Welcome to the 1st of hopefully many “What’s on Tap Tuesday” posts. This week’s post includes a few recommendations from sunny southern California. Enjoy!
When visiting one of the Vintage Daughters in the fair city of San Diego, I had the opportunity to try several of California’s craft brews. As big and as populace as California is, it isn’t regarded as being a beer mecca like Oregon or Colorado are. Never the less, there are some excellent breweries here. One thing I have noticed about California beers, especially down here in San Diego, is the proliferation of IPA’s. If you enjoy drinking cough syrup, San Diego is the place for you.
For those who don’t enjoy IPA’s, here are a few tasty beverages from the land of Milk and Silicone:
Ballast Point California Kolsch German Style Pale Ale: What should be obvious by now is that I am not “hop” head. While I enjoy a pleasing mix of malt and hops, I do not enjoy overly hopped and bitter beers. Ballast point has an Imperial Red Ale called the Tongue Buckler that comes in at 108 IBU’s. Blech! Better to drink NyQuil in my opinion.
Ballast Point’s California Kolsch is a much more pleasing 23 IBU’s. It’s ABV is 5.2%, so it’s a perfect beer if you want to have 3 or 4 in one sitting. While its lower bitterness gives it a more lager like experience, there are hints of citrus in the aroma and taste that gives it a mild flavor usually missing from a lager. Overall, a mellow and enjoyable beer for non-hop heads.
I give it 4 belches:
Karl Strauss Red Trolley Ale: Founded in 1989, Karl Strauss Brewing Company was one of the first craft brewers established in the San Diego. Still going strong, Karl Strauss now has restaurant/breweries at eight locations in Southern California. In addition, they also have a beer garden/tasting room by their main brewery in San Diego.
Red Trolley Ale is the brewery’s red Irish ale. However, it is not what you would consider a traditional Irish ale. It’s brewed with caramelized malts to give it a toffee flavor. Apparently, they also add currants and raisins to increase the fruity esters. Overall, this gives Red Trolley Ale a pleasant flavor with a medium mouth feel. It finishes off smooth, with no bitter after taste.
Red Trolley Ale comes in at 5.8% ABV and a very mellow 17 IBU’s. I’m giving Red Trolley Ale 4 belches, because for once I feel that it might be just a little too mild. I know, hard to believe this is me saying that.
Coronado Brewing Co. Orange Ave Wit Wheat Beer: Readers of my blog know that I am a big fan of Blue Moon’s Belgian White ale. Blue Moon is what got me started down the path of craft beers. With Coronado Brewing Company’s Orange Wit is the beer Blue Moon should have made! If I can find Orange Ave Wit back in Denver, it will replace Blue Moon as my go to beer from here on out (NOTE: I have found several liquor stores in the Denver area that carries Orange Ave Wit. Go to Coronado’s website and click on the “beer finder” tab to locate them).
Orange Ave Wit is brewed with orange zests, coriander and honey, all of which gives it a very flavorful yet not overpowering taste. For those who like triple IPA’s, you’ll want to stay away from this brew! To give you an idea of what I am talking about: my youngest daughter, who cannot stand most beers, has given Orange Ave Wit her official blessing and will continue to drink it from this day forward.
Orange Ave Wit has a light mouth feel and has moderate carbonation. It’s ABV is 5.2% with an IBU rating of 15, making it a perfect recovery beer after mowing the lawn on a hot summer day or after a 20 mile bike ride. Heck, in my opinion it’s a perfect beer for anytime. .
As for the brewery itself, Coronado Brewing Co. was founded in 1996 in on Coronado Ave in San Diego. They currently have 3 locations in the San Diego area. Not to fear IPA lovers; Coronado Brewing has four year-round IPAs including one infused with guava, as well as two seasonal IPAs. Heck, they have an amber ale called Mermaid’s Red that comes in with an IBU rating of 46. I haven’t tried Mermaid’s Red, but it sounds like this red would make any hop-head happy.
I am giving Orange Ave Wit 5 belches:
