One of the things I’ve missed most during COVID is trips to local breweries, so a few weeks ago after getting my vaccine I was ecstatic to make a stop at Institution Ale Company in Camarillo, California for a fresh pint to celebrate.

I saw an IPA on the menu that I hadn’t tried before, so I ordered the West Coast or Die IPA. It’s rare that I don’t enjoy an IPA, but when I took a sip of this one I had a major “OMG” moment. That IPA was fabulous!! And not only in a “I’m so excited to be having a beer at an actual brewery” way. The flavor profile of the beer was truly outstanding. I eagerly purchased a 4-pack of cans to take home to share with Tucker.

The West Coast or Die IPA is a West Coast style IPA made with California Ale yeast. It’s Mosaic, Simcoe, and Chinook hops sit on a backdrop of subtle tropical flavors. Institution uses Pale, Munich, and White Wheat malts to further influence the body of this brew, ultimately producing a perfectly balanced IPA with a deep golden hue that is hoppy, summery, and refreshing.

By the time I went back to Institution to get another few cans, I learned that this seasonal release had already sold out. Luckily I found a few cans at a nearby grocery store and I’m savoring those for now. I will definitely have my eye out for the re-release of the West Coast or Die IPA. Maybe if I’m lucky they will let me take home a keg for our kegerator!

If you haven’t visited Institution Ale Company in Camarillo, be sure to check them out. They have repurposed their parking lot to allow for lots of outdoor seating, and they have delicious pizza and soft pretzels made in-house to keep you satiated while you try their wide array of beers. Their beer menu boasts a wide range of styles no matter the time of year.

I’ve written about Institution Ale Company a few times before. Check out my kegerator post, Brut IPA review, Institution pairing suggestion with my Smoked Buffalo Drumsticks, and my shout out to Institution in my Craft Beer Around the World post!

I’m always looking for new breweries to try, and now that vaccines are rolling out it’s safer to pay them a visit. Let me know where else I should visit in the comments!

Hey there fellow sippers! It’s been a while, but Sips N Tips is back and ready to travel, eat, and drink the way through this new decade!

I thought I’d start with a little update on a new-to-us asset that has been “fueling” us for the past couple of months…

A kegerator!

Yes, I know, it seems excessive. But there’s a story behind the acquisition of this Kegerator that goes a little something like this:

1. Over the summer of 2019 we moved to a new home.
2. Naturally, a housewarming party was in order.
3. Naturally, a keg must accompany any good housewarming party.
4. BUT, not nearly enough of the keg was consumed that day, which meant days upon days of replenishing the keg bucket with ice to keep this poor, helpless beer chilled to the point of enjoyability.
5. The need to frequently replenish ice led to the excessive cost of ice, which led me to say something along the lines of “we should just invest in a kegerator”. To which my husband said, “that seems excessive”.
6. SO, I adjusted my initial statement to say something like, “If we happened to find a used kegerator within a 5-mile radius of our home for less than $150, then we should get a kegerator”. To which my husband obliged (probably with an eyeroll).
7. Defeated, I figured the chances of finding a kegerator with that criteria were slim-to-none. But I should at least open the LetGo app to check, right?
8. RIGHT! Because 3.5 miles from our home, someone was selling a lightly-used kegerator for $150. But it gets better—they dropped the price when we actually showed up to buy it due to a malfunctioning part (that Tucker quickly-but-silently diagnosed as fixable), making this kegerator the deal of a century.
9. It found its home along the beverage wall of our garage and was filled with its first keg just before Thanksgiving.
10. Now all it needs is a name…any suggestions?

Currently on the Kegerator Tap:

Institution IPA from Institution Ale Company in Camarillo, California. (I wrote about Institution here, too!) It’s their flagship beer, a West Coast IPA, filled with Columbus, Simcoe, Mosaic, and Centennial Hops and bursting with flavor and freshness in every sip. It rings in at 7.5% ABV and 65 IBU. It’s absolutely excellent on draft! There’s nothing quite like fresh beer…

Speaking of fresh beer, I’ve been thinking about (and reading about) trying my hand at homebrewing. Any experts out there have advice for starting that process? Maybe that will be the next batch of beer in the kegerator!

I’m also accepting other recommendations for kegs to try in the future…drop them in the comments below! Cheers, happy sipping, and happy 2020 friends.

