How would you like to have one of these in your garage?

Although I graduated from UC Davis with an engineering degree I have always wished that I had studied the art and science of beer and wine making.  I recently came across this video on the Davis Patch Web Site and thought it would be worth sharing.  How much fun would it be to have a set up like this in the garage or basement?  Especially since our local "brew it yourself" Brew It Up closed down.  Every year in late March or April UC Davis and the town of Davis hosts Picnic Day.  The campus is open to the public and there are a multitude of science and art exhibits.  My favorite (since I turned 21) has always been the brewing department's exhibit.  If  you have the chance to visit Davis on Picnic Day I recommend stopping by the brewing department and attending one of their lectures on beer making.  You will not be dissatisfied!

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University of California at Davis: Pilot Brewery John B. Carnett

For more information please check out the reference article about Davis' Brew Lab.  Happy Brewing.

"PU 240" from Auburn Ale House

With Thanksgiving past us I have heard that the "autumn beers" are about to give way to the Christmas beers (4 weeks ago I had no idea that beers changed with the seasons).  As I understand it the Christmas beers have more of a lean towards maltiness and sweetness.  If that theory holds true I am glad that I had a chance to sample this 100+ IBU creation from the Auburn Ale House before switching to the "holiday beers". 

The Auburn Ale house puts out some seriously flavourful brews to match their tasty food offerings.  The PU 240 is no exception to this rule. 

"Named after the isotope essential for nuclear grade weapons, this
“Weapons Grade Ale” is the hop bomb you didn’t see coming!
At 100 bittering units, PU240 captures the explosive hop flavor and aroma necessary to achieve a critical mass that you won’t find in other high-hop ales. A classified and combustible amount of Summit and Galena hops along with a double Dry-hop bombardment of Simcoe, Columbus and Nugget contribute to PU240’s high rate of spontaneous hop fusion."

If you enjoyed "Pliny the Elder"and the beers profiled in Day 12, Day 21 and Day 23 then you will love PU 240.  Word of warning, this is nuclear grade stuff so be careful with it.  You can find this wonderment at the Ale House located in Old Town Auburn or in Old Town Folsom at Samuel Hornes.

"Guiness Stout" at Plainfield Station

Well of course Guinness needs no introduction as it is probably one of the most recognizable beers in the world.  When you have been making beer for over 200 years you certainly know how to do it well.  But in case you haven't taken the leap of faith and tried a Guinness it is about time that you give it a taste.  As my sister stated today "That's pretty good for a beer of that color".

I enjoyed my Guinness at one of my favorite watering holes, Plainfield Station.  Plainfield Station is an old gas station on Road 98 between Davis, Woodland and Winters, Ca.  It is a place were a group of hunters in their orange hats can sit next to two nurses in scrubs who are sitting next a pair of burly looking bikers in black leather.  At the table across the room a young couple (with their newborn asleep in the car seat on top of the table) dined on half pound burgers while I along with 7 other family members enjoyed a large plate of nachos.  This hole in the wall bar has a substantial selection of beers on tap which ranges from Pabst to Guinness and from Widmer Heff to Boont Amber Ale.  And of course they have all the old standby beers like Coors and the line of Buds.

Plainfield has a very large back yard with picnic tables, a horseshoe pit and a stage for small concerts.  The food is great and the menu boasts everything from jalapeno poppers to teriyaki chicken sandwiches but for my money the Tacos are the best around. If you are ever in the area you must stop in a grab your favorite libation and game of pool.  Everyone is welcome and the staff (at least these days) is very helpful and friendly.  The beer is always cold and the people watching is second to none.

Photos by Shoop's Photography

"Alaskan IPA" from Alaskan Brewing company.

Surfing in Alaska???  You bet.  The inspiration for this beer is comes from Alaska's own surf mecca Yakutat.  The label features a surfer riding a wave while Mount Saint Elias looms at an impressive elevation of 18,000 feet in the background.  Who would have thought to go surfing in Alaska?  Probably the same adventuresome folks that will enjoy this bold and tasty brew.  I normally stick to the Alaskan Amber but had to try the IPA since I had never seen it on tap before.

