Each year the Brewers Association selects a different city in which to hold the Craft Brewers Conference. This year it was held right here in San Francisco, California. Thanks to the Brewers Association both myself and Liz were given media access to cover this craft beer industry conference. The whole event was kicked off with a welcome reception at the California Academy of Science.

The California Academy of Science is museum located in Golden Gate Park in San Francisco that has a huge aquarium, indoor rainforest, a planetarium, and more. It turned out to be an excellent venue to kick off the Craft Brewers Conference. We were sipping beer under the blue glow of the aquarium and discussing the industry next to an albino aligator. No food or beer was allowed in the rainforest exhibit but it was open during the first part of the event.

The food spread was quite appetizing and the selection of beer was extensive. The breweries that were pouring were as follows: 21st Amendment, Anchor, Anderson Valley, Beach Chalet, Bear Republic, Black Diamond, Drakes, Eel River, Firehouse, Firestone-Walker, Gordon Biersch, Half Moon Bay, Iron Springs, Lagunitas, Linden St., Magnolia, Marin Brewing, Moonlight Brewing, Moylan’s, Napa Smith, North Coast, Rubicon, Russian River, Santa Cruz Mountain, Seabright, Shmaltz Brewing, Sierra Nevada, Social Kitchen & Brewery, Speakeasy, ThirstyBear, Triple Rock, and Trumer. It was a veritable beer festival for the industry and very well attended too.

More details on BusinessWire

I was informed earlier in the week, from Mario Rubio of Brewed for Thought, that I should expect much shorter lines than last year. With that in mind, and given that Friday was still a work day for me, I planned to show up for an early lunch. Friday morning I got up early, worked early, worked in the car (as a passenger of course), and arrived at 11am. And then we waited in line, for 3 hours. Had we arrived early in the morning, we would have waited for much less time. Fred Abercrombie of Ünnecessary Ümlaut told me that he arrived at 10:15am and the line was only about 30-45 minutes long at that point. I overheard from other folks that they were in line at 8:00am, started in front of the Super Cuts (the 3 hour mark later in the day), and got in immediately after Russian River opened their doors.

The line stretched down the sidewalk outside of Russian River Brewing Company primarily because they were limiting the number of people in the brewpub. Although the line was long we could not have asked for better weather. It was a beautiful 70ºF, or warmer, sunny, February, California day.

Despite the wait, once inside, there were no problems with service and it was easy to get a couple glasses of Pliny the Younger. The general mood of the brewpub was jovial and friendly. From what I’ve heard, from folks on Twitter and in the blogosphere, last year it was packed, frenzied, chaotic, and the beer ran out fast. Since Russian River changed a few policies with regard to the release, e.g. not allowing growler fills of Pliny the Younger and limiting the number people in the pub, it created an enjoyable experience once you made it through the doors.

Russian River Brewing Company lists the following on their website with regard to the Pliny the Younger release:

We are releasing Pliny the Younger on February 4, 2011! Due to the overwhelming turnout last year, we have made a few changes to enable more beer enthusiasts, like yourself, as well as our regular customers to enjoy some Younger! It will be available on draft in 10oz. pours at our pub from February 4th-17th. We will allocate a certain number of kegs each day in order to last the full 2 weeks. Our employees will not know how many kegs they are getting each day. And they won’t know when we might run out. In addition, there will be NO GROWLERS. The only way to get it to go is in your tummy!

Was it worth the wait? Yes and no. The beer was fantastic, delicious, and an incredible deal, only $4.50 for a 10 oz. serving. It was fun to experience the devotion and enthusiasm that people have for this beer and Russian River Brewing Company. We had a great time talking to folks in the bar, who flew in from all over the country. It was a great opportunity to try one of the most critically acclaimed beers in the world but I wouldn’t wait 3 hours in line again.

