Week of 2.2.2009 - Stone Sublimely Self-Righteous Ale and a bad beer?

This week I picked up a Stone brew that I had never had before. I bought a 22oz of Stone Sublimely Self-Righteous Ale for about 5 bucks at BevMo. The description called it a Double IPA which is why I picked it up. I what as good one. It was a little darker than the stuff I have been drinking and I'll pick it up again.

Ok... now for the bad beer. Ok... I wouldn't really call it bad but compared to all the "good' stuff have had lately this one kind of let me down. I bought a six pack of Victory Brewing Co.'s Hop Wallop. It was on sale and over the Holidays while in PA I had another one of the beers, Festbier, and I really liked it. The Hop Wallop is definitely hoppy but not as bitter and flavorful as the killer San Diego IPA's I have been drinking.

Week of 1.26.2009 - Gordon Ale, Green Flash Imperial IPA, &

I found some winners this week. Forget beer of the week... I tried three new one this week. You gotta love Bevmo.... I can't get out of there in no less than 30 minutes. So much I want to try and so little time... alcohol tolerance. One good strong 22oz IPA and I'm feeling it.


Beer #1. Oskar Blues Gordon Ale
This week. I hit Bevmo and picked up another beer from Oskar Blues Brewery bases on GZ's recommendation. I got 4 pack for Gordon Ale. It was kind of steep... $10 for 4 beers... but mix a between an Imperial Red and a Double IPA with 8.7% abv is worth the loot. I really liked this beer and it's worth the 10 bucks. I love cans... but wish it came in a sixer.

ABV: 8.7%
IBU’s: 85

Gordon is a hybrid version of strong ale, somewhere between an Imperial Red and a Double IPA. We make it with six different malts and three types of hops, then dry-hop it with a mutha lode of Amarillo hops. It is 8.7% alcohol by volume, and has 85 International Bittering Units.

Beer #2. Green Flash Imperial IPA
I have had this beer sitting in my "beer fridge" for over a week now. Ryan suggested this one and I was waiting for a good time to drink it. So after my long ride saturday and taking my bike to the shop I cracked this one open. I will say this... everything I have had from Green Flash so far (west coast IPA, hop head red) has been awesome but this one was the best. I love San Diego style IPA's (very hoppy) and this one didn't disappoint. Right up there with anything I have ever had.

ABV: 9.4%
IBU’s: 101

San Diego-style IPA, as it has come to be known by many, is super-hoppy, high gravity, yet highly quaffable ale. Our Imperial IPA is created in this new tradition with intense hop flavors and aromas from a unique blend of Summit and Nugget hops. It's all about the hops!

Beer #3. Alesmith IPA
Last but definitely not least I tried another IPA from a local San Diego brewery that I have never had in the past. What can I say... another solid San Diego-style IPA. Just like it says on the bottle:
It's
Pretty
Awesome

that's IPA for any of you slow folks out there.

ABV: 7.75%

Deep golden to light amber color, and a nice off-white head, with good retention when properly served. Starts off with pleasantly strong hop flavors, balanced by a firm malt backdrop, then fades to a dry finish with a lingering hoppiness.

Week of 1.19.2009 - Dale's Pale Ale + Racer 5 IPA

Ok... this week is a 2 for 1 and both of these beers I have had before. First up is a beer from the Oskar Blues brewery in Lyons, CO: Dale's Pale Ale.

The first time I had a Dale's Pale Ale was at the 24 Hours in Old Pueblo last year. They were sponsoring a team at the race and giving out free beer at their RV. I love companies that support mountain biking and especially one's that give away free beer! I also like the fact that it comes in a can... always colder. This is a good everyday beer. Not to hoppy and goes down easy. A perfect beer to knock back while working on the bikes or cleaning the garage... at least that's what I did.

Now here's the bonus beer. Bear Republic's Racer 5 IPA.

I have been into this beer for quite some time and actually had a chance to go to their Brewpub last summer when we were in Sonoma for Vineman. This is just one of the those beers that you gotta get in a 22oz bottle. 12oz just wont' do it.

Week of 1.12.2009 - Green Flash Hop Head Red Ale

ABV: 6%
IBU's: 45

After the having the West Coast IPA the week before I decided to pick up a six pack of the Green Flash Hop Head Red Ale to quench my thirst after big weekend of riding and while watching the NFL divisional playoff games.

I like a good red ale... and this was a good one. Definitely a step up from the red's that I usually drink (Killian's Irish Red, Karl Strauss Red Trolley Ale).

Week of 1.5.2009 - Green Flash West Coast IPA

ok.. this is the first post on my new blog. JW's Beer of the Week. It's no secret that I like beer and especially trying a new beer. One of my new years goals (I don't like resolutions) was to expand my horizons in food and drink. I am by no means a connoisseur of beer and wine, but I like them both... very much. So this blog is here to keep my honest.

My plan is try one new beer a week and post about it. It won't be just about beer though. If I come across a good bottle or glass of wine I'll post about it here. Just more fun on the Internet.

I have some catching up to do and this post is from my first week back in SoCal after the holidays. For a while Ryan had been telling my about Green Flash beers, which is a brewery right down here in San Diego. Some how I had never had any of their beers. After a offroad ride with Ryan I headed to Henry's before the Chargers game to grab some snacks and beer.

I was stoked to find that they carried Green Flash. I picked up a sixer of the West Coast IPA. I cracked the first one right at the kick off of the Bolts game. I really liked this beer from the first sip... and I liked it more with every one that I had. Here's the description from the Green Flash site:

"This West Coast-Style India Pale Ale is extravagantly hopped, full flavored, medium bodied and copper colored. A menagerie of hops is combined throughout the brewing process to impart specific characteristics. Hops used include Simcoe for a unique fruitiness and grapefruit zest, Columbus for strong hop pungency, Centennial for pine and citrus notes, and Cascade for floral aroma."

All I can say is get some try... be prepared for a pretty hoppy beer.