Tasting notes come from the http://www.alaskanbeer.com/ website; "Alaskan IPA is honey gold in color with a fruity, citrus aroma. An enticing blend of hops and our dry hopping process, in which hops are added directly to tanks during fermentation, give this brew a very intense, complex aromatic character with a refreshing hop finish."

I enjoyed my Alaskan IPA at Plainfield Station where we braved the cold(but sunny) weather to enjoy the back yard/picnic area.  The kids played football and others played horseshoes while I sat back enjoyed the late afternoon sun and sipped my Alaskan IPA. 

Alaska has a long history of brewing and beer drinkers from the explores in the 1700s through the miner's gold rush there was plenty of local beer to be had.  Of course prohibition put a damper on most of the local production.  In 1986 Marcy and Geoff Larson opened the first brewing company in Juneau since prohibition and the Alaskan Brewing Company has flourished ever since.

"Purple Haze" by Abita

A recent trip to LA provided me with several hours of "nothing to do" so I pulled up a bar stool at Dillon's Irish Pub at the corner of Hollywood and Vine.  I counted 37 beers on tap and they were all just $3 a pint.  Since I had already tried many of the beers I decided to try something new.

The Purple Haze by Abita look interesting.  Abita's description of this beer reads; "Purple Haze is a crisp, American style wheat beer with raspberry puree added after filtration. Therefore, you may see raspberry pulp in the beer. The raspberries provide the lager with a subtle purple coloration and haze, a fruity aroma, and a tartly sweet taste."

It was definitely worth trying and I would suggested to anyone that likes fruit in their beer.  For me I will stick to a lime in my Corona if I want fruit in my beer.  Luckily there were 36 other choices for my second pint.

Santa Barbara Edition - Island Brewing's Weiss

Our family vacation brings us to Santa Barbara and more specifically Carpinteria.  Carpinteria, so named by the Spanish for the “carpentry shop” located on on of the few south facing beaches in California. Established by local Chumash tribe  the “carpentry shop” was used for building canoes and other sea-going vessels.  The site was chosen because of naturally-occurring surface tar which was used to seal the boats.  Less than half a mile from what is now known as the popular surf spot "Tar Pits" you will find Island Brewing . This spot is as laid back as it gets.  I could easily imagine myself wasting an entire afternoon sipping each and every one of their brews while sitting in the sun on the ample patio.

For today's post I sample the Island Weiss.  With the phrase "The Weiss is Nice" printed on the lable I had to give it a try.  This unfiltered Bavarian-Style Hefeweizen is bewed from 50% German Pilsner Malt and 50% Canadian Wheat, the result is a refreshing wheat beer with hints of vanilla ,citrus, bananas and clover.   The perfect beer to enjoy while sitting on the patio of the brewery enjoying the sunshine.  The next time you are in the area I high recommend stopping the brewery and sampling their spectatular offerings.

Ukiah Brewing Orr Springs IPA

A recent Photography Gig allowed us to spend some time in the wonderfully diverse town of Ukiah, CA.  Ukiah is full of organic taco stands, vegan lifestyle stores, quaint coffee shops and the Ukiah Brewing Company.  The UBC is a rustic place on the main street of downtown Ukiah that appears to be a great concert venue.  Although there were several Veggie and Vegan items on the menu they also offer some real (and tasty) food.  We split a sweet potato and coconut soup and fish and chips and Cajun fries and to wash it all down I chose their Orr Springs IPA. The Orr Springs IPS is a Light-bodied, heavily-hopped India pale ale featuring Rakau hops. This is big strong IPA with an ABV of 7.0%. 

 

The Beer is named for the Orr Hot Springs which is something I will definitely be checking out the next time I am in town.  

As a side note my lovely wife chose the Willits Wit which I actually liked better than the IPA on a hot summer day.

The next time you are venturing through this little hippy enclave I suggest taking a break at the corner of School and N. State Street.  Grab a beer or three and take in some tremendous people watching.  

  To learn more about the UBC click the link to Urbanspoon.

"Celebration Ale" from Sierra Nevada

Day 24 brings us back to Folsom and my trusty neighborhood pub Samuel Hornes.   With 16 beers on tap I don't expect to run out of unique beers to profile.  That said I have whittled away at more than half of their selection for this Blog.  Luckily their inventory rotates on a regular basis so I should be able to sample a few more of their offerings before the end of the month.

