Beer Review (61): Ballast Point Spruce Tip Sculpin IPA

Brewery: Ballast Point Beer: IPA| Beer Advocate Score: 4.06/5 Abv: 7%

Crispy citrus bite now built into one of my most beloved IPAs, ever. I had no idea until a recent case swap at work that this little guy existed, what a delight! It's on a short fun, so go grab yourself a case to enjoy all winter! 

Beer Review (55): Blah Blah Blah IPA by 21st Amendment

Brewery: 21st Amendment Brewery Beer: Imperial IPA | Beer Advocate Score: 88 Abv: 8.0%

It's been a long time since I indulged in a nice craft beer.  Honestly, winter got me fat and girl has to tone down the beer consumption.  Every now and then, for sanity, I must imbibe.  I saw a new 21st Amendment can at the Corner Foodery and had to give it a go--even though I knew IMPERIAL meant I would get a little wild.  Ok, I didn't get wild, I only found a new IPA to die for.  It's reminiscent of the Brew Free or Die IPA they offer, but bolder, cleaner and more powerful.  

Hang On To Summer With These Citrus Beers

It's inevitable.  Tans fade.  Summer does come to an end, if only in terms of weather.  So we'll keep it alive by mixing in a bit of flavor into our usual line-up.  Citrus a n y t h i n g is my absolute favorite, so please forgive all the extra crafty sparkle in this post!

From left --> right, these are my favorite picks to keep your taste buds waxing nostalgic on the warmer months.

Ballast Point Pineapple Sculpin
This beer is so fragrant and delightful.  You'll really like this one!  Full, rich pineapple flavors and one of the most perfect IPAs to grace your palette. 

Sam Adams Red Grapefruit IPA
An unexpected choice here, but I'm a big fan.  Sam Adams for the win with this red grapefruit IPA.  I just love the smell and the taste is super smooth.

Schofferhofer Grapefruit Beer
This is a summer classic in my book.  Schofferhofer knows how to blend the sweet, citrusy blend of grapefruit, sugar and alcohol.  Keep your fridge stocked all through the Fall.

Southern Tier 3 Citrus Peel Out
Boom, Southern Tier delivers yet again with this 3 citrus blend.  A wheat beer with zesty lemon tones, yum.

DogFishHead Namaste
Always a little weird, but interesting brewery.  DFH brings us Namaste, a white witbier with a light color and bold flavor. 

Stone Citrusy Wit
Just what it says, a citrusy wit, but done so well...you'll wanna just keep drinking.  Ahhhhh, so fresh!

Beer Review (53): Imperial IPA by New Belgium Brewing Company

Brewery: New Belgium Brewing Beer: Amber Ale | Beer Advocate Score: 85 Abv: 8.5%

Wooooheeee this is a strong Imperial IPA.  It was perfect for the Christmas season, a nice and citrus-y flavor to round off a few perfect meals.  This is the second beer I've had from New Belgium and very tasty.  Colorado has its share of great breweries and I will definitely add this to my list of go-to IPAs.  But man, it's a kick of alcohol at 8.5%.  

Home Again!

I'm back from California and what an adventure it was!  The picture above was taken in Hetch Hetchy in the NW section of Yosemite National Park.

It was another incredible visit to one of the most beautiful places on earth.  Though California is experiencing a very bad drought right now, there is still much to see...and since they're short on water you can always pack beer!

I'll have a whole slew of pictures to come!  Check back soon <3

What to take to Yosemite!

I'm going to Yosemite again!  In anticipation of my visit in August, I put together a little #RoundUp of things I'd like to have with me this time around.  Take a look at my pictures from last year, here!  You may ask, "Why Yosemite, again?"  Well, to be honest, two days in the park last year was not nearly long enough.  There is so much more to see and do!

