Tuesday Tap Takeovers - The Coronado Brewing Company Edition

We hope that everyone had an amazing holidays these last couple of weeks.  We wanted to give all of your livers a little break before swelling them back up again with delicious brews.  Coming up for our next Tuesday Tap Takeover is Coronado Brewing Company from our friends just south of our county!  In the meantime, save Tuesday - January 14th, 2014 AD from 5 PM - 10 PM PST locked in on your calendars.

Without further ado, here is the line up for the evening:

1. Wet Willie XPA – 4.8% ABV | 63 IBU – An incredibly bright, fruity hop experience bursts into this Extra Pale Ale. An abundance of Nelson Sauvin hops gives this beers incredible fruit flavor, and keeps it refreshing.

2. Coronado Golden – 4.9% ABV | 20 IBU – Pouring as vibrant gold as a perfectly sunny day in San Diego, this light-bodied, delicately hopped session beer is brewed using pilsner malt, Cluster, German Hallertau and Czech Saaz hops. The result is a crisp, clean and abundantly refreshing brew that’s ideal for everyday enjoyment.

3. Hibiscus IPA – 4.9% ABV | 70 IBU – Collaboration with Maui brewing company. This session IPA is on the maltier side with a slight tartness from the Hibiscus. The hop profile contains Chinook, Centennial and Nugget with very floral aromatics.

4. Silver Strand Saison – 5.1% ABV | 19 IBU – This farmhouse style beer is brewed with Saison Dupont yeast strain, giving it signature saison flavors of spicy pepper notes, ripe fruity esters with a crisp dry finish.

5. Orange Avenue Wit – 5.2% ABV | 19 IBU – This So-Cal take on a traditional witbier honors Coronado’s main street, which is home to our brewpub and was once lined with orange trees. Bolstered by orange zest, coriander and orange blossom honey, its Belgium by way of Coronado. Expect a refreshing, light-bodied brew rife with citrus zing and a hint of earthy spice.

6. Blue Bridge Coffee Stout – 5.4% ABV | 27 IBU – Just as the iconic Coronado Bay Bridge connects their island home to the mainland, this java-tinged dry stout, brewed using dark roasted coffee beans from a local San Diego artisanal roaster, provides a bridge uniting craft beer drinker with CBC’s rich, flavorful SoCal brewing traditions.

7. Barrelmans Brown – 5.4% ABV | 30 IBU – This is an Anglo American brown ale. Using British chocolate malt, British crystal malts and American hops and yeast. It has a light caramel and toffee note with hints of chocolate and a light roast.

8. Mermaid's Red – 5.7% ABV | 50 IBU – Mermaid’s Red bucks the shallow mid-range red ale stereotype. Loaded with Cascade hops, it delivers a fresh floral aroma and sharp bitter notes, all while delivering a solid kick of roasted malts that fades seamlessly into a rich, chocolaty finish with hints of clove and caramel.

9. Frog's Breath IPA – 6.5% ABV | 50 IBU – This beer derives its bright citrus flavor from Centennial hops plus the addition of Kaffir lime leaf, lemon and orange zest. Originally a collaboration brew with two local home brewers / retired frogmen that became an instant favorite. Powerful in every way we felt it the perfect IPA to pay tribute to Coronado’s large military population that’s contributed to our hometown success.

10. Islander IPA – 7% ABV | 75 IBU – Named after Coronado Island, their original India Pale Ale is a liquid expression of hometown pride. Centennial, Chinook and Columbus hops combine to provide an explosive burst of piney bitterness and luscious notes of apricot, grapefruit and mango that are sure to evoke imagery of swaying palms and sun-kissed shores.

11. Hoppy Daze Belgian IPA – 7.5% ABV | 74 IBU – CBC’s overriding mission is to brew beers that are 100% true to our San Diego roots. Their spring seasonal, a Belgian style IPA, does so in spades thanks to aggressive West Coast hopping, while paying tasteful homage to Old World flavors and brewing traditions.

12. Sock Knocker IPA – 8.4% ABV | 90 IBU – Amarillo, Centennial, Columbus and Simcoe hops unite to produce an immensely floral, botanical nose and a veritable explosion of citrus and pine on the palate. With an even more obscene hop overload than our infamous Idiot IPA, it’s an India pale ale truly deserving of its imperial crown.

