Today, I woke up and decided it had been far too long since I visited Pure Project Brewing in Miramar, CA. Seeing as I could remedy this situation in under two hours and currently having nothing else to do, I decided to proceed southward stat.
In an hour and a half, I removed myself from the confines of Orange County and found myself smack dab in front of one of my favorite breweries in the world!
While everything Pure puts out is a step above the competition, the board today was filled with IPAs. (Though it’s Haze heavy, the West Coasts are not to be slept on.) If you have enough time and a designated driver or a hotel room a Lyft drive away, I’d highly recommend you try every single last beer on the menu! Trust me, I’m a professional. You will not be disappointed.
As I had to return to the OC, I decided on one flight and a growler to go. My flight, which I aptly named Keep Hops Alive, consisted of the following:
Desert Trip – West Coast IPA brewed in collaboration with Mumford Brewing.
This beer was clean, light and delicious! The Southern Hemisphere hops brought this beer in at 4.25/5
Murk IPA – Murky/Hazy with Mosaic, Denali and some Motueka that really shined through. 4.25/5
Hanging Gardens – Murky/Hazy brewed in collaboration with Temescal Brewing out of Oakland. This beer was light, easy drinking and delicious. 4.25/5
Sign of the Times – Murky/Hazy DIPA with Citra and Galaxy hops. This beer was oddly malty/sweet and my least favorite of the flight. 4/5
Murkshake – Murky/Hazy TIPA with Organic Strawberries and Vanilla Beans. This beer reminded me of Strawberry Bijou from Great Notion and Mikerphone and was FANTASTIC! 4.75/5 (Flight Standout)*
Guess which beer I got a growler fill of…
In short, Pure Project Brewing should be on every Craft Beer Lover’s shortlist!
I only wish I lived closer as I would be there everyday…
What’s your favorite Pure Project Beer? What’s the farthest you’ve ever driven for Beer?
If Pure is within your driving range, get here NOW!
I hope your Spring has been full of delicious Craft Beer, and if not, Get on it!
According to the Brewers Association, there were 5,301 breweries operating in the United States in 2017. 5,301. Let that sink in.
As I’ve said before, I’m not happy unless I’m drinking a beer that received a rating of at least 4 on my Untappd account. With so much competition in the realm of Craft Beer, I’m very discriminating and a brewery can easily find itself on my DO NOT DRINK list with too many subpar offerings. I’m all for experimentation, but that’s what small batches are for…
What follows is a list of 171 new beers I tried this year from 85 breweries that get it. To be clear, these beers are all good and I would gladly drink them again, they weren’t out of this world…but they were excellent representations of their style.
Listed below, in alphabetic order, are the 85 breweries and their offerings that left me satisfied.
There’s some debate as to what this beer was supposed to be. Some people tried a hazy, me I tried a tasty West Coaster…Vengeful Barbarian (Confused IPA)…
When Doves Cryo – Hazy IPA 7% ABV
Vengeful Barbarian – IPA 7.2% ABV
Hive Mind (with Pure Project Brewing) – DIPA 8.5% ABV
Froth Bite – Hazy IPA 6.4% ABV
Amplified Ale Works (San Diego, CA)
Electrocution – IPA 7.2% ABV
Trois Cabrones (with Alvarado Street Brewery) – Hazy DIPA 8.5% ABV
Soundcheck – IPA 7.8% ABV
Get A Grip (w/Coffee) – Coffee Milkstout 4.6%
Artifex Brewing Company (San Clemente, CA)
Amarillo Happy – Pale Ale 5.5% ABV
Asylum Brewing (Anaheim, CA)
Fairweather Friend – Pale Ale 4.7% ABV
Casanova Frankenstein – Imperial Stout 9.5% ABV
Rorschach – Brown Ale 6.2% ABV
Bagby Beer Company (Oceanside, CA)
Struggle Bus – Pale Ale 4.8%
Barley Forge Brewing Co. (Costa Mesa, CA)
Karl Hungus – Schwarzbier 5.2% ABV
BarrelHouse Brewing Co. (Paso Robles, CA)
The most unique beer I enjoyed in 2017. Celebratory Ale is a Foeder Aged Stout Snakebite…unlike anything I’ve ever had…
Rare DOS – Whiskey Barrel Aged Imperial Stout 10% ABV
Deep River Brewing Company (Clayton, NC)
So cold blooded to collaborate without giving the other collaborator props…but that’s just what Deep River did…Collaboration Without Representation was a delicious canned BA Imperial Milk Stout.
