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.
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.
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
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.
Ummm… any explanatory context for those of us not in the know? 
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 
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.
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
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
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
