Your Next Pint

Take me out to the Craft Brew

Photo courtesy of bonappetit.com

Beer and Baseball complement one another just like hops and malt, or balls and bats. But let's face it, most beer associated with baseball games or in TV commercials is watered down crap.

Fortunately, we are in the midst of a beer revolution, and finding a great craft beer to enjoy while watching your favorite team is not that difficult. So, what better way to ring in the baseball season than to recommend three great game day craft brews to drink up for the race to the pennant.

The Washdown:
- Dales Pale Ale
- Mirror Pond Pale Ale
- Mamas Little Yella Pilsner

Although I tend to lean towards the IPA style beer, I also understand that baseball games can take up to a few hours. Session beer is a must in these situations, thus the recommendations above are great in taste and low in ABV.

Play Malt!

Sierra Nevada Pale Ale is a true red, white & brew

My fellow Americans, it's with great pleasure that I'm able to present to you the full bodied, rich flavored, uniquely styled Sierra Nevada Pale Ale (thanks to the freedoms our countrymen fought for 235 years ago.) So to honer their accomplishments, I strongly suggest pickin' up a pack of your favorite new brew for the 4th of July.

The Washdown:

- amber colored, frothy one finger head with mid to mild hoppyness Pale Ale (Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. in Chico, CA) 5.6% ABV

It's hard to narrow down my favorite brew. But, hearking back to my early years of puttin' back pints, Sierra Nevada was always a solid choice – and that still rings true today. If you feel the same way, make sure to enter the Sierra Nevada Beer Camp to learn how to be a "Brewer For A Day". (Deadline is July 7th.)

Cheers to America!

Wine country Paso Robles serves up Firestone Brewery too

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Christmas is around the corner, so your next holiday – as in vacation – is naturally on the brain. Instead of fighting air traffic, take a road trip to Paso Robles where the whole family can be pleased. It's wine country. It's where William Randolph Hearsts' zebras roam. And it's where Firestone Walker brews one of my new favorites, Union Jack IPA.

The Washdown:

Four 4oz. tastings for $6

- big nose, small finish, mildly hoppy Pale Ale 4.6% ABV

- smells sweet, prominent barley & vanilla DBA British Pale Ale 5% ABV

- bold citrus & pineapple Union Jack India Pale Ale 4.6% ABV

- coffee & caramel, bittersweet chocolate Walkers Reserve Robust Porter 5.9% ABV

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Take the 405N to the 101N then exit Ramada. 4 hours later and BAM! you're there (at least if you're coming from LA. Seriously though, a trip to Firestone Brewery in Paso Robles is probably the best wrapped compromise you could ever give your wife or hubby, 'cuz a slew of wineries (140 to be exact) are less than 10 minutes away.

Plus, the tastings aren't that expensive either. You'll want to start with their most common, the Pale Ale, then work your way to the Dark Side, Walkers Reserve.

If you like bitter IPAs, the Pale Ale is probably not for you. It kind of tastes like a watered down Sierra Nevada, but still has a floral nose and always seems to be my natural choice when hitting up the bar.

The DBA has that true Toasted Grain flavor, like when you crack a Grapenut on your tongue. And it smells sweet with a touch of Vanilla.

As I said earlier, the Union Jack is my favorite. It's hoppy & bitter like a Racer 5 IPA, but cut with citrusy sweet Pineapple. This beer you can definitely drink all night long – it's no wonder it won plenty of awards at the Great American Beer Festival.

Lastly, treat the Walkers Reserve like a coffee dessert. It has robust Toffee, Caramel, and Bittersweet Chocolate Flavors from the 5 special Malts, Oats, and Barley flakes. Kind of like Kahula on ice, it's not as heavy as other stouts and is rather peppy with lots of carbonation.

Follow @FirestoneWalker for details on their Christmas calendar and tasting specials.

LA Eagle Rock Brewery is Red, White, and Brew

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On the outside, mistakable-for-a-warehouse Eagle Rock Brewery is easy to miss. But don't overlook one of the first breweries in over half a century to have operations based in LA, 'cause on the inside their brews are unique, the vibe is chillaxed, and the family that runs it couldn't be nicer.