(important to note that I did not purchase these CORPRACRAFT beers, the bartenders at Stadium Brewing Company in Aliso Viejo like to give me samples…thanks!)
Left Coast Brewing Co. (San Clemente, CA)
Hop Juice – Triple IPA 10% ABV
Los Angeles Ale Works (Hawthorne, CA)
Blume – Berliner Weisse 3.5% ABV
MadeWest Brewing Company (Ventura, CA)
Transport – IPA 6.8% ABV
Pale – Pale Ale 5.6% ABV
Mason Ale Works (San Marcos, CA)
Collaborations can sometimes get clouded…this Hazy IPA from Mason Aleworks with Burgeon and Pure Project was a nice, no waiting in line hazy.
Thick As Thieves (with Pure Project & Burgeon Beer Company) – Hazy IPA 6% ABV
Melvin Brewing (Jackson, WY)
You really can’t get any more American than a DIPA endorsed by Hacksaw Jim Duggan…HOOOOO!
2 x 4 – DIPA 9.9% ABV
Mikerphone Brewing (Elk Grove Village, IL)
I can’t put my finger on it, but I think this beer needs S’more Cowbell!
S’More Cowbell – Imperial Stout 10.8% ABV
Mikkeller Brewing (San Diego, CA)
Waves (Bolger) – IPA 7.3% ABV
Modern Times Beer (San Diego, CA)
City of the Sun – IPA 7.6% ABV
Orderville – Hazy IPA 7.2% ABV
Booming Rollers – IPA 6.8% ABV
Critical Band – Hazy IPA 6.7% ABV
Spaceship Earth – Hazy Pale Ale 5.2% ABV
Geodesic – IPA 7.5% ABV
Mumford Brewing (Los Angeles, CA)
Mumford goes both ways. Clear AF and Hazy…ALL CAPS was a delicious West Coast IPA.
ALL CAPS – IPA 6.8% ABV
Air Quotes – Hazy IPA 6.8% ABV
New Belgium Brewing Company (Fort Collins, CO)
Fat Tire Belgian White – Witbier 5.2% ABV
New Glory Craft Brewery (Sacramento, CA)
So thankful to be able to try so many new Nor Cal breweries…New Glory Craft Brewery is brewing up deliciousness.
Cloudy With A Chance Of Clarity – IPA 7% ABV
Noble Ale Works (Anaheim, CA)
Orange County Haze Kings Noble Ale Works took the Nuclear Option this year…
I know that’s kinda a lot to take in, but trust me when I tell you that paying a visit to these 85 breweries will not leave you disappointed…happy hunting!
One thing 2017 was for me, was full of delicious Craft Beer…And, while I drank many a decent beer, these 99 beers were just a step above the average. For me, I’m not satisfied unless I’ve drank a beer that I would rate as a 4. And, as I’ve said before, if a brewery isn’t consistently putting out 4s, they should do the world a favor and close their doors…
What follows are 99 beers that received a rating of 4.25 on Untappd. These beers were just a cut above the masses and in the overcrowded world that Craft Beer has become, that’s saying something. Each of these beers had something about them that made them stand out just a bit amongst their peers.
These beers can be broken down into 6 general categories: Barrel Aged Beer, Stouts, Porters, Tart/Sours, Pale Ales and IPAs. These categories are further broken down below. Without further adieu, I present to you 99 bottles of beer that should not be left on the wall…
Barrel Aged Beer
Something special happens to a delicious beer when it’s aged in a barrel. Whether it’s a Wine barrel, Rum barrel or Bourbon Barrel the magnificent flavors that impart themselves into the beer are often times otherworldly…While I generally stray away from spirits, I actually run towards Barrel Aged Beers. This year, these 10 barrel aged beauties were just a cut above their competition. Some notable entrants are the Blackberry Sour that Aliso Viejo’s Stadium Brewing Company previewed at this year’s Sabroso Fest; Royal by Claremont Craft Ales (which I still see on shelves…grab it…age it…enjoy…you’re welcome); and Tustin Brewing Company continuing to master barrel aging with their delicious Kentucky Hug. Below is a further breakdown of the Barrel Aged category along with the beer/brewery.
