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Rubicon Brewing Co-The legend

Posted on October 23, 2014 by Cam Ireland

I finally made a trip to the craft brewing legend-Rubicon. I had read about the homebrewer friendly Rubicon when I started homebrewing 25 years ago (Rubicon has been around for 27 years!), but never made the trek to Sacramento. At last, I sat at the bar and ordered the taster which included six Rubicon brewed beers.

Brewer Chris Keeton-Zymurgist/Beer Referee

Brewer Chris Keeton-Zymurgist/Beer Referee

As if experiencing this homebrewer’s mecca of craft beer wasn’t enough to satisfy the brewer inside me, I also chatted up the brewer, Chris Keeton. The brewhouse behind glass makes it hard for the brewer to hide from the curious beer geeks. I walked back and asked Chris if I could join him. He was very accommodating and seemed happy to talk. Our conversation took place as he continued to work and I followed him around. He was working valves and cleaning tanks as we talked. I learned his history of brewing and the perfect timing that afforded him a shot as the Rubicon brewer position. Chris says his biggest challenge in the brewery is being the guy that has to make it happen. Brewing is the easy part, but if a plumbing, hardware, software, mechanical or electrical problem arises…you have to know how, or figure out how to fix it. He knows the brewery inside out and loves his “job”.

Rubicon PretzelBrewpubs must have good food to be successful and to soak up the beer customers drink. Rubicon does not disappoint. Named as one of the “Best Bars for Foodies in Sacramento” by the local CBS affiliate. The Rubicon menu includes items like the tri tip dinner prepared with grilled Rubicon Ale-marinated tri tip, served on crispy onion strings, veggies and a baked potato. We arrived between lunch and dinner and ordered the big pretzel and beer mustard dip. A perfect choice for beer tasting during Oktoberfest season.

Rubicon TasterWe tasted all six beers Rubicon had on tap:
Monkey Knife Fight Pale Ale 5.4% abv
India Pale Ale 6.5% abv
Rosebud 7.5% abv
Hopsauce 8.2% abv
Oktoberfest
California Wild

Rubicon twinsMost Memorable – Rosebud Special Ale
This 20 malt special ale was very rich and complex. Big malt and big hops to balance out that sweetness. Some caramel almost chocolate malt finish and hop bitterness make this a very special beer indeed.

Most Relieved – Hopsauce
I was so relieved that this double IPA was not the trendy, over-the-top, too-bitter-to-enjoy, can’t-drink-more-than-one DIPA. It has a big profile all around, but it was so well balance. Big hops and malt in the aroma. Big hops and malt in the flavor and big hops and malt in the finish. Very nice.>

Most confused – California Wild
I still am not sure what makes this “wild”. The yeast wasn’t wild. I anticipated a sour lactobacillus experiment perhaps. Maybe the hops are wild? Nothing stood out to me. A pretty one dimensional light pale. Not bad, but not very wild either.

Good, but not unforgettable:
Monkey Knife Fight – I’ve tried MKF several times. It’s good and clean, but not amazing.
India Pale Ale – The IPA was pretty good. It’s clean and balanced more like what I’d expect from an IPA and less like the hop bombs called IPAs today. May have been a little overshadowed by the amazing Hopsauce.
Oktoberfest – A good malty example of a well balanced Oktoberfest. Nice and clean and tasty.

Kudos:
Rubicon Czech Pilsner earned a Gold medal at the California State Fair in July!

Cheers!

Category: Beer Style, Brewery, Brewpubs |

Cam Ireland

I am a BJCP (Beer Judge Certification Program) National judge. I am also a homebrewer. I love to taste classic styled and outside-the-box beer from around the world, explore craft beer breweries, cook and pair meals with beer and share all of these with anybody that has the same interests.

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Handcrafted Beer Cap Neckwear

32,10,0,70,1
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Stone Brewing is located in Escondido, California and is known for hugely hoppy and high octane, malt-rich beers. Stone Brewing Co. was founded in 1996 in San Marcos, CA. The Double Bastard this cap sealed uses huge amounts of hops, but the type of hops used is not released. The necklace shown here was previously crimped on a bottle of Double Bastard Ale. The beer is orange-light brown in color and has a hoppy and malty nose. A mouth full of hop flavor and a rich malt and bitter/dry and finish. The hop types and IBU\'s are \"Classified\" according to Stone Brewing, but the alcohol is plentiful at 11% abv! This artisan piece was handmade using that recycled bottle cap. The cap was domed and filled with 2-row malted barley and caramel malt similar to that malt commonly used in similar beer styles. The malt is set in resin and helps add weight. This is a must have item for beer enthusiasts, craftbeer enthusiasts, Stone Brewing fans, IPA, DIPA fanatics, San Diego beer lovers or anybody that enjoys truly unique, handmade jewelry. Each piece is different as each cap has been treated differently through their travels to my beer fridge. Additionally, each cap reacts differently to the doming process. Cracks and chips may result naturally and add to the unique, unduplicated, rustic character of the finished product. The cap artwork represents the Stone gargoyle logo.
Stone-Double Arrogant Bastard
The beer cap shown here was previously crimped on a bottle of West Coast Double India Pale Ale (DIPA). The beer is orange-copper in color and has a hoppy and malty nose. A mouth full of hop flavor and a bitter/dry and finish. Clean and refreshing even though this beer weighs in at 95 IBUs and 8.1% abv!
Green Flash West Coast Double IPA
The necklace shown here was previously crimped on the bottle of Blue Moon Belgian White. Blue moon uses 2 row barley, white wheat and oats in their grain bill. They also use Valenica orange peel and coriander to give the beer the signature aroma and flavor profile of a traditional Belgian white. The specific gravity is 1.053, IBUs-9 and weighs in at a moderate 5.4% abv. The aroma is malty with a bit of orange. The flavor has a sweet start with a bit of spicy orange flavor and a nicely balanced finish from the hops. The addition of oats provide a smooth, creamy mouthfeel.
Blue Moon Front
This artisan piece was handmade using that recycled bottle cap. The cap was domed and filled with real 2-row malted barley and white wheat used this beer style. The barley and wheat is set with casting epoxy to hold the grain in place and add weight.
Blue Moon Back
Blue Moon beer cap from the side
Blue Moon Side View
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