Today's beer comes from Chico, California's Sierra Nevada Brewing Company.  Officially dubbed Celebration Fresh Hop Ale this seasonal masterpiece was originally brewed in 1981 and has continued as a holiday tradition to date.  Here is the stat sheet for the 2010 version of this dry hopped ale:

Alcohol content 6.8% by volume	Bittering hops Chinook
Beginning gravity 16.0 Plato	Finishing hops Cascade & Centennial
Ending gravity 4.0 Plato	Dry hopping Cascade & Centennial
Bitterness units 65	Malts Two-row Pale & English Caramel
Yeast Top-Fermenting Ale Yeast

"Hop Rod Rye" from Bear Republic

For Day 23 I am profiling another fabulous beer from Bear Republic.  The Hop Rod Rye is a high gravity IPA brewed with 18% rye malt.  I enjoyed this hoppy little number along with a cheese plate and sausage roll at Murphy's Irish Pub in Sonoma. 

According to the Bear Republic's website "Hop Rod Rye has a floral hop aroma and subtle caramel notes with a slightly earthy and spicy rye character."  According to me it is a delicious compilation of malt and hops. 
Hop Rod Rye is essentially a Strong Pale Ale with a huge hop aroma and a sweet malty finish.  Awards include  2004 California State Fair, Silver Medal Winner; 2002 National Real Ale Festival, Chicago, Gold Medal Winner; 2001 San Diego Real Ale Festival, Silver Medal Winner & Best of Show (Runner Up).

Hop Rod Rye is no joke folks.  If you are serious about beer and you haven't tried this little gem then you are doing yourself a major disservice. This is a great beer and I would suggest picking some up for Turkey Day this year.

Cheers.

"Alley Pale Ale" from Murphy's Irish Pub in Sonoma

If you have never been to Murphy's Irish Pub then the name of their flagship beer may sound a little funny.  If you have been there then you will certainly understand.  Murphy's is located in an alley (really more of a paseo or breezeway) smack in the middle of downtown Sonoma.  Voted the number one place to hear live music in Sonoma this quaint little bar serves up multiple beers on tap and some delicious pub grub including traditional Irish fare. 

Their Alley Pale Ale is brewed exclusively for Murphy's by Dempsey's Brewing in Petaluma.  With an ABV of 5.2% this beer is a medium bodied smooth & flavorful pale ale with gentle hop character.  This very drinkable and flavorful beer that goes perfectly with their Fisherman's Pie. 

"Hopmonk Dunkelweizen" from Hopmunk Tavern in Sebastopol, Ca

Day 20 brings us to Sebastopol, Ca for a visit to Hopmunk Tavern.  Today is my lovely Wife's Birthday and we are headed to The second annual Purple Pachyderm Pinot Party and musical extravaganza featuring the music of Les Claypool and friends. 

The Hopmunk is a musci venue, restaurant and brewery.  I tried all of their beers but I chose to profile the Dunkelweizen.  This Bavarian-style Dark Wheat Beer is an unfiltered, top-fermented wheat beer brewed with dark roasted malted wheat and caramelized malted wheat in addition to pale malted barley. The complex flavors produced by the Weihenstephaner Hefeweizen yeast strain are enhanced by the roasted flavors from the dark malts.  It is delicious as is all of their beers.

If you are ever in Sebastopol stop by and sample their brews.  You won't regret it.

*Side Note.  They carrey Pliny the Elder on tap.

"Bahl Hornin" from Anderson Valley Brewing Company

A while back I profiled Anderson Valley's Boont Amber Ale and mentioned the phrase Bahl Hornin'.  Well that was before I realized that AVBC actually made a beer called Bahl Hornin'.  I figured it was only fair that I profile the Bahl Hornin' today. As I mentioned in my previous post  Bahl Hornin' means "Good Drinking" in Boontling which is a language spoken in Boonville, CA where AVBC makes its home.

Here are a few more Boontling terms that I pulled from the Samuel Hornes FB page.

