From Alpine Brewing:

“Gather ‘round while I tell you a story about and ale called “Ichabod.” Well, it was about 18 months ago by my recon. We just completed our brewery expansion when we hurried to make our annual fall specialty, “Ichabod 2009.” When time came to get the barrel aged pumpkin spiced elixir ready for bottling we discovered it just wasn’t ready. So, we had no such beer last year. But, we had another 12 months to age this special ale and it will be released on Saturday, October 30th, when doors open. “Ichabod 2009” is a lightly sour, tart pumpkin, cinnamon and nutmeg ale aged in a mix of red and white wine barrels 1.5 years. Available in 22 oz. bottles only, we’ll only have one keg for the pub, so no growlers. Two heads are better than none…”

From Manzanita Brewing:

“Our second batch of Pumpkin ale is going strong in the fermenting tank.”

And will reportedly be ready in just a few weeks.

So if you’re like me and not too into the Pumpkin Ales but enough to both try something new and support the locals, then head over there and “Get Some”.

“It is too early to declare the beginning of summer.  True, the days are getting longer and the weather is heating up.  The mighty San Diego Padres are, indeed, gearing up for another stellar run at mediocrity.  But it’s not quite summer yet.  That means it’s not too late to pour a cask of huge, 10%ABV Stout at our Scripps Ranch taster bar.  The very last cask of the 2010 version of our infamous Sea Monster Stout will be tapped at 11am tomorrow, Thursday, March 25.  In addition to a small amount of cinnamon, oak chips which have been soaked in Ballast Point Spirits’ very own Three Sheets Rum were added directly to the cask.  This one has been mellowing for a few months, which is always a good thing for this type of brew, and it should be as good as it can get.   Come by and join us for a pint (or a half pint if you don’t have a designated driver).  Hope to see you all here.  Cheers!” – Ballast Point

You can count on me being there…

What do you think?

Scripps Ranch (map)

Linda Vista (map)

For tour and tap information visit www.ballastpointbrewingandspirits.com.

When: Today, November 11, 2009.

Where:  Ballast Point Brewery @ Scripps Ranch (map)

I’ve been wanting to try Mission’s offerings for quite sometime now and I hear they are bottling and distributing regularly.  But when I saw this post on the SD Brewers Guild site about Mission releasing a special collaboration IIPA I was super stoked.  Here’s the word from our friends over at SDBG:

“This is a special release of the Armada Imperial IPA, which is a collaboration brew that was created by Mission Brewery and Dean Rouleau of San Diego Brewing Co.  It is a Double IPA at 9.25% alcohol with big hops, big malt, and is deceptively smooth.  Only 20 kegs were produced, so visit one of the locations listed to try it.  Also, on Friday the 13th you can meet the brewers (Dean Rouleau, Brian Scott, and Geoff Killen) and taste Armada on tap at San Diego Brewing Co.  Cheers!”

Location: Pizza Port, Toronado, Hamiltons, Newport Pizza, O’Briens, The Ritual, Blind Lady, Stone, Neighborhood Bar, San Diego Brewing Company, and the Brewers Guild Fest starting November 6th

On Draft:

07’ Vertical Epic

08’ Vertical Epic

09’ Vertical Epic

Chipotle Smoked Porter

Mikkeller / Stone / Ale Smith Triple

Double Dry Hopped IPA

12th Anniversary Bitter Chocolate Oatmeal Stout

CASK – Vanilla Bean Smoked Porter tapped at 4pm

- Sublimely Self Righteous W/ Simcoe

Location: SD Tap Room 1269 Garnet Ave. San Diego, CA 92109 (map)

Starts: 11:00 AM

Beer of the Week - Don De Dieu

This weeks BOTW goes to Canadian Brewery, Unibroue whose beers I’ve seen plenty of times but for some reason never gave a shot.  This time around I was tipped off by friend, co-worker, classmate and fellow beer-mate Mr. Mike Knize whose beer geekness I’ve only recently discovered.

Mike had read the blog and gathered that our allegiance to local brews was solid and wondered if we ever/would ever venture out of San Diego and maybe try something different.  So I said, “what do you have in mind?”  He told me of this brewery up in Quebec that brewed some of that best strong ales around and hinted at a few of his favorites and well me being me, I head to the local bottle shop, forgetting Mike’s list, and I’m greeted with a four Unibroue beers.

Now the art on these labels is intense, there’s what looks like Noah’s Arc on one, a creepy castle on another and some other indescribable thing on another.   Now, without my list, I’m a bit lost and almost ready to head back to the locals area and pick up some tried and true SD favorites but I don’t.  Instead I grab for the Don De Dieu, partly because there’s a picture of Noah’s Ark and partly because I didn’t know what I was doing.

On to the review….

This pour goes into a tulip glass and immediately I am disappointed.  The head is sad and quickly disappears but the color is so pretty, almost like liquid gold and the smell begins to open up as I swirl the glass just under my nose.  Fruit, clove, maybe some nutmeg, it’s all coming out now and I can’t hold back any longer.  The first drink…..

My thoughts, as the first swig makes its way down are, “This beer is SO FREAKING GOOD!”  I’m ecstatic, I want my wife to try it and tell me she doesn’t see God because I do.  She says it’s surprisingly good and takes another before I swipe it away.  Delicious pear, clove and holiday spice in a tingle-y light, bubbly 9% brew it’s amazing and finishes my day, like everyday should, perfect.

Go get some!

Style:  Belgian Strong Pale Ale

ABV: 9%

Find it at BevMo! or HWC

Photo Credit: