Norte Brewing Company: Brewery in the Sky

After spending time visiting the breweries of Ensenada and visiting the Plaza Fiesta in Tijuana containing numerous breweries in one location, I went searching for my last stop. It was Norte Brewing company or as I now call it: "Brewery in the Sky.".The brewery was located in downtown Tijuana but we couldn't find it. The lack of street signs was one problem, poor directions was another and, honestly, I don't think some people knew what a craft brewery was. We were constantly being told that it was next to a particular building but it would have been easier if people were just a little bit more specific.After looking for it for an hour, I was standing next to a grocery and my companion was trying to get a bead on its location. Finally, a man in front of a panaderia said to go across the street to the parking structure, take the elevator to the fifth floor, take a left and you will find the brewery.I was willing to try anything; I was getting thirsty

Looking from the brewery towards the car park

The brewery looks very modern inside with classic bar tables and stools and it was dark being later in the evening. What must be one of the most spectacular views of Tijuana opened up before us. I thought, OK, this is first stop on a date or maybe a last stop on a date. It would definitely impress I think, if it were not for the parking garage right outside the door. It was a fitting and amazing finish to our journey down to the breweries of Baja, Mexico.

In Portland, Oregon, McMenimans, one of the original Oregon breweries, buys closed down high schools and old folks homes and places tap houses, movie theaters and hotels inside of them. To me, Norte and breweries like Border Psycho were doing things just as creative by  Keeping Beer Weird. To summarize the journey, I thought the Mexican brewery strengths were in the Pale Ales which to me seemed better flavored than their American counterparts. In Mexico, I think of drinking something refreshing and they delivered on that account. I thought their IPA's in general could have been stronger and their Stouts more robust. Border Psycho had the top Mexican beer with its use of the chili that reminded so well of the local surroundings.I can still feel the burn in my throat. I needed to see more of that. Malmut Brewery had the best beer, a porter, consistent from start to finish with almost a caramel hint and it was simply called "Porter."


I've got my eye on a possible future trip to Chihuahua or Mexico city and maybe a return to Portland.So go psycho and visit the craft breweries across the border. I'm sure you'll be pleasantly rewarded.

Looking from the cars into the breweries

Is This Heaven: South from Aquamala to Tijuana

      My last stop on this Sunday, after visiting Cerveceria Transpeninsular and Wendlandt Breweries, was Aquamala Brewery. It was small but crowded and noisy yet trendy. Of all the breweries visited so far, I would say the majority of customers were not tourist but mostly locals. A twenty-something crowd of men and women inhabited Aquamala with women dressed in their Sunday best out enjoying conversations and an afternoon out with their friends

      Aquamala, of the three breweries visited, served fusion Tapas to match their beer which were of a high quality and blended well with the brews I tasted. I had the shrimp and marlin spring roles which were flaky and mouth watering and hit the spot after quite an eventful and busy first day. The view of the ocean was distant but spectacular as were the other two breweries I had visited earlier.I called it a day and looked forward to returning to TJ to visit the breweries that were located yesterday.I capped off the night by visiting and Irish pub in Ensenada. I ordered a Guinness and they said they were out. I'll leave it at that.


Tijuana
      The Plaza Fiesta in central TJ was a craft brewery area that was small and quaint and a beer drinkers dream. This place must be cranking on a Fri/Sat night.Two narrow for cars, the alleyways separated at least 5 craft breweries. When tasting was complete at one, five yards across the alley was another unique drinking experience.  A few breweries had not opened yet like Cerveceria Insurgente which I was looking forward to but Border Psycho and Mamut Brewery were serving some great suds. Border Psycho is simply going to do this craft brewery thing their own way and the images inside caught my attention instantly upon walking in. They definitely march to the beat of
their own drum. Border Psycho served "Chilipa," a beer whose aroma and flavor are pale and caramel malts, citrus, with a moderate bitterness, and solid pepper spice that gradually builds. This was the Mexican beer


that left a nice pepper spot in my throat at the end of each taste. I felt from this beer that I had made it to Mexico. I'm glad to hear that Border Psycho, Cerveceria Transpeninsular will be able to make it to the Huntington Beach Beer Festival next weekend and will be looking forward to seeing them again.

