Tonight's Beer Flight - Santa Cruz, Marin and San Diego

[Taverner]

Ahhhh California. You most awesome of all states. We have tamed our Republicans into behaving like Democrats. We have legalized Gay Marriage FIRST!!! And we have brewed the most amazing of all beers! Sorry, Oregon, Delaware and Colorado! Sorry Illinois and Indiana! Sorry Washington! California rules, the rest drool.

Okay - after that act of territorial bravado, I'd like to introduce Santa Cruz IPA



This momma has all the bitterness of an ex-girlfriend. All of the dryness of my mouth in Oaksterdam. All of the strength of a proper IPA. Golden and frothy - and at the same time full of the floral goodness that is an IPA.

Then, I moved to share a Moylan's Imperial Stout



This was OK. 10% - and smooth. Yet, not a whole lot going on.

Then it was my favorite of the evening. It's been a while, hasn't it - my love, my Stone Ruination IPA



Full of burning, bitter hops, crushing your tongue. Yet it was fresh, so it had that slight grassy note of a farm in season.