Left to Right:

Jungmaven Tank Top
Swarovski Binoculars
Ballast Point Sculpin IPA here, here and here (Grapefruit Variety)
Mission Workshop Hauser Hydration Pack 14L
Black+Blum Thermo Pot
Olympus TG 860 Waterproof Camera
Maharishi Bucket Hat in Camo
Persol Sunglasses 9714s
Olight Tactical Flashlight
New Balance Minimus Shoes
Jcrew Chinos in Green
Suunto Core Watch

More #RoundUps

Beer Review (47): 21st Amendment Brewery Down to Earth Session IPA

Brewery: 21st Amendment Brewery Beer: Session IPA | Beer Advocate Score: 86 Abv: 4.4%

This session IPA goes down easy and has a relatively low alcohol content, hence "session",  It is a light amber color and minimally frothy after the pour.  Light hop taste, but enough to coin it an IPA. I sensed a bit of citrus and sugar immediately.  Actually, this is a really nice beer and was perfect for Saturday afternoon drinking with lunch.  21st never ceases to bring a good beer to the table, so I'll continue singing their praises here.  For more IPAs, click the button below.  Happy drinking, folks!!

Beer Review (39): Port Brewing Anniversary Ale

Brewery: Port Brewing Company Beer: Imperial IPA| Beer Advocate Score: 91 Abv: 10%

#Tbt to this summer when I took so many pictures of beer bottles and forgot to share them with you!  Here we have the very memorable Anniversary Ale from Port Brewing.  Crispy, light, and full of citrus flavors.  A very hoppy brew that will please your taste buds on a hot summer's day...or trick your cold, wintry self into thinking its summer!  Rated highly on Beer Advocate!

Definitely a complex beer with a lot to offer.  If its still up on the shelves wherever you are, don't pass it up!  

Beer Review (35): Saranac Our Legacy IPA

Brewery: Saranac Brewing Co.| Beer: IPA | Beer Advocate Score: 85 Abv: 6.5%

Last July we packed up our canoe and headed out to a lean-to on a peninsula off of Lower St. Regis Lake in the Adirondack Mountains of New York State.  Like years past, we thought it only natural to stock up on local beers and keep them ice cold in the cooler all weekend.

Here we have Saranac's Our Legacy IPA fresh from the Coleman ice box.  It has a clean and crisp bite to it and gets better as it breathes.  Floral and toffee tones combined to form one of the better IPAs I had this summer.  Not a showstopper, but definitely not one to be overlooked.  Could surely be a regular in the fridge.  Wouldn't overshadow your food and would compliment any fishing trip well.  Mostly, this for sure is a camping beer, so go get out there!

Beer Review (34): Terrapin Hi-5 IPA

Brewery: Terrapin Beer Company | Beer: IPA | Beer Advocate Score: 88 Abv: 5.9%

It's about mid-September and I know you're probably focused on Oktoberfest/Märzen brews, but before you turn your back on the IPAs, give Terrapin Hi-5 IPA a go.  It has a nice, light citrusy taste and a semi-frothy mouth feel (how do ya like that?).Terrapin is a brewery out of Athens, Georgia and has been brewing since 2002.  

They also took home the Bramwell Ocktoberfest Award for their Rye Pale Ale so you really can't go wrong, you know?!

Beer Review (31): Mission Brewery IPA

Brewery: Mission Brewery | Beer: IPA | Beer Advocate Score: 83 Abv: 6.8%

Whoa, taste buds!  What a relief to be surprised and delighted by a new beer! This was the first time I had anything from Mission Brewery located in San Diego, California, but since I was in the state I thought to give it a go.  

It pours a dark honey color and has a slightly yellowed-head.  It had a nice hop aroma and wasn't too bitter.  Something I really liked about it was the zesty aroma and almost orange or lemon fragrance.  

I spotted it on the shelf at the local BevMo where I was staying in California.  I highly recommend this big bottle for taco night or just sitting on your porch.  Pairs well with sunshine and relaxation.

Spring Weekends!

Looking forward to a fine Spring weekend ahead.  Warm weather, ice cream, motorcycles, beer, and probably...Spring cleaning.

1. Jeans - Carhartt WIP  - X Rebel Pant
2. Shirt - Jungmaven
3. CD - Robert Ellis - Photographs
4. Ice Cream - Franklin Fountain - Strawberry
5. Shirt - O'Harrow - Wall Street
6. Beer - Ballast Point Sculpin - IPA
7. Watch - Timex - Heritage Easy Reader
8. Shoes - Loafer Camp Mocs - Pierrepont Hicks
9. Helmet - Titanium With Bubble - Biltwell

Beer Review (29): Ballast Point Sculpin India Pale Ale

Brewery: Ballast Point Brewing Company | Beer: IPA | Beer Advocate Score: 98 Abv: 7.0%

This is the highest rated beer I've featured on the b-log and the first featured from Ballast Point.  An easy to handle and perfectly hopped beverage for the warmer temps ahead of us.  Pours a beautiful amber color and has a full-bodied punch.  Unbeatable!

