{"id":68910,"date":"2025-02-05T03:42:31","date_gmt":"2025-02-05T03:42:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/peraltafinancing.com\/recipes\/category-a-b\/beer\/great-expectations-so-cal-craft-beer-blog\/"},"modified":"2025-02-05T03:42:31","modified_gmt":"2025-02-05T03:42:31","slug":"great-expectations-so-cal-craft-beer-blog","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/?p=68910","title":{"rendered":"Great Expectations \u2013 So Cal Craft Beer Blog"},"content":{"rendered":"


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What Should You Expect from an Independent Craft Brewery or Brew Pub?<\/h2>\n

Our So Cal Craft Beer Bloggers have some thoughts<\/em><\/h3>\n
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Glendale Tap, a brewpub on San Fernando Road in Glendale, CA. \u201cA vintage dive bar with a hip, relaxed feel.\u201d<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

BeachRock Bill<\/strong>: Wife Helen and I did a road trip up the coast in March. We hit some good breweries \u2014 Humble Sea, Alvarado Street, Liquid Gravity, Fieldwork, There does not Exist, Humdinger. All were pretty good but I think I\u2019m getting spoiled working at Pure Project. None blew me away.<\/p>\n

Chauncey B. interrupts: <\/strong>I remember Sir Ted of Sonoma was really into Fieldwork for a minute, maybe back in the last decade? We\u2019re Pouring often features Liquid Gravity. I\u2019d only heard about Alvarado Street from a \u201cShort-Lived\u201d collaboration they did with MadeWest. <\/p>\n

BeachRock Bill: <\/strong>The quality of the servers was especially disappointing at many\u00a0spots. Alvarado Street<\/strong><\/a> I think was our favorite of the bunch. <\/p>\n

EleanorJulieAnne: <\/strong>We visited\u00a0Humdinger Brewing<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0a couple of years ago. As I recall, using a three level rating system of my own design (Level One<\/em> for beers that are standouts \u2014 Russian River\u2019s Pliny the Elder, for example, Level Two<\/em> for beers that are respectable \u2014 well done but might not linger in your memory, and Level Three<\/em> for beers that don\u2019t quite hit the mark) \u2014 Humdinger produced some solid Level Two<\/em> beers. Their \u201cDinger Weisse\u201d was sour, tart and fruity, but not overly sweet, and it went down easily.<\/p>\n

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The Humdinger Brewpub in Arroyo Grande on a warm summer Tuesday. (Photo by EleanorJulieAnne<\/em>)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

BeachRock Bill: <\/strong>Speaking about tart and fruity, somebody told us we had to check out a new brewery I\u2019d never heard of \u2014 Casa Agria in Oxnard<\/a><\/strong>. We hit it Sunday on\u00a0our\u00a0drive home, and while I was in no mood to drink at noon with a big drive ahead of me, we did some splashes to see if we wanted to buy something to take home. Everything\u00a0we tried was delicious. Their\u00a0sour program is really extensive with five big foeders<\/strong><\/a> in the corner\u00a0fermenting\u00a0wild stuff.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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Casa Agria Sours<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

Chauncey B.: <\/strong>Eleanor and I hit up Casa Agria back in 2017. As I wrote in my \u201cSour Genies\u201d post<\/a><\/strong> a while back, one of the things that intrigued me was that the brewery\u2019s fruited sours used fruit purchased directly from farmers who grow them, as kind of seasonal, artisanal offerings. From the\u00a0Ventura Highway\u00a0(U.S. 101), all of Ventura County appears to be farmland, specializing in strawberries and citrus. <\/p>\n

I didn\u2019t know Humble Sea when you first mentioned it, but through a bit of serendipity, Eleanor and I had the opportunity to taste some, which I\u2019ll write about below.<\/p>\n

BeachRock Bill<\/strong>: Here is another issue\u2013Wife Helen\u00a0now only really likes drinking Double and Triple hazies. Pure Project\/ Monkish\/ Radiant and a few others have spoiled her<\/em>.<\/p>\n

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Modern Times Far West Lounge in Encinitas (Photo courtesy of Modern Times Website<\/em>)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

Unfortunately, these aren\u2019t styles many breweries do regularly. So a lot of breweries I want to visit I would have to do without her. As a perfect example \u2014 we hit Modern Times Far West Lounge near our house recently for some delicious plant-based food and beers. I had a delicious hazy called \u201cGreen Futures,\u201d but Wife Helen had to settle for her OLD favorite style of beer, an Imperial Stout. She tolerated it, but she wasn\u2019t thrilled by it.<\/p>\n

Chauncey B.: <\/strong>Okay, thanks BRB and Eleanor. Now let\u2019s hear from the Space Cowboy, Mr. Yippee-Ki-IPA himself.<\/p>\n

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Ogopogo\u2019s 4th Anniversary Hazy IPA, featuring can art which is also featured in a painting on the walls of the brewery. (Photo by BrewHead Ted<\/em>)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

