SwillJockey’s OBF Recap
Overall, I think this was the most enjoyable of the Brewfest visits I’ve had so far. Going early on Friday was a definite bonus. The lack of crowds and lines was a nice change from year’s past.
Ok, these are all of the beers that I remember either coughing up a token to taste or stealing a sip of something Frosty grabbed.
Anderson Valley Brewing Co
Summer Solstice Cerveza Crema – I don’t recall liking this one, but for the life of my I can’t remember why. I think it had a great punch on the first sip, then it just disappeared leaving nothing behind.
Boulder Beer Co
Kinda Blue – For a blueberry beer, this was pretty good. Much better than the Bluebeery one that Frosty got. This one is made from real berries rather than the other one’s “extract” Ick. I’d drink more of this one if it showed up in my beer fridge.
BridgePort Brewery
Stumptown Tart – This was actually my first taste of this year’s Tart. I’ve had one sitting in the beer fridge for a couple of months and never got around to having an occasional special enough to crack it open. It was good, but I think I like some of the previous ones better.
Golden Valley Brewery
Festival Kölsch – Yup, it was a Kolsch. Snoooze. Next beer please.
Laht Neppur Brewing Co
Strawberry Cream Ale – This one was faintly strawberry-ee, and after hearing from Frosty that other folks thought it was horrible, I had to try it. I was pleasantly surprised by it. It tasted good, but I don’t think I’ll stock it in the beer fridge.
Moylan’s Brewing Co
Pomegranate Wheat – By far my favorite beer of the fest. I even sprang for a whole mug of this stuff after my first taste. The wheat malt and pomegranate work very well together and I was really, really surprised by how well they pulled this tasty beer off. Bravo!
Santa Cruz Mountain Brewing
Olallieberry Cream Ale – This one tasted exactly like a Shasta Soda from my youth. Very fizzy, very berry, and not very beery.
Three Creeks Brewing Co
Creekside Kölsch – Yup, it was another Kolsch. Snoooze. I like Kolsch beer, but these two didn’t do anything special for me.
I’m looking forward to next year already, if only to get some more of the freshly roasted nuts from the vendor I can’t remember the name of. Sigh.
