Lagunitas Brewing: "WTF" Jobless Recovery Ale

Lagunitas Brewing has another fine, and socially relevant, "Limited Release" ale at the store!
This one is the Wilco Tango Foxtrot Ale ("WTF" Ale) which is said to be "A Malty, Robust, Jobless Recovery Ale."

This is considered an "American Strong Ale"...But, it may be better described as a nice "Imperial Brown Ale."

The malty flavor is a very gentle hazelnut-chocolate and there is a distinct hoppy taste that balances well and appeals to my love of IPA's!  The carbonation is low and the flavor is overall full and lingers in a great way!

As for the name... "WTF" pretty much sums up my feelings about our current economic state....But, my advice is that even if you are jobless right now save up your change and buy a bottle of this complex, tasty and generally great ale!

The stats on this one are: ABV of 7.8%, an OG of 1.072 and an IBU of 64.20

Lost Coast Brewery: Raspberry Brown

I have become a big fan of Lost Coast Brewery and this time have picked up a bottle of Raspberry Brown to check out.

This is a really enjoyable brown. When you open the bottle and give it a sniff the first thing you notice is the raspberry scent...behind that there is almost a hint of a licorice smell.

The malt has a great creamy chocolate flavor and the finish is a complex sweet coffee/nutty taste. The raspberry that has been infused into this brew is not lost at all!
It is a great combination of classic tastes.

This American Brown Ale has an ABV of 6.5%.

I think this is a great beer and would appeal to a wide range of people. Though I would have to say that for me this is very much a desert beer or a beer for a special occasion - others may disagree. One thing that is for sure is that any beer lover should at least give this one a sample!

Eel River Brewing: Organic Brew

I normally try and focus on the small very local brewers but, there are times when the brewery that has grown still retains its integrity.

Eel River Brewing is located in Fortuna, CA and is the first Certified Organic brewery in the country and they take that very seriously! However, they aren't all work and no play which is proven out by their motto "Be natural; drink naked."
They have won medals in competition dating back to 1996.

Eel River Brewing are regulars at brewers fests here in Portland with a variety of great beer and they are also available at many stores bottled these days.
One beer that was featured at the North American Organic Brewer's Fest in 2009 was the Acai Berry Wheat. This is a light refreshing beer and only 4% alcohol by volume and a gravity of 10.0 P.

The brewer describes it as "A light-bodied wheat ale brewed with organic acai berries from Brazil, and a flavorful mix of four other organic berries. Acai berries boast high antioxidant properties too, so drink on!"

According to WebMD "the acai berry is an inch-long reddish, purple fruit. It comes from the acai palm tree (Euterpe oleracea), which is native to Central and South America. It is a relative of the blueberry, cranberry, and other dark purple fruits...

Acai contains several substances called anthocyanins and flavonoids. Anthocyanins and flavonoids are powerful antioxidants that help defend the body against life's stressors. They also play a role in the body's cell protection system. Free radicals are harmful byproducts produced by the body. Eating a diet rich in antioxidants may interfere with aging and the disease process by neutralizing free radicals.  By lessening the destructive power of free radicals, antioxidants may help reduce the risk of some diseases, such as heart disease and cancer."

I finally found this ale in 22 oz. bottles here in the Portland area at the Beaverton Fred Meyer. They have a newly remodeled and expanded selection of micro-brew. It was very impressive for a main stream store. So, credit where credit is due!

The Acai Wheat is a really nice brew for guests this holiday season who maybe aren't into the heavy stouts or the hoppy IPA...or even for a hop lover who just wants a light refreshing beer as a change of pace!

- William

Lagunitas Brewing....Limited Release!

Now, I know....Lagunitas is getting bigger and bigger and is now available far and wide bottled but, it is a consistently fantastic brew!

Lagunitas Brewing, located in Petaluma, CA, has a great IPA that is made with 43 different hops and 65 various malts that they say "will likely float your boat, whatever planet you're on!" They are right!
However, they have some other fine offerings that are readily available. The "Hop Stoopid Ale" is a nice brew and is described as, "So Hoppy that it threatens to remove the enamel from one's teeth."

On the "Limited Release" side of things the "Little Sumpin' Extra Ale" is a good one. It has an I.B.U. of 72.51, an O.G. of 1.082 and an alcohol content of 8.74%. It does have a little sumpin' extra!

It has a nice balance of big hop flavor, malt and has an almost mildly floral finish. (A manly floral finish....don't worry!)

This is one I would recommend you try before it goes away!

- William