Comments on: Bistro’s IPA Fest a real rouser: Pizza Port Solana Beach wins gold

By: Jeff

Jeff — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 22:12:00 +0000

In response to the protest of the image of Ganesh, would he really care? I sort of understand in that I would not put a bottle of Indica IPA on my altar to represent Ganesh.
I would find it much more amusing to have a bottle with the incarnation of Vishnu in the form of Jesus on a cross with a saying of “he died for the sins you are about to commit”. I don’t think I am blasphemous in my views in that any religion must have tolerance and laughter. If not it becomes scary close to fundamentalism…

By: Naresh Kadyan

Naresh Kadyan — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 04:31:30 +0000

Please Boycott INDICA IPA beer as they used Lord Ganesha image as label and we are protesting against

By: easong

easong — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 21:53:38 +0000

Just had lunch at The Bistro. if you missed the IPA Fest, be glad to know that many of the unconsumed kegs are rotating onto the taps in the next few days.

The IPA Fest line-up was:
Mad River Jamaica Sunset, 7.0%, 65 IBU
Marin IPA, 7.0, 65
Mendocino White Hawk, ?
Moonlight Bombay by Boat, 5.7, 80
Mount St. Helenda, ?
Moylans IPA, 6.5, 72
Pacific Coast Columbus 7.0, 56
Pizza Port Wipeout, 7.5, 70
Pizza Port El Camino, 7.5
Pizza Port Hop 15, 7.5
Rubicon IPA, ?
Russian River Blind Pig, 6.1, 72
Russian River IPA, 6.5, 62
Santa Cruz Aleworks IPA, 6.5, 85
Schooners IPA, 6.5, 70
Seabright Blur, 7.3, 80
Seabright Beer 3000, 7.0, 71
Shmaltz Coney Island Sword Swallower, 5.5, 70
Sierra Nevada Anniversary Ale, 5.9, 46
Sierra Nevada Torpedo, 7.5, 69
Six Rivers IPA, 7.2, 70
Speakeasy Big Daddy, 6.8, 53
Stone IPA, 6.9, 77
Triple Rock IPAX, 6.8, 65
21st Amendment 21A IPA, 7.2, 80
Anchor Liberty, ?
Anderson Valley Hop Ottin, 7.0, 80
Auburn Alehouse Gold Digger, 6.5, 68
Ballast Point Big eye, 7.0, 55
Beach Chalet Presidio, 6.5, 73
Bear Republic Racer 5, 7.2, 85
Bear Republic Rebellion, 6.2, 78
Big Sky IPA, 6.2, 65
Black Diamond IPA, ?
Blue Frog IPA, 7.0, 60
Butte Creek IPA, ?
Deschutes Inversion, 6.8, 80
Drakes IPA, 7.0, 68
Drakes #2, ?
Eel River IPA, ?
EJ Phair Hop on Board, ?
El Toro IPA, ?
Fifty Fifty Rockslide, 7.0, 70
Firehouse IPA, 7.5, 70
Firestone Walker Union Jack, 7.5, 72
Full Sail Prodigal Son, 6.2, 80
Green Flash West Coast, 7.0, 95
Humboldt Nectar IPA, 6.8, 60
Iron Springs JC Flyer, 7.6, 54
Lagunitas IPA, 6.0, 56
Lost Coast Indica, 6.5, 60

Today’s taplist had IPAs from Port (Carlsbad), Port (San Marino), Iron Springs (Fairfax), Green Flash (Vista), Moonlight (Santa Rosa), El Toro (Morgan Hill), and Russian River (as always). No Bud Light, sorry.

By: Will

Will — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 15:47:51 +0000

That must be a much different version of the Hop 15 than they bottle. The bottled version is a DIPA at 10% ABV: http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/13839/31323

By: William Brand

William Brand — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 05:55:40 +0000

Thanks for the comment Shaun.

By: William Brand

William Brand — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 05:42:40 +0000

I don’t know about spice. Don’t think anything’s added. It is the same yeast. They adjusted the water. Interesting comments. I’ll ask Shawn. b

By: easong

easong — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 03:39:06 +0000

I find the Brew Free IPA to have a floral essence suggesting Indian spice — a little clove or cinnamon — whereas the 21A IPA has a crisp dry hoppiness without the spice, with a would guess an overriding citrus rind, which is why I love West Coast-style IPA including 21A. And especially Double Trouble. I bet Cold Springs is using softer water (less gypsum salt) and the same yeast is having it’s own way.

By: Shaun

Shaun — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 20:11:47 +0000

The recipes are identical at the 21A on 2nd Street and the beer brewed in Cold Spring, Minnesota. I’ve been back to Cold Spring 10 times in the last two months working closely with their brewmaster and changing processes in their brewery to closely mimic the procedures in San Francisco. I love those direct flights to MSP from SFO on Northwest. We have noticed subtle differences in the batches between the two breweries and with the next round of brewing I’ll be making those changes. Any time you ramp up the recipe size to a larger brew system there is always going to be an adjustment period during the beginning brews. Every brewery has dealt with that issue when changing systems and brewing on a newer larger system. Cold Spring Brewery offers us some great economies that we could never achieve doing it on our own The cost of a world class canning line, a laboratory to check every process, every step of the way. Is something Nico and I could never do on our own. It’s really a phenomenal experience and I get to do what I want with the beers.

It’s exciting times at the 21A. The beer has been well received and craft beer is getting it’s due and being put in a great package, the can, which protects it from the environment (light and air) better than bottles, 70% of cans are recycled and they are obviously lighter and more portable.

Thanks for the comment.

Cheers,

Shaun O’Sullivan
Brewmaster/Founder
21st Amendment Brewery

By: William Brand

William Brand — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 17:44:19 +0000

It’s the same beer as far as I know. But the beer in cans at BevMo, with the name Brew Free or Die! IPA, is made at Cold Springs Brewing, Cold Springs, MN. They’re identical, Shaun says. In fact, they worked long and hard to be sure they’re the same. I haven’t tasted them side by side. To do that, I guess I;d have to go to 21st Amendment. That sounds like a pleasant adventure, doesn’t it. heh. heh.

By: easong

easong — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 16:19:52 +0000

Sorry I missed it. Last time I had Hop 15 was at the double IPA fest, I guess they tamped it down a little.

By the way, 21A IPA from 21st Amendment is only available at the brewery, to my knowledge. What is sold in cans is Brew Free or Die IPA, brewed under contract to Cold Spring Brewing of MN. It is very tasty but is quite different than the 21A. Of course the shelf life of a good IPA is limited when stored unrefrigerated, as at Bevs and More — thus Vinnie will not sell his Russian River there. For IPA that is treated more respectfully I recommend City Beer SF Ledgers Berkeley.