Barrel Aged Sour
Blackberry Sour by Stadium Brewing Company
Bourbon Barrel Aged Imperial Stouts
The 2017 Ground State featured Coldbot Coffee
Kentucky Hug by Tustin Brewing Company
Ground State (2017) (with Coldbot Coffee) by Bottle Logic Brewing
Fundamental Observation (WOL Preview) by Bottle Logic Brewing
Number Crunch by Bottle Logic Brewing
Sumi Ink by Grimm Artisanal Ales
Bourbon Barrel Aged Russian Imperial Stout
At this point I only buy Pre-POM douche Stone… Fydor’s Classic was a delicious 2014 treat…
Fydor’s Classic (2014) by Stone Brewing
Bourbon Barrel Aged Imperial Coffee Stout
Kentucky Breakfast Stout (KBS) by Founders Brewing Co.
Bourbon Barrel Aged Mint Mocha Stout
Dragon’s Milk Reserve: Mocha Mint (2017)
Bourbon Barrel Aged Imperial Oatmeal Stout
Simon Says: “Give my BBA Imperial Oatmeal Stout a try, you will not be disappointed…”
Royal by Claremont Craft Ales
Bourbon Barrel Aged Barleywine
Sucaba by Firestone Walker Brewing Co.
Stouts
While I’m not a believer in Stout Weather, I am a believer in imbibing delicious stouts whenever and wherever I can get my hands on them. Though I find all manner of stouts delicious, I would have to say that Coffee Stouts are my favorite. Throw in an Imperial moniker and I’m in… Some notable entries on this list are the 2017 GABF Gold Medal winning Wall of Sound by Anaheim’s Stereo Brewing Company (the best beer they make…); Grandpappy Imperial Stout from San Juan Capistrano’s Docent Brewing (these guys should be on your must visit list…); and Imagination Land a Golden Milkstout from Mother Earth Brew Co. (reminiscent of Naughty Sauce).
Below is further breakdown of the category along with the beer/brewery.
Stouts
City of the Dead Export Coffeee Stout by Modern Times Beer
Wall of Sound Oatmeal Stout by Stereo Brewing Company (GABF Gold Medal Winner)*
Imperial Stouts
A delicious East Coast Collaboration from Kent Falls with Kinsmen Brewing…Get More Likes
Get More Likes (with Kinsmen Brewing) by Kent Falls Brewing Co.
Grandpappy by Docent Brewing
Milkstouts
Viva La Beaver! Horchata Milkstout by Belching Beaver Brewery
Imagination Land Golden Milkstout by Mother Earth Brew Co.
Imperial Coffee Stouts
Son of a Baptist by Epic Brewing Co.
Sump Coffee Stout by Perennial Artisan Ales
Tovarish RIS (Burundi) by Beachwood Brewing
Porters
You can rest assured that if I love Stouts, their progenitor the Porter style is going to find it’s way onto my list. Notable entries include Tustin Brewing’s Blimp Hangar Porter, which just seems to keep getting better; and a super impressive offering from South of the border from Cervejaria Dogma. Their Imperial Porter was damn near IMPERIAL. Below is a breakdown of the category and the beer/brewery.
Porters
Blimp Hangar Porter by Tustin Brewing Co.
Baltic Porter
A healthy, hearty dose of East Coast Love from Relic…
Spectral Beast by Relic Brewing Co.