13. Idiot IPA – 8.5% ABV | 90 IBU – It doesn’t take a genius to know quality West Coast IPAs require a stupid amount of hops. A generous blend of Nugget hops and the four Cs—Cascade, Centennial, Chinook and Columbus—brings forth a myriad of tropical fruit flavors and a brawny, persistent bitterness that makes for a highly intelligent brew.

14. Stupid Stout Imperial Stout – 9% ABV | 42 IBU – This deep, dark, viscous brew stands up to other imperial stouts, delivering big flavors in a smooth, balanced and easy drinking package. Robust and chocolaty with a hint of hop freshness, it's the perfect beer to warm up with as winter cold sets in.

15. Anniversary Ale – 9.5% ABV | 90 IBU – Coronado is always looking for opportunities to get creative around the brewhouse, and the celebration of another year of passionate brewing is the best opportunity they can think of. As such, they revel in the challenge of coming up with a new and interesting brew each year under our "Anniversary" label worthy of both paying homage to our past and the new year of brewing that lays ahead.

For now, here are a couple of pictures to whet (wet) your beer appetite:

We hope to see everyone there!

Smoochies, The Iron Press Crew

The Menu for Tonight’s Tuesday Tap Takeover – Flight of Darkness 2.0 Edition

And awayyyyyyyy we go!  Wheels up on our Flight of Darkness 2.0 begins tonight at 5 PM PST - boy do we have some good stuff in store for you guys:

1. Deconstructed Tamale Waffle - $10 - Hand shredded chicken tossed in our homemade mole served with pickled onions and otija cheese.

2. Gingerbread Waffle - $7 - Homemade candy cane frosting, vanilla bean ice cream and a More Cowbell Milk Stout Reduction.

Here's a little peek at the dishes tonight (look at that cutey on top of the dessert waffle):

As always, DJ LexaKhan will be crankin' the vinyl and digital tunes for the evening.  See y’all here!

Smoochies, Len & Jerry

Tuesday Tap Takeovers – Flight of Darkness 2.0 Edition

Here we are...one year later after our first Flight of Darkness Tuesday Tap Takeover at The Iron Press.  Once again we have been working our winter magic to warm up your bodies with a crazy selection of big, dark, and of course, BOOZY brews to slosh in and around your taste buds!  We have teamed up with Orangey and Philippe, which you guys should all know from Craft Beer Culture and pretty much getting tipsy with all of us one time or another.

Without further ado, here is the list that is going to make everyone black out.  Oh man...

1. More Cowbell Milk Stout – 5.9% ABV | Nitro | Milk Stout – Tustin Brewing Company - This milk stout is smooth, creamy, and sweet. We’re pouring this on Nitro which really helps bring out the “milky” creaminess that defines the style. It’s the perfect cure for what fever “ales” you.

2. Black Marlin Porter with Chipotle – 6.7% ABV | 42 IBU | American Porter - Ballast Point Brewing - A hoppy twist on the classic English Porter. A blend of roasted and caramel malts gives this beer a smooth, chocolaty, caramel profile while a healthy dose of American hops makes it worthy of its San Diego roots. Chipotle peppers were added for good measure, which you’ll definitely notice after a second or two.

3. Sublimely Self Righteous with Cherries – 8.7% ABV | 90 IBU | Black IPA– Stone Brewing Company - Don't think we forgot about you hopheads! This Black IPA from our friends at Stone is an aggressive reminder that we’re still on the West Coast. This also isn’t just any ol’ batch of Sublimely Self Righteous. They added cherries which gives it a finish that nobly attempts to balances its 90 IBU bitterness.

4. Bourbon Barrel-Aged Drakonic – 8.7% ABV | Imperial Stout - Drake's Brewing Co. – For an Imperial Stout, Drakonic is relatively smooth and drinkable while retaining strong flavors of licorice, chocolate and coffee. The additional bourbon-barrel aging takes it to a whole other level. If you’re a fan of oak-aged beer, this one’s for you.

