California Beer Reviews

The birthplace of craft brewing and people who love hoppy beer.

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Mendocino White Hawk Select IPA

by John | American IPA, California, Mendocino Brewing Company, Mug, Pint Glass, United States | 0 comments

I hate cheap beer! I love this cheap beer. I picked up a six pace of White Hawk IPA for $5.99. Not for a minute did I think that’s cheap beer so don’t buy it. I had had another Mendocino brew and felt confident that this would be acceptable. It was more...

Anchor Christmas Ale 2006

by Michael Larson | Anchor Brewing Company, California, Pint Glass, United States, Winter Ale / Warmer | 0 comments

Well it’s Christmas Eve, 2010. Just 36 hours from now, Christmas will have come and gone. The extra ham or turkey will now go between two pieces of bread and the mashed potatoes and Jello salad will be nibbled ‘til they’re gone. So with the holiday season’s end...

Mendocino Eye of the Hawk Select Ale

by John | American Strong Ale, California, Mendocino Brewing Company, Mug, Pint Glass, Snifter, United States | 0 comments

Eye of the Hawk Select Ale is a fascinating beer. Said to be the “The Harley-Davidson of American beers” tells you a lot about the character of this beer. Coppery, red and amber in color this beer has a luxurious caramel malt flavor. You will note it from...

North Coast Brother Thelonious Belgian-Style Abbey Ale

by Taylor Birkey | Belgian Strong Dark Ale, California, Goblet, North Coast Brewing Company, Snifter, Tulip, United States, Wine Glass | 0 comments

If I’m completely honest, I would say that Belgian-style ales don’t really get me that excited. Whether they be genuine Trappist ales from Chimay or Rochefort, or simply “Belgian-style” homages like the North Coast one I’m reviewing...

Lagunitas Lucky 13 Mondo Large Red Ale

by John | American Amber / Red Ale, California, Lagunitas Brewing Company, Mug, Pilsner Glass, Pint Glass, United States | 0 comments

First let’s get the name right. Lagunitas is pronounced “LAH-GOO-KNEE-TUSS”. I hate mispronouncing beers but do it all the time. Say “LAH-GOO-KNEE-TUSS” with me. Now let’s turn to mondo. Mondo means huge right. Not a lot of Swedes...

Anderson Valley Anniversary Imperial IPA

by Tom Smillie | Anderson Valley Brewing Company, California, Imperial / Double IPA, Snifter, Tulip, United States, Wine Glass | 0 comments

For having never tried an Anderson Valley beer, why not start off with a limited edition brew that celebrates the use of hops in a big way. Catching a little blurb on the side of the bottle it became apparent that I was in for a hefty beer. They claim that it “is...