Next Post: Parking Structure Roof Location a Real Convenience for Norte Brewing Co, Tijuana

Mexico 1 to Wendlandt: Lose Yourself in View and Brew

      Many people have headed down Mexico 1 over the years but until fairly recently they haven't had the pleasure of stopping along the way at a craft brewery. I recently finished my review of Cerveceria Transpeninsular and will head on down the road slightly farther north along the coast highway to visit Wendlandt and Aquamala breweries.


      Wendlandt will be easy for most travelers to find because its marked with a clear green sign just prior to entering Ensenada as if it were some sort of historical landmark. With the tough time I was having finding these breweries, and even with my Mexican companion, I almost could not believe a brewery could be marked so clearly, so of course I drove right by it. The host at Transpenisular graciously provided me a Baja brewery map, straitened me out and put me on course to Wendlandt where we settled in for our next flight of brews. 
Compared to the other breweries in Mexico, Wendandt was rustic and reminded my more of the breweries in the OC where one sits and drinks  while watching beer being made completely surrounded by cylinders. After drinking the flight, I got the impression that the IPA's were not the big deal in Mexico but the pale ales and the porters were where I should be focused. If your traveling to Mexico in the warm summer sun; it makes sense to look for enjoyable refreshing tastes to get into the spirit and I think that where the strengths of Mexican beer lie for the most part. At Wendstandt, I started with the lighter, more citrus and fruity tastes but saved the my favs, the IPA and Stout's for last. But I realized I was taking the lighter brews for granted and my companion recommended I save the less hoppy beers for last so that I could savor them more.I drank the lighter hopped brews and after my second tastes, I began to appreciate their mild, consistent hints of fruitiness from start to finish and I became more opened minded towards them during the trip. Gracias, Mexico.

      
      While I was enjoying the beer, I looked out from the patio, accessed by stairs, above the brewery that presented m with one of the most beautiful ocean views I had ever seen. This from a guy who grew up in the So Cal and lived in Hawaii for eight years. We could not be much closer to the beach with out actually being on the sand. I though to myself if I lived in Ensenada, I would come here every day after work to be refreshed in thirst and spirit.The Zomer Saison, the Vaquita Marina Pale ale with their light fruit and citrus hints of flavor did it for me. With the Vera Nega Mexican ale I thought I was closed to finding my quissesential Mexican beer and it was close, but I was still on the search the craft brew piece of Mexico that I can bring back with and deposit it my memory. I didn't want to leave my vista but onward we go, slightly south, not quite into Ensenada, to Aquamala (Jellyfish) Brewery

Stay tuned

Route 1- Mexico

      As I continue my journey sampling the best brews the world has to offer, I recently headed down Mexico Route 1 and thought I would see what Ensenada and Tijuana had to offer. It was a beautiful sunny weekend with cool ocean breezes which was a welcome break from the rare humidity that I was experiencing in my Orange County hub. The plan was to find breweries in Tijuana first, stay the night in Ensenada and check out their local scene on Monday. Unfortunately, most of TJ's breweries were closed on Sunday and so with the winds on our backs we headed south. This is the beginning of a series of entries of my visit to craft breweries in Baja,Mexico. Stay tuned as I review each of my experiences.

Trying to find the breweries in TJ and Enseneada was initially a chore. Even with my Spanish speaking companion, and GPS, we were still being lead to one deadend after another. I have no problem if a brewery is hard to find:: its the way I like it. But I was starting to have doubts whether I would taste craft beers any time soon. Problem number one was Mexico isn't exactly into posting street signs or street numbers. Problem number two was many of the people we asked didn't know what a craft brewery was. Another issue was the breweries opens on Mexican time. It may say the brewery opens at 11am but that can actually mean 4 pm. Finally, some breweries don't list their phone numbers which really can make things difficult.

       On the way from TJ, we took a drive through of the resort town of Rosarito and continued on to the restaurant, bar area called Puerto Nuevo for lunch. After arriving in Ensenada, we found ourselves on another wild goose chase as we had been initially in TJ. Finally, when we got a hold of one Craft brewery, the worker told us he didn't know his address but gave us some landmarks to help guide our way. I felt like I was back in the Navy again doing some Dead Reckoning to ascertain my position so I figured I had a shot at finding the place.

