Monday, July 30, 2007

Craftsman Brewery: Orange Grove Ale

Though I've never actually found this beer in stores, it appears prevalent around Pasadena and downtown LA. Unfortunately, it's usually sold out. Craftsman is a small brewing company based in Pasadena that was formerly run out of some guy's garage, until it got too big and they moved to some storage unit somewhere.

Orange Grove Ale is a fruit beer, brewed with Valencia oranges. Upon first taste it feels similar to a Hefeweizen, but its surprisingly lighter. It's also crisp: the orange flavor dies out quickly upon sipping, at which point the drinker is treated to a salvo of hops and malt. It's a beer that your girlfriend would probably like, but you wouldn't feel like a pussy drinking it with her.

It's also worth checking out Craftsman's other brews, particularly their IPA. Tasty shit!

Available at select bars throughout the Pasadena area (including Lucky Baldwin's) and a handful downtown.

Sunday, July 29, 2007

Pyramid Brewing Co: Amber-Weizen


FAT TIRE WENT AND GOT YOUR FAVORITE HEF PREGNANT, and this is the result. Pyramid's latest creation (it still says "new" on the label) attempts to take unfiltered wheat beer and give it a fuller body and bolder taste. The resulting creation bears elements of both its parents; I thought that it tasted predominantly like an amber ale, though its a bit lighter and certainly less bitter than, say, a Fat Tire. I also thought it had the wheaty after-taste of your traditional Hefs and other wheat beers. Those that like amber ales for their boldness and couldn't stand to see any of that sacrificed will probably be a little disappointed, though in my estimation, the Amber-Weizen is a bit more drinkable, especially on a hot summer day.