Imperial Porter
Modern Dogma by Cervejaria Dogma
Tart/Sours
I have to admit that in an effort to make this nice and neat, I kinda invented a category…None of these beers is a true sour, but their taste/flavor profiles are similar…think of this as a tart beer list with a Belgian thrown in… Some notable beers on this list were Beachwood Blendery’s 3.3e4 from their Propagation Series (someone brought this to the Week of Logic Wrap Party and it stood out to me in an epic game of “No Skips”); and Troglodyte by Anaheim’s Unsung Brewing Co. My first Grisette and man, what a delicious ultra light brew. Below is a further breakdown of the category and the beer/brewery.
Berliner Weisses
Propagation Series No. 3.3e4 by Beachwood Blendery
Guava in Berlin! By Green Cheek Beer Company
Grisette
Troglodyte by Unsung Brewing Co.
Tart Wheat Ale
Hostile Intent by Bottle Logic Brewing
Pale Ales
Seems to me like it’s been a while since anybody brewed a worthwhile Pale Ale…with their hoppy brother dominating the beer world, this relaxing/refreshing style has taken a back seat. But luckily 2017 changed that. Not sure if it was me constantly speaking forth the reemergence of the style into the universe or if brewers just got nostalgic, but either way there were definitely some standouts in both the traditional and hazy iteration of the style. Some notable entries are Field to Ferment a Centennial wet/fresh hopped pale from Seattle’s Fremont Brewing that graced SoCal with distribution this year and Tired Hands Brewing Company in general (they were involved with two Hazies that made this list). Below is a further breakdown of the category and the beer/brewery.
Pale Ales
Field to Fremont? Field to Ferment? Either way, this was a lovely Centennial Fresh Hop Pale. Wish I would have tried the other 3 variants…
Citra Happy by Artifex Brewing Company
Dymaxion by Modern Times Beer
Street 3, Block 2 by Beachwood Brewing
Field to Ferment (Centennial) by Fremont Brewing
Shire –Pale New Zealand Biter by Pure Project Brewing
Hazy Pale Ales
When 2 “haze masters” collaborate you get something notable like JeanHands courtesy of Monkish and Tired Hands.
Jean Hands (with Tired Hands Brewing Company) by Monkish Brewing Co.
Curve My Flight by Green Cheek Beer Company
Intensely Juicy, Dank, Beautiful (Copy & Paste) (with Hill Farmstead Brewery) by Tired Hands Brewing Company
IPAs
And now, we come to the payoff! Any best of beers list created by me is more than likely going to be dominated by the IPA category and once again, this list is no exception. With everyone and their grandmother brewing this style it takes a lot to stand out. Every beer listed below stood out to me above the masses. While taste is relative, I’m certain that if you love real IPAs, you want to seek out the beers on this list…
Some notes from the list below:
1) 10 First try breweries made this list (Had my first beer from them in 2017)
2) I’m currently labeling Noble Ale Works the “Haze King” of Orange County. (But look out as Evan and Unsung on your tail…)
3) Sparks, Nevada’s Revision Brewing Company should be on your MUST TRY list.
4) My Top 10 Breweries are all over this list…3 of which just cracked my top 10 this year (Pure, Green Cheek, Fieldwork)…
Brett IPA
Reckoner by Homage Brewing
IPAs
Welcome to Southern California Fremont Brewing. This can was so lovely, I almost didn’t use a glass…but, Beer Matters, so I did…Fieldwork Brewing quickly made their way onto my Top 10 List with such fantastic offerings as Coffee & Milk IPA. Trust me, it worked!All the Juice, none of the haze…a lovely Juicy Secret from New Glory
Hexagonal IPA by Bottle Logic Brewing
Old Town IPA by Tustin Brewing Company
Lush IPA by Fremont Brewing
Coffee & Milk by Fieldwork Brewing Company
Juicy Secret by New Glory Craft Brewery
Hopful 7 by Beachwood Brewing
Can-a-Bliss (a joint effort with Other Half Brewing Company) by Captain Lawrence Brewing Company
Melvin IPA by Melvin Brewing
Gimme by Docent Brewing
Sidekicks (with Alvarado Street Brewery) by El Segundo Brewing Company
Clear AF by El Segundo Brewing Company
DIPAs (Double IPAs)
A Brewmance between 2 of my favorite breweries…YES PLEASE! Noble Ale Works with Fieldwork Brewing CompanyBeachwood Brewed GreenShift! So much dankness!
