Woodfour Brewing

Goddamn Yelp reviewers!  I almost didn't go to Woodfour because it had only a 3.5 star rating which normally means it sucks in Yelp.  Luckily, we decided to try it out on our way back from Bodega Bay.

The first beer I tried was the best. With a name like "Nurple the Gnome's Sack of Secret Herbs," how could you go wrong? Interestingly, they don't use any hops but instead use herbs to give the beer its aroma and taste. This one had the very local rosemary, sage and lavender herbs in it. With that and the sour tang to it, it had a wonderful fruity flavor that went down so well in the hot afternoon.

The next I had was a black larger made with the neighboring shop's fine coffee.  I liked this very much and the wife said it was her favorite.  What I liked about it was that it did not taste like a larger at all.  I'd had Asahi's Black Larger before and that tasted very much like the name, a dark/black colored larger.  This was a lot smoother and a bit heavier than most largers.











Lastly, I had their Maibock which was a very decent version of a beer I don't order much.
The brewery was located in a very nice, new development called "The Barlow."  It is a collection of new businesses from wineries to restaurants to shops all located in high-ceiling warehouses.
I definitely recommend this as a side trip to the wine country.

Laughing Monk Brewing

 

My friend Wilson and I love beer, and we love visiting new breweries.  So, when we saw that the brand new Laughing Monk was having a launch event for their new beers, we did not hesitate.
The first beer that we tried was their Double IPA.  It was very well executed.  Smooth taste; not too hoppy.  It also had simple, but nice aroma and color.  It is not a Pliny the Elder in terms of complexity, but it is definitely a beer I'd order again and again.
The second beer we had was their new Belgian Dark Ale.  Normally, I am not a big fan of Belgian beers, since they not only have a bit too much alcohol, they also taste of it.  This Ale, however, did not scream alcohol as others I have had.  It was like drinking a dark cup of tea without the caffeine.
The location itself it really well done up (see below).  I have not seen a warehouse this attractively designed.
Oh, and did I say it's dog-friendly!
It's located at:
1439A Egbert Ave, San Francisco, CA 94124

Strand Brewing Company Expression Session IPA

The label gave me high expectations:

- premium handcrafted ales

- small batch

- unfiltered 

- our way from grain to glass. 

In reality? Meh. 

If I brewed this, I'd assume I made a mistake somewhere. Not much taste. Nothing unique. Unless they produce something better, I'd recommend the brewers try some other line of work. 

I See Cold Beer: Review: Boatswain Chocolate Stout

I See Cold Beer: Review: Boatswain Chocolate Stout: A good, solid chocolate stout. Well done. It's like if you order a burger and it comes out the way you want it. Standard, but well exec...

#rhinelanderbrewingcompany

Review: Boatswain Chocolate Stout

A good, solid chocolate stout. Well done. It's like if you order a burger and it comes out the way you want it. Standard, but well executed. I will return.

I See Cold Beer: Review: Oakland Brewing Company's Sticky Zipper

I See Cold Beer: Review: Oakland Brewing Company's Sticky Zipper: It started out really good. A unique, sweet taste. But then I quickly found it a bit too sweet for my taste. Great naming; great label; b...

#oaklandbrewingcompany

Review: Oakland Brewing Company's Sticky Zipper

It started out really good. A unique, sweet taste. But then I quickly found it a bit too sweet for my taste. Great naming; great label; but you've gotta work on the taste.

I See Cold Beer: Review: Chai-spiced Stone Imperial Stout

I See Cold Beer: Review: Chai-spiced Stone Imperial Stout: Definitely one of the funkiest, yet great-tasting beers I've had in a while. I've been trying to decide what to brew next and so...

@StoneBrewingCo

Review: Chai-spiced Stone Imperial Stout

Definitely one of the funkiest, yet great-tasting beers I've had in a while. I've been trying to decide what to brew next and so I bought a bunch of different beers. This is by far my favorite. You could tell they got the Chai part right without even having one sip. The aroma screams Chai. I was worried that I might get sick of the sweet Chai flavor but I did not. Great job Stone! A challenging but rewarding beer!

