled into one. This awoke ones taste buds. Served in a fancy glass with a near perfect head.
The end of the night was a walk to the nearby “Library Bar”. Only a few biers on tap and very crowded. Tis a one room place.
Maybe another voyage will be planned here for a less crowded time.

Thanks for taking the time to read this blog.
Next posting will be of Xmas In July.
Until then….