The first brewery we made to was Cerveceria Transpeninsular. The brews were solid but most of all I was thirsty. The brewery had a nice casual interior with multiple reminders on the walls of the journey many travelers taken down down Mexico through the years. It would somewhat like if a brewery in the states had a Route 66 theme. I was a modern tasting room with  palm trees that penetrated the building and then left the room through the roof which was kinda cool. It had an upstairs loft with an inside patio and a small area for outside seating with a beautiful view of the Ensenada harbor. The staff was awesome, who described in detail the brews in the flight we ordered and then they provided a map of all the craft breweries in Ensenada. Exactly what we were looking for and we were on our way. Cerveceria was one of the most spacious and comfortable tasting rooms on the journey and I highly recommend it with its location slightly North of Ensenada Proper.

Stay tuned for the next entry on Baja Craft Breweries

Best 5 Current Beers

        Sam the Common Man is a Craft Brew drinking buddy of mine. He is a Palestinian from Kuwait who discovered the beer drinking culture while he was attending university on the East Coast. He's back again with his unique insights and latest words of wisdom about the craft brewing culture in the OC.

Question: Sam, what are the 5 best current beers that you've tasted? (Reverse Order)

#5 Taipo - Phantom Ale
Smooth and easy IPA. This calls for simplicity; it reminds me of the KISS method. (Keep It Simple Stupid), it always works. It can't get simpler and tastier than this. You can always top it off with some buffalo wings and experience the mix and fulfilling taste that will make you ask for more. I mean more Taipo, of course. When you drink this, you discover life telos... "its turtles all the way down!" You know what I mean.

# 4 Aurora Hoppyalis - Karl Strauss Brewery
San Diego Style IPA - refreshing, mosaic and citra hops. Excellent flavor of tropical fruits and tangerine that lingers through out the rest of your day or evening. If you are ever in doubt, kick it up a notch with a pint of Aurora. And then you can contemplate the sky. That's all you need for your evening. And I mean it.


#3 Donate And A Half - Noble Ale Works
Pineapple and Peach. Super hop and hazy, Oh, I also meant crazy with citrus aroma. Refreshing and satisfying taste. Here you can enjoy your drink and feel good about it. I just wish it wasn't a seasonal brew but it is called "ALES for ALS because when you drink it you support research for treatment of the disease ALS. No guilt, no worries. Super!!!

#2 Double Actuator - Double IPA - Bottle Logic Brewing
Pours a clear to slightly hazy, coppery orange with moderate carbonation. Malt-driven and tropical: I like the two-fingers of foam on the top. And the carbonation make it the perfect sip. The smell is bursting with a mix of orange, grapefruit, pine and caramel malt. This combination will give you the warm feel you will always remember from the days ahead and it you can't remember come back for this amazing brew to keep your memory fresh.

The Best .
#1 Big Whig IPA -  Noble Ale Works
Nice and Hoppy, to make you happy. Its clear and medium bodied, and gold in color. Amazing aroma that brightens the room. The taste is tangerine and herbs. Excellent! You taste the honey and rosemary that come together well with a slight bitter finish. I learn to lose myself so effortlessly in enjoying this drink that at times I believed I was not drinking it but absorbing it.

Beerorbit's Top Three 1. Sculpin IPA - Ballast Point 2. Naughty Sauce Coffe Stout - Noble Ale Works 3. Swiss Vanilla Stout - Phantom Ale

Written by Sam the Common Man
Edited by Beerorbit

Beer Styles

I've been tasting some creative styles lately and I needed a review. Maybe others do as well. Which style is your favorite?

Sours - Sour beer is beer which has an intentionally acidic, tart or sour taste. The most common sour beer styles are Belgian: lambics, gueuze and Flanders red ale

Mead is an alcoholic beverage created by fermenting honey with water, sometimes with various fruits, spices, grains, or hop

Saison is a pale ale that is generally around 7% ABV, highly carbonated, fruity, or spicy

Cider is an alcoholic beverage made from the fermented juice of apples or other fruits. The addition of sugar or extra fruit before a second fermentation increases the alcoholic content of the resulting beverage.