Why wouldn’t I wait 3 hours again? A few reasons are personal and circumstantial. we only had a short period of time to enjoy one beer each before we had to jump back in the car so I could get back to work again and get on a work call. I would have liked to stay longer, enjoy the experience, and not have had work so late on a Friday night.

The next reason why I wouldn’t wait 3 hours again is because we really didn’t have to wait three hours to try this beer. We could have shown up just a little bit earlier and waited  a quarter of the amount of time. When we left, the line was probably about 1.5 hours long so we could have arrived between lunch and happy hour. I also read on Twitter that the line was a little shorter on Day 2. Finally, Russian River’s policy to rationing the kegs also meant we could have waited a few days, after the initial excitement, and probably would not have to wait as long if at all. Although this last assertion is a guess, I bet I’ll be able to confirm this with locals over the course of the next week. I’ll also make a guess that the lines for Pliny the Younger will grow during SF Beer Week.

If you’re interested in how I thought Pliny the Younger tasted, I’ll post a review later in the week. I think some of my initial thoughts on Twitter didn’t accurately represent how I actually feel about this wonderful beer and my upcoming review will correct that.

Update, Feb. 7, 2011 at 1:57pm: It looks like my guess was correct about little to no line as the release of Pliny the Younger progresses. Twitter user @robsee reported no line on Day 4 (Feb. 7, 2011) at 11am and 1:30pm. It was also reported that there was no line until lunch time.

I enjoyed this pint of porter on tap at the Speakeasy brewery for the Halloween party on Friday, October 29, 2010.

This is a “very limited release” beer by Speakeasy Ales and Lagers in San Francisco, CA that I believe was only available at the brewery. I enjoyed a pint of this tasty Double IPA at the Speakeasy Brewery for the Halloween party on Friday, October 29, 2010.

Monk’s Blood is a special release beer in a can from 21st Amendment that was available during the winter of 2009-2010 and it may no longer be available. This must have been one of the most unique beers that I ever had from a can. It is a bold complex beer with many layers of flavors and aromas. It was truly a delightful winter season beer and I hope it comes back to cans again soon.I also really enjoyed the packaging of this beer. The 4 pack recycled-paper box with a strange story about a Monk written all around it added some interest. I felt the name , the colors, and everything about the packaging was interesting, mysterious, and fun.

21st Amendment writes the following about Monk’s Blood:

21st Amendment founders Nico Freccia and Shaun O’Sullivan traveled the Belgium to develop the recipe for this special beer, visiting small, traditional breweries in the hop fields of west Flanders, not far from the famous Trappist abbey of Westvletren. Monk’s Blood is designed to pair beautifully with rish winter stews, creamy cheeses, unctuous desserts or just by itself, in a Belgian tulip glass, with a good book by the fire.

Date Reviewed. December 19, 2009

Where I Found It. City Beer Store in San Francisco, CA.

Serving Type. 12 oz can to a tulip glass.

Appearance. While pouring Monk’s Blood it has a very clear mahogany amber color. In the glass, the beer is nearly opaque black but when you hold it up to the light it has a slight glow of a deep dark sanguine and mahogany hue. The head is light tan, khaki colored with very little retention. When there is less in the glass the beer is a dark mahogany color and clear.

Smell. The aroma of this beer is dried fruit, like figs or prunes with a hint of sourness. There is also a candy scent with a hint of red licorice (Red Vines not Twizzlers) so maybe that means a bit of cherry. It has a dark rich roasted malt smell and is not bitter smelling like molasses. Finally, there is a little vanilla and a little wood.

Taste. Monk’s Blood has a flavor of dark roasted malt sweetness balanced by a sourness in the background that is noticeable but complimentary. It has a little candy sweet with a hint of molasses. There some taste of a herbal spice quality like anise or tarragon. I detected some chocolate flavors but it was very dark chocolate. Monk’s Blood tastes dark, malty, and red. Sorry, red is not a taste per se but that word kept coming to mind while tasting it.

