Secret Swami's
Pizza Port Solana Beach

Type: 16-oz. can
Reviewed as: American IPA
Glass: Pure Project 14-oz. snifter elemental (earth) glass
Price: $2.69
From: Windmill Farms in San Diego (Del Cerro), Calif.
Purchased: Dec. 10, 2022
Consumed: Dec. 17, 2022
Misc.: Canned on Nov. 17, 2022

Went back to Windmill Farms because I forgot to buy Half Acre’s Nelson Double Daisy Cutter and I saw this one too, which I’d wanted for some time. Untappd’s description for this beer was “Secret Swami’s is a special gift for all IPA lovers to celebrate the holiday season. The traditional Swami’s hop profile of North American hops is elevated with the addition of New Zealand-grown Cascade and Nelson, both in the boil and the dry hop, which bring bright notes of grapefruit and gooseberry. Pilsner malt from California and Germany helps balance out the hop bitterness, and the use of our house yeast La Cruda accentuates the malt character and aroma. This beer is best enjoyed with friends and family. Holiday Beer Brings Holiday Cheer.”

Poured a medium yellow clear color with four fingers of rocky white head. Could see a lot of bubbles coming up the sides and bottom of the glass. Perfect foamy lacing. Almost perfect foamy retention. (Sight - 4.75)

Smelled pretty damn good. In order got Cascade, pine, lime, citrus zest, Nelson, Tang, tangerine, orange peel, papaya, grapefruit, mango, caramel and earthy pilsner malt. Even better out of the can. (Smell - 4.25)

Tasted almost as good as the nose. In order got Nelson, Tang, tangerine, orange peel, papaya, Cascade, pine, citrus zest, lime, mango, grapefruit, caramel and earthy pilsner malt. (Taste - 4.00)

Medium body. Oily texture. Lively carbonation. Abrupt, bitter finish. (Feel - 4.00)

I think I underrated this slightly, but this was outstanding overall. (Overall - 4.00)

4.11 | 92 | A-

Poured from a 16oz can into a Waterford IPA glass. Pours a little less than clear golden orange with a firm white foam head of about two fingers. Tropical fruits, blueberries, pine with even hints of mint leaves and watermelon bubblegum. Tastes leans heavier on pine, resin and citrus. Full mouthfeel. Incredible Swami variant. Complex yet drinkable. Some seasonal aromas and flavors in there as well. Outstanding west coast IPA.

The pour is a bright golden yellow, with a fluffy white head that fades to a ring around the top that leaves a decent amount of lacing with each sip. The smell is of citra and cascade hops, creating a nice blend of citrus and pine. The taste follows the smell, but with fuller taste of the remaining hops, enhanced by being dry hopped. The mouthfeel is appropriate for the style with light prickly carbonation. Overall, this is a great beer with big hop flavors and an easy drinking body

There’s no secret here. Raul says that the cat is out of the bag, and that double S slays harder than Rudolph on Adderall. Oh, buddy! Damn beer is just glorious in so many ways. Delectable like Gene Tierney, buxom like Bridgette Bardot, and lastly, soft and gentle like Olivia de Havilland. In my mouth right now is a 3-some and I never want to go to sleep.

Can pour into a pint glass in early March 2022 at a crazy good price. Was told that this was a NZ twist on the already delicious Swami’s. Super dry and a bit boozy. Top notch, though.

Update: On-tap at Solana Beach the day after flying back from Germany mid-December 2023. As good as I remember. Obviously dank, super dry and bitter, with the NZ hops really shining through. Any time they release this I get excited and rush over to the brewpub. Delicious!

Draft again December 2025. As amazing as I remember. So smooth, so clean. No surprise the hop bill is stellar but the lager yeast really makes this stand out.

 

Ducked into my local Pizza Port to see if anything new in the can cooler, and this was it. This one is more sweet, almost like a DIPA, but still sub-seven percent. Lush and sudsy mouthfeel with a tangy, malty taste. Aromas of citrus and resins. More grapes in the flavor but then a grapefruit finish. Complex and flavorful.

One source says the hops are Cascade and Nelson hops grown in New Zealand. As usual, PP has upped the aromatics and flavor complexities without making a mess. Moderately bitter but perfectly drinkable. Textbook classic IPA and clear golden amber with long-asting foam in the big wheat glass. From the 16 oz can dated 11/17/2021.

 

 

Can dated 11/19/20 into a tulip glass.

L: Bright golden with 2 fingers of white pillowy head with good retention and left spotted lacing.

S: Really nice nose, citrus dominant, then pine, subtle floral and cracker notes hiding.

T: Follows the nose well, finishes with moderate bitterness and slight acidity, both linger and dry the palate.

F: Low-medium bodied with medium carbonation, slick on the tongue with slight tingling from acidity, slick on the swallow.

O: If this becomes a seasonal holiday release I'd happily grab a 6er yearly, but this won't replace Celebration as my go-to hoppy brew in the winter months. But if I lived in San Diego, I could see opting for this over Celebration more routinely.

Edit: Went back and checked, I have regular Swami rated 0.01 higher. So I'd say if you like one you'll dig the other.