Tag Archives: california

Habitus Double IPA – Mike Hess Brewing

by Mike

From Mike Hess Brewing in San Diego California comes their “Habitus Double IPA”.  The beer pours a copper colour with a tan head.  The aroma consists of tropical fruit, citrus, rye spice, herbal hops with a floral finish.  The flavour is of rye spice, pine, resin, citrus, tropical fruit, orange peel, bready malts, earth and bitterness.  The alcohol content comes in at 8% with an IBU of 100.  I always enjoy a good Rye IPA and this one does not disappoint at all.

Commercial Description:  Habitus, winner of the 2014 World Beer Cup℠ in the Rye category, is a spicy, crisp, and extremely drinkable double IPA. We use loads of Sterling and Chinook hops in the kettle and hopback (and even more during the dry hop) for intense pine aromatics accentuated by a rye and 2-row malt base for a truly great IPA experience.

Phantom Bride IPA – Belching Beaver Brewery

by Mike

From Oceanside California’s Belching Beaver Brewery in Collaboration with the rock group Deftones comes there “Phantom Bride IPA”.  The beer pours a cloudy orange colour with a white head.  The aroma consists of tropical fruit, citrus, sweetness, pine, resin and floral hops.  The flavour is of tropical fruits, citrus, melon, basically juicy hops, pine, resin, mild malts and a bitterness.  The alcohol content comes in at 7.1% with an IBU of 70.  I was a big fan of the Deftones in my past and I have heard great things of Belching Beaver Brewery and this beer delivered.

Commercial Description:  Named after the ethereal song by the one and only Deftones, Phantom Bride IPA is a blend of Amarillo, Citra, Simcoe and Mosaic hops delicately balanced for the perfectly drinkable mix of citrus and hoppy goodness. A truly original Deftones/ Belching Beaver collaboration envisioned by Chino Moreno and skillfully crafted by Thomas Peters. Sit back, put on your headphones and drink away.

Xocoveza – Stone Brewing

by Mike

From Stone Brewing in Escondido California comes their “Xocoveza” an Imperial Stout inspired by Mexican Hot Chocolate.  The beer pours a deep black colour with a brown head.  The aroma consists of milk chocolate, cinnamon, vanilla, coffee, spices and some sweetness.  The flavour is of milk chocolate, toffee, coffee, cinnamon, roasted malts, spices and some sweetness.   The alcohol content comes in at 8.1% with an IBU of 50.  This is my first every chance to try this beer and I really liked it.  I had once smelled it as a bottle jumped out of my car and smashed on the ground.   That was a sad day indeed!

Commercial Description:  There’s nothing like making a beer so beloved that people feel compelled to campaign for its return. So, in the spirit of the holiday season, we are very pleased to give our fans the number one item on their wish lists. As illustrated by the avalanche of social media requests, that is Stone Xocoveza, an insanely delicious take on Mexican hot chocolate brewed with cocoa, coffee, pasilla peppers, vanilla, cinnamon and nutmeg. First brewed in 2014 with San Diego homebrewer Chris Banker after his recipe won our annual homebrew competition, this imperial stout is layered with smooth roastiness, semisweet chocolate and a touch of spice. Thanks entirely to you, this creamy, mocha stout has gone from initially being a one-time offering to a yearly tradition. Happy holidays from all of us to all of you…and feel free to continue enjoying it long into the spring and summer, as this gem will age beautifully and is definitely not exclusive to the winter season!

For food and cigar pairings head to Stone Brewing’s site.

Seeking Asylum Belgian Double IPA – Yellow Dog Brewing Company (AleSmith Brewing)

by Mike

From Yellow Dog Brewing in Port Moody in collaboration with AleSmith Brewing out of San Diego California comes their “Seeking Asylum Belgian Double IPA”.  The beer pours an amber colour with a white head. The aroma consists of Belgian yeast, tropical fruit, sweetness and floral hops.  The flavour is of Belgian yeast, tropical fruit, pineapple, citrus rind, low malt presence, dankness and bitterness.  The alcohol content comes in at 8% with an IBU of 90.  Its no surprise to me that these two breweries would come together and make an awesome Double IPA!  Its probably almost gone off the market now but it was really tasty.

Commercial Description:  Seeking Asylum is a 8% abv and 90 IBU Belgian-style Double IPA co-created with San Diego’s Alesmith Brewing, described as “smooth and full-bodied with a west-coast twist. Imagine a west-coast DIPA mixed with a Belgian style triple!”

Stupid Stout 2015 – Coronado Brewing Company

by Mike

From Coronado, California’s Coronado Brewing Company comes their “Stupid Stout 2015″.  The Imperial Stout pours an opaque black with a brown head.  The aroma consists of roasted malts, toffee, ash and chocolate.  The flavour is of roasted malts, ash, chocolate, toffee, molasses, anise, earth and mild bitterness.  Even with the alcohol coming in at 9% you do not taste it.  I really liked this one but then an Imperial stout without and alcohol burn is amazing in my books.