Review: Black Robusto by Drakes

I've been drinking too many IPAs recently.   But most of the time I stray from them, I am disappointed.
This time I was not!
Drakes has produced an awesome Porter that puts my homebrewed Porter to shame.
It's not too heavy and has just the right chocolatey flavor to make it a smooth drink the whole pint through.
A must try!

This beer was consumed at:
Brewcade
2200 Market Street #102
San Francisco, CA

Guayacan Golden Ale

Best beer I had on the Southern Cone trip. Light, crisp. It went down very well at a fine restaurant in Santiago. 

Hernando de Magallanes beer

I felt that all of the mass produced beer in Patagonia tasted like formaldehyde. 

The most palatable beers were small batch microbrews. This is one example. It was just that; palatable; no better, no worse. Still I'd have to say I order even a Corona over this one. 

Buzzerkeley

Somebody else was footing the bill.
So why not?  A $15 beer? 
Not that I am not willing to put out that much for a good beer.
But a beer that describes itself as a "sparkling ale?"
To my surprise, it was awesome!  We ended up ordering a number of bottles and enjoyed each one of them.
Despite the name, the carbonation of Buzzerkeley is not much more than any other ale.
This is a good thing.
The taste was very good but I cannot accurately describe it after all the wonderful food that followed.
Oh well.  I will definitely have it again!

Taste @ Humbolt Bay Tourism Center

I'd like to start out by saying that this is a great idea.  Some breweries and wineries try to open their own tasting rooms in urban locations but it is naturally a challenge to get enough foot traffic to make it worth it.  And it's not just bevies.  Food companies.  Craft companies.  You name it.  It's great to be small but it is hard too.  This type of location helps promote small businesses in a really attractive way.  Way to go Humbolt Tourism Center! You people are a role model for other small destinations.
I tried three different types of beer the Redwood Curtain IGA, the Six Rivers macadamia nut porter and Six Rivers IPA. The first two were good but didn't click with me.  IDK WTF an IGA is.  Can someone tell me?  The Six Rivers porter was good but a bit too sweet for my tastes.
The IPA was what the doctor ordered.  It was a classic IPA with its own unique something that I liked.

Humbolt Bay Tourism Center

205 G Street
Eureka, CA 95501

Traquair's Jacobite Ale

Beer with coriander, fermented in oak barrels...sounded pretty unique, and it was.
It was a dark, dunkel-like beer but with much more character.
I cannot say that I want to drink it frequently but it was unique I must say.

I got this at one of my favorite new shops
The San Francisco Wine Trading Company
 250 Taraval Street

Review: Stone's Go To IPA

Had this after a two day slog in Sequoia NP. it's a complex IPA. Almost too hoppy but still very drinkable. A little less complex, but a little more (noticeably) hoppy version of Pliny the Elder.

Stone Brewing
1999 Citracado Parkway
Escondido, CA 92029
 

Monkey Street Fight

With a name like "Monkey Street Fight," how could I resist?

Unfortunately, I probably should have. 

Not very original at all in terms of taste or character. 

ol' Republic Brewery

Recently, my visits to breweries have been a bit disappointing.
I guess my standards are a bit high.
ol' Republic was a welcome change.
Their beer is awesome!
Their IPA (in the photo) was great.  It was everything you want in an IPA - easy to drink, great taste that isn't too strong that it wears you out and isn't too weak to be boring.

Save this brewery to your To Go list!

ol' Republic Brewery 

124 Argall Way

Nevada City, CA 95959

Green Flash: West Coast IPA

This was just not very good.
I cannot say what it was.
Too much hops?
The wrong type of hops?
Dunno.
But I cannot recommend it.

Lagunitas Little Sumpin'

I got Lagunitas Little Sumpin' Ale right after a nice long bike ride.
Boy, it his the spot!
It was very light and refreshing!

Citrusy, if that's a word.