Category Archives: Ale

Baywood Ale House – Again

On my irregular visits to visit my mom I always find time to have a pint or two at the Baywood Ale House. This is the off season and I am stopping in on a very quiet Wednesday afternoon. It is so laid back and that suits me well! 16 taps and an obvious absence of the big boys. Sorry, you can’t get a Bud, Coors or Miller beer. Ya gotta love it!


Let me tell you a story about the photo above. Chalk board is pretty obvious, brews available! A new change for me though- last visit they were arranged seriatum by tap position. Now, the are arranged by type.

Overhead are mugs for the locals. I love how they manage the slackards – every Monday a ping pong ball is dropped into the mug. When you visit and order a beer the ball is removed and you are out of jeopardy. If on Monday there are three balls in a mug you lose. There are 350 on the waiting list! Next in line goes up!

The martinis, yes they make martinis too. All are made with an Asian Vodka, “Soju”, not on my list today! Sorry! Music? Just listened to Fly Leaf …….. I like!

http://www.baywoodalehouse.com/#!food/c1jo3

Yes they have food too along with wine, bottled beer and other stuff”!

If you are cruising north or south on Highway 1 take a diversion to Baywood – Los Osos and indulge! Sure wish my wife was with me, love you Hun! I will be home the day after our after our 33rd.

Drink Local and Drink Responsibly

Bishop

Passing Through Paso

I took a drive yesterday from Bakersfield, California over to the small town of Los Osos, California to visit my mom. The trip took me through Paso Robles and dang it, right by two of my favorite breweries! Firestone Walker is well known all across the national craft brewing world but I chose to bypass it and run by my other favorite, Barrelhouse Brewing Company.  

I waved as I drove by and promised to stop when I have more time…. Next trip. 

  
Beautiful day and the grounds are just a great place to kick back and enjoy their great beers. The old flatbed is used on the weekends as a stage for live music. I have enjoyed a beer with a band playing on a previous weekend visit but today’ mid-week was quiet with just a hint of Highway 101 traffic in the distance. Fittingly masked by the sounds of the waterfall and pond on the grounds. 

  
I wonder if I could put up a tent and camp out? I behaved myself and limited my intake to just two beers, the Templeton Session Ale and the Barrel House Blonde. The session ale was very nice and almost as good my home brewed session ale. The Blonde is one my wife has enjoyed and I drank it thinking oh her……I really did Hun! 

Next time you pass through Paso, stop by Barrelhouse Brewing Company!

Drink Local and Drink Responsibly

Bishop 

 

Honey Blonde Ale

Today is brew day! I made the switch to All-Grain brewing almost two years ago. It takes time! On top of that this recipe calls for a 90 minute boil!

To pass the time I made some labels for my Session IPA. The bulk of that batch went into my 6 Liter mini kegs from Tap-a-Draft. 12 liters kegged and about 16 bottles. Labeling is a good thing because I sometimes discover an orphan in the back of the fridge and have to drink it to find out it’s lineage. Oh Darn!

Session IPA - Ready and waiting on thirsty lads.

Session IPA – Ready and waiting on thirsty lads.

Over ninety degrees F in my outdoor brewhaus- proper attire, sandals, shorts and a t-shirt!

Killing two birds with one shirt..... Thanks Hun!

Killing two birds with one shirt….. Thanks Hun!

Just I case you are interested;

4 pounds of domestic Pilsner  malt

3 pounds of domestic two- row malt

2 pounds of domestic white wheat malt

0.5 pounds of Canadian Honey malt

1 pound of honey from my backyard at flame out

1 ounce of Cluster hops at 20 minutes

1 ounce of Cluster at 5 minutes

1 pouch Wyeast 1056 Amber Ale yeast

5 gallon batch

should come in under 20 IBU.

Near 5% ABV

I will keep y’all posted

Planned 1 week at 65 F then rack to secondary for 2 weeks at 67 F

  
Drink Local and Drink Responsibly

Bishop

Beer and Honey or Honey and Beer

My  daughter Lisa participated in the Island Girl Tri, sprint triathlon, on Galveston Island this past weekend.  Post event, it was rehydrate time and what better place than Galveston Island Brewing. The board was full, 12 beers, so little time and so far to drive! 72.1 miles and about 1 hour  and 28  minutes, depending on traffic. Need to find another excuse to make the drive to the Island.

Lisa asked me to bring some of my honey, honey from my hives, down to the event. A number of her running mates with Team RWB, “Team RWB’s mission is to enrich the lives of America’s veterans by connecting them to their community through physical and social activity.”, were in attendance and were seeking some Raw local honey.  We were well prepared but we failed to make the connections at the event. So, I had plenty of supply when we arrived at the brewery.

http://www.teamrwb.org/

The  Brewery

We were first in the door on this Sunday noon! There was another triathlon participant and her date joining us for the first beers of the day. She, the young lady, was a brewer and prefers stouts and porters. The  crowd began to trickle in and  to our right was a couple, Tanya and Greg. Somehow the conversation got around to raw honey and specifically, creamed honey. Well, we just so happened to have a supply. Tanya and  Greg bought a pound jar of honey and a 3/4 pound jar of the creamed honey – cinnamon flavor.

