Battle of the Beers! IPA Edition

"A menagerie of hops is layered throughout the brewing process: Simcoe for unique fruitiness and grapefruit zest, Columbus for strong hop pungency, Centennial for pine and citrus notes and Cascade for floral aroma. A multi-dimensional hop experience."

                                                      - Green Flash Brewery

"Deep golden to light amber color, and a nice off-white head, with good retention when properly served. Starts off with pleasantly strong hop flavors, balanced by a firm malt backdrop, then fades to a dry finish with a lingering hoppiness."

                                                      - Alesmith Brewing Company

  
          

          VS

      Green Flash Brewery               :Brewery:          Alesmith Brewing Company

       West Costa IPA                    :Beer:                             Alesmith IPA

                  IPA                                   :Style:                              IPA

                  7.3%                                 :ABV:                              7.25%

Two San Diego classics go head to head in this weeks edition of Battle of the Beers. Both beers are great examples of the San Diego inspired "west coast IPA" and are cornerstones for their respective breweries. You can never go wrong with either of these beers when visiting the fine establishments that San Diego has to offer, but now it's time for the battle!

Green Flash was founded in 2002 by Mike and Lisa Hinkley, however it wasn't until brew master Chuck Silva joined the team when their beers really started to stand out. Chuck brought his innovative style and knowledge and Green Flash began its premium style beer catalog. West Coast IPA, often considered to be the one of the original abundantly hopped IPA's, was the first beer Chuck put his cutting edge style on. 

West Coast pours smoothly and shows off its bold amber body. A creamy off-white head crowns the beer with heavy scents of citrus, floral and pine. A strong yet smooth malt presence starts off the flavor rollercoaster and ends in a pungent bitterness, a signature in West Coast style IPA's.

Aroma: 7

Appearance: 4

Flavor: 7

Palate: 4
Style Rating: 8/10

Overall: 22/30

Forged in 1995, Alesmith is lead by award winning brewer Peter Zein and specializes in hand crafted ales in a variety of styles. They have made their mark in the San Diego craft scene with their solid year round lineup which includes the chocolatey yet smooth Nautical Nut Brown, the HUGE 12% abv imperial Speedway Stout which host rich coffee and chocolate flavors, and the award winning strong Belgian Horny Devil. A diverse and tasty lineup to say the least.

For this battle, we call forth their IPA. A creamy white head sits atop the gorgeous golden body. Powerful hints of grapefruit and pine fill the nose. There is a very unnoticeable malt base that dances gracefully with the fruity hop flavors and ends in a dry bitter finish.

Aroma: 8

Appearance: 4

Flavor: 8

Palate: 4
Style Rating: 9/10

Overall: 24/30

The Winner: Alesmith IPA narrowly edges out West Coast IPA. These scores are based on my preference alone Alesmith IPA exemplifies everything I want in an IPA. Clear golden body, huge hop aroma and flavors with a slight malt base and a dry finish. Although Alesmith won this battle, both of these beers are truly worthy of your taste buds. Cheers!!

Awesome mom makes napkin art for kids. KCCO!

Stone Brewing Company - Enjoy by 05.17.2013

"You have in your hands a devastatingly fresh double IPA. While freshness is a key component of many beers - especially big, citrusy, floral IPAs - we've taken it further, a lot further, in this IPA. You see, we specifically brewed it NOT to last. We've not only gone to extensive lengths to ensure that you're getting this beer in your hands within an extraordinarily short window, we made sure that the Enjoy By date isn't randomly etched in tiny text somewhere on the label, to be overlooked by all but the most attentive of retailers and consumers. Instead, we've sent a clear message with the name of the beer itself that there is no better time than right now to enjoy this IPA."        
                                                     - Stone Brewing Company

Brewery: Stone Brewing Company
Beer: Enjoy by 05.17.2013

Style: Double IPA

ABV: 9.4%

Yes I know, I have already reviewed Stone's amazing Enjoy by double IPA and I won't be reviewing every batch that is released. But this date 05.17.2013 just happens to be our 5 year wedding anniversary. So this post is just my excuse to talk about my beautiful, intelligent and loving wife along with some notes on one of my favorite beers.