Mouthfeel. This beer is full bodied with a slight syrupy texture. It has moderate levels of carbonation and is not harsh but not super smooth.

Drinkability. For a strong dark ale Monk’s Blood is surprisingly refreshing. I think this is a very well balanced and very well crafted beer. Just a hint of sour to balance the sweetness and a touch of bitterness from the hops and dark malts. The spice quality is not in your face either and is subtle but apparent. All aspects of this beer nicely balance together.

Rating. My ratings below are on a five point scale with five being the best score.

• Appearance (20%): 4.5
• Smell (20%): 4.0
• Taste (40%): 4.5
• Mouthfeel (10%): 4.0
• Drinkability (10%): 4.5
• Overall: 4.35

Information

• Style: Belgian dark strong ale
• Brewery: 21st Amendment
• Alcohol by volume: 8.3%
• Bitterness: 34 IBU
• Hops: Magnum, Centennial
• Malt: Belgian pilsner, two-row pale, caramunich, caravienne, aromatic, special b, flaked oats, flaked wheat
• Other ingredients: Belgian candi sugar, cinnamon, vanilla bean, dried black mission figs, aged on oak
• Beer Advocate rating: 3.79 (as of May 14, 2010)

Other Reviews

• Links coming soon

The Napa Smith Brewery is a fairly new brewery out of Napa, California. The brewery was started by “The Smith Family” who was able to hire a master brewer of 30 years, Don Barkley, with the simple premise that the beers they produce should pair well with food. Their core offerings are Pale Ale, Amber Ale, and Wheat Beer. The beer that I reviewed is either a seasonal or special release called Lost Dog Red Ale and is quite delicious.Napa Smith describes this beer on the back of each 22 oz. bottle as follows:

Napa Smith is a handcrafted artisan beer brewed at the southern gateway of the Napa Valley. Our family brings together the finest ingredients and 35 years of brewing experience. Our full-bodied Red Ale is rich and robust with a hoppy finish. With a warm red hue and a dense off-white head, Lost Dog is the perfect beer to share with someone special or a long-lost friend.

Following with the philosophy of pairing beer with food, the following food pairing is on the back of this bottle, “Our Lost Dog pairs well with short ribs, hamburgers, and garlic fries.”

Date Reviewed. January 4, 2010.

Where I Found It. Draeger’s in San Mateo, CA.

Serving Type. 22oz. bottle to an imperial pint glass.

Appearance. Off-white head foamy head that has average to below average retention. Crystal clear orange amber color.

Smell. Lost Dog Red Ale has a wweet malty, toasty, and biscuit aromas. Floral, pleasant, orange blossom hop bouquet. Maybe a slight vanilla flavor. Very inviting smell.

Taste. The taste of this beer matches the aroma quite well. It has a pleasant bitterness that contrasts well against the malty biscuit sweetness. In this respect, the bitterness is smooth and refreshing but present and tasty and just slightly spicy. Quite delicious and well crafted.

Mouthfeel. Lost Dog Red Ale has a medium to full bodied beer with a smooth and almost creamy texture.

Drinkability. For a malty sweet beer, the bitterness makes it refreshing and smooth.

Rating. My ratings below are on a five point scale with five being the best score.

• Appearance (20%): 4.5
• Smell (20%): 4.5
• Taste (40%): 4.5
• Mouthfeel (10%): 4.5
• Drinkability (10%): 4.5
• Overall: 4.5

Information

• Style: red ale
• Brewery: Napa Smith Brewery
• Alcohol by volume: 7.2%
• Beer Advocate rating: 3.36 (as of May 12, 2010)

Other Reviews

• Bay Area Beer Blog – Beer of the Week: Napa Smith Brewing Lost Dog
• BetterBeerBlog – 14th Annual Fairfax Brewfest Recap
• Beer Advocate - Lost Dog
• Rate Beer – Napa Smith Lost Dog