Charday and  Dave showed up a little later, they had worked the beer stand at the triathlon event down at Moody Gardens. She  was intrigued and bought a jar of the creamed cinnamon honey…….she popped the top off and uttered that Mmmmmmm sound of enjoyment…she couldn’t  wait.

Now – Let’s Talk Beer

Lisa rehydrating with the Citra Mellow IPA and I had the Blue Ridge Amber Ale.

Lisa rehydrating with the Citra Mellow IPA and I had the Blue Ridge Amber Ale.

Due to our early visit we were treated to a taster of the Amber Ale straight directly from the fermenter after the brewer added wet Mosaic hops….it was very yummy. I need to make a visit in a couple  of weeks when it is finished and kegged.

This is such a friendly place…reminds me of the atmosphere of the little village Gasthaus in the  village I lived in in Germany. Something about drinking beer gives  you automatic admission to the fraternity…Now, to rankle some feathers, I don’t get the same feel in a wine room or wine bar…just saying!

Lisa's Citra Mellow before rehydrating. She followed it with the Oktoberfest.

Lisa’s Citra Mellow before rehydrating. She followed it with the Oktoberfest.

https://www.facebook.com/GalvestonIslandBrewing/info?tab=overview

http://www.galvestonislandbrewing.com/brewery.html

Make the trip!

So, I think it was Beer and Honey, this time….but you never know when opportunities crop up. The lesson for me….I will carry a stash of my honey…great ice breaker to make new friends and maybe, make a little beer money!

Drink Local and  Drink Responsibly

Bishop

A Beer for my Honey

I have put back 5 pounds of a dark rich honey collected  from my bees.  I have been planning to make a beer utilizing my honey but haven’t made the time, until now. I asked my Honey for input, as we tend to like different styles….this beer is for her! In her cute way of saying it….A  “Honey Ale”, I have translated that to a “Honey Blonde Ale”. Now comes the  daunting part….selecting a recipe. There are so many choices!

This will be an all grain batch targeting an IBU number of around 20…..again, this is for my Honey and she prefers beers on the lower end of the IBU scale.

The challenge is add the honey in such a way as to not completely lose it’s flavor completely.  Obviously, it should be added at or near the end of the boil. Research also shows opportunities to add some honey to the secondary….Hmmmmm – I continue to do my home work.

I have a bit of time to plan…I won’t brew this batch until the eye doctor  give me permission to lift loads heavier than 20 pounds. I am having cataract surgery in a couple of days and would hate to lift a 5 gallon fermenter and have the implanted lens pop out….. Maybe I can draft my eldest son, a little over 6’5″ and now outweighs me and has the benefit of stupid young man strength, to help me out! PS – after challenging me to arm wrestle on his 21st birthday and losing badly – I still maintain a bit of a fear factor over him…it keeps him in line! He is now 25 and hasn’t asked for a rematch. Brew date is toward the end of the week of September 14.

I teat my son well....on the right is a Session IPA....his favorite and on the left is the Yes Dear Raspberry Wheat Ale....a little left for my wife.

I do treat my son well….on the right is a Session IPA….his favorite and on the left is the “Yes Dear Raspberry Wheat Ale”….a little left for my wife.

Brewing notes will be forth coming, in less than a fortnight!

Drink Local and Drink Responsibly

Bishop

 

The Last of the Raspberry Wheat Ale 

Started early in the afternoon grilling a tri- tip and a bone in rib-eye steak. It had been so friggin hot that grilling is out of thequestion. It is 1:43 in the afternoon and it’s only 88 deg. F and 38% humidity. What a wonderful day! 

I am sipping on a pint of the “Yes Dear Raspberry Wheat Ale” while grilling. There’s is maybe a pint left in the Tap-a-Draft 6 L mini keg and 4 or 5 bottles left from that batch. 

 

Glass is courtesy of one of my several visits to the No Label Brewing, Katy, Texas. Very good beers and an awesome brewery to visit. Today, if they were open, would be the perfect day to sit under the big shade trees, play some Corn Hole and enjoy some of their offerings. The B-52 Brewery in Conroe also comes to mind on a day like this! 
Last night I sampled a bottle of my Session Pale Ale. It is definitely light, 3.8-4.0% ABV. I went heavy on the dry hopping but could have gone heavier  I do believe! I will get my son Ben to give me his opinion. He likes the Session IPA’/Pale Ales. 

Next up, my backyard hive honey in something. A wheat ale, maybe a pumpkin ale or just a plain ole honey ale. I will keep y’all posted! 

Now, back to the tri-tip. Love the aroma of grilled meat. Just hope the HOA doesn’t elect PETA board members!!!! LOL

  
The Rib-Eye is getting ready to hit the flames. One more pint and the grilling will be complete. 

