Brew By Brew Review*

Brew By Brew Review*

* I don't claim to be a beer expert, just a beer lover.

Lost Coast Brewing Company

The brews I sampled: Lost Coast Wheat, Pale Ale, Alley cat Amber Ale, Downtown Brown, Lost Coast Apricot Wheat Ale, Raspberry Brown Ale, Eight-Ball Stout, Great White Beer, India Pale Ale and Scotch Ale

Damn that was good! The Raspberry Brown Ale is a great idea. Normally I can't stand any berry beer, but the already famous Downtown Brown tastes even better with a hint of raspberry added to its chocolate flavor. My second favorite is The Great White Beer. It would be the perfect beer on a 100-plus degree day in Chico, so smooth and refreshing. If you're one of those people who hate to be able to see your neighbor through your glass of beer, then hide behind a pint of Eight-Ball Stout. I'd be hooked on 'em if I lived in Humboldt County during the wet winter.

Humboldt Brewing Company

The brews I sampled: Red Nectar, Belgian Ale, Gold Nectar, Pale Ale, Hefeweizen, Black Cherry, Oatmeal Stout, Cheshire Cat Barley Wine and Hemp Ale.

Can't forget this beer, even after 10 of 'em. I must say I've been a fan of Red Nectar for years now, and a pint from the source was like a taste of the ancient redwoods; some of the best Nectar I've ever tasted. Don't ever change baby. If you only have time for a few glasses, the Cheshire Cat Barley Wine is a great rainy-day drink. It reminds me of Sierra Nevada's Bigfoot Ale -- heats up your soul, and your head. Just give your car keys away after a few of the Cats. Be sure to taste the Hemp Ale. It's of the same quality as the Nectar and, the employees say, has been as far around the globe as South Korea, though they're not sure how it got there.

Six Rivers Brewing Company

The Brews I sampled: Dow's Prairie Wheat, Trinidad Golden Ale, Wildcat Amber, India Pale Ale, Moonstone Porter and Black Bear Stout, Nitro ESB and Nitro Stout

Six Rivers equals six great brews. And in the category for best overall beer performance, the winner is.... But seriously folks, all it's brews were great. The Wildcat Amber stood out and not just because it happens to be named after the Chico State University mascot. Its deceiving amber color gave way to an easy drinking and refreshing brew. The IPA was great, and in my biased opinion, just as good as Sierra Nevada's IPA. Don't make the mistake of leaving Six Rivers before you try one of the Nitro Brews. Don't be afraid, it's the same stuff, just flowin' from the kegs with nitrogen. It makes for an interesting oral experience.

Mad River Brewing Company

The brews I sampled: Steelhead Extra Pale Ale, Steelhead Extra Stout, Jamaica Sunset and Jamaica Red.

I could live on just this beer, and an occasional meal. Two words: Jamaica Red. It's the lion of the beer jungle. It would be an insult to call it the king. This beer has it all, excellent drinkable flavor and thickness. I've been the Chico authority on this beer for years. I love to drink it at the top of Lake Tahoe ski resorts, and on sunny beaches in Santa Cruz, Calif. I call this beer a "gateway beer" because if you give a brew-rookie a taste from the bottle, before they see its dark red brandy-like hue, they'll forever be willing to try darker colored brews. Before you buy that case of only Jamaica Red at the brewery, be sure to sample Mad River's other brews. I only brought one six-pack of the Steelhead Extra Pale Ale home; the rest was Jamaica. The next day I took the case to a barbecue at my sisters' house. The Steelhead was the most popular, and she sent me to the store before I could finish my second Jamaica Red.

Links to the breweries' Web sites

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