Eye Of The Hawk, KYAAAAH! From Mendocino Brewing Co

Eye of the Hawk sounds like an excerpt from those misleading motivational speeches made by my basketball coach during middle school, home of the Spring Branch Eagles.

David brought this in after a coworker threw a party and the hawk's were the sole survivors, a dubious distinction. Straight from Ukiah, Californa, the hawk pours a reddish/amber color and has a caramel malt taste. However...

Survivor's new single: "It's the eye of the hawk and the thrill of the pitcher's balk, rising up to the mistakes of our rivals."

However, it has a strange aftertaste. And it's not good strange, like going to the gym drunk. But it's also not weird strange, as in grandpa obsessively watches the WNBA. No...it's peculiar, like Goth kids who also play varsity football.

As you can tell I'm having trouble placing the taste. However, regardless of my questionable tasting faculty, the fact is I didn't quite enjoy this ale. Yet if this was the last beer in a party cooler, I would never not drink it (double negative, count it!). TRANSFORMERS 2.

Green Flash Brewing Le Freak is Freaky Delicious

When I say 'freaky,' let me place it in context; not freaky like a Barnum & Bailey sideshow or like the creepy clowns that run around at Knott's Berry Farm in October or HIPSTERS, but freaky like Victor Frankenstein's Monster - a freak of science. Green Flash Brewery out of San Diego made Le Freak a Belgian Style Imperial IPA.  That's a mouthful (of decliciousness).

It's a crossbreed, like a Labradoodle or Sharktopus. Hoppy and zesty like an IPA, sweet and full bodied like a Belgian. First sip really surprised me and each sip thereafter I enjoyed even more. I would love this at a dive bar with college buddies or relaxing next to a fire after a day of bombing down ski slopes. This beer is ambidextrous and one to experiment with different food and unusual settings. I'm looking forward to my next Le Freak. This is one of the BAD BOYS.

Bruery Mischief, I Enjoyed You

Like a kid in a candy store, I become super excited whenever I see beer from The Bruery. David, Nick G and I discovered this Orange County brewery last year at the LA Beer Fest and particularly loved their seasonal Saison de Lente, which sells out quickly. Mischief, I've never seen before but has a very handsome label. Dark and brooding. Nothing like the beer but it does compliment the name. 

Mischief is a Belgian-Style Golden Strong Ale with a dash of hops. After two busts in a row, we needed a win and The Bruery delivered. If this is at a bar, I will drink it. Welcome to THE ROCK.

As David mentioned, Sunday was a great evening spent with delicious food and wonderful company, Blake and Lock, whom we both haven't seen in a while. Here's a picture commemorating the excellent chowder and bbq ribs which we will be eating for the next week. 

Ribby Ribby Ribby CHOWDER CHOWDER CHOWDER

Firestone DBA

A Double Barreled (DBA) English Pale Ale. But the beer was flat. Shame. Disregarding the flatness, I still didn't like you.

You reminded me of that student in middle school who was really nice but despite her best intentions, asked really stupid questions during all-school assemblies. While being earnest, you still prolonged the torture and for that we disliked you strongly. Firestone DBA, all I can say is, blerg. TRANSFORMERS 2.

Firestone Walker Union Jack

Continuing our series of beer from the brewery that bears my middle name, Thursday we drank this guy, Union Jack.

It's an American Style India Pale Ale (IPA) that celebrates the British flag. Their website doesn't acknowledge why they chose the name, and I can only assume they are referencing the conquest and resulting colonization of India by the British as well as the formation of the East India Trading Company in the 1600's, whose ships flew the Union Jack. Or maybe they just enjoy really obtuse references for beer names.

Anywho, I'm not Sherlock Holmes, but what I am is a fan of IPA's and I enjoyed this. It's no Beer Republic Racer 5, but it 'satisfies expectations.' A heavier body than a many IPA's, it has a light citrus taste and would make a worthy compliment with dinner. Run this up the flagpole: TRANSFORMERS.

Exploring Hemp Beer: Humboldt Brown Ale

The first entry into the hemp beer division and personally my first, I was pretty curious about Humboldt Brown Ale. It's made by Nectar Ales and is apparently only available in CA due to hemp restrictions. Go figure.

So it's an all natural beer that incorporates hemp into the brewing process.  I couldn't detect any bitterness that's typical of brown ales, but there isn't a lot of flavor either. As far as the hemp goes, initially I couldn't taste anything but with further consumption I became aware of a tiny bit of sweetness. Overall, hemp's role in the brew appears relatively unsubstantial. Kinda disappointing, I was hoping for something inspired. All in all, a pretty generic brown ale. I'd drink it again if someone else was paying. Rating: ARMAGEDDON. 

Firestone Walker Brewery! Discovering Solace

David and I headed up to Saint Ynez Wine Country to taste some Ampelos Wine at their yearly bbq and afterwards headed to the Firestone Walker Brewery in Buelton, CA.

I love their Honey Blonde Ale they make, but refrained from the known this time. Here we tried a four beer sampler: Pale Ale, DBA (double), Union Jack (IPA) and Walker's Reserve (Robust Porter).

Good stuff, the Pale Ale is definitely worth it, and I'm not normally a fan of dark beers but the Walker's Reserve - thick and rich, with hints of coffee been and chocolate - is pretty good.

For our daily tasting though, we had a pint of something seasonal - Solace. Firestone markets it as a 'Summertime Fusion Wheat Beer.'

Firestone Walker Solace

A full bodied hefe. Nice. Citrus flavors didn't finish well. It's a fairly innocuous beer until the couple next to me suggested adding a lemon, which definitely upped the tastiness. Not too shabby but also not the summer dream it aspires to be, just like the lackluster summer blockbuster THE ISLAND.