5. Victory At Sea – 10% ABV | Imperial Porter – Ballast Point Brewing - Two of the world’s oldest beverages join forces to conquer your palate. Victory at Sea is a velvety Imperial Porter with pure vanilla flavor that matches perfectly with the hand roasted Caffe Calabria coffee that goes into it. The cold brewed coffee lends a subtle roasted flavor to this robust imperial porter.

6. Old Viscosity – 10% ABV | Imperial Stout – Port Brewing Company – “This is definitely not your Dad’s 30 weight!” A dense Imperial Stout, Old Viscosity is a special blend of both the fresh and bourbon barrel-aged version of this beer. The resulting ale has incredible depth and huge body making it a guaranteed sipper for even the most veteran of beer drinkers.

7. Santa’s Little Helper – 10% ABV | Imperial Stout – Port Brewing Company – “Everything but the kitchen sink.” We thought it would be fun to taste the difference between Santa’s Little Helper and Old Viscosity. In our eyes, this counter-part is roastier and more bitter, similar to coffee. It has an assertive malt bill that includes pretty much everything from Premium Two-Row to Black Barley. We recommend drinking this in a flight alongside Old Viscosity to taste two amazing interpretations of the same style.

8. Judgment Day – 10.5% ABV | Quadrupel - The Lost Abbey – Inspired by the Trappist tradition, this Quad is brewed specifically for the end of the world. Since none of us know when that’ll be, Lost Abbey recommends we all stock up on this beer. Don’t worry though; we can drink plenty of it now too. “Semper Preparatus” never tasted so good.

9. 2010 Bourbon Barrel Aged OE – 12% ABV | Barleywine – Tustin Brew Co. – OE Barleywine has a special place in our heart. TBC has been making this incredible brew for a few years now and we think it’s time for it to stand next to the greats. This beer is big, boozy, and rich but what else have you come to expect at this point? We highly recommend tasting this side by side with Bourbon County Barleywine.

10. Bourbon County Brand Barleywine – 12.1% ABV | Barleywine - Goose Island – A new offering in Goose Island’s highly renowned barrel program, Bourbon County Brand Barleywine is rich, oaky, and downright delicious. The bourbon really shines without adding too much heat from the alcohol, leaving plenty of room for the amazing malt flavor which is reminiscent of toffee and caramel. At 12.1%, this is surprisingly drinkable but be forewarned, it’ll getcha.

11. High West Manhattan-Barrel Aged Big Deluxe – 12.4% ABV | Imperial Oatmeal Stout – Ritual Brewing Co. - As the name suggests, this is one big Oatmeal Stout. The style is usually brewed around 4% - 6% ABV and this one comes in at over 12%. This beer is really unique in that it was aged in barrels that were previously home to High West’s 36th Vote Barreled Manhattan. The Manhattan’s inclusion of sweet vermouth makes it different from the Bourbon-Barrel aged variety. “Big” thanks to our friends at Ritual for this one.

12. Bourbon County Brand Stout – 15% ABV | Imperial Stout - Goose Island - It takes 150 days to make this elixir of a beer. It absolutely reaks of the bourbon barrels that it spent that time in, obviously in the best way possible. The nose is a mix of charred oak, vanilla, caramel and smoke. In the words of Brewmaster Greg Hall, “One sip has more flavor than your average case of beer. It overpowers anything in the room. People have even said that it’s a great cigar beer, but I haven’t yet tried a cigar that would stand up to it."

13. Pugachev's Cobra – 16.5% ABV | Imperial Stout – Hangar 24 Craft Brewery - Get ready for an assault on your senses. This is a dark and rich beauty of a beer, literally bursting of chocolate, vanilla, oak, licorice and bourbon. Three different dark roasted malts and rich maple syrup are combined in a truly unique brewing process to create complexity and depth. Once fermented, it was aged for eight months in freshly emptied bourbon barrels which you will definitely be made aware of on first sip. This is the perfect dessert beer and we recommend pairing it with the special sweet concoctions that’ll be coming out of The Iron Press kitchen.

14. Grey Monday - 18.25% ABV | Imperial Stout – The Bruery – Around this time last year, Reserve Society members received a special variation of the revered Black Tuesday. Often referred to as “Nutella Black Tuesday”, Grey Monday is an insanely rich beer that literally drips of bourbon. This variation is special in that it’s brewed with Oregon-grown, roasted hazelnuts. This is The Bruery’s Ode to the Stout and the addition of hazelnuts really adds a decadent touch.