Anyone familiar with the craft beer world has probably heard about Russian River’s flagship beer, Pliny the Elder. There’s an incredible amount of hype around this brew, so it was fitting that it be featured as one of my Sip of the Week posts.

I first had Pliny about a year ago when I visited Father’s Office bar in Santa Monica, California.

I was SO excited to see it on tap after hearing so much about this epic beer. Check out my full post about my trip to Father’s Office here…you’ll definitely want to read about one of the absolute best burgers in the entire USA.

Back to the beer!

Russian River Brewing Company originated in Santa Rosa, California. They specialize in super hoppy beers, and Pliny the Elder lives up to that reputation. Brewed with Amarillo, Centennial, CTZ, and Simcoe hops, this beer packs a punch with every sip. It runs at 8% ABV, and about $6 for an 18oz. bottle (based on my purchasing experience).

Once hard to come by outside of the Sonoma County location, Russian River has recently began distributing this flagship beer more frequently and to further geographic boundaries. In fact, I’ve been seeing it on menus at taprooms near me in Ventura County. I recently acquired a few bottles (and a pint on draft) from my favorite tasting room in the area, Bottle and Pint. Finally, I’m able to give a proper review of this beer as a result!

I stand by what I said the first time:

The immediate flavors that come through from this beer are those of citrus and citrus zest. My first thought every time I sip is that I get the flavor of lemon peel, backed by lots of hops. It’s light in color, refreshing in taste, and overall a pretty balanced beer, particularly when it is consumed fresh.

Speaking of fresh, be sure to drink your Pliny fresh.

And if you miss the memo the first time, you’re sure to find about 10 others. Here’s how (part of) the label reads:

“Respect your elder, keep cold, drink fresh. Do not age! Pliny the Elder is a historical figure, don’t make the beer inside this bottle one! Not a barley wine style ale. Age your cheese, not your Pliny! Respect hops, consume fresh! Does not improve with age! Hoppy beers are not meant to be aged! Keep away from heat! If you must, sit on eggs, not on Pliny! Do not save for a rainy day! Pliny is for savoring, not for saving! Consume Pliny fresh or not at all!”

Get the picture?

My overall review:

Pliny the Elder is definitely a good beer. You can’t go wrong with ordering one, especially if it’s on tap (my pint at Father’s Office is still my favorite!). While this beer is clearly highly prized, I will also say that I’ve had plenty other beers, IPAs especially, that rival Pliny in terms of quality and flavor profile. Looking at you, Madewest.

Pliny the Elder is what I would call a “unicorn” beer. It’s highly sought after, fairly rare (although becoming less-so), and hugely popular. But, does that mean it is worth the hype? That’s up to you to decide for yourself.

What’s your take on “unicorn” brews? Worth the hype? The price (especially for those $20+ bottles!)? Or, simply overrated? Let me know in the comments below!

For this week’s Sip of the Week, I’m taking you to another one of my favorite local breweries: Enegren Brewing Company.

Located in Moorpark, California, Enegren specializes in German-inspired beers with an emphasis on lager-styles. But this Sip of the Week departs from those light, crisp, refreshing lagers and transports you to a world of dark and toasty, complete with a hint of sweet maple syrup. Introducing: the Baltic Maple Porter!

Enegren Brewing Company was the first brewery I visited when I moved to Ventura County five years ago.

At that time their tasting room was tucked away in a shoebox-sized corner of an industrial park. I knew they were onto something good when, every time I visited, the place was packed to the brim. Fast-forward to early 2015, Enegren moved into their new beer hall just a few doors down from their old location. For anyone who has visited Bavaria, you’ll immediately recognize the long picnic-style table that adorns the middle of the tasting room, as well as hints of the traditional blue and white Bavarian checkered flag (formally referred to as lozenges, I believe). Between the friendly faces behind the bar and live music throughout the week, Enegren has created a family atmosphere that echoes that of a true German beer hall.

(P.S. Check out my post about tips for traveling to Germany here!)

You may notice on the can of Baltic Maple Porter that it is labeled as a lager beer. If that caught you by surprise, you’re not alone!

Many beer drinkers assume that lagers come in one form (the light, easy-to-drink on a summer day kind), when in reality the term “lager” refers to the process by which the beer is made.

