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good beers from california - Page 4

post #46 of 54
7/2/09 at 9:04pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by ChicagoRon View Post
Is that Gordon Biersch related to the chain of brew-pubs found all over the mid-west?
Uhh... Yeah. They're in SoCal, too, and "average" is being polite. No complaints about their food, though, as their garlic fries can be find in a number of arenas. Other chain brewpubs found in CA include Karl Strauss, Rock Bottom, and BJ's. I think Karl Strauss would probably be the more legitimate of the group.
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post #47 of 54
7/2/09 at 10:53pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by ChicagoRon View Post
Is that Gordon Biersch related to the chain of brew-pubs found all over the mid-west?

Honestly had no idea they'd expanded so much. I was at their orginal location and then the later "new" location when they were much smaller.

Was also going to suggest pyramid as i never see it outside the pacific northwest.
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post #48 of 54
7/2/09 at 11:04pm
Pyramid the brewpub has a couple of locations in the Pac NW but the beer is sold practically everywhere.
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post #49 of 54
7/3/09 at 12:17am
I enjoy Devil's Canyon from time to time, mostly because I grew up in the area, and we used to go to their monthly beer Friday parties when I was working nearby.
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post #50 of 54
7/4/09 at 3:30am
As a generalization, I prefer Oregon and Washington's microbrews to California's.

Devil's Canyon makes excellent beers. Only place I've seen them is on tap at the Stanford's alumni center cafe, though I haven't looked very hard.

IMO, Anchor makes excellent beers across the board, and their steam beer is the only commercially available steam beer that I know of. (Steam beer is a lager that's fermented at ale temperatures. It is very difficult to make well and yields a unique flavor.)

I also like Sierra Nevada, both their pale ale and their porter, but NOT their seasonal wet (fresh)-hopped beer. That brew is disgusting.
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post #51 of 54
7/4/09 at 3:33am
Oh, and if you're ever in Carmel, hop over the the Fish House in the valley and have some of the Carmel Valley Ale that they have on tap. It's made by a local--retired CIA, apparently--and is quite good.
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post #52 of 54
7/13/09 at 2:58pm
The Stone 13th Anniversary is great.
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post #53 of 54
7/17/09 at 4:20am
Northern California is one of the great brewing regions of our country.

I enjoy:

Anderson Valley
- Boont Amber Ale is excellent
- Their Winter Solstice is consistently a favorite

North Coast
- A tremendous brewery producing incredible beers, such as their "Brother Thelonious Ale"
- They also make ACME (referred to here as a separate brewery), Old Rasputin Russian Stout, Scrimshaw Pils, etc.

Bear Republic
- Popular with the "hop-heads" for beers like their Racer-5

Mendocino
- Famed for their "Red Tail Ale" and other beers with birds on the bottle

Lagunitas
- Their seasonal Brown Shugga' is a tremendous winter beer
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post #54 of 54
7/17/09 at 1:08pm
I discovered stone in about 95 right when they started, and before that I enjoyed Pizza Port which is now Port brewing... all of their products are worth buying and delicious.
I always have Stone IPA in the fridge. and usually a few bottles of something special from them... currently I have some old bottles of 11th Anniversary and Self Righteous Ale. and one bottle left of Oaked Bastard which is like the nectar of the gods...

But for a True California IPA.. my vote is Bear - Racer 5.

My favorite ale is a Nut Brown. I haven't found a good California version yet. Goose Island is my fav, but they don't sell it in CA...
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