The OC/LA release thread.

Well, I also think that the general approach to IPA flavors has changed in recent years. Seems like the well balanced floral/pine/grapefruit stuff has gone out of fashion a bit in favor of the big juicy no malt anywhere tropical thing, and honestly I think my tastes have run that way as well. I blame Amalgamator.

Good brewing never really goes out of style, but stuff like JO does feel a little out of step with the most-hyped new IPAs around these days, right? That doesn't make them worse beers, and I'll still always buy fresh JO, Pliny, and such when I see them, but they are clearly different from much of the brand new stuff hitting shelves these days.

Of course the usual disclaimers apply too, though: there's plenty of room for all of it and with the way these trends work people are going to be brewing a million 'old school' pinecone clones again before too long, I imagine.

 

yeah. Just found out today. Likely you will start seeing it next week or so.

 

That's next week.

 

Anything on Paradox – In the Spirit of Skully #3 (Whiskey aged sour stout)? This one is showing up in the southland tomorrow.

 

Have you guys tried Clown Shoes Photosphere Phil? CA only release. Goddamn fantastic.

 

Got one left in the cooler...stare at it every day....

 

After how horrible my first bottle of theirs was, #17, it's unlikely I'll be picking up anything more from them anytime soon. It was sweet and syrupy, not sour at all, and it's hard to believe it's over 100 IBU, tasted more like under 50 IBU.

 

question - did you refrigerate it for at least a full 24 hours before cracking?

if so, thats pretty disappointing to hear. i have a bottle of it in the fridge that i was super excited to crack.

 

Yep, bought on a Thursday, put in the fridge, consumed at a bottle share on Friday night. Everyone who had it drain poured it. It was like a different beer was in the bottle.

 

anybody else try this beer? thoughts?

 

May release: Paradox Mango Habanero sour, Salted Sumac sour and Elderberry sour.

 

Ditto. Had the same one and thought it was a mess. Shame

 

I kinda get the part about new flavor profiles, and how they just might suit some folks more than other (more "classic") profiles. It seems to me that sometimes, though, these get presented as mutually exclusive -- as though enjoying one of the new wave juice bomb type of IPA somehow preempts the possibility of a classic grapefruit/pine IPA from still being considered tasty and/or relevant.

It also seems a bit unique to pales/IPAs or, more generally, hoppy brews. What's really had me thinking about this are European styles. I mean, I don't have data to prove this, but my guess is that Weihenstephaner Hefeweissbier has been the same beer (or really close to it) for a long time. It's a so-called classic. Weihenstephaner hasn't seen fit to overhaul the recipe (again, at least to my knowledge), and I'm kinda glad about it. I like that it's been the same beer for a long time and, most likely, will continue to be that same beer. Probably the same story for something like Pilsner Urquell. I feel the same way about Stone IPA. I love its classic flavor profile, and I really hope they don't change it. I sometimes wonder if we revamp or ditch what were once considered classic beers (JO/Pliny/Stone IPA/whatever), if we won't look back and think, "Man, I wish they wouldn't have changed that beer."

I get the reason for change. I get shifting consumer palates and the need to sell product and make money. I would hope, though, at the very least, that such shifting palates don't mean the loss entirely of otherwise great beer whose flavor profiles don't happent to match the current flavor of the month.

 

The price is relatively good too

 

arrived at hacienda

 

Anyone still seeing Citra Showers bottles anywhere?

 

Yeah but I'm just 10 minutes from Anaheim.

 

Whole Foods at 3rd and Fairfax had some when I was there on Saturday.

 

I drank all of it ..