India pale ale (IPA) is a hoppy beer style within the broader category of pale ale. The term pale ale originally denoted an ale that had been brewed from pale malt.[2] Among the first brewers known to export beer to India was George Hodgson's Bow Brewery. Bow Brewery beers became popular among East India Company traders in the late 18th century because of the brewery's location near the East India Docks and the beer's ability to maintain its flavor on long journeys

Stout is a dark beer made using roasted malt or roasted barley, hops, water and yeast. Stouts were traditionally the term for the strongest porters. There are a number of variations including milk stout, and imperial stout; the most common variation is dry stout, exemplified by Guinness Draught

Stay Tuned for more styles coming soon!

Underground Brewing Company: San Luis Obispo

     I go to San Luis Obispo to leave California. You can never complain about the weather in SoCal but if you want to look for a little character, history and charm, you sometimes have to dig deep. Most cities in Southern California have their old towns but their hard to find and when you do find them you better not blink your eye or you just might find your self in 1950's suburbia or in a cookie cutter new tract development. San Luis Obispo is so non-California that, when I'm there, I always feel that I'm in Oregon..

     I went to the SLO Brewing company maybe 15 or 20 years ago when it felt that craft brews were just getting their footing. I remember the big deal at the time was to have a yard of beer. They had to be drinking Bud because I'm not,nor could I chug a Craft beer that I respect too much. I stopped by there again and I guess the word was out and the place was over flowing, mostly, I'd say with Cal State SLO students. I needed to find some place new, quick and nearby as I had to head back to the OC headquarters fairly soon. SLO has an amazing downtown. Its seemed like a pub or restaurant was in every other shop which reminded me a lot of the pubs in Ireland. I headed toward the beautiful creek that runs behind Old Town and stumbled upon Underground Brewing Company, a newer brewery. The brewery was the last store front just before arriving at the creek and its location, which sits above the creek, couldn't have been more perfect..

     The Brewery was modern in decor for sure, not as rustic or as laid back as many breweries that I enjoy. This establishment had a view of the lush green creek side that made me take a double take as I now thought I was back in Hawaii where I had lived for eight years. There were six people in the brewery including the owners and their son who seemed to be training to pour and inform guests of their latest creation. It was quiet, picturesque and I wasn't going straight for a pint this time as usual; I was going to taste and ordered a Flight of eight brews including 2 German style Grolsch, four  IPA's a coffee stout and a Pomegranate cider. As well documented, I'm an IPA guy and they did not disappoint.. While they were mild and satisfying, I always attend to the one with the greatest hops and maltiness. The first IPA style beer that I ever feasted on was an original Samuel Adams with its saltiness just doing something for me.I 'm always searching for a great coffee stout and while the Undergrounds was solid, I want the java flavor balanced and lasting without being overwhelming and I felt this one gave out on me a little too soon.

    I just watched Anthony Bourdain on Netflix, visiting a friend in Hamburg, Germany and drinking Kolsch in a style I found interesting. They drank it as if it were a shot of whiskey which apparently is the typical German tradition with this style.. I went for it on both and was not disappointed. I had visited Solvang, a town nearly completely decored in traditional Danish architecture earlier in the day and sampled a German brew. I sometimes find Germans beers lacking in punch but I admit I'm not an expert yet.As I encounter more, I'm beginning to find the best and I'm slowly warming up to them and The Underground presentation of Grolsch is keeping the momentum going for me.

     This is a great place to visit to get away from it and relax if you don't want the crowds; but hurry, maybe word of the Underground hasn't made it to the rest of this college town as of yet.

Interview with Sam: the Common Man Beer Drinker

         As I continue my search for amazing beers, I enjoy talking to people about their experiences with craft breweries and their favorite brews. The following interview is with a friend of mine, Sam, who has a unique story to tell.

BO: Your not exactly the kind of person I would think would be a beer aficionado but you've been to quite a few different breweries. Being a Palestinian, from Kuwait, and coming from a culture of non-beer drinkers, what was your first experience with drinking beer?