Here’s a quick lesson:

There are two types of beer: lagers and ales. The main difference between these two styles is the type of yeast that is used in the brewing process.

The yeast used in ales is a top-fermenting yeast that ferments at warmer temperatures, leading to more robust, bold flavors in the end product. Some of the most common types of ales are IPAs (India Pale Ales), Pale Ales, Ambers, and Stouts.

Lagers, on the other hand, work with a bottom-fermenting yeast that ferments at significantly cooler temperatures. The fermentation process takes longer as a result, but the beer is considered more stable at these temperatures and maintains more subtle, crisp flavors as a result. Lagers are often considered more difficult to make since mistakes in the brewing process are more difficult to cover up with other flavors (i.e. hops, malt, etc.). Additionally, the brewing process is extended when lagering, which means the brewer must have the resources to allow for a lengthier brewing process. Some members of the lager family are bocks, pilsners, and dunkels.

If you want to read about the most epic lager I ever drank, click here!

All of this to say: Enegren’s Baltic Maple Porter is a lagered beer, meaning the fermentation took place at cooler temperatures, over a greater period of time. Better yet, this beer was lagered on sugar-maple wood spirals, giving it an additional layer of complexity in its flavor.

With each sip of this Baltic Maple Porter, you’ll taste a perfect balance of sweet maple and smoky flavors. This beer is only lightly carbonated (and claims to be naturally carbonated with the maple syrup!), making it an easy sipper. In my opinion, this sweet and roast-y porter is better than dessert and makes for a perfect nightcap.

The Details:

ABV: 9.1%

IBU: 50

Malt: German Pilsner, German Munich Dark, CaraMunich III, Beech Smoked Malt, Carafa Special II, Roasted Barley, Chateau Chocolate

Hops: Herkules, Willamette

And yes, it is made with real maple syrup!

Enegren recommends you serve this sip in a tulip glass or a stein. However you sip it, be sure to take in the aroma and flavor with every sip. This beer is a stand out and should not be missed!

Happy sipping!

I’m visiting a local favorite for my Sip of the Week this week: Five Threads Brewing Company in Westlake Village, California.

Located just off the 101 freeway halfway between Los Angeles and Santa Barbara, Five Threads is a perfect beer stop for the busy commuter or the weekend road warrior!

I had the privilege of chatting with owner and head brewer Tim Kazules during my recent visit to Five Threads, and learned all about his philosophy behind the brewing process and tasting room experience. I’ll be publishing a full post about my conversation with Tim later this week…consider this Sip of the Week your sneak peek!

After tasting through a selection of Tim’s brews, I knew I needed to feature the Five Threads Coconut Porter as my Sip of the Week.

Perfectly balanced in flavor with earthy oak and subtle hops, this Porter comes into its own after sitting on cocoa nibs and coconut for a full week during the brewing process. The result is a beer that warms you from the inside out, while leaving you with the refreshing sweetness of coconut on the nose and tongue.

Five Threads’ Coconut Porter is the best Porter I’ve tried in recent memory. It fits the bill on a chilly winter night or on warm summer evening. My first reaction to trying it was “Wow!”, because it is just that good. I can only describe the Coconut Porter as a beer of oxymorons: full-bodied yet light, earthy yet fruity, grounded yet fragrant, complex in flavor yet completely unified. You’ll want to order a second glass before you’ve even finished the first.

No room for improvement in this brew, Tim. You nailed this recipe!

Tim shared with me that the Coconut Porter is one of the most well-received beers in the tasting room. Built upon the Five Threads Pantry Porter recipe (which has particular sentiment for Tim…more on that to come in my next blog post!), the Coconut Porter has become a staple on the menu and is often requested by customers. A hop-lover myself, the Coconut Porter may well be my gateway beer to dark brews…I know I’ll have a hard time bypassing this sip on my next visit to Five Threads!

For those who love the details:

Style: Robust Porter

ABV: 7.2%

IBU: 45

Next time you find yourself passing through Westlake Village, stop in for a pint of Coconut Porter. It’s sure to please (as are all the other beers on the board!). You can find Five Threads Brewing Company at: 31133 Via Colinas Ste. 109 Westlake Village, CA 91362

Check back here on January 25, 2019 for my full writeup on my visit to Five Threads including my interview with “Head Thread” Tim Kazules and tasting notes on many of his beers!

Cheers!