The brewery origin of this beer called Duke’s Big Ass Bock are a bit convoluted. First, the brewery is not “Duke’s” it is listed on the bottle as “The Wheat Beer Company.” The beer itself is actually brewed by the Jack Russell Brewing Company in Camino, CA (which is now under new ownership) for “The Wheat Beer Company,” which doesn’t seem to have it’s own home page or any other presence for all that I can gather. So is it contract brew or just an alias for Jack Russell Brewing? Whatever the case may be, I pick up a 1 liter bottle and enjoyed it. Apparently there are mixed reviews so I must have lucked out with a decently produced bottle of this beer.The Jack Russell Brewing Co. says the following about this beer:

Also for “The Wheat Beer Company.” Another southern German-style wheat beer, a bit stronger and more robust than the hefeweizen; also has a hint of coriander.

Where I Found It. BevMo in Sacramento, CA.

Date Reviewed. June 13, 2009

Serving Type. 33oz pop-top bottle to a pint glass.

Appearance. Big Ass Bock has a pleasant dark orange hue and is slightly hazy in appearance. The head is white with lose bubbles and does not last very long at all.

Smell. The aroma of this beer is sweet malted grains without a roasted flavor. It also has a very nice honey aroma with an orange blossom or jasmine flower bouquet. Unless the hops are providing the sweet citrus bouquet there is no discernible hop notes in the smell.

Taste. Big Ass Bock has a nice malted barley sweetness with hints of biscuit. The sweetness, however, is not sugary sweet and the sweetness is blanced by just a hint of bitterness. The bitterness enhances the spicy flavor of cloves which was not detectable in the smell of this beer. The honey aroma follows through in the taste but the orange blossom bouquet is not present in the taste. The differences between the taste and smell of this beer make it very interesting and it all seems to fold together into a nicely refreshing beer.

Mouthfeel. This beer is a smooth and easy to drink medium bodied beer. The carbonation level on this beer is high. Immediately after pouring you can see many bubbles steaming to the top of this beer. You can definitely feel the effervescence while drinking this beer.

Drinkability. Despite the higher alcohol content of 6.8% this is a very drinkable beer. It is refreshing, smooth, and pleasant to drink.

Rating. My ratings below are on a five point scale with five being the best score.

• Appearance (20%): 3.5
• Smell (20%): 4.0
• Taste (40%): 4.0
• Mouthfeel (10%): 3.5
• Drinkability (10%): 4.5
• Overall: 3.9

Information

• Style: weizenbock
• Brewery: Jack Russell Brewing Co.
• Alcohol by volume: 6.8%
• Beer Advocate rating: 2.48 (as of May 9, 2010)

Other Reviews

• Beer Advocate – Duke’s Big Ass Bock
• Rate Beer – Dukes Big Ass Bock

Rubicon Brewing Company is a small brewery in midtown Sacramento, CA. It seems that the only beer that the distribute in bottles in their Rubicon IPA and a good choice at that. This IPA was a Gold Medal Winner in 1989 and 1990 at the Great American Beer Festival.Rubicon describes their IPA as follows:

Generous portions of Cascade and Chinook hops are added throughout the brewing process to create Rubicon’s Flagship Ale. Golden in color with an assertive hop bitterness. This beer won gold medals at the Great American Beer Festival. A true American Classic.

Where I Found It. BevMo in Sacramento, CA.

Date Reviewed. July 24, 2009.

Serving Type. 22oz bottle into a pint glass.

Appearance. Rubicon IPA has an off-white foamy head that leaves a bit of foam on the glass. Some clumps of foam remain on top of the beer as you consume it. It has an oak, orange, amber color which is slightly cloudy.

Smell. The hop bouquet of this beer is citrus, floral, and a hint of spiciness. The aroma is roasted malty sweet with a hint of vanilla and caramel.

