Parks California IPA
Smog City Brewing Co.

Picked this up at the Total Wine in Century City a few months back when I was out on the left coast. Enjoy their beers and liked the reason behind this, as this was a brew worthy of the left coast.

Bright and lively in appearance, this had a nice shade of gold to it that was fitting for the Golden State. Lots of bubbles throughout - both in the head and liquid, as it was topped off with more than enough foam. The lacing left behind was spotty, extensive, and scattered without any hint of rings to be seen. A moderate amount of honey, piney hops, and tangy citrus were in the subdued nose as the taste was much more forward. Plenty ripe, a bit green and mossy, and full of stone fruit underneath, this grew on me as it warmed up as the flavors meshed well together, without any being particularly strong.

The peach and apricot stuck around in the aftertaste with a nice sweetness and sticky juiciness also contributed to this offering's appeal. Dated 5/1 of this year on the bottom of the can, this held up well and was a tad green in undertone as well. Love how this beer was California and was for the benefit of the recent fires there, as well. While not a typical IPA of that neck of the woods, those looking for something to take along on an outdoor adventure wouldn't go wrong with this enjoyably solid offering.

Every time that I peer at the liquid pacific, I am lost in grace and awe. It is my ocean. From waves surfed as a youngster, to big cliffs jumped off of on Catalina Island (simply because I didn’t want my balls on the chopping board by being a wimp and not jumping). Well, along with the beauty of the Pacific Ocean, is my love for our parks and the land itself that we live on. So to see them destroyed in a flash, it hurts deep. And what I have is just not some blind pride for my state. It is respect, and really, a certain type of love for it that cannot be explained in humanely words. From Big Sur to Laguna Beach, my body and my life beat with it. And this beer? Yeah, of course it bangs. If you are reading this, I love you. And I hope that something in your life gives you some love just like I just wrote about.

Kisses, hugs, and love, baby. Always love.