"roopey harpin" = aimless, empty talk, braggadocio.
"come-on boy" = a convivial, social drinker (opposed to a "silent horner" or a lone drinker)
"Higher 'n a Billy" which translates to Very Drunk; disorderly because of drink.
"Diddle Can" which translates to a bottle of whiskey, especially a container of bootleg whiskey.
"hornin region" which translates to a bar, any place drinking of alcoholic beverages is regularly done.

So being the come-on boy that I am, I think that I should head to my favorite hornin region(Samuel Hornes) to get higher 'n a billy. 

To find yourself a Bahl Hornin' click here and enjoy this Wonderful beer which in only available on draught.

"Boont Amber Ale" from Anderson Valley Brewing Company

Once named the “best beer brewed in Northern California,” by the San Francisco Bay Guardian the Boont Amber Ale is the flagship beer from  Anderson Valley Brewing Company.  This is an exceptionally smooth medium bodied Pale Ale.  Boont Amber Ale weighs in at a subtle 5.8% ABV and respectively low IBU of 15.  This beer will pair well with Pasta, Chicken or any flavorful meat.

As they say in  Boonville "It's Bahl Hornin'" which means “Good Drinking” in Boontling which is a real language spoken in Boonville, CA.  To learn more about Boontling pay visit Samuel Hornes Facebook page for Boontling lessons.

"Sierra Nevada" 30th anniversary

When I first started this blog my plan was to research and profile one beer per day each day in the month of November.  Well, the best laid plans of mice and men often go astray and some times you have to bend the rules a bit.  As it turned out November 15th was the 30th Anniversary of Sierra Nevada Brewing.  It would also turn out that Samuel Hornes Tavern in Folsom, CA was offering a fligth of Sierra Nevada Anniversary Ales as part of the celebration.  AND As luck would have it I just happened to stop by Sam's for a bite to eat with my lovely wife.  So for Day 16 I will be profiling 4 beers instead of just one.  Hey it's a tough job but somebody has got to do it.

Fritz and Ken's Ale
Fritz Maytag, owner of San Francisco's Anchor Brewing Company agreed to guest brew this special ale with Sierra Nevada in honor of their 30th Anniversary.  This is a rich and robust Stout worthy of aging but also great for drinking right now.

Charlie, Fred and Ken's Imperial Helles
Charlie Pazazian and Fred Echart are two of the country's most esteemed beer writers and home brewers.Charlie and Fred agreed to guest brew this special ale with Sierra Nevada in honor of their 30th Anniversary.  This imperial Helles Bock is a testament to the ever evolving brewer's art happening in homes and microbreweries across the nation.  The Helles is bold yet balanced with distinct toasted malt character, moderate sweetness and clean, floral hops.

Jack and Ken's Ale (barley wine) 
This barley wine was guest brewed by the original micro brewer (and most likely a relative of my mother) Jack McAuliffe.  Jack's New Albion Brewery in Sonoma, Ca inspired countless brewers to start small breweries of their own. Brewed with 100% American Cascade hopes this is a robust and complex Ale reminiscent of those served at the legendary summer solstice parties at New Albion

Brewers Reserve Oak Aged Ale.
This is a blend of Sierra Nevada's Pale Ale, Bigfoot and Celebration Ales which is generously dry-hopped.  This is very representative of the brewing style that has made Sierra Nevada so popular over the years.  To find Sierra 30th anniversary beers near you click here.

"American Special Bitter" from Napa Valley Brewing Company in Calistoga, CA

While still in the Napa Valley we stopped by the Calistoga Inn, home of the Napa Valley Brewing Company.  Ironically Napa Valley and Calistoga in particular have a long brewing history reaching back to the Gold Rush when many of the necessary ingredients needed to brew beer were grown in this area.

The Calistoga Inn has its own history in the Valley and was even the setting for a 1930's Movie "They Knew What They Wanted"  Additionally the Napa Valley Brewing Company was the first outfit to brew beer commercially in the Napa Valley after Prohibition.

The beer choices at the Inn included: Wheat Ale, Pilsner, Red Ale, Porter, Barley Wine and a seasonal American Special Bitter.  After reading that the Red Ale had won a few ribbons and medals I was interested but instead I opted to make the American Special Bitter my choice for Day 15.  This American twist on the traditional English style bitter packs a punch of hoppiness.  With an ABV of only 4.2 this a great football game beer.  Which worked out well since the Niner game was on (and they won).  This was  fresh crisp beer and perfect for a warm fall afternoon.

