BEERS 'BORN IN THE USA' 

On a recent educational to the West Coast of America I was introduced to a number of new words in the ever expanding vocabulary of the brewery world. (Or maybe that should read bleary world, depending on the percentage of alcohol content involved.)

Roughly in some order of discovery, there was 'Little Sumpin' from Lagunitas, handed to me by Gary on the very first evening. And I never looked back from there.

It should be stated I was already a big fan of new world hops (Cascade, Centennial & Columbus and other west coast varieties) that give the American IPA beers their hoppy flavours. 

The Lagunitas* brewery was up the road from San Francisco at Petaluma in Sonoma County, home to hundreds of wineries you've mostly not heard of - the more well known Napa Valley is slightly to the East - but I've strayed off liquids already! 

A different kind of Zymology (or Zymurgy: ' the workings of fermentation') a completely new term I was unfamiliar with and the name of the AHA "American Homebrewers Association" Magazine (more on that soon and tales of Pliny #.)

The next libation to intoxicate me was at the Drake's Dealership in Oakland, a former Dodge car dealership turned brewery where I was well and truly 'Denogginized'. Let me explain: Drake's Double IPA on draft is advertised as a hop monster and to brace yourself and "Hold on to your head"! And at 9.75% avb. it did blow mine, or at least two glasses did ! 

With my head back on straight stories of people queuing to sample beers at the Russian River brewery in Santa Rosa proved true, we didn't get in, so all I can do is tell you about their 'Pliny the Elder' Double IPA, voted the best beer in America by Zymurgy magazine, 7 out of the last 9 years. 
A Roman author and naturalist:-

Pliny, the man, lived in the first century 23 to 79 A.D. According to brewing references, he and his contemporaries either created the botanical name or at least wrote about Lupus Salictarius, or hops, currently known as Humulus Lupulus.

He died at the eruption of Mt Vesuvius, witnessed by his son, Pliny the Younger. And that's the name Russian River has given to their once a year, Triple IPA (10.25%) that sees drinkers queuing around the block to get their 10oz glass (with a maximum of 3 per person) of this very limited and sought after beer. 

Not much to say after this: there was an Old Saloon bar in Point Reyes Station with draft 'Sumpin' and an authentic half timber English pub at Muir Beach called the "Pelican Inn". Also the Sierra Nevada Brew Company took my notice with their selection of brews and the beer can pictured (right) that informs the brewery has been family owned, operated and argued over ! 
Cheers

*Lagunitas is owned by Heineken International and is available in the UK. The others may be more difficult to track down.


# Pronounced Pliny as in 'mini' ✔