See you guys Tuesday, December 17th, 2013 AD from 5 PM PST to 10 PM PST!

Smoochies, Len & Jerry

The Menu for Tonight’s Tuesday Tap Takeover – The Goose Island Edition

Here we go!  This is what we have squeezed out from our minds for our Tuesday Tap Takeover with Goose Island:

1. Thanksgiving Waffle - $9 - We started by making our stuffing from scratch, then infusing the delicious mess into our batter. Served with oven roasted turkey, mash potatoes, cranberry relish.

2. Pumpkin Lorru- $7 Rich decadent pumpkin cake with cream cheese frosting topped with a scoop of ice cream. Hand made with fresh pumpkin by our own Takashi!

Here's a little peek of tonight's dishes:

As always, DJ LexaKhan will be raining down the tunes for the evening.  See y'all here!

Smoochies, Len & Jerry

Tuesday Tap Takeovers - The Goose Island Edition

Soooooooo like...yeah...I know I always said that we were sticking to our guns with serving only California beer, but we smashed our heads together and decided to start carrying two handles towards beer from outside of our Golden State.  Because of this, we have decided on throwing our first non-in-state Tuesday Tap Takeover with Goose Island out of Chicago!

Without further ado, here is the deliciously delicious deliciousness you will be guzzling, I mean sipping...yeah sipping:

1. Honkers Ale – 4.3% ABV | 30 IBU – Inspired by visits to English country pubs, Honker’s Ale combines a spicy hop aroma with a rich malt middle to create a perfectly balanced beer. Immensely drinkable, Honker’s Ale is not only a beer drinkers can trust but one they’ll look forward to.

2. 312 Wheat Ale – 4.4% | 18 IBU – 312’s hazy appearance lets you know it’s an unfiltered ale. Its spicy aroma of Cascade hops is followed by a crispy, fruity ale flavor that’s delivered in a smooth, creamy body. 312 is not like any other beer we brew at Goose Island, but it’s certainly no less than you’d expect.

3. India Pale Ale- 5.6% ABV | 55 IBU –The British who colonized India were an adventurous lot, but English ales didn’t fare well on long journeys. Brewers began to use more hop to preserve their beers. Goose Island has crafted its own version of this classic pale ale featuring an inviting spicy hop aroma and fruity flavor, set off by a dry malt middle that ensures that the long hop finish won’t soon be forgotten.

4. Pepe Nero – 6.4% ABV | 30 IBU – With an aroma of roasted chestnuts and a mysteriously dark, mahogany hue, Pepe Nero is a farmhouse ale brewed with black peppercorns. His roasty sweetness melds into a lingering, earthy, black pepper finish that is ideal for pairing with grilled meats and roasted vegetables.

5. Sophie – 6.5% ABV | 20 IBU – Fermented with wild yeasts and aged in wine barrels with orange peel, Sofie is a tart, dry, sparkling ale. A subtle, spicy white pepper note, a hint of citrus from the orange peel and a creamy vanilla finish make Sofie an intriguing choice for Champagne drinkers and beer drinkers who are fond of Belgian Saisons.

6. Sophie Paradisi – 6.7% ABV | 20 IBU – The hardy farmers that brewed Belgium’s farmhouse ales often used seasonal ingredients to make each batch unique in flavor. Our original Sofie is aged in wine barrels with orange peel and fermented with the wild Belgian yeast Brettanomyces. Inspired by the traditions of farmhouse ales, we decided to create a new variant using a different, yet similar fruit – grapefruit. This variant of Sofie, Sofie Paradisi, is also aged in wine barrels but features a different blend. The change in fruit offers a brighter citrus nose and a distinctly tart finish along with the slight bittersweet characteristics common to grapefruit.

7. Matilda – 7.0% ABV | 26 IBU – Wild in character, with a slightly fruity aroma and a spicy yeast flavor that is as unique as it is satisfying – Matilda is an intriguing choice for beer and wine lovers alike. Dry and quenching, it’s the perfect accompaniment at the dining table or for casual socialization at the bar.

