Toolbox Brewing Co. - Vista, CA

That's one of Ehren's last brews at toolbox! Has anyone tried a beer from the new brewer at toolbox yet?

 

I bought (2) 4 packs of Full Circle cans, and the first can was great. The last 3 cans have all been oxidized I've still got 3 in the fridge, but was wondering if anyone had the same experience?

 

Yup, but it was their first canning so I'm not all that surprised.

 

There's a new brewer?

I never saw any announcement.

My Bramble on Rose had probably about 25-30% sediment on mine as was super excited to jump out too.

 

Yes. Ehren left to run Mikkeller's wild program in Denmark almost a month or so ago.

 

Such a gross brewery. How are they still in business?

 

There are a lot of things people like that don't appeal to others. Maybe, just maybe, they still have a customer base that enjoys what they do.

 

I went a week ago and had 7 of the 8 barrel aged sours on the menu. Two of them, Raspberry Bliss (I think) and Nyssa Peach, were definitely in my top ten ever. Purple Drink was awesome too.

The IPAs weren't great, though it's nice they're trying the milkshake style. If they ever get it close to the Tired Hands versions I've had, I'll be very happy.

For sours, I think they're the best brewery in SD for sure, at least that I've been to.

 

????

 

Its a bummer to spend $30+ for 2 4 packs of beer and dump most of it

 

No I'm aware of that, there just was no announcement of his replacement.

 

Probably a "next man up" situation with an assistant brewer.

 

You have bad taste. Toolbox puts out some of the better sours in the state.

 

Have to agree, toolbox is doing some great work with their sours. I think @OCBeerNerd is just on one today, bashed Abnormal in another thread as well.

 

The hazy IPAs the last time I visited were quite good though they are tapping them when they are very green sometimes giving the beers intense hop flavors. One of them was interesting because being green it tasted like marijuana full stop. The two milkshakes were pretty tasty though I especially liked the purple one. The IPAs aren't anywhere near the level in which I would want to buy cans yet of anything though.

I haven't been making the trip to Toolbox for sours though because I tend to prefer Council's and Council has had them available for much longer on tap these days. I can only buy so many sour bottles and prefer to buy the releases from Council.

 

I tend to like Toolbox's offerings more than Council, they are usually better at infusing fruit flavors and seem more balanced. Just my opinion. Speaking of Council, whatever happened to that coolship collaboration with them and Toolbox like 6 months back?

 

I wouldnt be surprised if that was still in barrels.

 

Both of their assistant brewers were laid off back in January, and have heard one of the owners was taking over the brewing now that Ehren is gone.

there are a few of those collabs that never came to fruition, looking back on their social media;
crane, council, 2nd shift, dionysus..

 

Have you had anything they released in the first half of this year? If not, I suggest going to try some of them. Staircase of Everlasting Peaches and Lickable Staves were both delightful. The barrel aged offerings are much better to me than the foeder ones.