We met online through Myspace (remember that?) in an odd series of events. I was looking to meet someone different and smart, preferably female who I could just hang out with and not date. A prior experience made me shy away from dating single mothers so I felt that if said female had a kid, it would help sway me from dating her. That night I stumbled across the profile "Kristine I'm way too cool for Myspace Hall" and decided to inquire about how cool she was. 

Kristine had a daughter, November, so I felt as if I struck gold with my mission.  Initial welcoming messages turned into can't wait to read short stories. This was back before I had a desk job or a smart phone so I would rush home to see if I had a new message. Every new message contained bits and pieces about my future wife and I couldn't get enough. She grew up in a small town in Utah, became a teen mom before it was cool and still managed to graduate college with a bachelors in English literature. Her vast knowledge of music and the arts overwhelmed me but was refreshing. There were many small factors that contributed to my thinking that she was the "one" but one that applies here was when she told me that her friend called her a beer snob. 

San Francisco 2007 - Rock the Bells trip with Rage Against the Machine/ Wu Tang headlining

Kristine was a huge Heineken fan and was telling her friend about how anything named Budweiser/Miller/Coors was shit. This made my inner beer spirit happier than I knew at the time. Many, many beers later and great times shared in Las Vegas, Price & Saint George Utah, San Francisco, Rosarito Beach, Disneyland, and especially San Diego, we decided to get married. I proposed off the cliffs in La Jolla shores one October evening and five years ago this date, we were wed in Las Vegas. 

Leaving the ceremony, she thinks "what have I done?" 

If you're still with me, I appreciate your time because this outlet gives me the opportunity to share my thoughts on beer. However today I digressed. Today I can't help but reflect on how much things have progressed and changed for the best. She has seen me at my worst and stuck by me through thick and thin. A constant inspiration to be a better person while also trying to make this planet we call home better in every way. Today, we live in Eastlake with our teenage daughter and 2 year old son (aka the reasons I drink :) ) and life is good. So thank you for reading, hope you enjoy the blog and I plan on doing more out in about posts featuring some of my favorite drinking spots.

Our kids - November and Logan (look at them highwaters! LOL) 

Onto this beauty of a beer, expelling hints of peach, pine and citrus scents, which I absolutely adore. Golden body and pours great with its glowing white head. The beer takes my palate on a roller coaster of flavors starting off with a fruity and floral hoppiness followed by a surprisingly smooth yet bitter end. At a whopping 9.4%, you would think this beer would too bitter or too strong but have faith in Stone Brewing, they know their shit! If you haven't tried an Enjoy By IPA, you NEED to. Yes, they are hard to come by but if you like them on Facebook or follow them on twitter, they will alert you to the next release. Cheers! 

Aroma: 10

Appearance: 5

Flavor: 10

Palate: 4
Style Rating: 10/10

Overall: 29/30

Well Played. KCCO!!

Mad Lab Craft Brewing- Anarchy IPA

"Citrus flavors, bitter, light and refreshing"

                                           

                                    - Mad Lab Craft Brewing

Brewery: Mad Lab Craft Brewing

Beer: Anarchy IPA

Style: IPA

ABV: 7.1%

One day a co-worker, who knows my love of craft beer,  asked if I had ever heard of a brewery called Mad Lab. Up until then I hadn't, so she went on to tell me how the bottle, with its white label and molecular structure background, impressed her. During lunch at K-Pasta in Imperial Beach, I noticed a bottle that was similar to what was described and had to try it. It ended up being Rebel IPA, Mad Lab's tasty session-style IPA. The bottle was different, the beer was solid and now my intrigue peaked. 

Mad Lab is the first brewery to open up in the South bay, a place I hold dear to me since I grew up in Chula Vista. Located off of the 905, Mad Lab Craft brewing is a quaint brewery that welcomes all craft beer drinkers with care and comfort that is unmatched. Head brewer Mike McFarland and his wife Daphne host their tasting room like Cheers, where everyone knows your name, and creates such a personal and friendly environment you just don't get with bigger breweries. 

