Russian River; Perdition, Biere De Sonoma

The second stop on our "Northern California Better Beer Tour" brought us to Russian River Brewing where we attempted to have dinner.  (Note to all: do not try to go to Russian River Brewing for dinner on a holiday Friday night and expect to be able to eat within 90 Minutes.   It will not happen).  The place was packed solid.  A friendly patron was nice enough to share his table and some dining advice.  We sat down long enough to have a beer and talked with him about the local cuisine.


While I couldn't pass up the chance to have a Pliny the Elder at the source, my ever increasingly daring wife took a shot at the Perdition.  (Note* Pliny the Younger will be pouring mid-February.)  

The Stats:

Original Gravity:	1.058
Alcohol by Volume:	6.1%
Color:	Reddish brown
Bitterness:	Mild

Perdition is called a Biere De Sonoma in the tradition of the great  Biere de Garde’s of Belgium and is available as a pub draft only.  Perdition is usually available year round in limited distribution only in California.  

Additional Beers on Tap included:

O.V.L. Stout, Happy Hops, Row 2, Hill 56, Blind Pig, Janet’s Brown Ale, Pliny the Elder, Erudition, Supplication, Damnation, Temptation, Consecration and Mortification.

Around The World at Lagunitas Brewing

Inspired by an article in Sunset Magazine my lovely wife planned a 4 day road trip to visit breweries from Petaluma to Fort Bragg.  Starting in Petaluma of course means a visit Lagunitas Brewing.  With so many wonderful beers on tap we couldn't decide where to start so we ordered them all.  The "Around the World" includes one taste of every beer on tap or in the cask that day.  As our waitress informed us today was a great day to be at the brewery.  Not only was there live music provided by the "crunchy rock" sounds of the Smokehouse Gamblers but also there happened to be 23 beers on tap.  As a bonus Brothers Comatose sat in for a few songs on the way to a gig at the Sebastopol Hopmonk Tavern.

Although we underestimated the time needed to sample all 23 brews and missed the free brewery tour we were treated to lively music and great conversations.  The outdoor beer garden style of the Lagunitas taproom makes it easy to meet new friends who casually sit beside you and share beers, peanuts and pretzels while joyfully discussing where they are from and why they are there.

Our "Around the World" tasting included; IPA with Nelson Sauvin, Doppelomyces, Fusion II, Bourbon BA stout, So Co Stout, Fillmore Fusion, 3B Bnarly,  Wet Dog, Imp. Stout, Gnarly Wine, Cappuccino Stout,   Shugga, FreshKronik, Farmhaux, Sebasto-pale, Pilsner, Pale, IPA, Maximus, Hop stoopid, Censored, Sumpin and Sucks.  Amber picked Shugga as her favorite while I was leaning towards the Maximus by the end of the 2 1/2 hours it took to finish.

I have to say that this is one of my new favorite places to enjoy beer.  The staff is friendly and efficient.  The beer is amazing,  The music was lively and entertaining.  As it turned out all three groups that joined us at the picnic bench were fun to talk with and told great stories.  If you are in Petaluma and find yourself in need of a place to grab a beer I highly recommend stopping in the Lagunitas Brewery.

North Peak Diabolical IPA at the Jolly Pumpkin Brewery

A surprise vacation brings me to Northern Michigan to spend time with my Dad and hunt for Petoskey stones..  On day one I had the pleasure of dining at the Jolly Pumpkin Brewery where they were pouring the Diabolical IPA as a guest tap.  The name alone was enough to convince me to try this American style India Pale Ale.  The Diabolical IPA is brewed by North Peak Brewing Company in Traverse City Michigan.  A good "everyday" IPA with 66.6 IBU and 6.6 ABV it's not too heavy and not too hoppy.  Cascade, Perle and Willamette hops provide scents of citrus and pine with a slightly bitter finish. 

I paired my Diabolical IPA with a fried whitefish sandwich and french fries(Michigan style health food) and it was amazing.  If you are ever in the area be sure to stop in and visit the good people at the Jolly Pumpkin.  If you have a chance to visit North Peak be sure to do it when you can sit outside and listen to live music.  Both locations provide menus full of delicious options for food and libation.

Tasty Greens IPA from Seabright Brewery in Santa Cruz

Our seemingly continual travels took us to Santa Cruz this past weekend for a photo shoot at Seabright Beach and tattoo at Lovedog Tattoo.  Amazingly, despite our hectic schedule we were able to squeeze in a visit to the local restaurant and watering hole Seabright Brewing.  This is where I found a beer that I had to try simply because of its name. 

The Tasty Greens IPA incorporates 110 Lbs of malted rye to create a hoppy IPA.  A large portion of Delta Hops is balanced by a small amount of Honey Malt.  This IPA is dry hopped with Cascade and Calypso hops which creates a floral nose finish.  The name Tasty Greens is presumably derived from large amount of hops used in brewing this beer. 