BrewHead Ted:<\/strong> Thanks, Chauncey. What really grabs my attention, in discovering a new brewery, is a unique point of view.\u00a0 A brewery with a unique theme, vibe, or backstory will really stick out in my mind.\u00a0 This is one of the many reasons why I love Ogopogo Brewing<\/a><\/strong>, my hometown (and all-time favorite) brewery.\u00a0 <\/p>\n

I love beer, and I also love mythology and tales of creatures like Nessie and Bigfoot.\u00a0 Ogopogo combines those two elements, to great success.\u00a0 I also think of Replicant Shell<\/a><\/strong> in Pasadena, which offers a large variety of great beer selections, out of a gas station!\u00a0 Or Del Pueblo<\/strong><\/a>, which highlights some amazing South American flavors, with their beer.<\/p>\n

Another thing that I pay attention to, is what kinds of beers they have.\u00a0 In addition to \u201crun of the mill\u201d offerings, do they do any interesting spins on different beer styles?\u00a0 Can I taste something I\u2019ve never tasted before, that will make the brewery stick out?\u00a0 Again, I think of Ogopogo, especially having just sampled their delicious Haliya Ale, brewed with ube.\u00a0 Brewing with such interesting flavors is not something I see everywhere, certainly not to such great success.<\/p>\n

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The Mothman<\/a>: One of the many creatures known as cryptids \u2013 elusive animals thought by cryptozoologists, but not by mainstream scientists, to exist in the wild. Shrouded in mystery and haze, and delicious\u2026<\/em> (Photo by BrewHead Ted<\/em>)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

As far as visiting that brewery in person?\u00a0 For me, the two prime ingredients are (of course) good beer, but also, good service.\u00a0 I have been to places where I have enjoyed the beer, but have not gotten good\/friendly service.\u00a0 And vice versa.\u00a0 And in either situation, I usually will not plan on making a return visit.\u00a0 Of course, in the case of service, I recognize that people have their bad\/off days.\u00a0 If I enjoyed the beer, I\u2019m much more likely to give the place another shot.<\/p>\n

Chauncey B.: <\/strong>Thanks, Teddy. What are your<\/em> great expectations, Steph?<\/p>\n

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Stephanie thoroughly enjoys flights, as she likes options when it comes to her beverages, so she expects to see many beer types on draft. In typical Stephanie fashion, here she is checking out a sampler at\u00a0Escape Craft Brewery<\/a><\/strong> in Downtown Redlands.\u00a0<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

Stephanie Thara Metzinger<\/strong>: We should expect a solid variety of beer on tap. Sometimes I have an IPA moment, other times I have a Lager moment, while most of the time I have a Saison moment. When I visit a brewery, I expect to see beers that match the season (e.g., stouts during winter), specialty beers, and \u201cgo-to\u201d beer types that match any and all moods I am in.\u00a0<\/p>\n

I have visited a few breweries that\u00a0lean\u00a0heavily on one type of beer (I\u2019ve encountered 3 different breweries like this), and I end up not purchasing anything. It astounds me when owners decide to put their own special interests before their consumers and only offer 1-2 types of beer.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Chauncey B.: <\/strong>Thanks, Stephanie. You all have got me thinking. And this is what I realized: in my day job, I\u2019m an educator. So naturally, in addition to good beer and good service, I want to be educated, submerged in a zymurgic syllabus, have my hop horizons expanded \u2014 i.e., get schooled<\/em>. And one of the best places near me for that to happen is Glendale Tap, where the Elusive Isabella recently took Eleanor and I to meet Natty Nico, the bartender who recommended the Jester King \u201cEnigmatic Taxa\u201d<\/a><\/strong> for my birthday.<\/p>\n

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Stephanie Thara Metzinger:<\/strong> 57 beers on tap?!?!?!?! If Glendale Tap wasn\u2019t so far from me, I would definitely\u00a0be a regular there!<\/p>\n

Chauncey B.:<\/strong> I know, right? Anyway, I follow GT on Instagram, and they frequently have tap takeovers by breweries that I hear about from Sir Ted of Sonoma or BeachRock Bill \u2014 but I never seem to get there. Natty Niko and Elusive Isabella scoffed and said, \u201cThat\u2019s ridiculous.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Glendale Tap on San Fernando Road in Glendale, CA. Bartender Natty Niko on the left with yours truly, Chauncey B., on the right. According to Glendale Tap\u2019s website, owner Glyn Samuel\u2019s goal, when he bought the bar in 2011, was \u201cto create a vintage, dive bar with a hip, relaxed feel.\u201d He also \u201cstrives to have the best beer selection in the Los Angeles area.\u201d I think he\u2019s regularly reaching that goal, if not exceeding it.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

The evening we visited, my eyes popped as I perused the tap menu and saw a veritable school<\/em> of Humble Sea creatures, including \u201cSwordfish Fencing,\u201d a 7.2% ABV New England IPA, which Eleanor ordered without hesitation, and \u201cOtter Romp,\u201d an 8.6% ABV Imperial IPA collaboration between Humble Sea and Pure Project, where BeachRock Bill works as a bartender.<\/p>\n