Mike continues to push the limits on his recipes while also creating new and flavorful beers. While I was there, my favorite beer on tap was their delicious oatmeal stout, Gatekeeper, and I cannot wait until that is brewed again. Being a hop head, I had to try their Anarchy IPA. The body pours out sexy and models its golden amber hue like a professional. Its creamy white head expels strong citrus, lime and pine hints. The initial taste are full of fruit and floral flavors that dances gracefully with its light spicy malt base. Anarchy is refreshing and light but still packs a hoppy bitterness enjoyed by all hop heads. A solid IPA and a must try. Mad Lab's motto "where science and art co-exist in one pint" are hard words to live by but they pull it off with Anarchy. 

Aroma: 7

Appearance: 4

Flavor: 7

Palate: 4
Style Rating: 9/10

Overall: 22/30

Well said my friend. KCCO

Golden Road Brewing/ Tony Darts Away

A couple of weeks ago I had planned on visiting my good friend, Javier, who lives in Hollywood. Knowing my love for craft beer, he had planned on taking us (Steve aka Big Red and I) to a couple of the local breweries. Eagle Rock, Angel City and Golden Road. However, his job is extremely demanding and he was called into work on Saturday. So we found ourselves in Burbank after he was off and he decided to take us to Tony's Darts Away. 

Luck would have it that Tony's Darts Away is one of the best craft beer bars in the Los Angeles area. Tony Yanow, owner of Tony's Darts Away as well as craft beer bar Mohawk Bend and Golden Road Brewery, is passionate about IPA's. One can tell from the continually rotating 38 taps, which showcases a beer list with one page of IPA's and another page for everything else . This place made me feel like I had never left the craft beer scene in San Diego, every beer I had there was great. The beer gods were on our side as it was also Tony's Darts Away 3rd anniversary celebration. For the anniversary Tony wanted to create a beer that was worthy enough for the occasion and also represented his love for IPA's. Enter Darts Away IPA. 

Brewery: Golden Road Brewing

Beer: Darts Away IPA

Style: Double IPA

ABV: 9.6%

Tony, the staff at TDA and Golden Road's head Brewer, Cole Hackbarth, picked flavors together that would best represent the bars personality. Whether it be lugging grain bags or adding ingredients to the mash, every member of the TDA team assisted with the brewing process, a very special and personal touch added to this great beer. The nose is full of citrus and pine notes and while my pour had no head, the amber body was very enticing. Initial flavors of pine, grapefruit and is followed by a smooth yet bitter finish. Fresh hops are abundant in this fantastic double IPA. Kudos to Golden Road Brewery and the Tony's Darts Away team.

“It was meant to be an anniversary beer only, but the response has been so overwhelming that we may need to brew it again soon.” – Tony Yanow

Aroma: 8

Appearance: 4

Flavor: 8

Palate: 4
Style Rating: 9/10

Overall: 24/30

While in Burbank/LA, I wanted to try beers I wouldn't normally try and with the 3 year anniversary celebration, TDA brought in a great list of beers. Highlights from the day were Golden Road's own It's not always sunny in L.A (a great black IPA), Wolf Among Weeds (a tasty hop forward IPA) along with the Bruery's White Oak (a wonderful blend of Golden Belgian and an aged Golden Belgian), San Diego's own Ballast Point Habanero Sculpin among others.....that I'll need to refer to my untappd account to remember. However, the good news is that the great beers of Golden Road brewing are coming to San Diego. Starting tonight at Hamilton's Tavern the Golden Road team will be there answering any questions, come by and check them out. 

Beer list: 

Wolf Among Weeds IPA
It's Not Always Sunny in LA
The Big Le "Brah" Ski
Golden Road Berliner Weisse
Point the Way IPA
Trouble Ahead Red
Kolsch
+cask of Get Up Offa That Brown w/ Handsome Coffee 

Great point! KCCO!

Alpine Beer Company - Nelson

"An outstanding hop from New Zealand, Nelson Sauvin, is generously used throughout the brewing and dry-hopping of this unique beer. European rye is added for a smooth, malty addition to flavor."

