Thursday night presented an opportunity to try an eclectic mix of micro-brew concoctions from Moylans and Marin brewing companies. However, in an attempt to gain some insight on the brewing process, I returned to Hoppy Brewing Co. for their open house event and brewery tour earlier in the day. Not to mention partaking in one of their many flavorful beers on tap. As a precursor event, it was a good way to get into the mood of beer week... Hoppy Brewing Co.
From the dining area of the Hoppy Brewing Co. one can easily see through a back window an amalgamation of steel and hoses configured in such a way that one may think of a scientist's laboratory. Well, in all honesty this isn't too far from the truth. In fact, much of what goes on behind the double doors is a repeated process of experimentation and formulation that has every possibility of failing in some respect... However, judging by the consistency of taste and overall quality of Hoppy brewing it would seem that failure is unlikely. Instead, the surprising aspect of Hoppy's brewing operation is the relatively small size. One mash tun and one boiler is all, however five 628 gallon fermenters (one of which is double sized) makes sense as you really need the most time for fermentation anyway. The highest producing and selling beer they make is the Hoppy Face Amber Ale, a really good amber IPA. As an amateur homebrewer much of the information on the tour was a rehashing of what I already had a fairly good idea about. I just happen to find this stuff really interesting... Overall, good beer and a decently productive brewing operation.Rubicon Brewing Co.
Thursday night was the first truly large event at Rubicon during Beer Week(in my opinion) as they were hosting a fair assortment of beers from Moylans and Marin Brewing companies. Always a welcomed deviation from Rubicon's house ales, guest taps offer a new dimension to any brewery. Also, when a brewery can showcase another brewery's beers exclusively, it shows a certain amount of camaraderie in the brewing community that is welcoming. On draft was as follows...MOYLAN'S BEERS
Pomegranate Wheat
Danny's Irish Red Ale
Dragoon's Dry Irish Stout
MARIN'S BEERS
Point Reyes Porter
Albion Amber Ale
E.S. CHI
Mt. Tam Pale Ale
I am not going to give a review of each of these, however there are a couple of standouts... and weirdnesses.
First the weird... The E.S. Chi ale just didn't quite taste right. It is an E.S.B. style ale brewed with Chinese herbs. I got the British ale taste for sure but the after taste is hard to get through... personally this is just too weird... Moylan's Brewing makes one of my favorite beers ever! Kiltlifter Scottish Ale... however they did not send this to Rubicon. Instead they sent a decent Irish red (very smooth) and a better than average Stout. The pomegranate wheat was very sweet and dry and not my style really, but not bad for what it is. The standout here was Marin's Mt. Tam Pale Ale. Very well balanced and flavorful. A pretty standard tasting west coast pale ale, but done very well and easy to drink!! Overall it wasn't a showcasing of the best beers that these companies make... but it was a fun evening nonetheless!!
Note: I forgot my camera at home, so I had to improvise to put up a picture... looks fine to me!!
On to Friday...
E.S.Chi is gross.
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