Your Next Pint

Giving thanks to Punk IPA

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It was not too long ago when the British sailed over the Atlantic to our shore. Thanks guys. You gave us the English word, civilized government, punk rock music, and a healty thirst for beer. So if you're not too stuffed from Thanksgiving dinner, pick up a pint of Punk IPA.

The Washdown:

- light yellow colored, sweet nose with good hoppy taste, and low carbination, Punk American IPA (Brew Dog in Fraserburgh, UK) 5.6% ABV

I really enjoyed this beer more than expected. It was drinkable with a small head and clear like a Pilsner. Cheers, keep up the brilliant work!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Rumpkin Ale - unfortunately more rump than pumpkin

With Thanksgiving Day nearing, what better pint would there be to review than a Rum-spiced Pumpkin Ale? Unfortuantley, it's not exactly the beer treasure you'd expect for a Rum fan.

I was lucky enough to get my hands on the very difficult to find, Rum Barrel Aged Rumpkin from Avery Brewing Company – and like most treasure hunts, this one ended up short on delivery. Like Avery's previously reviewed Beast Grand Cru, Rumpkin's balance between sweet and citrus leaned like a peg leg pirate far too much on the sweet side.

The Washdown:

- dark colored, mild head, more like medicine that's nothing like the grown up kind, Rumpkin Pumpkin Ale (Avery Brewing Co. in Boulder, CO) 15.90% ABV

This pint has lots of fruity notes with Caramel Rum and a mild Sugar tongue. Where Rumpkin goes wrong is in its super high alcohol content, bordering the likes of Triaminic.

Treasure hunts tend to be more about the journey than the result, and in the case of this Pumpkin Ale that fact holds to be true – just like the sailing winds from the west and the star to the north.

Would I buy this beer again? No. Should you get one? Only if you're interested in the hunt.

Happy soon-to-be Harvest Day.

Burgers & 9 Bottles of Craft Beer at The Escondite, Downtown

Photo courtesy of TheEscondite.com

This Saturday (including every 2nd of the month) The Escondite in downtown LA is kicking off Round 1 of The Great Bottle Challenge. 9 craft beers will be tasted and 10 different burgers can be tried (like the Rip Taylor with Romaine, Parmesan, Caesar Dressing & Crushed Croutons, or The Truckstopper with Provolone, Garlic Mashed Potatoes & Vegetarian Gravy). There'll also be trivia games and prize giveaways like 22 oz bottles of the newly released Stone Vertical Epic Ale for 8 lucky winners.

The Washdown:

- Speedway Stout 12% ABV

- Old Viscosity 12.5% ABV

- Avery Salvation 9% ABV

- Ironfist Blond Renegade 5.2% ABV

- Lost Abbey Lost & Found 7.5% ABV

- St. Feuillien Saison 6.5% ABV

- Old Ruffian Barley Wine 10.2% ABV

- Stone Sublimely Self Righteous Ale 8.7% ABV

Call 213-626-1800 to reserve your spot.

410 Boyd Street, Los Angeles, CA 90013

This Weekend: 2011 San Diego Beer Week Begins

 

 

 

 

San Diego Beer Week kicks off this weekend! On Saturday Nov. 5th, enjoy award-winning local beers from the best of San Diego's brewers at the Brewers Guild Festival in Point Loma. $55 VIP tickets will get you early admission (11am), and complimentary food pairings. $35 General Admission tickets include beer tasters, commemorative glass, and access to live music.

Then on Sunday Nov. 6th at 1pm, get ready for the 5-hour Craft Beer Crawl (via shuttle), rounding pubs like Toronado, Green Flash Brewing Co., Churchill's Pub & Grille, and more. $39 General Admission tickets are available for 40 lucky attendees only.

The whole week (10 days to be exact) boasts even more events than last years 500!

Follow @SDbeerweek for details.