                                                    -  Alpine Beer Company

Brewery: Alpine Beer Company

Beer: Nelson

Style: IPA

ABV: 7%

I'll admit, I was not familiar with Alpine Beer Company until late last year. As a work commitment I was asked to drive out to Yuma, Arizona and it was during that long drive that I decided to take advantage of my eastward journey and make a stop in Alpine on the way back. Living in Chula Vista with a wife and two kids, it's tough to justify going out to Alpine for beer, especially beer that I was not familiar with. It's not like you see many Alpine bottles at the local bottle shop/liquor store either. So I had asked a few friends of mine, craft beer lovers like yourselves, if they wanted anything from the brewery. My good friend Steve Nelson, aka big red, of course asked for a bottle of Nelson. Be it fate or be it luck, I am truly grateful for these series of events. 

I picked up a bottle of Nelson myself and it kicked off my love for Alpine Beer Company, I have been HUGE advocate for them ever since. Nelson is an excellent IPA! The body is Kate Beckinsale in Van Helsing, sexy. Nelson models its bright golden body and is topped off with a marvelous white head. The aroma is fresh and full of hoppy peach and mango scents, it makes the beer very inviting to drink. The initial flavor pleasures your palate with a smooth malt flavor (Rye malt) and hints of tropical fruits, courtesy of the Nelson Suavin hops. It finishes with a sleek, fruity and flavorful bitterness that makes this beer very easy to drink. Nelson Sauvin is a type of hop grown in New Zealand and when used correctly, gives a beer an amazing flavor. Alpine Beer Company uses it perfectly in Nelson. 

There are other beers who utilize the powerful flavors or the Nelson Sauvin hops; Mother Earth's Kismet, Karl Strauss's Big Barrel and Widmer's Nelson Imperial IPA to name a few. If these are some beers that you like, you are a fan of the tropical fruit flavors of the Nelson Sauvin hops. 

We can all agree that it would be great to see Alpine Beer Company's beers readily available but as stated in an earlier post, the low supply and rarity of their beers adds to their mystique. If you have the time, take a trip out to Alpine and visit their brewery and you can see for yourself why their production is so low. Their brewery is tiny, but you can bet you will get your money's worth with any of their beers. 

Aroma: 9

Appearance: 5

Flavor: 9

Palate: 5
Style Rating: 10/10

Overall: 28/30

Let me help you. KCCO

Russian River Brewing Company - Pliny the Elder

"Pliny the Elder is brewed with Amarillo, Centennial, CTZ, and Simcoe hops. It is well-balanced with malt, hops, and alcohol, slightly bitter with a fresh hop aroma of floral, citrus, and pine. Best enjoyed FRESH! That is why we make it in such limited supply. Actual bottling date is printed on each bottle!

After much research in beer books, brainstorming, and deliberation, we came up with "Pliny the Elder". Pliny, the man, lived in the first century- 23 to 79 A.D. According to our brewing references, he and his contemporaries either created the botanical name or at least wrote about Lupus Salictarius, or hops, currently known as Humulus Lupulus. That was a very early reference to an important part of any Double IPA! Pliny the beer has now become one of our flagship brews!

Cheers to the scholar, historian, officer, writer, and Roman Naturalist- Pliny the Elder!"

                                                                   - Russian River Brewing Company

Not my best pour, I know :(

Brewery: Russian River Brewing Company

Beer name: Pliny the Elder
Beer Style: Double IPA
ABV: 8.0 % 

Somewhere around 5 years ago this beer changed my palate and the way I tasted beers. After first hearing about Pliny, it took several months before I was able to try it, so my anticipation was high. Has anyone ever recommended a movie to you? They try and build it up saying how amazing it is and every time they see you they remind you of it. Maybe they can't even control themselves and start reciting lines from the movie. Your anticipation builds and you go into this movie expecting something great. Then when you watch it, it just seems like an average movie. Well that did NOT happen here and Pliny definitely lived up to its hype. 

The aroma is packed with citrus and piney excellence. Although my pour did not do Pliny any justice, the body is gorgeous. The bold and rich gold body is crowned with a pearly white head. My first thought of the flavor is that it is FRESH!! The malt base compliments the hops perfectly, giving the initial flavor a slight sweetness along with a light bitterness. Then your palate is greeted with a refreshing bitterness done to perfection. Excellent beer!