8. Matilda Lambicus – 7.0% | 25 IBU – Modeled after beer brewed by Trappist monks, Matilda Lambicus is a dark, golden colored Belgian style pale ale brewed using two yeast strains. Unfiltered and veiled, an appealing haze is expected in a deep copper hue. After primary fermentation with a Belgian ale yeast strain, a secondary fermentation with Brettanomyces Lambicus is carried out. Like its sister beer Matilda, Matilda Lambicus has baking spice aromas with a touch of funk expected from Brettanomyces. These are then complemented by fruity aromas, pleasant acidity, and a slightly tart body that enhance the complexity of an already complex beer.

9. The Illinois – 8.4% ABV | 70 IBU – Inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright’s grandiose vision for a mile-high skyscraper dubbed “The Illinois”, we set out to brew an Imperial IPA that would be similar in name and ambition. “The Illinois” Imperial IPA is dry-hopped with three of our favorite hops: Cascade, Meridian, and Citra. The result is a harmoniously hoppy ale with a flavor and aroma that is uniquely Goose Island.

10. Lolita – 8.7% | 32 IBU – Lolita is a pink rose colored Belgian style pale ale fermented with wild yeast and aged on raspberries in wine barrels. Aromas of fresh raspberries, bright jammy fruit flavors and crisp, refreshing body make Lolita ideal for beer drinkers fond of Belgian Framboise.

11. Pere Jacques – 8.7% ABV | 26 IBU – Brewed with loads of malt and Belgian yeast, Pere Jacques is a wonderfully fruity, malty ale. Pere Jacques’ complex flavors stand shoulder to shoulder with the Belgian Dubbels enjoyed in the world’s finest beer bars. At the dining table it’s the perfect alternative to a glass of vintage port.

So save the date, Tuesday - November 19th, 2013 AD!

In the meantime, here's a look into the brewing facility over in Illinois:

We hope to see all of you guys there!

Smoochies, Len & Jerry

The Menu for Tonight’s Tuesday Tap Takeover - The AleSmith Edition

Aaaannnnnnd here is what our wacky little minds came up with for tonight's event:

1. Corn Dog Waffle - $9 - Simple food hybrid at its finest.  A delicious brat in an Iron Press waffle dipped in sweet corn batter and fried to a crispy golden brown and served on a small bed of waffle fries with whole grain mustard syrup.  It's Frankenstein's waffle brat corn monster on a stick.  Have I mentioned YUM!?

2. Cinnamon Roll Waffle - $5 - We take our scrumptious cinnamon roll dough, press it in our waffle irons, and drizzle it with our maple icing to create a treat that you can't wait to have all over your face.

Here is a little peek of the dishes:

DJ LeaKhan will be spinning sick tunes all night long.  From the man himself - "This is going to be a good one B.Y.O.V. (Bring Your Own Vinyl).  That's right I'm breaking out the 1200 for your favorite tunes bring your wax and I will spin it for you. See you at the Tap Takeover!"

Smoochies, Len & Jerry

Tuesday Tap Takeovers - The AleSmith Edition

After another fun Tuesday Tap Takeover, this time with Golden Road Brewing out of Los Angeles, we are happy to be hosting AleSmith brewing for our next beer basheroo!  We are still figuring out the lineup, but prepare your mouth for the event on October 29th, 2013 AD.

Without further ado, here is the lineup for the evening:

1. Nut Brown – 5.0% ABV | 30 IBU – AleSmith’s interpretation of this classic English-style ale is smooth, dark, and rich. A variety of specialty malts produce a brilliant dark brown color and a wonderful malt complexity. A light dose of East Kent Goldings and Styrian Goldings hops from England balance the malt sweetness without adding bitterness to the flavor profile. Reintrodcued at AleSmith in 2002, Nut Brown Ale has quickly become one of their most popular beers

2. X – 5.5% | 20 IBU – AleSmith X is their refreshing Extra Pale Ale. Pale Yellow color, bright white head. Aroma of fresh hops with notes of citrus and pine. Light bodied, smooth on the palate, with a dry finish and superb aftertaste.