Although I enjoyed the beer I have to say the best part about the Calistoga Inn and Napa Valley Brewing Company is the atmosphere and the scenery.  The outdoor patio provides views of the Napa River and the fall colors were in full effect.  This is definitely the right time of year to visit Calistoga.

"Sculpin" from Ballast Point

Finally the Sculpin has arrived in Folsom.  As described by Ballast Point:

"The Sculpin is a testament to our humble beginnings as Home Brew Mart. It showcases bright flavors and aromas of apricot, peach, mango & lemon. The lighter body also brings out the crispness of the hops.

This delicious Ballast Point Ale won a gold medal at the World Beer Cup 2010 in the International Pale Ale category. The Sculpin fish has poisonous spikes on it’s fins that can give a strong sting.

Ironically, the meat from a Sculpin is considered some of the tastiest. Something that has a sting but tastes great, sounds like a Ballast Point India Pale Ale"

If there is a competitor to "Pliny" it would be the Sculpin from Ballast Point.  This beer is as hoppy and as tastefull as you can get.  It is hard to find so if you wish to try it get down to Samuel Hornes right away before it runs out.

"Double Bastard" Ale from Stone Brewing Company

When I ordered my "Double Bastard" with dinner my youngest son scolded me "DAD you said a bad word".   Funny that he would call me out on that of all words.  I explained that it wasn't a bad word when used in this light and he reluctantly let me off the hook.

I was trying to avoid using more than on beer from the same brewer for this adventure but Stone deserves an extra slot.  Where as the Epic 10.10.10 that I profiled on Day 2 was very interesting and a bit quirky the Double Bastard is a huge no nonsense ultra hoppy amber ale.

Would you like this beer???  Well, here is Stone's description from their website:

"We didn't brew this mordant dark amber monster to please anyone other than ourselves.  If you think you are truly Worthy (and if you have to ask yourself this question, you are most certainly not), then crack open a bottle, drink deeply, and bask in all its trenchant glory--but if you are befuddled by the polysyllabic lexicon of the Bastard, if your complacency and contented acquiescence to the soulless mendacity of national marketing pap causes you the least bit of hesitation, back away slowly and go buy something you saw advertised on TV.

That was good enough for me to try one and the beer follows through on their promise.  I thoroughly enjoyed it but had to order something a bit lighter for round two. 

If you are not in the San Diego area you can grab a Double Bastard at Samuel Hornes along with 15 other great beers on tap.  If you are in the San Diego area I highly suggest that you treat yourself to a visit to the brewery itself.  It reminds me of a
Beer Disneyland.

"Oatmeal Stout" from Mendocino Brewing.

Sweet, smooth, bold and full bodied (no I am not talking about my lovely wife).  If you know me then you know that I like things that are solid and full bodied.  Weak and frail things have never seemed to last around me.  This beer didn’t last long either.  If Peets Coffee made a beer I would imagine it would taste like this.  “Robust, with luscious chocolate and coffee flavors, it is balanced with just the right amount of UK Golding hops. Brewed with massive quantities of oats, our Oatmeal Stout is smooth in the extreme” . I was pleasantly surprised at the lack of a burnt taste resulting from over-roasting the malts that normally accompanies beers this dark in color. 

I was able to find this one at Samuel Hornes on Sutter St. in Folsom which is where I find most of my favorites. 

After being located in Hopland, CA for 27 years the Mendocino brewing Company has recently moved to Ukiah, CA.  I look forward to visiting the new location on my next trip to Fort Bragg.

"Gold Digger" from Auburn Alehouse.

If you haven't been to the Auburn Alehouse I highly recommend it.  Their food is as good as their beer and they are conveniently located just off Highway 80 in Old Town Auburn, Ca.  They are located in the old American Block Building that you may remember as the Shanghai Restaurant and Bar, where scenes from the movie, Phenomenon were filmed. There is a lot of California history in and around this building and their Gold Digger IPA pays tribute to the rich gold mining history of the foothill area.