Blah Blah Blah IPA by 21st Amendment Brewery
Super Beer Bros – Level 1 (with Grains of Wrath Brewing) by El Segundo Brewing Company
Leo v. Ursus: Fortem by Firestone Walker Brewing Company
Lupine by Pipeworks Brewing Company
Greenshift by Beachwood Brewing
Tell Shaky and Boxcar Joe DDH IIPA by SingleCut Beersmiths
Power Glove (with Noble Ale Works) by Fieldwork Brewing Company
Left Eye, Right Eye by Track 7 Brewing Company
Tetra City by Modern Times Beer
PUNCH-OUT!! (with Fieldwork Brewing Company) by Noble Ale Works
Dank Energy by Beachwood Brewing
Rye DIPA
Leo v. Ursus: Inferos by Firestone Walker Brewing Company
TIPA (Triple IPAs)
I sure hope they used Cryo hops in this TIPA. If they didn’t I don’t really understand the name, but damn was Tundra delicious…got to enjoy it twice this year.
Tundra by Fieldwork Brewing Company
Hazy IPAs
This Modern Times offering continued to get better with age…Golden PineappleIf only there were Vending Machines like this…Snacktime!
Golden Pineapple by Modern Times Beer
Centaur Gardens by Modern Times Beer
Goblin Rock by Modern Times Beer
Crowler Phil by Noble Ale Works
Good Googly Moogly by Noble Ale Works
I Edited It by Noble Ale Works
Countout! by Noble Ale Works
Taking It To The Extreme by Noble Ale Works
UP UP: Konami Code by Bottle Logic Brewing
LEFT RIGHT LEFT RIGHT: Konami Code by Bottle Logic Brewing
B A: Konami Code by Bottle Logic Brewing
Double Dragon by Bottle Logic Brewing
Sink or Swim by Green Cheek Beer Company
Soft Skin by Green Cheek Beer Company
A Salute To Classic Beers (with Cellarmaker Brewing Company) by Green Cheek Beer Company
Supercollider by Brouwerij West
Picnic Lightning by Brouwerij West
Battle-Scarred Shogun by Monkish Brewing Co.
Galaxy Juice by Fieldwork Brewing Company
Snacktime (with Finback Brewing) by Civil Society Brewing
90s R&B by Mumford Brewing
Cold Side by Magnify Brewing Company
28 Haze Later… by Beachwood Brewing
Hop Swingers (with Burgeon Beer Company) by Artifex Brewing Company
Master Shredder by The Veil Brewing Co.
Altered Dankopotamus by Hog Dogma Brewing Co.
DDH Rinse/Repeat (with Motueka and Wakatu) by Westbrook Brewing Co.
Broken Filter (with Beachwood Brewing) by AleSmith Brewing Company
Planet Lovetron by Revision Brewing Company
Hazy DIPAs
So much Fieldwork this year, I was in HEAVEN or somewhere out in the Galaxy…Nevada’s Revision Brewing quickly mastered the Haze…The Bruff was so smooth…1of these beers was perfect. 2 of these beers were OK. And 2 of them were a step above the norm. Crucial Taunt and Foggy Window may have come from different coasts, but both were elite Hazy DIPAs
Galaxy Sauce by Fieldwork Brewing Company
East Coast Bias by HenHouse Brewing Company
Men at Murk (with Highland Park Brewery & Alvarado Street Brewery) by Noble Ale Works
Cool Runoffs by Alvarado Street Brewery
Crucial Taunt by The Veil Brewing Co.
The Bruff by Revision Brewing Company
Xylophone Tones by Monkish Brewing Co.
Foggy Window by Monkish Brewing Co.
Hazy TIPAs
Who brews a Hazy Triple IPA? Noble Ale Works, that’s who…This should be the standard of Triple Hazies…no booziness. It morphed to near perfection with my last can…
CANniversary by Noble Ale Works
CANniversary (with peaches) by Noble Ale Works* (this beer improved to near perfection with the last can…)
And there you have it folks, 99 beers from 2017 that shouldn’t be left on the wall but should be taken down and enjoyed ; share them if you have to…
I hope that your 2018 overflows with delicious, soul satisfying Craft Beer!
