Beers on the Go...

So excited to see my craft beer carnitas recipe featured in my dear friend @thebeerwench big book debut. You can pre-order The Beer Wench's Guide to Beer: An Unpretentious Guide to Craft Beer at your favorite online book retailer and you should, it's one of the best beer books soon to be on the market. via Instagram http://ift.tt/1HI9G8p

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Beers on the Go...

Awesome #properglassware tattoo from @travisgwestmore #tattotuesday via Instagram http://ift.tt/1agkP3n

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Railroad Tie Smoked IPA from Bottle Logic and Hopscotch Fullerton

Collaboration between breweries is everywhere these days. Taking personality traits from two breweries and brewing them into one beer has been very successful in both showcasing and isolating unique traits the breweries feature. But what happens when you take a restaurant known for its food and whiskey and mash their personality into a collaboration with a brewery known for innovation and pushing its limits? You get a fantastic IPA called Railroad Tie.

The brewers at Bottle Logic have made a collaboration beer with Hopscotch of Fullerton featuring cold smoked hops to celebrate Hopscotch's second-year anniversary. This beer is available Sunday November 16th at Hopscotch and it will blow your taste-buds away--especially combined with the smoked meats being offered at their anniversary party!

Bottle Logic has made a name for themselves through "Innovation" and "Invention" as their tasting room suggests--prominently featuring a portrait of Nichola Tesla, electrical engineering books, and sci-fi sketches. This IPA is nothing short of inventive science. The first thing that came to mind when I tried it was "how does one smoke hops without destroying the delicate citrus aromatics?" Brandon Buckner, Founder and Brand Manager of Bottle Logic was eager to explain the process:
"We cold smoked the hops over night. Piping in cold smoke into a container of whole Citra Hops we are able to impart the smoked flavor without exposing the hops to direct heat and leaving all those delicate alpha acids intact"

So no artificial smoke flavor? No "bacon-flavored" beer? Not at all. This beer hits you on the nose with those brilliant Citra notes and follows through with great hop flavor with just a hint of smokiness in the end resulting in a well balanced beer and a solid hitting west coast IPA.

So enough of me raving about it, here is where you can get your hands on some Railroad Tie.

This Sunday, November 16th from 3PM to 7:30PM Downtown Fullerton at Hopscotch. Come celebrate their two year anniversary with some Railroad Tie Smoked IPA and a special smoked menu featuring St. Louis ribs, Tri-tip, and chicken all by Executive Chef Linh Nguyen--proceeds benefit Coast to Coast Foundation, a community-based organization dedicated to the needs of the area's homeless and underprivileged.

Hopscotch

Craft Beer + Whiskey

136 E Commonwealth Ave, Fullerton, CA 92832(714) 871-2222

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Beers on the Go!

4th Anniversary Dopplebock abd the Marea Roja by Cismontane just three blocks from my front door :) via Instagram http://ift.tt/1m2xg6P

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Get Happy at the Happiest Place on Earth

If you follow any of my social media you probably know by now I'm obsessed with Disneyland. Four-Year passhole here (or so I understand to be the nickname for Annual Passholders) and my favorite change around the park has been the amazing cocktails and beers!

A couple of years ago my friend Greg at OC Beer Blog punk'd me hard with an April Fools post about Disneyland opening a new brewery-- I was so excited!!! But alas it was only a joke. Either way it peaked my interest in the Disney's beverage agenda and I was super excited by what I discovered.

Disneyland may be a large company but they are fast to identify consumer trends and that includes classic cocktails and craft beer. At Carthay Circle, a relatively new establishment in Disney's California Adventure, you can find everything from Aviations, Pimm's Cups, to a classic Manhattan with an ice sphere instead of rocks. You can also find a nice selection of craft beer at The Cove Bar and of course the Karl Strauss beer cart.

Looks like the Happiest Place on Earth just got a little happier!

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61 Minute IPA with Syrah

Enjoying a 91 minute IPA with Syrah from Dogfish Head at Rock & Brews in Redondo Beach.
It was delicious and jammy but not sweet. I was actually really surprised by the way the hops almost reflected the flavor structure of tannins the way wine would (even though I know this is just an illusion since this is the well loved 60 minute IPA that is backing this new core beer.)

The added California Syrah grape must really adds an awesome complexity to this easy to drink beer/wine hybrid.

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Berliner Weisse and Sausage at Rosamunde

Enjoying a Golden Road Berliner Weisse with raspberry instead of woodruff while Glenn has his first meeting in Oakland!

