Toolbox Brewing Co. - Vista, CA

Last time I was down there, I had a couple of those Milkshake IPAs (they were great), and Spencer poured me a couple different things that he's been playing with (also great). He said he's doing most of the brewing right now and Ehren left him with all the recipes, yeast strains they developed, etc.. Essentially, all the work that has gone into their program is there, Ehren is not.

He said that's where he's at for now, he's been following/helping with recipes since they got going, so he's ok and happy with the beers (but really tired). Said there's still a bunch of good stuff coming soon that's been in barrels for a while.

I'm not too worried about quality dropping anytime soon. They seem to find ways to survive. I'm definitely still a supporter and look forward to drinking their beer.

 

Online release tomorrow for Equilibrium. Had this on tap a few weekends ago and was really impressed. Shipping available for $20 flat if interested. Going to snag a few for sure - cheers!

Edit: I can't figure out how to link the stupid instagram post but check out their IG for details.

Bourbon Barrel Aged Imperial Stout w/ Coffee & Vanilla
13.8% ABV - 500ml - $18 ea - Limit 6

This latest variant of our Imperial Stout was aged in Woodford Reserve Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey barrels with @mostracoffee and Madagascar bourbon vanilla beans added.

 

I really liked the regular version (without coffee or vanilla) and I heard great reviews about that one as well. I might grab a bottle next time I am up there if they are still around.

 

new email.

Interested in the milkshake. was the previous milkshake release solid?

Dual Limited Can Release
(16oz 4-Packs)

Purple Drink American Sour Ale - 5.25% ABV
American Sour Ale brewed with Boysenberries
Price: $16/ 4-pack

Purplish Boysenberry Milkshake IPA - 7.5% ABV
NE India Pale Ale brewed with Boysenberries & Vanilla beans.
Dry-hopped with Citra & Simcoe hops.
Price: $22/ 4-pack

AVAILABLE ON-LINE AND IN-HOUSE!
LOCAL PRE-SALE AVAILABLE: Limited cases of each beer will be available in-house daily starting tomorrow, Wednesday 10/18 leading up to the "Official" release on Saturday!

ON SITE: Official can release will start at Noon on Saturday, October 21st. Tasting room open 12- 9pm Saturday and 12- 6pm Sunday. First come, first served.

ONLINE: Sales online will be live Saturday at 11am PST and will be available for shipping within the state of CA or for in-house pick-up (proxies allowed). Orders must be picked up within 30 days from date of purchase. Shipping orders will be processed Tues 10/24 via Golden State Overnight and require 21+ adult signature for delivery. See our webstore for further details and instructions.
https://squareup.com/store/Toolbox

 

I tried the previous milkshake (raspberry), and this one side by side on draft a couple months ago and preferred the raspberry. I wasn't a big fan of either, though.

However, I love that Purple Drink!

 

Any notes on the last milkshake, frosted very vanilla?

Thinking of ordering the new ones today.

 

I haven't really liked any of the milkshakes so far. The strawberry "Quik" one was my favorite, and I think mostly because it was a DIPA, so more of the flavors that usually go along with an IPA were able to stand up against the flavors added by making it a "milkshake". I think the the fruit added to the various versions has all been too overpowering, although the strawberry one was probably the most subtle, but still not like the one Tired Hands milkshake I've had (also a strawberry one), which was glorious.

I hoped the vanilla one would be better, since no fruit seemed potentially better than the overdone fruit of the previous versions, but it was still too sweet.

Wish this one was a DIPA, but with the coconut, I'm curious enough to pick up a 4 pack. I've really liked the few coconut IPAs I've had. Just had the Resident one last weekend and it was excellent.

 

I've stopped following once the sours tapered off.

Unfortunate...

 

I’m really enjoying most of the milkshake IPAs. Not for some people, they can be sweet, but it’s obvious in the name... milkshake.

No one else is pulling off the style like Tired Hands and Toolbox. I don’t have much access to Tired Hands, so I’ll keep buying a 4pk or two.

 

So when I first had Mashugana (raspberry milkshake) I had no idea milkshake IPAs were a style people were doing. I really enjoyed the 1st batch but didn’t get around to getting the cans. Think the 1st batch had Madagascar bourbon vanilla beans.

I’ve tried a few when I’ve had the chance but definitely not all. I decided to take an assortment of beers to a Super Bowl party so grabbed a 4-pack of Orangish and took 2 with me. We agreed it tasted just like orange juice. I waited another week before having another and the orange wasn’t as dominant and was closer to an orange julius. So I bought two Pink Fuzz. The peach definitely wasn’t as noticeable as The Crevice w/ peach from 4 years ago but it was easy drinking. Much more enjoyable than many of the regular IPAs that the smaller breweries in SD have canned in stores.

But the thing I love the most about Toolbox is when Spencer has time to chat. He will talk about anything and tell you all the fun stuff he’s thinking about or is currently in the works. I really hope they have continued success because he’s a great person.

Now with warmer weather right around the corner I hope we get a couple releases of Purple Drink. Seems breweries sometimes miss when to release beers and that’s a great weekend afternoon summer beer in my mind.

 

If you want coconut in your beer go pick up Toasted. Smells of coconut, starts off with coconut, then a milky vanilla, then finishes with toasted coconut.

Some of the most coconut I’ve had in a beer in a while.

 

Wow

 

Guess their can liners weren't the only things being dissolved on the inside.

 

not even milkshake ipa's could save them

 

What a bummer. Toolbox made some pretty good beers. Not all of them were great, but I loved Handful of Peter, Grass Fed Lettuce and several others. Hope they are able to continue brewing in some other capacity

 

Yeah, big time bummer. Loved Autumn Bliss and Mackinaw!

 

Dude Mackinaw was tits

 

Nyssa peach and rustique d’abricot made me a toolbox fanboy. When Ehren left they started venturing from the sour program it seemed like. I never had the IPAs the started making, but from afar, it seemed like those were a last ditch effort to stay open. It’s really too bad because I loved visiting the taproom whenever I made it too SD from Orlando. It was really the only one that was a must for me there.

 

I don’t think they would be closing if they had a better location. Their beer was always at least decent and better than A LOT of other places in town, but the brewery was really out of the way for most people in San Diego County.