Beer Bottle Cap Floor

If I did yoga, this is where I'd do it!

I just had to share the photo Mission Brewery posted on Facebook yesterday.  Talk about the perfect environment for yoga!

The Brewery Project: Intergalactic

 

Alex Van Horne.  You may not know this name, yet, but I'm sure you will.  The owner and head brewer of the newly opened Intergalactic Brewing Co. is part of a new breed of young brewers hitting the San Diego brewing scene.  A small brewery, outfitted with just the essentials, brewing beer their way.  The beer is the focus, pure and simple, the way it should be.  That's what Alex is about, and it shows in his beer.  With a grand opening set for May 4th, he already has an impressive tap list with a wide range of beer styles represented.  The 4.4% alcohol Subspace Session Ale was exceptional.  A style I would normally shy away from, this beer had enough flavor to warrant another round.  The Astro Scottish Ale, at 4.9% alcohol, was also very good.  Lighter in body and color than I'm used to seeing in this style, it was very drinkable and not too heavy.  An IPA and Stout were also present, but the Red Planet Rye, an 8.2% alcohol Imperial Red Ale made with rye, was probably my favorite selection.  Aggressive, without being cloyingly so, it gave me my bitterness fix without leaving me worn out afterward.  Another beer of note was the Reentry Smoked Pale Ale.  A drinkable, 5.1% alcohol beer, the smoke was evident, yet subtle in a way that left you wanting more.  Not a fan of Smoked Beer (also known as German Rauchbier), I would order this one again.  If these are the beers he's putting out for his soft opening, I can't wait to see what he's got in store for the grand opening!  Alex Van Horne.  Get to know the man.  Get to know the beer.  Get in on the ground floor as this young brewer takes the San Diego beer scene by storm!

Alpine Beer Co. to contract with Cold Spring Brewing Co.

I support our local breweries and their brewing decisions, but I was taken aback when I read this article about the pending deal Alpine Beer Co. has made with Minnesota's Cold Spring Brewing Co. to contract out the brewing of several of their beers.  I echo the words of the following comment made about the article.

"I love their beer but something about moving the production to Minnesota leaves a bad aftertaste in my mouth.  Does this have anything to do with the resent theft of brewing equipment?"

Apparently, Cold Spring contract brews for several breweries across the country, including 21st Amendment Brewery and Redhook, among others.  I personally like their John Henry Three Lick Spiker Ale, but don't care at all for their other brews that I have tried.  If Alpine really needs to find a bigger facility to brew for them, couldn't they find space at a local brewery?  Or, if they need to search beyond California, isn't there a brewery that produces a better product of their own that would be a better choice?  I'm just an outsider looking in, but I just hope they make a decision that won't negatively affect their beer or their reputation.

Must. Have. This.

This really bugs me!

Fresh, local beer paired with delicious, edible bugs?  Something's buggy about that, but I'm intrigued.  San Diego Natural History Museum’s NIGHTSattheNAT is hosting just such an event next Wednesday, May 1st.  Go here for all the creepy, crawly details.  I guess I can't complain the next time a gnat lands in my brew!

Phony Beer