To kick off the 4th of July weekend, Eagle Rock Brewery will be having cul-de-sac food truck parties with Fresh Eats & Beats, Friday 6-10pm, and Frysmith, Saturday 7:15-10pm. Taproom opens at 4pm.

The Washdown:

- coffee nose, not too thick, hint of sweetness Solidarity English Style Black Mild 3.9% ABV, $5

- golden yellow, hoppy bitter, smooth Revolution American Extra Pale Ale 4.8% ABV, $5

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When I say Eagle Rock Brewery is chill, I really mean it. For example, Mr. Brew Mission (a.k.a. my hand model) and I walked in 5 minutes before closing time, and Donna & daughter-in-law Lynn welcomed us in with open, come-hither, swingin' arms. Even as we browsed the menu, and asked some questions, still no sense of hurry or stress was in their aura – these people are super cool. And their air-conditioning is cranked high, too.

We decided to have a pint of Solidarity and Revolution. (The beers are served in the Brewery's own "Beer for the People" pint glasses for sale at $5 each.)

I really, really enjoyed the Solidarity. It's dark like Guinness in color, but light-bodied, so you could drink it all night long. My first reaction was "Mmm, kinda tastes like dessert." But as I ate the complimentary peanuts Donna & Lynn told us would help bring out more flavor, I tasted coffee, chocolate, spices, and a roasted flavor I couldn't quite put my finger on – that is until they offered us a last minute tour.

In the first part of the Brewery Tour, Steve the Brewmaster showed us the barley they use to make the beer. He gave us a grain and told us to lightly crack it with our teeth – not to crunch it all at once – so that the flavors could slowly seep out. And there it was. That roasted caramel, almost like cereal, flavor I was missing in the Solidarity.

Next up, Mr. Brew Mission ordered the American Extra Pale Ale (shocker!), Revolution. (I stole a few sips, naturally :) It has a beautiful golden yellow color. It definitely has a hoppy bitter taste of grass and citrus rinds, but it's still really smooth.

Eagle Rock Brewery also has a few more House Taps, like Manifesto Belgian Style Witbier 6.4% ABV, and 5 Guest Taps ($6-7) that rotate. They also carry a fantastic assortment of Guest Bottles ($8-18) like Hazelnut Brown Nectar and La Trappe Isid'or.

So get your American spirits high this 4th of July weekend (on the actual 4th they'll be closed) with American Craft Brews from LA-based Eagle Rock Brewery.

3056 Roswell St., Los Angeles, CA 90065. 323-257-7866. Open Fri-Sat 4-10pm. Sun 12-6pm.

Cheers the 4th of July on the slopes with Mammoth Paranoid Pale Ale

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If you've been to Mammoth, I'm sure you've had Mammoth Paranoid Pale Ale apres ski, in between skiing – or for the adventurous souls – before skiing. Despite its name, there's nothing paranoid about this refreshing, piney Pale Ale. It's perfect for inducing some Alchovation (my word for that extra fuzzy feeling you get when drinking alcohol at a high elevation), minus the urge to pee mid-slope like other watered-down beers tend to do.

And yes, you heard me right – Mammoth is still open for skiing & boarding until July 5th, complete with 4th of July activities and lodging deals. If your plans for the 4th are already booked ('cuz you're just that popular) don't sweat it. The 15th Annual Mammoth Festival of Beer & Bluespalooza is August 6th-8th, so mark your iCals & Gcals.

The Washdown:

- crisp, thick headed, amber colored, piney citrus malt Mammoth Paranoid Pale Ale (Mammoth Brewing Company, Mammoth Lakes, CA) 5.5% ABV

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Continuing from yesterday's YourNextBite.com blog post, whenever I go boarding in Mammoth I always get 2 things – my favorite chili deal and Mammoth Paranoid Pale Ale. When you're fresh off the slopes and need your muscles to relax, it does the body good, and tastes delicious going down.

It's got a citrus nose and bitter finish, like grapefruit. It has a slightly toasted caramel malt flavor with hints of pine trees. The head pours nice and creamy. It's well carbonated, very refreshing, and not too heavy so you can definitely get a couple more runs in after knocking back a few ;)

You can get Mammoth Paranoid Pale Ale on tap at just about any lodge on the mountain, as well as at John's Pizza Works off Main St. & Manzanita. They're open 'til midnight, have two separate bars (one more spiffy & modern with HD TVs) and truly fantastic, affordable homestyle pizza.