Have you tried any good brews recently?

Beer Review (27): Anchor Brewing Co. Liberty Ale

Brewery: Anchor Brewing Co. | Beer: American IPA/Pale Ale-ish | Beer Advocate Score: 88 Abv: 7.00%

The word is that this beer was first brewed in 1975 in San Francisco.  Sort of an old-timer, but clearly standing the test of time.  I can see why!  This beer has a percentage of yeast and dry hops to keep you interested, and cascade hops that refresh and invigorate.  Grab some of the stubby bottles from your local corner store and enjoy!

A little bit of Anchor Brewing Co. history:

Year 1871: "Gottlieb Brekle bought an old beer-and-billiards saloon on Pacific Street near Russian Hill for $3,500, transforming it into the brewery that, twenty-five years later, would be renamed Anchor." here

Beer Review (16): Goose Island India Pale Ale

Brewery: Goose Island | Beer: Goose Island India Pale Ale | Beer Advocate Score: 85 Abv: 5.9%

Just when I thought the season for IPAs was behind me, a friend brought over the Goose Island India Pale Ale.  Refreshingly hoppy, bitter, but very palatable. So if you are still holding on to Summer, grab a pack.

Other IPA posts:

IPA Link 1

IPA Link 2

IPA Link 3

Beer Review (13): Brew Free or Die IPA

Brewery: 21st Amendment Brewery | Beer: Brew Free or Die IPA | Beer Advocate Score: 87 Abv: 7.0%

Sweet citrus flavors up front, the Brew Free or Die IPA, is a bit mild in terms of the IPA hop standard, but has a nice crisp/clean feel.  I really like this beer and have been warming up to canned beers as of late.  It pairs well with fun outdoor antics and Summer campfires.  Here's what the brewers had to say, "This aromatic golden IPA starts with a sucker punch of six different hops to the nose, quickly balanced by a solid malt backbone."

Spiegelau IPA Glass



Looking for the ultimate glassware for your next Southern Tier American IPA?  Look no further than the Spiegelau IPA glass   coming out in May of this year.  You can pre-order your set (of 2) now and have it just in time for Summer. 

What the website says: "With input from two of the leading IPA brewers in the United States- Sam Calagione of Dogfish Head and Ken Grossman of Sierra Nevada- Spiegelau has created the new standard for IPA beer glassware. The Spiegelau IPA glass is designed to showcase varying aromatic profiles for the American 'hop forward' IPA beer, preserve a frothy head and volatiles and maintain a comfortably wide opening for the drinker to "nose" the beer. This is the go-to vessel for IPA beers!"

My Favorite IPAs:

 Southern Tier American IPA

Lagunitas American IPA

Smuttynose Big A IPA



Beer Review (1): Southern Tier IPA

Brewery:  Southern Tier  |  Beer:  India Pale Ale (IPA)
Beer Advocate Review Average (rAvg): 88

I really enjoy the Southern Tier IPA.  It has a smooth mouth feel and it's not too floral-y or hoppy for those trying to get into the IPAs for Summer(please note that I am in no way a professional beer taster).  Actually, there's a huge contrast between the S.T. IPA and say, a Dogfishhead 60 min.  The notes aren't too deep and it is a lot smoother than most IPAs I'm used to.  This also is probably part of the reason it didn't get a higher score on Beer Advocate.  Nothing too special or different coming out of this beer, just a smooth and fresh feeling taste with notes I personally describe as slightly bitter, fresh (almost a nature smell), and ending dry on the tongue.

With Summer coming to a close, I thought to document some of the IPAs I had over the last few months.  Looking forward to Pumpkin Beer and Harvest Ales!  I always enjoy getting a beer recommendation and thought these kind of posts could be useful for any readers out there!  Bottoms Up!

I welcome all suggestions!

It's the season for IPAs

Bear Republic: Racer 5 IPA

Southern Tier: IPA

 Saranac: White IPA

Out of the group I liked the Saranac IPA the best, it's a limited release and very floral-y tasting. You know, in my humble opinion.