Rosamunde in Olde Town Oakland must have one of the best happy hours around with $3 Bear Republic Racer 5's and amazing sausages!

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Holiday Beer Buying Guide for Beginners

When you're on your way to see family and old friends for the holidays, the last thing you want to stress out about is what to bring. You are already getting the 9th degree of what you've been doing with your life the last year, who you're dating, why you're putting up with that soul-sucking job, when will you pop the question to your girlfriend of 5 years... Chances are you're already pretty stressed out and what better way to lubricate the situation than with a little booze.

Here's a few tips for the beginner on bringing beer to your holiday table.

Don't Be A Scrooge
This is not the time of year to grab a 30-rack, or a 12-pack of aluminum bottles. If you're looking to save a little money check out some of the beers in the bombers ( 22oz bottles) section. During this time of year they have holiday beers that are usually spiced with a heavier alcohol and flavor profile. If you're looking to splurge check out a Magnum (1.5L) or Jeraboam (3L bottles)-- these beers are great for parties or if your host or hostess is a connoisseur these are great for cellaring 'till next year.

Go Local
Skip BevMo and go to the bottle shop down the street. The guys there will be knowledgeable and able to help you pick out a good beer to go with your meal as well as let you know new beers and special releases that are around just for the season.

From The Source
The best beer is usually fresh beer, and during the holidays fresh hop beer is king. If you live near a brewery go in and ask if they have any wet hop or fresh hop beer you can get in a growler (refillable 64oz glasses from the brewery). It goes with well with stinky cheeses and mild meats and is perfect for a course of canapes.

Hostess Gifts 
Proper glassware is always a plus whether you're at a restaurant or enjoying a "brewski" at home. Grab a set of tulip glasses on your way out of the bottle shop or brewery for your hostess to enjoy the beer you brought. The right glass increases your enjoyment by opening up the aromas and like a wine, allowing the flavor profile to open up and relax.

The most important part of buying beer is to have a little fun, if you see Santa's Butt-- buy it! Drinking should be enjoyable

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Modern Times calls for Modern Funding

Are you searching for the raddest new brewery coming your way? End your search at Kickstarter.com by helping out one of the most promising groups of guys to fulfill their dreams of opening Modern Times Brewing Company. The brainchild of Jacob McKean, former social media guru at Stone Brewing, Modern Times promises to deliver with beautifully minted canned beers and a solid sour beer program. With the support of his family and friends McKean bravely left Stone to seek his fortune as the next San Diego brewery rockstar.

Let it be known, he is not going it alone. He has an amazing team that includes one of the coolest brewers I have had the opportunity to meet: Derek Freese. I found Derek wandering around a local beerfest grumbling about the music and saving me from tasting a beer I didn't really want in my mouth. My new friend was no other than the head brewer at Monkey Paw. What blew me away the most was that was his first professional brewing gig—this man has talent!

Months pass and I learn that Derek has a new project on the brain: Modern Times. His enthusiasm is contagious: “If you talk to Jacob about his vision for Modern Times, understand the passion involved with the other people coming on board, and realize that stepping into a brewery like this could be a lifelong career, you'd see why it was a no-brainer. We're going to kick ass.”

Derek isn't the only beerstar involved with Modern Times. The beer [ninja] team includes Lost Coast Brewing's Head Brewer for the last 2 years, Matt Walsh, who has done amazing things at the brewery up in Eureka. There's also Alex Tweet from Ballast Point, and fellow blogger Mike Tonsmeire of the famed Mad Fermentationist.

Knowing you’re going to kick ass is an envious place to start, however, funding is of course always needed to make dreams come true. Jacob has a strong team of brewers and industry experts backing him, and now he’s looking for some investors via Kickstarter.  

I am very excited about their session beer lineup, their snazzy looking cans, and I’m especially looking forward to the sticky-icky "Hoppy Dankness." I encourage all of you to please check out their kickstarter and for as little as $10 get some very sweet rewards. This is your chance to directly support craft beer in San Diego; help Modern Times open their doors by early summer!

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Newcastle Founders' Ale Spring Release from Caledonian Brewing

Beer reviews are a rare thing here on Fuggly Brew, but I believe in giving kudos when a large brewery comes out with something unique and delicious. Caledonian/Heineken International has sent me a few samples in the past but it wasn't until this month that I received their Newcastle Founders' Ale ESB that I was truly impressed (although, I do recall a recent trip to Portland resulting in someone slipping me a Newcastle Werewolf that was pretty tasty as well).

