Independent IPA
El Segundo Brewing Company

Honestly, I just don’t know anymore. Why I continue to give El Segundo a try is like Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton trying to make things work - it’s just not gonna happen!

Now, it’s not as if El Segundo beers are nasty or vile, ya know? They are not the McDonald’s of brewing (I’m looking at you, Shipyard). But they also don’t wanna make a player write home to mama.

And right here, we have another ho hum offering. It’s not bad at all, but it’s just... It’s just... And that’s the thing. It’s just plain like the girl who sat behind me in Econ who only wore Levi’s and Chuck Taylors. Yeah, this is a Chuck Taylor beer.

I’m out!

*You know what? This one is actually warming up to the Raul man. Ima boost it up a lil.

Clear golden amber with long-lasting white foam in the Leute Bokbier glass. Pleasantly spritzy on the tongue and fairly malty. Slightly sweet. Light grain flavors, shredded wheat, and a touch of burned biscuit. Resiny aromatics and some blackberry nose.

Moderately bitter aftertaste with a woody, herbal note. I'd call this an average sort of classic IPA, but it's clean and very drinkable. From the 16 oz can purchased at Barons Market in San Diego, not dated.

 

Pale yellow, crystal clear body; thick, dense head. Mellow dried fruit aroma; berries; strawberries. Light cereal grain malt base; well-balanced hop bitterness to offset things. Heavy body; prickly on the palate; some alcohol dryness.

A well-done west coast IPA, hitting all the style points for such an IPA. It brings balance and complexity to the palate, has a bold hop presence, biting yet very approachable. This example was bottled "070218", so may be a bit old yet still delivers some excellent IPA pleasures.