Beers in 2026

Classic by Baeren Bier (Morioka-shi, Iwate, Japan) - Dortmunder Export (lager)

Well balanced lager with slightly roasted malts as the backbone, slight sweetness and some floral notes with a quick spicy kick. Relatively light beer with a creamy mouthfeel.

2 Likes

Sierra Nevada’s Oktoberfest, done in collaboration with Störtebeker Brewery in Germany. Nice level of bitterness–exactly what I want from a Festbier. It went really well with the red beans & rice I made.

2 Likes

Double Tap by Berryessa Brewing Company (Winters, CA) - Hazy DIPA

Orange, grapefruit and hints of peach flavors are starting off before plenty of piney notes take over with some tartness but also some sweeter caramel malt flavors in the background. Very dry, high bitterness finish which lingers for some time

1 Like

Miami Rice by Barebottle Brewing Company (San Francisco, CA) and Hop Dogma Brewing Company (El Granada, CA) - IPA

Mainly citrus (lemon, lime) and pine tastes throughout the sip with a sharp flavor. Hints of grass and some very slight floral notes. High bitterness finish - not a bad IPA but feels a bit one dimensional.

1 Like

Ummm… any explanatory context for those of us not in the know? :thinking: :person_shrugging:

Sure. Köln is Kölsch territory, located on the left side of the Rhine. Düsseldorf is located on the wrong side of the Rhine, and is Altbier territory.

Neither inhabitants of either city would be caught dead drinking the other’s beer.

I’m from Bonn so IDRGAF, but I prefer Kölsch over Alt. And Pilsner over both :zany_face:

1 Like

Fear the Reaper by Original Pattern Brewing Company (Oakland, CA) - Triple IPA

Well balanced TIPA - citrus notes (grapefruit) and piney flavors in good balance. Hints of grapes and berries but also some dankness and slight sweetness from the malts but nothings overwhelms. Dry, low-medium bitterness finish. Drinks quite light for a triple.

1 Like

Shifted Universe by Cellarmaker Brewing Company (Oakland, CA) and everywhere (Orange, CA) - IPA

Very citrus-forward (grapefruit, orange, lime) hazy IPA with hints of peach and grape in the background. It then turns fast into an interesting mix of dank, pine and some light floral flavors with hints of malt sweetness. Soft body but unusual high carbonation which makes for an unusual mouthfeel. Dry, low bitterness finish - interesting and a bit unusual, complex IPA

1 Like

The Soughten by Great Notion Brewery (Portland, OR) and Breakside Brewery (Portland, OR) - IPA

First IPA for me with the addition of Euphorics which are hop oil emulsions - IPA smelt tropical but was heavy on the citrus in taste (grapefruit, orange peel) before grassy, piney and dank flavors took over. Dry, medium-high bitter finish which lingered for a long time. Was expecting a bit more fruit flavors from the addition but overall not a bad WCIPA

1 Like

One Giant Leap by Alvarado Street Brewery (Monterey, CA) - hazy TIPA

Very smooth TIPA which hides its 10% ABV very well - tropical flavors (mainly mango but also melon, peach and orange) mixed with some piney and floral notes, malt flavors and some very slight caramel sweetness. Dry, low bitterness finish. dangerously easy to drink with a very soft mouthfeel

2 Likes

Epoch by Narrative Fermentation (San Jose, CA) - Imperial Pastry Stout

Dessert in a can - a very good dessert. Reminds me a bit on bounty, the coconut-chocolate bar, but with added vanilla and especially coffee notes and a noticeable bitterness in the finish.

1 Like

Hazy Future by Narrative Fermentation (San Jose, CA) - Hazy IPA

Very fruit-forward hazy IPA with mango, orange and citrus flavors. Some malt notes in the background and some additional lighter herbaceous tastes in the second half of the sip. Dry, low bitterness finish. Rather “classical” NEIPA with a quite soft mouthfeel.

2 Likes

Making Waves by Original Pattern Brewing Company (Oakland, CA) and Humble Sea Brewing Company (Santa Cruz, CA) - Hazy IPA

Nice grapefruit bomb with a lot of dankness - starts with tons of grapefruit flavors (some orange zest and pineapple in the far background) before a lot of dank tastes take over. Dry, low bitterness finish makes for a typical hazy IPA which is easy to drink

2 Likes

Terra Blanc by The Drowned Lands Brewery (Warwick, NY) - Hazy DIPA

Fruit, fruit, fruit - mango, peach, grapes, oranges which dominate this beer without being overly sweet. Some malts in the background with also some hints of grassiness. Low to medium bitter finish which lingers for a long time. Drowned Lands rarely disappoints

3 Likes

Floating Islands by Fieldwork Brewing Company (Berkeley, CA) - Hazy IPA

First time having an IPA with dolcitra (and citra) hops - very strong flavors of orange and peach upfront which is followed by some herbaceous, slightly dank notes before a dry, low bitterness finish which has quite unusual a relatively strong coconut flavor. Very enjoyable hazy IPA especially with the coconut component

1 Like

Merry Dankster by Great Notion Brewery (Portland, OR) - Hazy DIPA

The name already describes the main flavor - a lot of cannabis/dank with some resiny notes. But with some sweeter, peach and orange flavors mixed in. Dry, medium bitter finish. Overall, good mix of sweeter and dank flavors

1 Like

I agree. Best NA you can buy, IMO.

I adore altbier. Looks good!

Just never say that out loud in Cologne :wink:

West Kept Secret by Cellarmaker Brewing Company (Oakland, CA) and everywhere (Orange, CA) - IPA

Very crisp IPA with strong tropical flavors (passionfruit, guava, grapefruit, peach, orange) and some grassy, dank notes. Dry, medium bitter finish - very crushable beer

1 Like