California Lagers (2023)

Smoked Helles from Fieldwork. This is a lovely beer. The smoke is subtle enough that it mostly comes off as a bitter bite that tilts this toward tasting like a maltier pilsner. Glad I got to enjoy this, wish I had access through a normal retail channel instead of the beer bar that let's you take packaged stuff to go at no discount. I'd drink a fair bit of this if it was closer to $3 a pint.

 

Does anyone know of any breweries or bars that have installed those Lukr taps?

 

Highland Park Brewery (Chinatown)
Homage Brewing (Chinatown)
Everywhere
Radiant

I had a friend visiting from DC this week, and we made the rounds at most of the best breweries in the greater LA/OC area during his visit. There was a heavy recurring theme of each of these places having exactly ONE Lukr side pull faucet to dispense some of their delicious lagers. AND I AM HERE FOR IT.

Good stuff.

(I also have one at my house in my garage, currently pouring Enegren Dunkel on the ol' keezer. Heck yes!)

 

Nice, thanks for the list of places to check next time I'm down south. Definitely interested in trying a beer poured through one

 

Wondrous has one (maybe 2?)

 

TDNE also has one

 

Looking to spice up my usual lager focused beer deliveries. What's everyone's favorite breweries with tasty lagers that ship to CA?

I'll start:

• Green Cheek: $20 per case - No lagers right now but usually they have something available and it's quite good.
• Moonlight Brewing: $25 per case - Reality Czech and Death & Taxes
• Enegren Brewing: I can't figure out this one. $40 shipping for x24 16oz. $30 shipping for x24 12oz. Shipping prices seem to go down the more you order, but not by a lot. Really wish they could get their shipping to $20 a case
• Monkish: $24 per case - Lagers aren't as common as a place like Green Cheek, but usually they're quite good. Images of Rapture (black lager) right now is excellent.
• Bruery: $100 gets you free shipping, otherwise it varies but relatively cheaper than others. Not a ton of options but the Ruekeller series is solid when fresh.

 

Sante Adairius in capitola has one lukr tap.

 

Enegren shipping was cheaper during the pandemic. They obviously don't need to move as much beer via shipping so they bumped up the price which is a bummer for me. I only saw a few Enegren brews one time at a local TJs.

 

Urban Roots in Sacramento canning a fresh batch of "HELL", Helles Lager again. Really great beer.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Cp3u52hN_sp/

The crispiest of crisp lagers returns this weekend in cans and draft - Hell, our Helles Style Lager, is a showcase for balance and drinkability and is back just in time for spring time beer garden drinking.

 

Not brewed in California but there is a relatively fresh drop of Schönramer beers in the state. BB of 10/2023 for the gold (i think they so a 9 month window). Absolutely stellar helles in the Gold and an exceptional Pilsner as well

 

I had my first Enegren Lightest One last night, and I thought it was terrific. Looking forward to trying it side-by-side with some NW helles lagers soon.

I also picked up a 4-pack of Enegren Maibock. Big fan of the style, so I'm really stoked to try that one.

 

Just finished a six pack of The Lightest One yesterday. I never get tired of their beers.

 

I got a half-bbl (15.5-gallon) keg of Enegren Dunkel on tap at home, on the ol' keezer, outfitted with a Lukr side pull faucet. It's wonderful.

I'm hoping I never get tired of this beer! That's a lot of beer! So far, so, so good....

 

Green cheeks Let’s Prost is a great Kolsch style. Tastes almost exactly like a fresh fruh

 

I had the pleasure of visiting the Enegren tasting room during my short visit to LA last week. I tried .25L pours of The Big Meat smoked bock (terrific) and Edel-Pils (good).

(I suspect I would've enjoyed the Pils more if I started with it instead of having it after the rauchbier.)

I also nabbed a 4-pack of The Big Meat for $12, which is an awesome price for a beer of that quality.

My last visit to Enegren was over a decade ago. It's good to see they're still around and making such great beer. I look forward to visiting again the next time I'm in the area. And if I can't make it out to Moorpark, I'll still find a way to bring home a good supply of their beers.

 

Edel Pils from Enegren...so damn tasty.

 

Slacking off at work and comparing a couple of new to me california brewed helles lagers.

Happy Hour Helles from Almanac and Helles Lager from Cooperage

Both beers were brewed last October. I just saw them for the first time about a week ago, but only at one shop that I rarely stop in. Might have to pop in their more often.

Almanac is much more aromatic, strong aroma of biscuity malt that verges almost into a touch of corn. Not a lot else. Cooperage is not quite as loud but it's got a great complexity with a nice herbal/floral noble hop character to balance those biscuit notes.

Taste comparison is similar, Almanac has a full biscuit/grain flavor with little hop character where Cooperage has enough noble hop character to impress as more balanced.

Both are light and drinkable. Cooperage is my clear preference, but I could see how some people could prefer the almanac version. The cooperage definitely pushes up against the edges of pilsner but I think it's just right. Plus the head on cooperage is far superior.

Love to see more of this style though, and both are well done and not at all "innovative" takes on the style. Now, gimme this shit in $15 12 packs por favor!