About the beer:  "Pale and crystal malts provide the backbone and golden hue, while Magnum, Simcoe and Chinook hops do the dancing on your tongue. Late hop additions to the kettle and aging on the "dry hop" give our India Pale Ale hop aroma and flavor."  This is one of my all time favorite beers.  It is not too over the top but still FULL of flavor.  If you like the IPAs I would suggest that you look this one up.  It is available outside of the Alehouse but if you are in Auburn you need get the full experience by stopping in and checking out their brewery and kitchen.  If you visit them you have to try the cheese loaf.  You will not be disappointed.

"Fusion 4" from Lagunitas Brewing Company

Day 4 brings us back to Samuel Hornes Tavern on Sutter St. in Folsom for Lagunitas Pint Night.  Both Lagunitas' Fusion 4 and Little Sumpin' Wild were featured tonight.  Buy a pint and keep the Lagunitas Mason Jar pictured below.

Although I love a Little Sumpin' I had to profile the more obscure of the two.  The Fusion 4 is part of Lagunitas' experimental draught series.  Most of the experimental draughts are very difficult to find outside of their brewery in Petaluma, CA.  Fusion 4 is a fusion of a Belgian Golden Ale and an Imperial Pilsner.  It boasts an ABV of 9.4% and is made with Westmalle yeast and lagered for 8 weeks.  Fusion 4 is crisp, lightly hopped and has a bit of a bite to it.  Enjoy one while you can if you get a chance to find it at your favorite tavern or try to get to the brewery before it is gone.

"Old Foghorn Barelywine Style Ale" from Anchor Steam Brewing.

GO GIANTS.  Today was all about San Francisco. I pulled my boys out of school to take them to the Victory Parade.  After failing to find parking at two different BART stations I opted to take my car to a mechanic within walking distance of a station for a much needed oil change (and free parking).   After a very crowded train ride we made it to the Parade just in time to see all of the players roll by. 

When I think of San Francisco and beer I always think of Anchor Steam.   That is why I chose to profile Anchor Steam’s Old Foghorn (and because Foghorn is my youngest son’s nickname).  Old Foghorn Ale is a barley wine style ale.  Old Foghorn is dry hopped and ranks all the way to the right on the hop scale.

Like San Francisco’s beloved Giants this one hits it out of the park with bold flavor.  ABV hovers between 8 and 10%.  Foghorn is definitely for special occasions and just pouring one makes any occasion special.

Stone 10.10.10 Vertical Epic Ale

WOW.  This is an adventurous beer.  Brewed with Muscat, Gewurztraminer, Sauvignon Blanc grapes (yes I am still talking about beer) and  Chamomile.  Fermented with the legendary Ardennes strain of Belgian yeast and hopped with German Perle hops the10.10.10 is a Belgian Strong Pale Ale brewed with pale malt and triticale (a cross of wheat and rye).  It is then steeped with chamomile tea.  The juice blend is added during the secondary fermentation.  With an ABV of 9.5 this is not your daily drinker but delicious for sure.
The result is a beer that reminds me a little of champagne but I wouldn't mix it with orange juice on a Sunday morning.  It paired very well with my lobster and crab chowder at Manderes in Folsom.  Stone's Epic brews are released each year on the epic date 8.8.08, 9.9.09 etc. and are designed to be aged and consumed on 12.12.12.  I couldn't wait that long.

"Pliny the Elder" from Russian River Brewing

Hailing from The Russian River Brewing Company in Santa Rosa, California, this Double IPA weighs in at a beefy 8.00% ABV.  To say this beer is hoppy would be an enormous understatement.  This is a gigantic beer and one of my current favorites.

Fun Fact: Pliny the Elder is named for the Gaius Plinius Secundus (23 AD – August 25, 79), the Natural Philosopher who first gave hops their botanical name, "Lupus salictarius", meaning wolf among scrubs."

On of my favorite local watering holes, Samuel Hornes Tavern, usually has Pliny on tap along with 15 other hand crafted American made draught beers.

Make sure when you order your Pliny the Elder you pronounce it correctly.  I have heard PLINE-E and PLIN-E. PLIN-E is the correct pronunciation according to our Beertender Dylan.