The good folks over at Russian River have been brewing some fantastic beers since 2004 and the demand for their beers keeps increasing. But expanding their production has not gone any further than mild conversation between owners Vinnie and Natalie Cilurzo. As much as I would like Pliny or Temptation or any other their beers to be readily available,  I think some of the mystique behind their beers is that they are so exclusive, unless you live near the brewery. All I know is that every time I see a Russian River beer at the local bottle shop, I'm getting it. And you should too! 

Hint: There are times when liquor stores and bottle shops here in San Diego have some Pliny in their back stock, you just have to ask them about it. 

Aroma: 9

Appearance: 5

Flavor: 9

Palate: 5
Style Rating: 10/10

Overall: 28/30

Mind the Gap! KCCO

Alpine Beer Company - Exponential Hoppiness

"A West Coast Triple IPA
Very popular. A complex hopping method where each hop addition is double the previous amount. More hops in the hopback and then two dry-hop sessions. The second dry-hop session is with whole hops and oak chips. "                                                            - Alpine Beer Company

Brewery: Alpine Beer Company

Beer: Exponential Hoppiness

Style: Triple IPA

ABV: 10.75%

San Diego is home to many craft breweries. Some of them are good, offering a few oustanding beers, some of them have separated themselves from the rest, by offering a great lineup of mainstay beers, and then there are others who seem like they do no wrong; Alpine Beer Company is one of those breweries. Duet, Nelson, Pure Hoppiness, Captain Stout and Alpine Ale are all amazing beers and I would drink them on a regular basis if I could. So when I do get the chance of getting a bottle of theirs, I jump on it. This time I was fortunate enough to get a bottle of Exponential Hoppiness. 

EH=PH^2 describes the beer as being a version of Pure Hoppiness (squared) and as Alpine states, the hopping method in complex where each hop addition is double the previous amount. The result is a tremendously hoppy and flavorful triple IPA. Hints of grapefruit come through the hops along with a slight maltyness. The amber-orange body is inviting and disguises the power of Exponential Hoppiness. Initial flavor is true to its name, hoppy and bitter and marries great with the malt base, finishing with a strong and refreshing bitterness. GREAT IIIPA!!! Highly recommended. Keep your eyes out for more Alpine Beer Company beer reviews. 

Aroma: 8

Appearance: 5

Flavor: 8

Palate: 4
Style Rating: 10/10

Overall: 25/30

Get Low, Get Dirty and have yourself a good time. KCCO

Stone Brewing Company - Ruination IPA

"So called because of the "ruinous" effect on your palate! This massive hop monster has a wonderfully delicious and intensely bitter flavor on a refreshing malt base. One taste and you can easily see why we call this brew "a liquid poem to the glory of the hop!" Those who seek, crave and rejoice in beers with big, bold, bitter character will find true nirvana in Stone Ruination IPA" 

                                               - Stone Brewing Company

Brewery: Stone Brewing Company

Beer: Ruination

Style: Double IPA

ABV: 7.7%

      Calling this beer a hop monster couldn't be closer to the truth. Attacking your palate with 100+ IBU's (International Bittering Units) it truly has a "ruinous" effect. I almost instantly fell in love with this beer after the first time I tried it. It pushed my palate to the limits, to a place where little hoppy angels fly around, a kind of hop heaven. OK so maybe not there but the hops are abundant in this beer. However, the extreme hoppiness compliments the malt base almost perfectly. 

         Ruination holds a close place to my beer heart as it was a staple in my expanding craft beer tastes. During my Ruination run I would go to the store and pick up a new bottle or two, ones I've never tried before, and then Ruination. It is available almost everywhere craft beer is sold - especially in San Diego - and became my comfort beer for a long time. It is also a fun beer to introduce to non-craft beer drinkers too. Seeing their bitter beer face after their initial taste is pretty entertaining and that is when you realize your palate is well educated in all things hoppy. 

      

          My pours as of late have not been the best and sometimes I feel that I don't do the beer justice with a lousy pour, to that I apologize, they will get better. Ruination boosts a hoppy aroma, full of zesty grapefruit hints. The body is sexy, a beautiful white head atop the golden hue. Then the power of Columbus and Centennial hops hit your palate with a smooth and bitter flavor to match the great malt base. Hop heads rejoice, this beer is for us! Cheers!

