2017 Beer Happenings

I've had 20+ beers out of crowlers, and they don't even come close to the taste off draft or a regular growler. They always taste old, flat and stale - no matter how fresh the crowler is. I don't know the real science behind the crowler system, but I can tell you that I've always been disappointed by reputable breweries (Fieldwork or Great Notion, for example) beers in a crowler. Maybe it's just me, but I really dislike the format.

 

Agreed, great experiences with Fieldwork, Fall River, and Growler Guys crowlers.

 

The return of the "El Cajon Brewing" thread...

 

I've never had any issues with crowlers or growlers. I'm kind of digging the growler scene. Easier to pack in your suitcase to travel/fly. Longest I've gone without opening one is 2 weeks. Still damn fresh IMO. 32oz is perfect for one session. Plus a bomber.

 

I agree with 32oz being perfect. As a rule, I try not to go more than a week. Also, I usually avoid IPAs unless I'm 100% certain to drink in the next day or two.

 

Pliny the Younger always starts my years, Cheers!

 

Some have been mentioned, some haven't:

Looking forward to (certainties):
HPB new facility (hopefully this year)
Modern Times facilities in LA area
More great breweries (such as last year's De Garde) distributing to our area
Toolbox shifting to more BA releases

Hopeful (uncertain):
Beachwood IPA Cans
Beachwood 32oz growlers or fill other's
Quantity and especially quality of breweries in Costa Mesa area improving
Bottle Logic finally having supply meet demand on a reasonable level (DSN is a great example)

Fearful:
Monkish lines getting more absurd
Noble shifting too much into hazy
Bruery releasing another cocktail beer

 

Beachwood cans? > highly doubtful > they just got a brand new bottling line at the new HB location. No room there or at the LB location. But they are putting out 12oz bottles in 4 & 6 pks. So that's a good start.
BW 32oz growlers > still possible. Would really love to see this happen. I don't see why it shouldn't. Everyplace else will fill 32oz growlers. I would even buy some new 32oz BW growlers to add to my other 35+ growlers in my garage closet. But really! Whats the hold up here on the 32oz growlers?
I think Gunwhale is a great addition to the Costa Mesa scene. I think they will do great as they put out more beers. They cannot keep Bait Ball on tap long enough. They are one of the first to give OC crowlers. And maybe cans....soon? And hopefully they will work out the Fri/Sat hours situation.
Who else will take the road to HAZE this year?

 

Ha sorry, I'm still dealing with a head cold, I was thinking 6 pack and wrote cans instead. 6 pack of Melrose or Citraholic I'd be all over.

 

I'd love for 2017 to be the death of the word "juicy" in beer lingo, it's a completely meaningless descriptor meant to fuel the hype train that has gone off the rails.

I enjoy a good NE IPA but if I have to read one more Modern Times description of their BPT cans I'm going to lose it.

 

A lot of what I'm excited about has been covered above. Hopeful for Beachwood IPA six-packs, and excited to see what Modern Times' expansions in L.A. and OC yield.

Also looking forward to what Cellador does this year. Sort of curious if Monkish starts eyeing expansion too, given the increasing demands on space at the tasting room in Torrance.

 

Excited for the North County San Diego location of Modern Times, and the opening of the new Urge Common House opening about 2 miles from my house; a 25,000 sq/ft beer playhouse.

 

Someday, MT will look back at that copy and think of it the way we think of shag carpeting. I already do.

 

I'm torn on the new distribution from outside CA. I'd love more exposure to OR beers, for sure, but it takes some of the fun out of travelling to new places when you get there and realize they get all the same beers we do. Just had this experience when I back to visit family in Iowa. Seeing TG all over the place was nice but I used to look forward to Founders, Bells, and Sixpoint--now we get all those here. And it's sad seeing Green Flash's version of Alpine there--those sorry bastards have no idea it's not the real thing.

Also, side note, I've had nothing but good experiences with crowlers and I'd love to see more places get them.

I'd like to see L.A. proper lighten up on the red tape and become more friendly to new businesses, especially new breweries and tap rooms. That endless crap FW had to go through for their new spot in Venice has to be discouraging for others thinking of doing anything similar in LA.

 

This will be Beachwoods Year, I predict new BA releases of loved beers(besides already announced BAMM) and 4 or 6 packs of all regular IPA's and maybe even some stouts/porters. Not that we need to hype train Beachwood.

 

Please please for the love of God, I hope BW avoids the haze craze.

 

I think we don't have to worry about haze at BW