Got to love all things Orange and Blue!!

HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SAFE NEW YEAR TO ONE AND ALL !!!

It has come to my attention that The Blue Palms located in Hollywood, California ‘might’ be closing soon. I ventured there with my beer buddy to enjoy perhaps one last brew at this pub. Being metro close, if it does close, will be missed by us for this mere fact alone.

Now onto the beer. Yes I know I am repetitive. Enjoying Cismontane immensely, I had the cismonTAPS. It is a collaboration between Cismontane and TAPS brewing.

It was a pale, golden colour with a white foamy head.

Aroma was citrusy.

Taste has a bit of sauvignon blanc, fruit flavors, not overbearing rather comes in waves. Finished with a bit peppery clean taste.

9.5%

Thanks for taking the time to read this post.

Until the next voyage

Yo Ho Ho.

Realizing that this is basically a bier blog; at the end of the year, Cap’n gets a bit melancholy. Dare one say ‘retrospective’ over the past 12 months. Now that is out of the way….

It is fair to say 2011 was not one of Cap’ns finest years. In fact, it probably falls in the bottom 5. On that note, Cap’n truly asks for forgiveness from those he wronged intentionally and those he has wronged unintentionally. Suffice it to say, it was a tough twelve months. Now lets not linger in the past and move forward to 2012.

Cap’n would like to mark this year as the year of “Discovery”. One will not be scared to try new things. Provided it does not go against ‘the code’. Example would be trying a beer that has bacon or shellfish juice as part of its ingredients.

Resolutions are very rarely kept so; Cap’n pledges to be a better son, brother, uncle and friend in the coming year. It is my belief that we cross paths with each other for however long or short, due to some reason. Eventually we will understand what that reason is, but for now we do not.

To each and everyone I have crossed paths with; I wish you all the best! A happy,  healthy and successful year.

It may seem difficult to fathom; however, there is a wonderful brewery located in Rancho Santa Margarita! It is Cismontane Brewing. I have blogged about this brewery before; yet I enjoy it so much, that I often make the trip from Santa Monica California south to the brewery. Usually I travel with my beer buddy Sean Inman. However, this voyage was without him. I did bring back the newly bottled Black’s Dawn Barrel Aged for him.

Dead Santa

here is the brewery’s description: mildly spiced brown ale. brewed with cinnamon, vanilla extract, and maple syrup. It is not heavily spiced and rather smooth. Nice beer for the winter months in Southern California. Kick back with a growler of this while watching college football bowl games as well as NFL teams  on track to go to the Superbowl. Also goes well with pumpkin pie or apple pie.

Many thanks to Cismontane for brewing the good stuff!

Until next time.

Happy, Healthy and a Safe Holiday Season.

Yo Ho Ho.

It seems that when this time of year approaches, many folks think of big, bold, hearty beers to toast in the holiday season. Last year (2010) I spent much time looking for Schmaltz’s Holiday Gift Pack, to no avail. Perhaps I will find it this year, but I won’t go out of my way looking for it. Having jumped into the holiday ale season this year (2011), I traveled to Portland, Oregon. Partaking in the city’s Holiday Ale Festival. Volunteering at the event, sure to sample many brews.

I have already purchased a bottle of Black Tuesday from The Bruery. Looking forward to sharing this on Hanukkah with some close friends. It is put away just for that occasion.

Happy, healthy, safe holiday wish to y’all. Enjoy a special brew with those that are close to you!

yo ho ho

Skilak Scottish Ale - Kenai River, Soldotina, Alaska. 5.3%

Now after visiting Alaska a few times, I must confess that it is one of my favorite places to ‘get away from it all’. It has always been considered the last of the great frontiers, at least by me.  I had an opportunity to try this beer, as my beer drinking buddy (First Maat) was at the Reno, Canned  Beer Festival and brought this back for me.

It pours a dark amber colour, slight carbonation, sweet malty finish
Good beer to watch Jayhawks kill Bruins in Maui Invitational!

Kansas 72 Bruins 56. Next Jayhawks play Duke for the championship.

As much as I enjoy rooting for The Bruins, my nephew goes to Kansas… so…..

Until next time, thanks for reading this post.

Yo Ho Ho…..

Premiere

 Bourbon Barrel Aged Belgian Golden Strong 10.4%

Pours yellow, with a big fruity aroma. taste of bourbon notes with vanilla, orange, sweet pale malt, slight raisins and apricot as well. It was a good bier to have while the weather in southern California is changing from warm to rainy to cold during the end of daylight savings time.

Shortly as in a few weeks time, Cap’n shall be traveling to Portland for the Holiday Ale Festival http://holidayale.com/index.php

Looking forward to trying some winter/festivale biers !

As always thanks for taking the time to read this post.

Yo Ho Ho.

*

Fortunately in my neck of the woods, well at least my ‘working’ neck of the woods; is a new brewery. I blogged about this last time. It is called Golden Road. Recently, growlers (as pictured above) are available. The cost is a mere $10. The price includes the container and beer. Choice of IPA Point The Way or the Hefeweizen. Refill is only $6. Hours for refills are convenient for stopping by on ones way home from work. 2 - 6 pm. It is located at Golden Road Brewing: 5410 W. San Fernando Road, LA.

Until next time

Thanks for taking the time to read this post

Yo Ho Ho.

*shout out to First Maat for the use of his picture.

Recently I had the opportunity to sample some brand new beers in the Southern California area. 38 Degrees had an inaugural keg of Golden Road Brewing’s IPA and Hefeweizen. The two of which are pictured above.

Point The Way IPA

5.2% hoppy, airy, light, fizzy on the back-end. as it coats the tongue, it becomes more citrus.

Golden Road Hefeweizen

6.2% organic fruit, makes it a ‘cleaner’ fruit taste. piny on the back end.

Not overpowering so one can drink during college football games even if they go into OT.

As the kegs roll out, look for them in nearby LA County venues. Also on a side not, LA Beer Week will be here soon. Check these two out at many of the events. It certainly is good to see the LA Craft scene expanding!

Until next time.

Thanks for reading this post

Yo Ho Ho

Stone Brewing

The Gargoyle is a fascinating icon. Stone Brewing uses it as the basis for it’s artwork. The reason it is used; which is on Stone’s website, states ’ a fearsome stone figure that has power to ward off evil spirits’. It is a menacing looking, at least to me, figure. Also it makes one look tough while holding a bottle of say arrogant bastard with this picture on it!