Taste. Rubicon IPA has a wonderful taste of roasted malty sweetness with a hint of caramel. The malt flavor is complemented by a spicy and citrus hop bitterness that gives it an almost grapefruit flavor. The hop flavor starts out smooth and finishes with a bite. The hopiness only lingers for a bit on the tongue.

Mouthfeel. This is a medium to full bodied beer that has a smooth creamy texture and nicely carbonated.

Drinkability. Rubicon IPA is well hopped beer but not loaded with so many hops that you can only have one. After a 22 oz. bottle I could likely enjoy another 22 ounces of this beer. The balance of this beer makes it a nice and drinkable IPA.

Rating. My ratings below are on a five point scale with five being the best score.

• Appearance (20%): 3.5
• Smell (20%): 4.0
• Taste (40%): 4.5
• Mouthfeel (10%): 4.5
• Drinkability (10%): 4.5
• Overall: 4.2

Information

• Style: IPA
• Brewery: Rubicon Brewing Company
• Alcohol by volume: 6.5%
• Hops: Cascade and Chinook
• Beer Advocate rating:

Other Reviews

• United Nations of Beer – Rubicon Brewing IPA
• Draft Mag – IPA by Rubicon Brewing
• The Full Pint – Review – Rubicon IPA
• Beer Advocate – IPA
• Rate Beer – Rubicon IPA

Lost Coast Brewery, out of Eureka, California, is the maker of several great beers such as Downtown Brown, Great White Beer, and Alley Cat Amber. Tangerine Wheat is one of their two fruit beer offerings, the other being Raspberry Brown. Tangerine Wheat is a refereshing beer that is great for warm summer weather, BBQs, and easy drinking.

Lost Coast describes Tangerine Wheat Beer on their website as follows:

A refreshing citrus ale, Lost Coast Tangerine Wheat combines our Lost Coast Harvest Wheat with natural tangerine flavors. Brewed with a combination of wheat and crystal malts, and finished with Perle hops.

Where I Found It. BevMo in Sacramento, CA

Review Date. July 24, 2009.

Serving Type. 22 oz. bottle into a glass

Appearance. The head of Tangerine Wheat Beer is thin and white with very loose bubbles. The head lasted only a few seconds and just barely longer than a soda. The color of the beer is a burnt orange honey color and it has a slight haze.

Smell. The bouquet of this is a strong tangerine or sweet orange and you can almost smell all parts of the tangerine from the peel to the flesh. It’s almost like you just opened up a fresh tangerine. There is little to no malt aroma or hop bouquet. Although the smell is strong it is not like candy.

Taste. If you like fruit beers that do not hide the fruit, then Lost Coast Tangerine Wheat Beer is a beer for you. This flavor is full of the citrus of the tangerines with enough of a malty sweetness to remind you that this is still a beer. There is also a hint of bitterness in the finish. The fruit even gives this beer an ever so slight tartness that complements all of the other flavors.

Mouthfeel. This is a medium to light bodied beer, which is not over-carbonated, keeping it as a beer and not a soda. It does, however, feel a bit watery.

Drinkability. Tangerine Wheat Beer is refreshing, smooth, and thirst quenching. On a warm sunny day this beer is the perfect complement.

Rating. My ratings below are on a five point scale with five being the best score.

• Appearance (20%): 3.0
• Smell (20%): 4.5
• Taste (40%): 4.0
• Mouthfeel (10%): 3.0
• Drinkability (10%): 4.0
• Overall: 3.80

Information

• Name: Tangerine Wheat Beer
• Brewery: Lost Coast Brewery
• Style: fruit beer
• Alcohol by volume: 5.0%
• Hops: finished with Perle hops
• Malt: wheat and crystal
• RateBeer Info for Lost Coast Tangerine Wheat Beer
• Overall Score: 43
• Style Score: 76

Other Reviews

• Must Love Beer – Lost Coast Brewery Tangerine Wheat
• Left 4 Beer – Tangerine Wheat (Lost Coast)
• Beer Advocate – Tangerine Wheat