Sam: I've always been open minded. I went to a university on the East Coast. Everybody was drinking beer there and I was curious like any other college student. Of course, back then people were drinking standards, Bud, Miller, etc. There were no craft breweries back then.I didn't like beer the first time I tried it.

BO: So later, you must have got used to it. When did you find out about craft breweries?

Sam: Back on the East Coast, and this was a number of years ago, I knew of craft beers that were sold in various bars and establishments but I don't recall seeing any craft breweries anywhere back there.

BO: So where did you experience your first craft brewery and how often do you go?

Sam: In California. Noble Ale Works in Anaheim was the first craft brewery I'd ever been to. Now, I typically go to the craft brewery at least twice a week.

BO: Have you been to other breweries in the local area?

Sam:  I've been to Bootleggers, Phantom Ales, The Bruery, Bruery Terreux, Golden Road and Bottle Logic.

BO: Do you have a favorite brewery?

Sam: Bottle Logic and Noble are my favorites. No weak beers that I can find on the menu. Bruery Terreuz focuses on Sours. They're creative but that's not my style.

BO: So tell me, what beers are your favorites?

Sam: I mostly stick to the IPA because I like a hoppy beer but, occasionally I go for a change a pace, maybe a stout or a softer ale. At Noble Ale, Big Whig is my favorite, an IPA with a citrus start and strong from start to finish. I like the Double Actuator at Bottle Logic Brewery and Hoppy Alis at Karl Straus.


BO: Why not just go to a Sports bar, Taphouse? Why do you hang out at the craft brewery?

Sam: I prefer the brewery because its casual> I can get up, walk around and talk to people. Nobody is checking on me or trying to move me from a booth. I can stand, sit, be informal and enjoy a beer in freedom. I've met so many people here because its easy to do so the way its set up; it's friendly.

BO: What else is different about the craft brewery?

Sam: Each brewery injects their own personality into the place. The atmosphere, the beer names, the props that some brewery's have that make them so unique. I like the creativity that each place has to offer.Every night there's a different food truck and the food trucks are creative too so it naturally supports the creative vibe of the brewery.

BO: Do you thin craft breweries will always be popular?

Sam: I think so just like I believe wine tasting is popular and art is popular.

BO: Last Question: Are craft breweries like rock bands? Some people accuse rock bands of selling out and commercializing: Does this apply to craft breweries? I mean you can get some craft brews in the supermarket.

Sam: I don't think so. Many of my favorite beers disappear. I always have to find my new favorite beer and discover my new favorite craft brewery. We're not talking about Bud and Miller here.

Keep Beer Weird

            In Portland, Oregon, where, arguably the craft brewery industry got its start in the United States, there is a well know sign downtown that reads "Keep Portland Weird." Portland is known for out of box thinkers, creative start ups and hipster culture. It makes sense that craft brew would gain a foothold, grow and eventually spread its influence to other parts of the country from this Northwest hub.. Unusual beers and niche brewery atmospheres have popped up through out the country taking creativity in the beer business to higher and higher levels with no end in sight. And as craft breweries gain further popularity as a sidekick to mainstream culture, one thing remains important: to never forget, to Keep Beer Weird."
In California, I've had the pleasure of taking numerous friends to the local breweries in Northern Orange County and, in most cases, my guests told me that they never knew these breweries existed. No billboards advertising their existence or bold signs in neon inviting visitors in for a jar Maybe a chance encounter with the bottle version distributed to a private or public setting could have been had, but, for carft breweries, in most cases, word of mouth is the only beckon for new and experienced craft brewery customers. What to many is just a warehouse or supply business in a business district to others is the opportunity to experience of some of the best beers ever created.
Craft Breweries are the new modern meeting place. A natural networking environment. A place to meet friends and to talk to strangers in an informal and casual environment. Inside, you may be greeted by stools, long wood or and barrel tables which encourage conversation with others while taking in the works of a modern craft brewery. The 20 and 30 something crowd with hipsters mixed in are gathered conversing about their jobs or universities or about the diverse flavors and their favorite beers. Maybe a tv will be inside showing the current sporting event or maybe not. Board games like Scrabble or Jenga may be available for one's entertainment or in some cases it may be trivia night drawing the larger than normal crowds.
As for food, no grub produced here because their is one thing being created here and that beer and beer solely. If you want food you can go to the Tap house or local pub. In the craft brewery you are encouraged to bring food in from your favorite restaurant or choose the cuisine form the daily assigned food truck coincidentally providing their greatest creations as well. The greatest thing about the craft brewery is that they are each unique in their own way with their own simple personality, character and vibe in which one can not only search out their must have beer but encounter a brewery atmosphere that appeals to their own personality. For those, who have had the craft brewery experience, carry on, and make your own contribution to this increasing trendy industry and make sure to keep beer weird. And to those, yet to experience this culture: I hope you enjoy the ride and the beer.