From classic Jack Londons Taproom to modern Brophys Tavern in Carmel

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If you're visiting Carmel By the Sea in California, or lucky enough to live in this coveted, treelined, oceanside town, make sure to grab Your Next Pint at Jack London's Taproom (complete with old-fashioned English Telephone Booth), or newcomer Brophy's Tavern ("where the locals go.")

After grabbing a Bite at Flaherty's Oyster Bar, my hand model & I decided to make a mini pub crawl from Jack London's (recommended by my British father) to Brophy's (recommended by our British hotel-mates from the Carmel Wayfarer Inn.) Both pubs couldn't be more different, which was part of the fun.

The Washdown:

- light like a Hef, yellow-orange colored, tangerine and honey wheat tasting Carmel Wheat Ale (at Jack London's)

- bitter, citrus nose, malty brown taste Sierra Nevada Pale Ale 5.6% ABV (at Brophy's)

Walking into Jack London's was like walking into a time warp. From the English telephone booth outside to the carpeted floors, dark lighting, stained glass & white-haired (yet extremely knowledgeable) bartender on the inside, it kinda took me back to my semester abroad in London (before the gastropub movement, of course.)

Since we were in Carmel, I had to try the town's signature beer on tap, the Carmel Wheat Ale. It's refreshing with a citrus tangerine, honey banana wheat bread flavor, and hints of coriander. It is cloudy yellow-orange in color, kind of like a Hefeweizen, and pours a fluffy head. This beer is definitely for the ladies and would go great with some of Jack's Monterey Fish & Chips ($11.95) that smelled amazing at the table next to us, the massive Nacho Appetizer ($8.95), or even their St. Louis Ribs ($22.75). Other beers on tap (they have 10) include Scrimshaw Pilsner (4.4% ABV), Fat Tire Amber Ale (5.2% ABV), Guinness (4.2% ABV), and a rotating handle. On Friday nights they have a live entertainment Blues Happy Hour from 4:30-6:30pm with local bands and singers.

After downing our pints, we headed over to Brophy's Tavern where we were greeted by the bouncer. The place was popping inside and much more modern with wood floors & flat screen TVs. (You could definitely tell this is where the locals hang out, 'cuz as soon as I snapped a pic of the bar, EVERYONE turned around like "Who's the new girl?")

While I enjoyed the atmosphere and liveliness of Brophy's, I thought their 6-beer tap selection was rather standard (see pictured) – Budweiser, Pabst Blue Ribbon, Newcastle, Guinness, Harp and Sierra Nevada. So we decided to go with my hand model's favorite beer of all time, Sierra Nevada. It has a citrus nose, a bitter taste, and a malty bread brown finish. It pours a thick head, is amber in color, and is lively carbonated.

Although we didn't order anything to eat, I thought I'd mention that Brophy's menu is American & Pacific inspired with appetizers like Kobe Beef Sliders ($9.95), Prawn Scampi Boat ($10.95) & Luau Seared Ahi Tuna Salad ($14.95). Entrees range from $6.95 (2 Stadium Hot Dogs with all the Fixins) to $26.95 (Full Rack of Baby Back Ribs with Cole Slaw, Sweet Potato Fries & Garlic Bread.) Brophy's Happy Hour is nightly from 3-6pm. Tuesdays are $1 Fish Tacos. Friday Night's Special is Prime Rib.

All in all, it was a great Pub Crawl from old to new.

Jack London's. Dolores St. b/t 5th & 6th, Carmel, CA 93923. 831.624.2336.

Brophy's Tavern. San Carlos St. & 4th, Carmel, CA 93923. 831.624.2476.

Mirror Pond Pale Ale Makes it Easy to Cross Over to the Darker Side

If you like lagers, but are looking to cross over to the darker side, then you'll love Mirror Pond Pale Ale – it's Cascade Hops make it very drinkable, it's not too bitter, and has a yummy malty lemon flavor.

The Washdown:

- smooth, orange amber color, butterscotch malt, subtle lemon undertones Mirror Pond Pale Ale (Bend, Oregon) 5% ABV

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Mirror Pond Pale Ale from Deschutes Brewery, oh how I love thee, especially on a lazy Sunday, drinking you on draft from 326 Beer & Wine at LA's Original Farmers Market.

When I bring you up to my nose, I smell scents of flowers sun-kissed by lemons.

Your head is thin, but still bubbly and frothy.

When you touch my lips I never want to let you go, because you're so easy going down. 

And you taste like a soft hoppy, bready malt with subtle hints of sweet caramel and citrus.

You're so charming, both men and women like you.

I look forward to drinking you again soon.

Love,

      Your Next Pint

LA Beerfest Brews Up Fun, Food Trucks, and Fine Pints

What better way to kick off Your Next Pint than with a blog post on this past weekend's Los Angeles Beer Festival. $40 ticket admission (or $37 if you had the code word "rundown") got you unlimited 4 oz beer pours from 80+ breweries. While I didn't get to taste them all, here's a list of the best & worst I tried.

The Washdown:

- mellow and refreshing Sierra Nevada's Glissade Golden Bock

- caramel malt flavored Mission Brewery IPA

- light with cinnamon notes San Luis Obispo Einhorn Hefeweizen (like Maudite's little lager sister)

- metal, tap waterey Ballast Point Yellowtail Pale Ale

- hoppy, grapefruity Ballast Point Big Eye IPA

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Getting to the LA Beerfest, put on by Drink Eat Play at Sony Pictures Studios, was quite a mission. There were three different intimidatingly long lines strewn about, in which the people standing in them AND the security guards directing them did not seem to know what they were for. But once my friends and I checked in and received our mini 4 oz beer mugs, it was time for the pours to begin!

We bypassed the main area's Food Truck lines and headed down a little alley off to the left where we found brewery stalls like Fat Tire and Sam Adams. Soon enough we stumbled on what was to be one of our favorites of the night – Sierra Nevada Glissade Golden Bock. Perfect for summer days, this crisp beer with a beautiful golden hue had just the right amount of carbonation to keep it refreshing, and a hoppy bitter finish balanced out by citrus flavors. The display at Sierra was one of the best of the Fest, too. They had barley grains and actual hops you could rub between your fingers to bring out the aroma of what you were tasting.

Moving on to Mission Brewery IPA, this beer was another favorite amongst my friends. While we were expecting bitterness, this light amber colored pour had a delicious caramel malty flavor that kept us coming back for more – definitely one to stock up on and sip alongside hamburgers or steak.

The San Luis Obispo Einhorn Hefeweizen was hit or miss for some, but I particularly enjoyed it and I think the ladies will too. It reminded me of a lighter lager version of one of my favorite beers, Unibroue Maudite, because of its cinnamon and clove flavors. This would be a good one to enjoy with a vanilla ice cream cone on a hot summer day.

Now for the bad brews. I don't know if something was wrong with the tap, but the Ballast Point Yellowtail Pale Ale honestly tasted like dirty pipe water. It had such a metal tap water taste to it, we ended up dumping it out. Don't get me wrong, I'm a fan of Ballast Point, and was very thankful for the hoppy grapefruit flavor of their Big Eye IPA we shortly washed down afterward.

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On our way to the 40 oz to Freedom "Sublime Tribute Band" concert, we encountered some great people watching – frothy beer mug hats, guys in Lederhosen, and Sam Adams cardboard cut outs to be exact. But nothing topped the old dudes moshing to their all-time-favorite Sublime tunes.

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To eat there was a sampling of food trucks like Calbi, Border Grill, Nom Nom, and World Fare Bustaurant (check out Your Next Bite for my upcoming review!), Sony Pictures Studios catering service, and apparently some hefty pretzel necklaces. We tried the Banh Mi from the Nom Nom truck and were disappointed by how stale and hard the bread was. But the pickled daikon, carrot, and sweet vinegar BBQ pork inside definitely made up for it. The Mac and Cheese from the Sony catering service was totally flavorless and boring, but the BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwich on a Soft Bun was massive, packed with flavor, and super satisfying.

All in all the LA Beerfest was definitely a fun experience. Though they split up this year's event into two sessions, 1-4pm & 5-8pm, to avoid crowding we all wished we could've had a longer pour.