Orange Julian by Cellarmaster Brewing Company (Oakland, CA) - Hazy IPA
Not surprising with such a name, it starts with tons of orange flavor (and some passionfruit and tangerine more in the background) but without being too sweet. The orange is noticeable throughout the sip but there are some light pine notes later on before a dry, medium bitter finish. Classic NEIPA and (too) very drinkable.
Today I had a Grand Season from Allagash of Portland, Maine. Tis the season! A strong (10% ABV) Belgian style holiday ale with mulling spices. Very nice.
King Citra by Fieldwork Brewing Company (Berkeley, CA) - Hazy DIPA
Sometimes a beer hits a perfect point of flavor, mouthfeel and balance - these are often super-fresh local ones like this DIPA more or less from a brewery around the corner. Full blast of orange whip like flavors coupled with a good amount of piney notes and a dry, medium bitter finish - that gets close to a perfect hazy IPA.
Pulp from Fieldwork Brewing Company (Berkeley, CA) - NEIPA
Another good one from Fieldwork with plenty of juiciness (peach, orange, tangerine) but this one quite quickly add a lot of resiny funkiness and a dry, medium bitter finish. Very creamy mouthfeel which actually helps to soften the resiny character.
Pink PMB by Alvarado Street Brewery (Monterey, CA) - Fruited Sour
Great fruit flavor from peach and mango with some subdued notes of banana in the background before a nice strong punch of tartness to balance out this sour. It’s really hard to go wrong with Alvarado Street sours as they have dialed in this balance and don’t let their fruited sours become just “fruit shakes”
Green Moss by Hop Butcher For The World (Chicago, IL) - Hazy DIPA
Very juicy NEIPA throughout the sip with wide ranging flavors from peach to pineapple to blueberry and lime. Still enough grassy, slightly spicy counterbalance in the middle and dry, medium bitter finish to really hit all the notes of a great hazy DIPA
Quiet Harbors by Fieldwork Brewing Company (Berkeley, CA) - Hazy IPA
Starts with your expected tropical/fruity notes (mainly peach, grapefruit and grapes) but these flavors disappear quite quickly and some grassy, slightly floral flavors come into play but are also relatively short lived before a dry, low bitterness finish. Overall the flavors are good but the whole sip feels somehow a bit muted.
Freshest Cargo by Alvarado Street Brewery (Monterey, CA) - IPA
Very crisp and clean tasting IPA with strong citrus and pine/resinous flavors. Dry, medium-to-high bitterness finish. Great example of a WCIPA
Brother McClane by Laughing Monk Brewing (San Francisco, CA) - Hazy IPA
Rather “classic” NEIPA with peach and grapefruit flavors upfront and quite a bit of dankness in the second half of the sip. Dry, relatively low bitterness finish. Very drinkable but also feels a bit muted and could have a bit stronger and pronounced flavors.
Bling Dynasty by 3 Sons Brewing Company (Dania Beach, FL) - Fruited Gose
Second time tasting a sour/gose from this brewery (from their “Bling” series) and they again really nailed the fruit to tart ratio, mouthfeel etc. Excellent berry flavors, strong tartness and the salt from the gose brings everything together. That’s how sours should be done.