At 7.6% ABV the hopiness is well balanced by the alcohol content and the overall result is a smooth and slightly sweet IPA that actually reminds me more of a Fat Tire Ale than a traditional American IPA.  It paired well with my fish and chips (one of many excellent offerings) and would have been even better with one of the monstrous burgers on the menu.  (Side note the two burgers we got for the kids could have fed the whole family)

The next time you are in Santa Cruz be sure to stop by Seabright Brewery and grab a bite and a brew.  Sit on the patio and enjoy the tourists, surfers and locals walking, driving and biking by.  As with anything in Santa Cruz it can get a little busy on the weekends but we had no trouble getting a table for our party of 7.  Service was good considering how crowded the place was and our waitress never once showed up without a smile on her face.   

Sierra Nevada Old Chico Crystal Wheat

On the other end of the scale from my last post is the lightest offering from Sierra Nevada Brewing.  Old Chico Crystal Wheat is supposedly only available in and around Chico, CA.  That said, my first encounter with this wonderfully drinkable libation was in Vacaville's historic district at Merchant and Main Grill & Bar about 2 years ago.  I was dining with a client when he noticed Old Chico on the menu.  As a Chico State Alumni he was excited to have found the previously "Chico only" beer near his place of business.  That incident caused me to double check many a beer menu searching for this elusive brew.  As suspected I couldn't find it anywhere for the following 18 months.

As luck would have it my day job now takes me to the Sierra Nevada Brewery on a regular basis.  After every meeting I stop by the gift shop to purchase souvenirs. So far I have picked up T-shirts, dog collars, sweatshirts, iPhone covers and of course BEER.  I was delighted to find that Old Chico is now available in both bottles and cans.  As you can tell from most of my posts I prefer draft beer but the portability of this incredible beer earns Old Chico an exception.  Finally I can float the river without having to drink PBR (with all due respect to Pabst).

I have also noticed Old Chico bottled six packs showing up in grocery stores as far south as Santa Barbara.  I asked my contacts at the brewery about the expanded distribution footprint but they declined to confirm, deny or elaborate on how the beer is wandering outside the hallowed city limits of Chico.  However it is getting out we are all lucky that it is. If you come across a six pack in your local beer aisle do yourself a favor and grab it.

Now about the beer.  Although this is a wheat beer it is perfectly clear and not at all "gritty" like some wheat beers that you may be used to.  There is no clover or floral notes and it certainly wouldn't complement a slice of lemon or orange.  Sierra Nevada states that Old Chico is the lightest beer they make.  Light is apparently a relative term because this beer has plenty of flavor and body.  This is a great beer for a day at the beach or after mowing the lawn on a hot day.  As a matter of fact I have worked up quite a thirst writing this post so I think I will go grab one myself.

Sierra Nevada Hoptimum 2012

On November 15, 1980,  Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. produced a beer that would change the face of the American beer culture. Sierra Nevada's Pale Ale launched a cultural revolution that has spread across the country and inspired brewers from Chico to my home town of Davis(Sudwerks) to San Diego (Stone and many others) and eastward throughout the country. 

Recently I have had the good fortune to bring on Sierra Nevada as one of my customers.  After my most recent visit I stopped into the gift shop to pick up a gift or two for friends and family. When I noticed the 4-packs of Hotimum in the cooler I decided to grab myself a gift as well.

I have sampled the Hoptimum before at my favorite local pub Samuel Horne's Tavern and I was anxious to see how the bottle version compared to draft.  In one word "WOW".  This is a hop bomb and delicious to the last sip.  I would compare it to a fine wine or single malt scotch in terms of drinking pleasure.   

ACME IPA at the Heyday Cafe in Placerville.

While visiting family in Fort Bragg last week I had the chance to grab lunch at the North Coast Brewery.  Unfortunately I had a 4 hour drive ahead of me so I stuck to the food and skipped the beer.  Not an easy feat for someone who loves to try out new beers.   As luck would have it I popped into the Heyday Café on Main ST. in Placerville yesterday to find that they were pouring ACME IPA.  I took this chance to redeem myself from last week’s bout of abstinence. 

In North Coast’s words: “Acme IPA is profoundly hoppy, finished with over a pound of fresh whole hops per barrel. The result of this generous hopping is a beer that is deliciously dry, and eminently drinkable in spite of its apparent strength.”  In my words this is a smooth and refreshing beer with a bit of a bite and a mellow finish.  It paired perfectly with my Mediterranean veggie wrap and roasted red pepper soup.

The Acme Beer Brand has a long and entertaining history.  I suggest you visit the online museum for more info; ACME Beer Museum 

If you have the chance I highly recommend trying out both the Heyday Café and Acme IPA.

Vitals:

Style: India Pale Ale
Color: Pale Amber
ABV: 6.9%
Bitterness: 55 IBUs