Photo by Clandestine Brewing / Special to Liquid Bread Magazine
San Francisco
Cellarmaker – The Howard street brewery released their Dank Statement Triple IPA on Wednesday, January 8. The brewery describes the beer as a “hop monster,” clocking in at 11 percent alcohol and 85 IBUs. From the brewery: “This is a deceivingly smooth beer just completely packed with ooey gooey juicy hop oils but no scrapping bitterness. Simcoe, Citra, Centennial, Mosaic, Amarillo, CTZ and Summit hops come together for bright mango flavors, as well as papaya, cara cara orange, resinous pine and of course a sock you in the nose dankness.” Growler fills are available, but the brewery advises bringing your own growler as supplies are low in-house.
Speakeasy – The Bayview brewery is releasing “The Cover Up” Belgian White IPA, made with Nelson, Azacca, Cascade and Columbus hops, on tap only at their tasting room. Clocking in at 6.2 alcohol percent, the beer is described as “a refreshingly dry and crisp golden colored ale,” with a white wine, peachy and lemongrass aroma.
Strike Brewing’s Stout. Photo by Strike Brewing / Special to Liquid Bread Magazine
Peninsula
Highway 1 Brewing Company – The Pescadero brewery is tapping three new beers this week. Among them is the Irish Cow Milk Stout, a beer described by Jim Hansen, head brewer of Highway 1 Brewing, as a beer tasting of “intense coffee, roasted flavors, as well as dark chocolate,” with “the lactose provid[ing] ample creaminess and a smooth mouth feel.” The beer comes out at 5.4 percent alcohol.
Also on deck is the new Admiral Stradling’s English Bitter, a beer smelling of citrus esters and green apple. Hansen describes the taste as “fruit and green apple esters,” with “a residual sweetness from the golden syrup,” and “woodsy hop character.”
The brewery is also tapping their God Save the Rock Queen, an unfiltered British Pale Ale. Hansen says the flavor is of apricot and fruit esters with an earthy and woodsy hop flavor and malt backbone.
East Bay
Rare Barrel – Going on tap this week is the Berkeley brewery’s Ambassadors of Sour Release #1: Soliloquy. The golden sour beer was aged in oak barrels, and features orange and citrus notes, along with “floral undertones.” Bottle versions of the beer are available to members of their Ambassadors of Sour, and will be available on tap in the tasting room.
Black Diamond Brewing’s Bourbon Barrel-Aged Grand Cru. Photo by Black Diamond Brewing / Special to Liquid Bread Magazine
The brewery is also tapping Shadows of Their Eyes, which won the 2014 World Beer Cup under the Belgian-Style Flanders Oud Bruin category. The beer is a dark sour beer aged in oak barrels, with a tart and sour flavor profile of cherries, coffee and dark chocolate.
Black Diamond Brewery – Tapped this Wednesday, January 8, was the brewery’s 2014 Bourbon Barrel Aged Grand Cru. The beer is a combination of three different beers: a Belgian Dubbel-style beer aged in fruit, a Dubbel-style aged in bourbon barrels, and a fresh batch of a Dubbel-style. Paul Mallory, Black Diamond’s brewmaster, says: “We add black currants, figs and whole vanilla beans, which bring a sweetness and richness, while adding complex depths of flavor and a firm, even balance. While big and intense, it remains deceptively smooth and balanced throughout.” The beer clocks in at 9 percent alcohol and will be available on tap and in 22 ounce bottles.
Cleophus Quealy – The San Leandro brewery is releasing their first firkin Saturday, January 10 at 1 p.m. The beer is called Batch 15 and is a Baltic Porter. Co-founder Peter Baker describes the beer as a “smooth and complex porter with dark fruit aromas and flavors.”
South Bay
Strike – The San Jose brewery just released their early year seasonal Stout. The 9 percent alcohol beer is available on tap at their taproom and in 22 ounce bottles. The beer is described by the brewery as “a rich, dark, creamy full-bodied ale . Very slightly hopped so the notes of deep coffee and chocolate can shine through.”
Clandestine – The San Jose brewery will soon release their Half Nelson session IPA. Clocking in at 5 percent alcohol and 45 IBUs, the beer maintains the bitterness of an IPA while staying at a low alcohol content. The beer features Nelson Sauvin and Southern Cross hops, and the brewery describes the flavor profile as consisting of Sauvignon Blanc grapes and gooseberry.
Outer Bay
Discretion – This Friday, January 9 at 4 p.m., the Soquel brewery is releasing their Firkin New Guy. The beer was brewed with their Good Faith strong ale, and hopped with Fuggle, Centennial and Sterling.
1 Comment
That looks so tasty