3. Anvil ESB– 5.5% | 30 IBU – Anvil ESB Ale was the first beer produced when the brewery opened, and remains their flagship ale. Bright copper color with light tan head. Malty slightly hoppy aroma. Caramel and malty flavors with a perfect balance of imported English hops.

4. Li'l Devil - 5.5% ABV | 25 IBU – When a full-size Horny Devil is a bit too much, Li’l Devil Ale is exactly what you’re looking for to satisfy that Belgian craving.

5. IPA – 7.25% ABV | 50 IBU – Deep golden to light amber color, and a nice off-white head, with good retention when properly served. Starts off with pleasantly strong hop flavors, balanced by a firm malt backdrop, then fades to a dry finish with a lingering hoppiness.

6. Yulesmith – 9.5% ABV | 75 IBU – Their most popular seasonal ale, YuleSmith is brewed twice a year in two different, yet similar, styles: For wintertime, it’s an Imperial/Double red ale. Although quite malty, big hop flavors and aromas are abundant making this an unforgettable winter warmer.

7. Wee Heavy – 10% ABV | 18 IBU – A classic Scotch Ale. Scotch ales are typically sweet and malty, with a very subdued dose of hops– just enough to provide balance. AleSmith Wee Heavy is a wonderful interpretation of this traditional Scotch style.

8. Grand Cru – 10.5% | 50 IBU – Their other famous Belgian-style offering is their Grand Cru. As with Horny Devil, it is fermented using yeast which originated in a Trappist monastery in Belgium. A darker type of Belgian candi sugar gives it more color and a richer complexity of flavor, consistent with the Belgian style.

9. Horny Devil – 11% ABV | 50 IBU – This is the AleSmith incarnation of a Belgian Strong Ale. Horny Devil is an authentic Belgian Style ale, from the Belgian candi sugar right down to the yeast, a Belgian strain from a Trappist monastery in Belgium. In addition to the malts, candi sugar and fresh hops, there is also a little added twist from coriander seeds, which impart a refreshing citrus flavor to an outstanding ale. Belgian ale lovers around the world have raved about Horny Devil, and you will too.

10. Speedway Stout – 12% ABV | 70 IBU – A HUGE Imperial Stout that weighs in at an impressive 12% ABV! As if that’s not enough, they added pounds of coffee for a little extra kick. It was also featured on CNBC’s "Squawk Box" in a segment on the best dark beers in America.

Smoochies, Len & Jerry

The Menu for Tonight's Tuesday Tap Takeover - The Golden Road Brewing Edition

Annnnd here is what we have chopped, diced, blended, mixed, crusted, conjured, and prepared for tonight's event:

1. Chicken Fried Steak - $9 - We use thin cuts of prime beef lovingly seasoned, lightly battered, and fried to a perfect crisp. Set on top of our fresh waffle, smothered with homemade gravy, and pickles to add a perfect zip. Yum Frank says!!

2. Peanutty Ice Cream Perfection Sandwich - $7 - Made with our house crunchy peanut butter infused waffle that will sandwich a hearty scoop of vanilla ice cream, topped with a strawberry jelly made fresh in house.  Stick-it in your mouth hole!

Here is a little preview of the dishes:

DJ LexaKhan will be crushing it over the speakers for the night, with maybe a special mini set by DJ Carolina who will be there celebrating her birthday!

Smoochies, Len

Tuesday Tap Takeovers - The Golden Road Brewing Edition

Yikes, I thought I posted this up already, oopsies.  This coming Tuesday, October 1st, 2013 AD we will be hosting our next Tap Takeover with Golden Road Brewing out of The City of Angels!

Without further ado, here are the tasty brews we will be pouring for the evening:

1. Citrus Bend American Wheat Ale - 4.8% | 15 IBU - For Citrus Bend they pulled their house hefeweizen wort before fermentation and pitched it with our American Ale yeast to produce a crisp light bodied wheat beer. They then dry hopped it with a generous amounts of Amarillo and El Dorado to give this beer the aroma of fresh lemon zest.