Aroma: 7

Appearance: 4

Flavor: 9

Palate: 4
Style Rating: 9/10

Overall: 24/30

It's hard to argue a women's POV. KCCO

 

Stone Brewing - Enjoy By 4.20.2013

"You have in your hands a devastatingly fresh double IPA. While freshness is a key component of many beers - especially big, citrusy, floral IPAs - we've taken it further, a lot further, in this IPA. You see, we specifically brewed it NOT to last. We've not only gone to extensive lengths to ensure that you're getting this beer in your hands within an extraordinarily short window, we made sure that the Enjoy By date isn't randomly etched in tiny text somewhere on the label, to be overlooked by all but the most attentive of retailers and consumers. Instead, we've sent a clear message with the name of the beer itself that there is no better time than right now to enjoy this IPA."                                       -  Stone Brewing

Brewery: Stone Brewing Company

Beer name: Enjoy By 4.20.2013
Beer Style: IIPA
ABV: 9.4 % 

    Being a hop head and holding Stone Brews close to my heart- they were a huge part of my roots in craft beer- it is very difficult not to go gaga whenever they introduce a new beer, especially an IPA. But Stone's Enjoy By series are....AMAZING!! My first Enjoy by (12.21.2012) blew my palate away with its intense hoppiness and I have been hooked ever since. Extremely hoppy from the first aroma to the last bittering taste, this beer takes your palate to hop heaven.Not only are they hoppy, they are jam packed with delicious citrus/peachy flavors.  All the while assisting in your buzz with their 9.4% ABV. 

   
         At first glance, this beer is the Kate Upton of sports illustrated, the Jennifer Aniston of Friends, the Anna Kendrick of...any movie she is in. It looks scrumptious, as you can all see by the picture above. Great sized white head, frothy and fully lasting. It poured as if in a commercial of great craft beers. The golden sparkling body was very welcoming. The aroma delights with heavy doses of fresh peach and grapefruit hoppiness. This is definitely one of the smoothest double IPA's I've ever had, as the moderate initial bitterness is taken over by the almost sweet bitterness of the end. Its a beautiful beer from head to toe and just as divine on the pallet. The fresh hopped IPA style, used also in Russian River's Pliny the Elder, is truly marvelous. I know these didn't get distributed in San Diego but get your hands on the next batch if you can. 

Aroma: 10

Appearance: 5

Flavor: 9

Palate: 4
Style Rating: 10/10

Overall: 28/30

Inject some Randomness in your mornings. KCCO

Mother Earth - Kismet

"Do you believe in fate, destiny, chance, will? Does it really matter? Something brought you to drink this beer. Oh wait, could it be a mad man of an IPA that reeks of NZ Nelson hops and leaves a lingering anesthetic bitterness that is sure to ruin any beer consumed after it? Columbus tends to do that. You forgot what we were talking about didn’t you? Did you care in the first place? That’s what we thought. Just relax and savor every sip, that is, if you can take your schnoz out of your glass "                      -   Mother Earth Brew Company

Brewery: Mother Earth
Beer name: Kismet
Beer Style: IPA
ABV: 7.2 %

    First off thank you to the people at Mother Earth Brew Company for their great beer and for being the first of many beers that I will be rating. The pleasure was all mine. I am a huge fan of the Nelson NZ hops which I was just recently turned on to. Karl Strauss Big Barrel IIPA & Alpine's Nelson are two of my favorite beers that use Nelson NZ hops. My wife was actually going to surprise me and get me a bottle of Nelson from Bine & Vine but they had ran out. She was then recommended to try Kismet.

   The beer flows smoothly from the bottle with a small and creamy head which quickly diminishes. The off white head is a great crown to the honey-brown/orange'ish color of the body. Kismet offers some of the most delicious aromas for an IPA as the abundance of grapefruit hit in a refreshing and lively way. A light sweetness crossed my palate as soon as the beer met my taste buds  followed by a moderate to heavy bitter finish. Just like an IPA should. All around a great IPA and a great recommendation from Bine and Vine.

Aroma: 8

Appearance: 3

Flavor: 6

Palate: 3
Style Rating: 8/10

Overall: 20/30

Life is short, have some fun. KCCO