Drop off Day

Today I dropped of my home brew entries for the San Diego County Fair. This is the second time have I enter this competition. Last years was my first entry. I think with last year beers came in nearly dead last.  But with this years entries i feel much more confident.

I entered 4 four that have i brewed over the past few months. the first was an IPA. I brewed it back in January. (first batch of the year). I was a partial mash. With the big key ingredient being Chinook Hops. I have never used them before but wanted to give them a try. last night i was looking at the bottles and notice a lot of particles floating around in it. Made me a little nervous so i decided to drink of them last night (I never like to take a untasted be out into the world). Taste was great! Good bittering, well balance, my only criticism is that hop finish. I think is was lacking aroma.

Second beer I entered was and English Bitter. Everything on this beer is English except for the water I used (kinda hard to find English tap water in San Diego). 

The last two beers I am most proud of. When I have the brewing up and running I want to have a seasonal rotation of Belgian Strong Ale brewed with fruit. I made a fruit beer with peaches a few years ago and it turned out great so I thought i would do it again. This time I made it with raspberries. Pretty damn good tasting too. Originally, I wanted to make a Raspberry Balsamic beer, but the fear of the vinegar being too overpowering won, so i was just raspberries. Next time i make it I will be adding a lot more raspberries.


The last beer I entered was a spiced beer. I call it Doc Barley's Sarsaparilla Porter. Simply put it is a porter that taste like root beer, but not all of the sweetness like the soda. I got the idea from my friend, who also just starting brewing. Took the idea and just when with it. the first batch turned out amazing. everyone is really impressed how much it taste like root beer.

After dropping off the entries at the fairground I went over to Solana Beach to check out a new brewery. Culture Brewing Company. Place is pretty bomb. They have the same brewing system I am looking into getting when I open my brewery. I tried their Amber Ale, Hefe, American Brown, IPA, and Double IPA. The best beer for me was the IPA, thing has like 20 different hops in it, tasted great. Prices were reasonable I got 5 tasters for about $8.  Staff was really cool too. Funny thing about being there about a year ago was at a concert at Belly Up and thought to myself this would be a great location for a brewery.