BeachRock Bill:<\/strong> Helen and I both Loved<\/em> Otter Romp!<\/p>\n

Chauncey B.<\/strong>: That was my favorite, but I also tried Humble Sea\u2019s \u201cPlayita\u201d Mexican Lager and \u201cI\u2019ll Take the Oatmeal Stout For\u201d [sic] 5.1% ABV. It seems that Mexican lager is one of the new beers that a lot of brewers feel they have to try their hand at \u2014 so, I use it as a litmus test: can you do a flavorful, low alcohol brew in a distinctive manner? Playita did not disappoint.<\/p>\n

EleanorJulieAnne:<\/strong> I had to go to Level One on my second pour, with a Russian River \u201cDamnation,\u201d a 7.5% Belgian Strong Golden. You can\u2019t get this ale just anywhere. The only other place I\u2019ve seen it in recent memory is We\u2019re Pouring<\/strong><\/a> on the opposite side of Glendale from GT.<\/p>\n

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Left to right: Mesa Verde, from Craftsman; Swordfish Fencing from Humble Sea, and Otter Romp, a Pure Project\/ Humble Sea collaboration. Elusive Isabella scoffs in the background\u2026<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

Chauncey B.: <\/strong>The Elusive Isabella surprised me by going first with a small pour of a Craftsman \u201cMesa Verde\u201d sour (7% ABV), followed by Beachwood\u2019s \u201cUno\u201d Belgian Single Blonde (5.7%), finishing with a \u201cPassion Blast\u201d 4.6% sour, fruited from Shred Beer<\/a><\/strong> in Rocklin, CA. <\/p>\n

One look at Shred\u2019s current tap list confirms that this is a place we\u2019d all want to go if we lived in some Beermuda Triangle bounded by Sacramento, Yuba City, and Lake Tahoe. The fact that they were named 2023 Great American Beer Festival Brewer of the Year (in the 1-250 barrel category) tells me we\u2019re not the only ones.<\/p>\n

Shred has seasonal selections that might intrigue Stephanie and I, like \u201cCinco, Cinco, Cinco\u201d Mexican lager, a 2023 GABF Silver Medal Winner (\u201cLagered and conditioned for months, this Mexican-style lager is a steady crusher with a supporting malt foundation of flaked maize\u201d).<\/p>\n

\u201cMorning Brunch\u201d \u2014 a 13% ABV Imperial Stout made with with Guatemalan Coffee & Vermont Maple Syrup \u2014 might appeal to BRB\u2019s Wife Helen, perhaps? <\/p>\n

And I could see BrewHead Ted tempted by an \u201cAroma Spider\u201d (6.3% ABV \u2014 \u201cA complex lupulin web of Nectaron Cryo, Nectaron, Mosaic 702, Simcoe, HBC 586, and HBC 586 Cryo hops\u201d tasting of \u201cBubbleberry, Resin Sauce, and Muskmelon\u201d) or \u201cMurkside of the Moon\u201d (7.3% ABV \u2014 \u201cCitra and Motueka hops take you on a murky journey through space and time,\u201d with a flavor profile of peach, lime zest, and lychee). <\/p>\n

Eleanor and BeachRock Bill would probably enjoy the Murkside, too, or its stronger, more shredded big brother \u201cMurk Level Midnight,\u201d an 8.5% Hazy DIPA which just happens to be a collaboration with \u2026 you got it, Shred and BRB\u2019s own Pure Project.<\/p>\n

I feel thoroughly educated \u2014 by my fellow So Cal Craft Beer Bloggers, by the Elusive Isabella, by Natty Niko, and by Glendale Tap. Thank you, one and all!<\/p>\n

Now, how about you, dear reader?<\/em><\/strong> <\/p>\n

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  • What makes a brewery or brewpub stand out for you? <\/li>\n
  • Have you tasted any of the brews or brew offerings that we\u2019ve mentioned in this post? <\/li>\n
  • Do you concur with our assessments, or do you take issue with them? <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    PLEASE, LET US KNOW! <\/strong>Send an email to us care of me, Chauncey B., at socalcraftbeer@gmail.com<\/a><\/em><\/strong>. I\u2019ll be happy to publish your reactions in a future post.<\/p>\n

    From all of us at SCCBB, <\/p>\n

    Cheers! And happy exploration,<\/p>\n

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    \u2014 BeachRock Bill
    Instagram:\u00a0    @beachrockbill<\/a>
    Email: beachrockbill@gmail.com<\/p>\n

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    \u2014 Cheers,\u00a0EleanorJulieAnne<\/em><\/p>\n

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    -Brewhead Ted
    Instagram:\u00a0    @tedc79<\/a>
    Email<\/em>: YippeeKiIPA@gmail.com<\/p>\n

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    \u2014 Stephanie
    Instagram     @stephzinger<\/a>
    https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/stephaniethara<\/a><\/p>\n

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    Chauncey B. out\u2026
    Instagram and Threads: @socalcraftbeer
    Facebook:\u00a0    http:\/\/www.facebook.com\/socalcraftbeer<\/a>
    Mastadon:     @socalcraftbeer<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n