July is hopping!
July is American Beer Month, a designation originally intended, of course, to shine a light on all the great beers being brewed here. I think it’s safe to say that American beer no longer needs any help touting its tastiness. The only excuse you need these days to drink a cool American-made beer is thirst — but here’s what’s new out there.
A third Refuge
Refuge, the Belgian beer bar and Jewishstyle deli in San Carlos and Menlo Park, has just opened its eagerly awaited third location in San Mateo. If you’re looking for something a little less hoppy and a lot more Belgian, this is the place for you. That’s not to say you won’t be able to find an IPA, but the menu is very diverse and boasts an above-average list of Belgian and Belgian-style beers.
And the menu features great pastrami sandwiches, along with burgers, Philly-style cheesesteaks and eclectic dishes, such as its Goofy Fries — topped with Refuge cheese sauce and pastrami — and poutine. Find the newest taproom at 66 31st Ave. in San Mateo; refugesc.com.
Homebrew honors
The American Homebrewers Association held a virtual Homebrew Con last month — in lieu of its typical annual convention — with an awards list that included some very familiar names. Walnut Creek’s home brew club, DOZE or the Diablo Order of Zymiracle Enthusiasts, was named homebrew club of the year, and more than a dozen Bay Area homebrewers won individual medals. Among them, Worts of Wisdom member Jeff Klatt of San Bruno won a gold medal for his Pilsner. Andrew Simsak, from the San Francisco Homebrewer’s Guild, won gold for his Specialty IPA. And Concord resident Pavel Anismov, a member of DOZE, won a gold medal in the specialty cider and perry category. Check out all the winners at the AHA website, bit.ly/homebrewcon21.
New sips
Alameda’s Faction Brewing, whose recently expanded patio hours mean you can now take in those bay views Wednesday-Sunday, has released two new brews. The Cooler Mango IPA is an imperial IPA that weighs in at 8.7% alcohol by volume and is brewed with Amarillo, Mosaic and Galaxy hops plus some mango puree. It’s available now in 16-ounce cans.
Look, too, for Hella Strata, a 4.7% ABV German-style Helles brewed with Strata hops. The newer hop variety is known for its strawberry flavors and notes of melon and bubblegum.
Santa Cruz’s Humble Sea Brewing, which opened a new Pacifica taproom last week, has released a new West Coast pale ale called Lady in Shred, that’s unfiltered and brewed with Citra and Vic Secret hop varieties. Also new from Humble Sea is Shreddie Van Halen, an 8.1% ABV foggy double IPA brewed with Galaxy, Motueka and El Dorado hop varieties. Both are available now in 16-ounce cans.
And Fort Bragg’s North Coast Brewing is bringing two new versions of its iconic Old Rasputin Imperial Stout, one aged in bourbon barrels and another in rye whiskey barrels. This year’s edition — XXIII — is being sold in 12-ounce four-packs. While you’re at it, check out its other recent release: Foggy Day IPA is their take on a hazy IPA.
Beerventures
While we wait for the return of the big beer festivals, the online Beer Advocate is hosting a virtual celebration of lagers on Aug. 20-21 that it’s dubbed Lager Fest. To taste along, you’ll need to order a 12-pack of different lager beers at beeradvocate.com/lager by July 22. In addition to the lagers, the tasting kit ($100) includes tasting glasses and access to live hangout sessions, private discussion forums and pre- and post-Zoom parties.
Downtown Los Altos is hosting an in-person Beer Stroll on July 23. You can stroll Main Street, enjoy live music and sample craft beer from 6 to 9 p.m. Find tickets ($30-$40) and details at the Downtown Los Altos website, bit.ly/LosAltosBS21.
And Lagunitas Brewing thinks you should celebrate your canine best friend with a party. Dogs have always been man’s (and woman’s) best friend — but never more so than during the pandemic lockdown. So to thank all those pups, Lagunitas Brewing is offering to help 100 beer lovers host a Doggy Boondoggle with a party starter pack that includes a $300 gift card for Lagunitas beer and supplies, Mason jar glassware and swag for your dog. Check out the contest terms at lagunitas.com/story/dogparty. You have until July 23 to upload a video to Instagram or Twitter and register the link at the Lagunitas website. Winners will be announced in August, just in time for International Dog Day, and the brewery is donating
$20,000 to the Best Friends Animal Society.