California Beer Reviews
The birthplace of craft brewing and people who love hoppy beer.
by Tom Smillie | American IPA, Beer Reviews, California, Imperial / Double IPA, India Pale Ale (IPA), Mug, Pint Glass, Port Brewing Company, Snifter, Tulip, United States, Wine Glass |
Had this beast of a beer last year at the Bavarian Lodge and loved it. I’ll tell you right now, this thing might as well be a double/imperial IPA even thought Port calls it a Strong APA. The ABV is definitely up there and it is hoppy as all get out. Released...
by Tom Smillie | American Brown Ale, Anchor Brewing Company, Beer Reviews, California, Cascadian Dark Ale / Black IPA, Mug, Pint Glass, United States |
Celebrating 140 years of brewing tradition Anchor commemorates this beer to its founder Gottlieb Brekle. With a killer first name this man started brewing in 1871 in San Francisco which later took the name by which it is now know. Wanting to brew something in honor...
by Tom Smillie | California, Coffee Beers, Firestone Walker Brewing Company, Pint Glass, Russian Imperial Stout, Snifter, Spirit-Aged Beers, United States |
Nectar Ales was founded in 1987 in Northern California helping to pioneer the craft beer moment in America. Since 2003, when Firestone Walker Brewing Company acquired Nectar, the brand has provided three year round beers to their line up. Recently (2009) they added...
by Tom Smillie | American Strong Ale, California, Mug, Pint Glass, Snifter, Stone Brewing Company, United States, Wood-Aged Beers |
They, Stone, calls this the Cuvee de Bastards and rightly so. It combines and blends the 3 notable variations: Arrogant Bastard, Oaked Aged Bastard, and Double Bastard in this one-off brew that was released in November of 2010. Its release celebrated 13 years since...
by Tom Smillie | California, Cascadian Dark Ale / Black IPA, Mug, Pint Glass, Stone Brewing Company, United States |
Yet another bottle label that stinks of arrogance. Hey, Stone we get it. You are a bunch of arrogant bastards that make great beer and you hate mediocre swill. We’ve all heard you’re platform and understand, so how about you move on and find some new...
by Michael Larson | California, Imperial / Double IPA, Snifter, Stone Brewing Company, Tulip, United States, Wine Glass |
Contradictions. Green Tea and Beer. An American beer described in Japanese. Stone and Being Nice. And yet, this most recent Stone collaboration has all three. The most shocking of the trio, Stone being nice, comes in the form of profits from this particular beer being...