2. Cabrillo Kolsch - 5.0% ABV | 30 IBU - Their quest for the perfect summer beer led them to one of their favorite, but lesser known styles — the Kölsch.  The style originated in Cologne, Germany and is hybrid, drifting somewhere between an ale and a lager.  Ale yeast is fermented at cooler temperatures, much like a lager, to create a clean, refined, smooth lager finish.  German Tradition and Opal hops lend the beer a slightly peppery aroma and flavor, lightly accented by a citrus aroma.

3. Get Up Offa That Brown- 5.5% ABV | 20 IBU - For their brown ale they’ve added trace amounts of smoked malt to build a toasty complexity, balanced by rich notes of caramel and chocolate.  Ask your beertender to “Get Up Offa That Brown!”

4. Summer Pale Ale - 5.7% | 30 IBU - Citrus, apricot and pine aroma , slight golden orange in color, tastes like orange, marmalade, and grapefruit in the finish . Very smooth body, nice bittering becomes apparent after a few sips.

5. Point the Way IPA - 5.9% | 60 IBU - This is their ode to the hop-crazed patrons of Los Angeles.  Its light malt body elevates the citrus zest, tropical and pine notes contributed by a generous hop dosing.  At 5.9%, this sessionable West-Coast IPA finishes dry for optimal repeatability.

6. Heal the Bay IPA - 6.8% ABV | 65 IBU - The two-row pale malt body takes a backseat to Citra, Centennial, and New Zealand hops for a bright, citrus forward, summertime drinking IPA.  A portion of the proceeds from this beer will be donated to our hardworking friends at Heal the Bay (www.healthebay.org), a local organization committed to protecting the Southern California watersheds.

7. Burning Bush Smoked IPA - 8.0% ABV | 70 IBU - Light caramel and biscuit malt character supported by wispy smoked malts (Oak, Beechwood, Cherry wood). A healthy West Coast dry hop present without dominating the smoke and malt aroma.

8. Wolf Among Weeds - 8.0% ABV | 80 IBU - This beer is a balanced showcase of the majestic hop specie, in Latin, Humulus Lupulus, which translates to “Wolf Among Weeds”.  It’s their celebration of California’s enthusiasm for hop-forward IPAs.  At 8%, Wolf will sneak up on you from behind the robust citrus and dank earthy hop notes mirrored in its aroma and flavor profile.

9. Hudson Imperial Rye Porter - 8.5% ABV | 20 IBU - This very special beer shares a name with Tony’s son, Hudson Porter. The recipe was inspired by Tony’s favorite homebrew recipe, which he brews with Hudson each year to commemorate Hudson’s birthday. Raise a glass to Hudson Porter and cherish the rich chocolate depths and sumptuous rye spice of this decadent brew.

10. 100 & 2 Strong Golden Ale - 8.8% ABV | 35 IBU - Belgian yeast provides slightly fruity esters that combined with huge late additions of Centennial result in a dynamic orange bouquet highlighted by a slight spice in the finish.

In the meantime, chiggedy check out some pics of their brewery and tasting room courtesy of Sean O'Shea:

We hope to see you all there!

Smoochies,
Len & Jerry

The Menu for Tonight’s Tuesday Tap Takeover – The Portola Coffee Lab Edition

Blaahhhhhhh!  Sorry this is so late, we literally have been scrambling around like headless chickens (fish?) to get this event squeezed in.  Just in the nick of time, here are yummies we will be serving up tonight:

1. The Iron/Portola Bloke's Fish and Waffle Chips - $9 - Our take on an old fashioned bloke's meal made with a traditional beer batter using Earl's Grey Dinghy beer from Noble Ale Works.  We use our Basa white fish fried to perfection, topped with Portola's special spice which includes a finely ground espresso bean, enhancing the taste.  Served with a generous helping of waffle fries and "Espretchup", yes that's an espresso ketchup served on the side for dippin!

2. Belgium waffle with fresh plums and Portola's Cascara tea syrup. - $7 - Our superb Belgium waffle with fresh local plums and Cascara tea syrup which is made from the cherry of the coffee plant.  You'll notice the complex tastes of a maple syrup with bright tangy notes and a sweet cherry finish.

Here's a preview of the dishes:

Special guest DJ Carolina will be shooting tunes around our little joint starting from about 7 PM, we hope to see all of you here!

Smoochies, Len & Jerry