Here are some recent beers from our tasting list.
Double Nelson — Cellarmaker
Cellarmaker is a colossal presence in the SF beer scene. After acquiring Rare Barrel, they’ve become an even deeper and more versatile beer brand. This Double Nelson is highly rated, and they absolutely nailed it. Nelson hops can be dank and a bit bitter, which isn’t for everyone. But this one amplifies the hop’s dankness and fruitiness while keeping the bitterness smooth and balanced. I love it.
Fogzilla — Humble Sea
Humble Sea is our local pride from Santa Cruz. Not every beer they make is top notch—some are just okay—but you can rarely go wrong with their Triple IPAs. Fogzilla is one of their best TIPAs and a staple release you’ll see every February. Expect a super fruity, smooth, and dangerously drinkable TIPA.
Focal Banger & Heady Topper — The Alchemist
The Alchemist is one of the most famous brewers from the East Coast. They were making hazy IPAs before hazy IPAs were even a thing (long before breweries like Tree House and Trillium made the style famous). People on the East Coast talk about Heady Topper the way West Coast drinkers talk about Pliny the Elder. They even recommend drinking these beers straight from the can to preserve the full flavor experience.
These two beers are best enjoyed side by side. Personally, I prefer Focal Banger, and many others do too, but Heady Topper still gets the higher overall score. Either way, these are beers you should never pass up when you see them—especially when they’re fresh.
Monkish Box
Monkish might be the best brewery in California, period. Their hazy IPAs are magical—you won’t miss Tree House if you have access to Monkish.
- Diggin’ & Diggin’ — A phenomenal TIPA. I absolutely love this one.
- Beauty in Death — Interesting. Not their best, but it showcases the punchy character of the hops.
- Mind Grind — Monkish showing they can brew outside hazy IPAs. This American porter is malty, toasty, nutty, slightly sweet, and very smooth.
- West Coast Waves — A modern West Coast IPA. It leans toward the newer aromatic, smooth IPA style popularized by breweries like Shred. Lots of aroma from heavy dry hopping, less bitterness than the classic piney style like Pliny the Elder. A different direction—interesting, though I think Monkish can do even better.
- Stampede the Globe — A delicious DDH Double IPA, very much in Monkish’s wheelhouse.
Pro tip: Check these beers on Untappd. Pretty much everyone in the craft beer world uses it now. Look at the scores, read the reviews, and leave a few keywords in your own tasting notes too.