Drink Local and Drink Responsibly

Bishop

Promises, Promises, Promises

I have been accumulating many ideas, brewery tastings and other “thoughts” since my last post. I promise to be more regular- not a Metamucil thing, but to pound the keys one finger at a time and share my humble beer adventures. 

Today I am sampling a new beer for me! I am pretty impressed. Angel City IPA. Good up front bitterness but a little low on my love of the late addition hops for aroma. I drank two to make sure! LAX at Corona across from gate 86 – waiting to fly off to San Francisco.  

I also promise to post tastings if 4 or 5 recent breweries – Whole Foods in Houston on Post Oak will be a special post- I promised Dave Ohmer that I would. Great head brewer and he is very creative. The Belgian with smoked pears, smoked right there in the store, was superb. 

  
The City of Angels has “done good”!

Drink Local and Drink Responsibly! 

Bishop

What to do While in Williston, North Dakota? 

Drafted in mid June and delayed in posting.

I have figured it out! I will drive across the border to Sidney, Montana! There is a very good reason to leave the state and drive across the border. I am in Williston, North Dakota for a week. The Williston Brewing Company does not brew any beer despite the name. The plus side is they have the best selection of draft beers in a hundred mile radius. That said….I like to visit breweries if you haven’t figured that out yet.

I usually ask for local beers when I travel and up until recently the “localest” local beer was from Fargo, ND. Fargo is a 6 hour drive! Meadowlark Brewing across the State line is less than an hour’s drive and you can arrive before you left Williston! Funny how those time zone lines work.

Badlands IPA from Meadowlark is pretty darned good.


It pairs nicely with Famous Dave’s ribs, garlic mashed and grilled pineapple spears. The corn bread muffin was the only item would have been better with a nice lager.


Good to the last bit of lace on the glass.

Now, lets cross state lines!

Meadowlark Sampler.

Badlands IPA – Pleasant and good upfront bitterness with a subtle pine aroma.

Harvester – a Cream Ale, nice and easy to drink and would fit my wife’s palate.

Paramour – a fruity stout, cherries, chocolate and a little coffee.

Blake Steer Tookus, an Oatmeal Stout that is very tasty.

Ole Gus, and very, very good Scottish Ale. Malty but not overwhelming, very smooth finish. I like it!

Teddy Roosevelt Wheat IPA –  Bully good as Teddy would have said. Good but I have found one better – the Wheat IPA ay B-52 Brewery in Conroe Texas.

The beers are decent but the food….. Not so good!  I  ordered the 10 ounce rib eye steak and was served a 14+ ounce New York cut steak. Huge difference. The waitress had no clue but the cook told her to tell me it was the “eye of the rib eye”, BULL! There was a hint of rib eye marbling! I never send food back, chewed 7/8 of that tough steak and left an appropriate comment on Yelp.

Drink Local and Drink Responsibly

Bishop

Denver Airport- New Belgium Hub

I have a bit of a layover in Demver, enough time to have lunch and to see what is on tap at the New Belgium Hub(Pub) on my way to the regional jet gates. 

I started with a 4 beer flight, Oatmeal IPA, Ranger IPA, Skinny Dip(a summer seasonal lager) and my old standby – Fat Tire an amber ale. 

I decided to finish lunch with a pint of the Oatmeal IPA. This beer is one of beers in New Belgium’s Hop Kitchen Series. I give it high marks. The hops are very evident but not overly bitter at 60 IBU’s. The Citra and Centennial hops provide enough bitterness along with an aroma that is right up my alley. 

  
Lower right is the Oatmeal IPA. Going clockwise from there; Ranger IPA, Skinny Dip Lager and lastly the Fat Tire Amber Ale. 

The Oatmeal IPA had a nice persistent head, a floral/citrus aroma and was smooth across the tongue! Need to see if Spec’s in Houston is carrying this beer. Bakersfield folks may find it at Imbibe down on the Tructon Extension. 

Drink Local and Drink Responsibly

Bishop 

Beer and a Bite

i was in Bakersfield CA for a quick consulting job with Chevron Pipeline. I wanted to pop into Lengthwise Brewery Pub for a good local beer and a meal. The Pub location out on Calloway was my intended target but the Rosedale Highway construction and traffic convinced me to go elsewhere. I opted to head to the brewery located out in the Southwest just off of White Lane. 

Bakersfield’s Best Microbrewers… and Our Food is Pretty Good Too!

The Southwest steak salad paired nicely with the Centennial IPA – for me I am easy, I can pair an IPA with most anything, especially a second one! I went with the Triple Hopped Red Ale for number two! 

  The empty Centennial with the Red Ale and my buddy Gary’s Golden Ale. 

Side note; felt like I was in Houston that evening, a National Weather alert for flash flooding came across the radio and booming thunder flowing the flashes of lightning in the dusk sky. 

Drink Local and Drink Responsibly

Bishop