2017 has come and gone and this year, 23 beers have left a lasting impression on my palate.
One brewery led the way with 6 entries on this most prestigious list, and that brewery was Orange, California’s Green Cheek Brewery. Evan and company burst on to the scene in 2017 and actually earned 7 entries on the best of list, one entry was in collaboration with El Segundo Brewing Company…
Beginner’s Luck ( A West Coast DIPA) brewed in collaboration, this, introduced the world to Green Cheek Beer Co. back in May.
What followed was an all out assault on the craft beer world with such fantastic West Coast Inspired releases as Radiant Beauty IPA, West Coast is Dead IPA and West in Peace DIPA.
West Coast is not Dead, but is ALIVE and WELL!!!
The assault continued into the realm of Hazy IPAs with Attack With Love and even branched out into the Lager realm with Bier and Evan’s Michelada (A Must Have on any Brewery Visit!).
Attack With Love was a fantastic foray into the Haze…
When it came to Bourbon Barrel Aged Offerings, Anaheim’s Bottle Logic Brewing still reigned supreme; with such offerings as Fundamental Observation
Fundamental Forces
Yes, this was a growler full of Fundamental Forces…
and a coffee infused variant FOMO brewed in collaboration with Mostra Coffee.
The level of Coffee deliciousness in FOMO is indescribable.
Anaheim’s Noble Ale Works kept themselves relevant in light of Evan’s departure, with some wondrous Hazy DIPAs; Starting off the year with 24K Juice
Probably my absolute favorite beer of 2017, that 24K Juice!
and ending it strong with a DDH version, known as 48K Juice.
You say Double Dry-Hopped, I say HELL YEAH!
Much like Green Cheek, San Diego’s Pure Brewing Project took the craft beer world by storm this year and cranked out such solid offerings as Murklands, a Hazy Pale Ale and Digital Detox, a Hazy IPA that were both to die for…
Pure Project quickly became one of my top 5 breweries…
The West Coast IPA saw some righteous treatment from San Diego’s Alpine Brewing with their super dank release of Windows Up. And Beachwood Brewing solidified their role as West Coast Masters with a Double Dry Hopped version of their Melrose IPA.
God Save Julian Shrago! I love any Beachwood IPA, but DDH? Lord!
Hazy Pale Ales made a strong showing this year with fantastic releases from HenHouse Brewing, their #Stoked Series was off the hook !
So stoked! to have Craft Beer Friends all over the country, got to try this HenHouse.
and New Jersey’s Magnify Brewing, whose Low Visibility Pale showed just how far down these cats could boogie…
Magnify continues to show me that I love more about NJ than just Bon Jovi…
Stouts were alive and well the country over this year; as evidenced by such strong releases as North Carolina’s Burial Brewing Co.’s Skillet Donut Stout
Skillet Donut…DAMN!
Utah’s Epic Brewing’s fabled Big Bad Baptista Mexican Inspired BA Imperial Stout
El BBA Mas Fina! Big, Bad Baptista!
Denver, Colorado’s consistently epic Oatmeal Yeti Imperial Oatmeal Stout from the masters at Great Divide Brewing Company,
I’ve always believed that Great Minds Drink Alike…
and Costa Mesa, California’s The Patsy courtesy of Barley Forge Brewing Co. brewed in collaboration with Thunder King Coffee.
Such an awesome brewery to just hang at. Throw in some Coffee Infused Stout and I’m in heaven…Thanks Barley Forge!
This year, 2 sours/ American Wild Ales even made the list with Firestone Walker’s Barrelworks and their barrel wizard Sour Jim introducing us to Krieky Bones and the Bay Area’s The Rare Barrel who wowed me with Ensorcelled…
While 2017 was loaded full of delicious Craft Beers, these 24 were the standouts and should be on any self respecting craft beer lovers radar. I would never say these are the “best” as taste is relative, but if you are looking for a gateway to great beer, look no further.
I hope your 2018 is full of Fantastic , Independent Craft Beer!