Spanish Version

En Portland, Oregón, donde, sin duda, la industria de la cervecería artesanal tuvo su inicio en los Estados Unidos, hay un anuncio muy conocido en el centro de la ciudad que dice "Keep Portland Weird". Portland es conocido por personas fuera de lo común y originales, creativos e iniciadores y por su cultura hipster. Tiene sentido que en el arte de fabricar cerveza artesanal (craft brew)  ganaría el inicio de, crecer y finalmente, difundir su influencia a otras partes del país de este eje del noroeste. Las cervezas inusuales y la atmosfera en las cervecerías han aparecido a través del país ofreciendo creatividad en el arte y negocio de la cerveza a niveles más altos con un sin fin de posibilidades. Así  las cervecerías artesanales ganan más popularidad como un icono de la cultura dominante, una cosa sigue siendo importante: nunca olvidar, para mantener cerveza extraña (keep beer weird) .

En California, he tenido el placer de llevar a numerosos amigos a las cervecerías locales en el norte del condado de Orange y, en la mayoría de los casos, mis invitados me dijeron que nunca sabían que existían estas cervecerías. No hay billboards que anuncien su existencia o anuncios llamativos o en neón que invitan a clientes a disfrutar un tarro de cerveza en un encuentro casual,  con la versión de una botella distribuida en un ambiente privado o público como seria en la  mayoría de los casos con las fábricas de cerveza.

La recomendación de boca a boca es la única señal para nuevos y experimentados clientes de cervecería artesanal. Lo que para muchos es sólo un almacén o bodega en una zona industrial para otros es la oportunidad de experimentar algunas de las mejores cervezas jamás creadas.

Cervecerías Artesanales (Craft Breweries) es el nuevo lugar de reunión moderno. En un entorno de relajado y natural. Un lugar para reunirse con amigos y hablar con extraños en un ambiente informal y casual. En el interior, puede ser recibido por bancos de madera, mesas largas, tablas y barriles que animan la conversación con los demás, mientras teniendo alrededor la maquinaria de una cervecería artesanal moderna. Jóvenes entre veinte y treinta mezclados con hipsters se reúnen a conversar sobre sus trabajos o universidades o sobre los diversos sabores de sus cervezas favoritas. Tal vez encontraras una televisión dentro sintonizando el actual evento deportivo o tal vez no. Juegos de mesa como Scrabble o Jenga pueden estar disponibles para su entretenimiento o en algunos casos puede ser noche de trivia atrayendo multitudes más grandes que lo normal.

En cuanto a la comida, no siempre hay cocina porque la única cosa que se está creando aquí es la cerveza únicamente. Si quieres comida puedes ir a un Tap  House o a un Pub local. En las cervecería Artesanales se les anima a traer comida de su restaurante favorito o comprar comida del Food Truck en donde también puedes encontrar originalidad en alimentos asignados diariamente coincidiendo con grandes creaciones también. Lo más importante de la cervecería artesanal es que cada uno es único a su manera con su personalidad, carácter y ambiente en la que uno no sólo puede disfrutar cerveza si no que debe tener y encontrar una atmósfera de cerveza que apela a su propia personalidad. Para aquellos, que han tenido la experiencia de la Cervecería Artesanal es seguir adelante, y hacer su propia contribución a esta creciente industria de moda y asegúrese de mantener la cerveza extraña. Y para aquellos, que experimentan esta cultura: Espero que disfruten el ambiente y su cerveza favorita.