Beer Obsessed: Beer and Brewing Journal

We are happy to add Scott Cramlet to our list of Brewmasters that we will be recording interviews with this weekend. So far we have:
Nick Campbell – Blue Frog Grog and Grill
Todd Ashman – Fifty Fifty Brewing Co.
Scott Cramlet – Rubicon Brewing Co.

Brian Ford of Auburn Alehouse wrote us back and said he is recovering from surgery and that he may not be able to make it. Hopefully we catch up with him but more importantly, we wish Brian a speedy recovery.
I am waiting on confirmation on one or more interviews.

Other news:
While reporting in some earlier entries that Oskar Blues has been showing up here and there in the East Bay, I am now convinced that they have taken the area by storm. Check the low quality phone pic I took yesterday in Andronico’s…..a full aisle end display of Oskar Blues cans! Not only Gordon, Dale’s, and Old Chub, but Mama’s Little Yella Pils as well. What about the Ten Fidy?!?
I’m happy about this, trust me. I just couldn’t help to think how much I would love to see more local breweries with beer in cans. I know there are a lot of logistics and cost involved with this and I know many are thinking about it. Along with 21st Ammendment’s Hell or High Water Wheat and Brew Free or Die IPA (both excellent beers) and Ukiah Brewing’s small scale canning of their pilsner (available in Ukiah only as far as I know) we need more cans!
Oh and hey David Jenson (beer47.com), I did get back to Gordon after my cold. Boy was I stuffed up. I reported that I smelled nothing but admitted to having a cold. I’d have to say that Gordon is now my favorite out of the Oskar lineup. Great hop aroma that carries through in to the taste. Big malt and mouthfeel to back it up. Well balanced. Hop aroma has some interesting qualities to it but the site says it is all amarillo dry hopped. They do mention a resiny aroma…hmmmm. All good as far as I go. I’ll be drinking more soon!

these beauties are local and waiting for you to pop their top!

Somtimes I get out of the loop on things. I guess it happens when you are a parent. The last thing I heard about Oskar Blues being on the west coast was from Bill Brand (RIP) a couple/few months back when he mentioned that they were now distributing to Sacramento County. Well I don’t have the news that says what changed since then and why  it is in Alameda County but I suppose it doesn’t matter. We have it. I guess the deal went out beyond Sacramento.
I received emails and a comment below that Oskar Blues cans are out there. Comment from Brian:
“just had an Oskar Blues Gordon Ale…good stuff and beer of the month selection at Plumb Jack in San Francisco.”
The same source told me that he has also seen them at Star Market in Oakland.

From an email that was sent to me:
“Also the liquor store closest to my house Lincoln Square liquors has recently changed management. He’s now selling Ol’ Chub and their pale ale. Which I bought for the super bowl and was fantastic.”
Lincoln Square I believe is located off of Highway 13 at Redwood Rd. ….on the east side of the freeway is the shopping area.

And then there was my experience listed in the entry right below. On top of that, I visited Ledgers Liquors in Berkeley (first time in a while) and they had all three flavors of Oskar Blues in the can. I purchased what I could.

My quick notes:
Dale’s Pale Ale – A bold pale ale with a hop and stong malt aroma. The malt didn’t carry into the taste or perhaps was overtaken by the assertive hop bitterness that carries thorugh into the aftertaste. Drinkable and great for hop heads.
Old Chub – My favorite so far. My first can was great and I enjoyed all of its malt bomb glory from aroma to aftertaste. My second can (on a later date), I caught a lot of fruity esters and thought I was drinking a Belgian for a second. Hmmmm. My third can Brought me back to Scotch ale land as I started to detect some soil/earthiness to the taste telling that yes this is a scotch ale. Really looking forward to a fourth can so that I can either reaffirm any of the above or come up with some new tastes…whatever, I will be trying it again.
Gordon – what can you say to a 8.7 ABV beer that is in the can? Hell yeah. I didn’t get a lot out of this beer aroma or taste-wise (my assumption was that there would be a lot given the ABV). To be honest, I had a cold and I needed a night cap. I look forward to trying this one again so that I can give it a fair review.

Overall, very happy to see more beers available in cans!