Described as a “full-bodied, drinkable brew with dry, hoppy and roasted flavors” Newcastle Founders' Ale delivers on it promises. Although, many of us here on the west coast who have beaten our taste buds to death with alpha acids may not consider this all that hoppy it does have an IBU level of 20 which, considering what's out there, is a nice little weight for a 4.8% ABV ale.

With the Newcastle Founders' Ale you get that signature Newcastle caramel maple note accented with the kind and lightly fruity English hop varietal used. These flavors give this widely available seasonal some good character in competing with a number of traditional ESB's. This beer makes a killer combo with a big plate of fish and chips I might add. It really works with, not against, the malt vinegar in your chips as so many bitter beers do, in my opinion.

This is a spring release that you'll be able to pick up in many of your big box bottle shops sold in 6-pack, 12-pack and ½ keg sizes. Please check out your local TapHunter or BeerFinder to find this beer in your area!

As always let me know your thoughts on this beer!

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Bitches Brew 2010 by Dogfish Head

I did it. I drank it. I've been babying this beer since I got it. I didn't even put it in my cellar because I was scared it wouldn't age well. So, I kept in the refrigerator for nearly 2 years. Last night however, a good friend of mine looked me in the eye and announced that “it was time.” So we opened it. I'll be totally honest with you right now, I think I held on to the beer too long, even in the fridge. It was more bitter than I remember it being when it was fresh. I think the gesho root aged differently than I would expect hops to and it turned pretty bitter. The honey tones melted with and almost got lost in the oxidation process and yet it was still a winning beer in my book! The beer poured a big beautiful brown head and that wonderful aged red-fruit flavor you get from a well aged beer. If you have a 2011 release though, you might want to consider popping that baby open soon and shooting me a comment on how it tastes, I'd be very interested in hearing from anyone that has one.

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Old Stock Cellar Reserve 2009 from NCBC

The North Coast Brewing Company Old Stock Cellar Reserve Bourbon Barrel Aged edition is a winner! It pours as a full-bodied tawny ale, with a lightly rocky, but more creamy of a tan head. Your initial notes are of cider, but not a spiced cider more of that ripe apple scent you get standing under an apple tree in late October. Your first sip engulfs your pallet in a warm toffee apple with very slight hints of the ale's fresh form (that Toffee/Vanilla/Coffee vibe) but this early in the aging process you can already see how the ale has matured. The toasty marshmallow has rounded off into the toffee and the initial booziness has turned into that of ripe harvest fruits. It ends with a pleasant if noticeable warmth reminiscent of a bourbon spiked coffee on a foggy Mendocino morning.

This is a masterpiece of brewing perfection. I have always been a huge fan of Old Stock Ale (personally having been collecting the regular releases of it since 2003). While it tastes beautiful right now I will suggest hanging on to it for another 5 years. I intend to hold on to mine 2 years till I open another one (perhaps with the 2011 special edition?) Open another again in 5 years and then 10. Patience is a virtue and definitely not for the weak so if you plan to age this baby remember out of sight, out of mind. This is a gem, an investment, a beer for when your children graduate.

This beer is truly the milk bath Cleopatra bathed in regularly- pure, decadent, luxury.

What would I pair this with? A cold winter evening with rain tapping on the roof and a good book (perhaps a cigar? but nothing too heavy). This is definitely a beer that can be considered a philosophy beer. Sit. Sip. Contemplate.

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Chateau Jiahu by Dogfish Head

I went through some of our special speakeasy beers, as I call them, the other day at work. I was surprised to find Chateau Jiahu, which I was looking for during one of my anthropology classes (I would never dream of bribing a teacher! How dare you suggest!) I'm sitting here now and I just cracked it open and poured some for the husband and myself. It is 10% ABV and has a rating of 10IBU's. Upon pouring you'll notice little to no head and a very light aroma. The aroma was very sake like with a hint of honey. The flavor was like a rice gelatin that you get during the new year in china town seasoned with honey. I get a light honey flavor at the back and a definite floral taste in the middle tones, I thought it tasted saffron like but my husband says it's really the chrysanthemum. I have never had hawthorn fruit so I don't quite know what to look for but I get a definite back throat, late harvest sweetness that I assume comes from grapes.

Sam and Dr.McGovern have indeed done it again! This is a beautifully crafted, almost wine-like beverage. I definitely can taste the flavors from the Sake yeast they used which creates a definite roundness in the overall feel and flavor. Brava!

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