San Clemente 3rd Annual Micro Brew Fest

Saturday, April 20th was the 3rd Annual San Clemente Micro Brew Fest hosted by Left Coast Brewery. There were 16 breweries on hand from Orange County, San Diego County, and the Inland Empire. Combined with a couple good friends, some good music, and perfect weather.... it was bound to be a great day!






My first stop was Mother Earth Brewing Co. because I haven't had the chance to try their brews. I went for the Hop Diggity Double IPA and it was really good. Next was Inland Empire Brewing Co. (another one that I had yet to try). I went for the Victoria (American Strong Ale). Over to Bootlegger's Brewery for their Golden Chaos. Check in at The Bruery for a quick taste of White Oak (this is some great stuff). Time to head back to the shade to visit Left Coast Brewery for some Hop Juice (one of my favorites).


We started off strong so we took a few minutes to enjoy some good music from Aloha Radio.











Back to work... The day wouldn't have been right if we hadn't stopped by Hangar 24 for their Double IPA. I would have to say that this one is right up there with my favorite Double IPA's, especially on warm days because it goes down so smooth (It's kind of scary for 9% ABV).







Slowing it down a bit we used our last 4 taste tickets for Beachwood BBQ & Brewing's Pole Position IPA. Then off to Noble Ale Works for a Big Whig IPA. Last, but certainly not least was another stop at The Bruery for some Loakal Red and then finishing off at Hangar 24 with an Orange Wheat.













Overall this was a great event. For $25 presale (included 10 4-oz. tasters), I thought it was reasonably priced. The crowd was great and the brewery selection was good. The only real thing that needs a makeover was the food that was pretty run of the mill. If the weather is as nice as it was this year, I will definitely make it back next year!

Craft Beer in Japan (Tokyo)

My wife and I were fortunate enough to make it over to Japan for a week. Unfortunately though, I only had one day to hit craft beer places in Tokyo...

It really seems like from reading online and talking to people who have been there before that the craft beer scene is really starting to take off big time. And its not just bringing in a bunch of killer craft beers from San Diego County (although they do have a lot!), but there are some great Japanese craft breweries that are producing beers that could go head to head with anything from Southern California.

I have to start with a side note. I am a huge IPA fan, but I usually try a variety of beers. After 6 days in Japan surviving on yellow fizzy beer, combined with a lot of the Japanese craft beer selections being IPA's, most of the brews I tasted were IPA's. So here we go.

My first stop was Craft Beer Market (Toranomon, Tokyo). This was first on my list because it was one of the only ones that I could find that was open around lunch on a weekday. A side benefit was that this place is known as having the most economical prices in Tokyo (under $10 for a pint!). Their craft beer menu was all Japanese.

I tried the Ryujinshuzo Ozenoyukidoke IPA, Shigakogen AfPA (they told me the style was an African Pale Ale!), Baird Brewing Suruga Bay Imperial IPA, Baird Brewing West Coast Wheat Wine 2012, and the bartender's choice for my last beer before they kicked me out to close after lunch the Iwatekura Oyster Stout served by beer engine (they assured me that real oysters were not used in the brewing or fermenting process, just oyster shells...).




While tasting the brews I tried their set menu lunch with a small soup and a plate with a bunch of curry beef and rice. It really hit the spot when washing down those IPA's!

My next stop that evening was Good Beer Faucets (Shibuya, Tokyo). These guys are known for their good selection of beers from around the world with quite a few being from Japan.

Dede the owner was there when I came in. I tried Nide Beer Monster C IPA (Japan), North Island IPA (Japan), Nogne #500 Imperial IPA (Norway), and another taste of Baird Brewing Suruga Bay Imperial IPA. While there I met a really nice Japanese guy that was crazy about craft beer. He let me know that one of his favorite beers was on tap at a craft beer place not too far away. It was actually on my list to visit, so we walked over together.

After a short walk we made it to Craftheads (also in Shibuya not too far of a walk from Good Beer Faucets). It was down in a basement and was pretty busy. We immediately went for the 3 Floyds' Zombie Dust (Indiana).










After enjoying a few $13 pints of Zombie Dust we called it a night. Sorry about the blurry picture. It was pretty dark in there.












Overall, you could really tell that the craft beer scene is taking hold in Japan. I look forward not only to getting back over there again, but to finding some of the great Japanese beers here on tap somewhere.

One really cool thing about Japan... they sell beer in public vending machines and it is legal to drink in public!

The Bruery: 2013 Reserve Society Initiation Celebration

OK, March was a bit crazy with work, a trip overseas (more on this later!), and then getting sick - so I'm a bit behind here.

On March 2nd, The Bruery held their 2013 Reserve Society Initiation Celebration at The Phoenix Club in Anaheim, CA. This is my first year as a Reserve Society member so I was excited to get a chance to make it to the event.

First thing when my buddy and I got there we saw a ton of cars. We found a parking spot and then got in a huge line to get in. Luckily it went fast.

Once inside the fence they had a huge tent with a bunch of tasting stations.













Out on the grounds was a refrigerated truck with taps and various stations around the yard with more tasting. The weather was perfect.










Now down to the real business. Here is a copy of the tasting list. I tried the following:

• Two Turtle Doves - Thought I needed to get caught up a bit with the folks that have been Bruery fans for years. This is their second year holiday beer brewed with cocoa, pecans, carmalized sugar, and carmel matls (12% ABV).
• Barrel Aged Four Calling Birds - Fouth year holiday beer. Strong Dark Ale with gingerbread spices (11% ABV)
• Old Richland 2012 - a hoppy barley wine. Sounds like a Double IPA to me, but The Bruery doesn't make IPA's.... Either way, it was really good (10% ABV).
• White Oak - 50% White Oak Sap / 50% Mischief (11.5% ABV). Probably my favorite of the day.

Talk to Patrick Rue for a few minutes. Back to business:

• Marron Acidifie - dark sour aged in oak barrels (8.5% ABV)
• Mocha Black Tuesday - Their 19% ABV imperial stout aged in bourbon barrels with a special addition of coffee. I am not a big coffee drinker, but this was great.

Break for lunch. It was catered by Haven Gastropub (the folks that are taking over The Provisions store in Orange, CA). Pulled pork, mac & cheese, beans, and cole slaw. You pretty much can't go wrong with that. The food was great..... Back to business:

• Imperial Loakal Red - a 12% ABV imperial version of their standard Loakal Red
• Saison de Lente - 6.5% ABV
• Grey Monday - Black Tuesday aged on hazelnuts (19.5% ABV)

And a couple that were on the tasting sheet, but I didn't make it over before they ran out:

• Hottenroth with Fruity Pebbles (Yes, the cereal)
• Sour Blonde with Pop Rocks (the candy!)
• The Wanderer - Dark sour aged with blackberries and cherries. The line for this one was crazy and I think it was the first to run out.

If you are wondering why there aren't that many pictures, I forgot to take my camera.... Amateur... So I was stuck snapping a few pics with my phone.

Overall a great day. Can't wait to go next year...

Cheers!!!