Show 443, September 18, 2021: Brewmaster Victor Novak, Golden Road Brewing – collaboration with Kombrewcha Hard Kombucha

Victor Novak of Golden Road Brewing

“This summer, Brooklyn-born Kombrewcha Hard Kombucha and Los Angeles-based Golden Road Brewing came together to create a one-of-kind product, Passion Fruit Hard Kombucha.”

“Now on shelves throughout California for a limited-run, Passion Fruit Hard Kombucha reflects the unique personalities of both collaborators – nailing Kombrewcha’s penchant for refreshing fruit flavors and Golden Road’s fan-favorite fruit-forward beers and seltzers. This tangy, refreshing, gluten-free, 100% organic beverage is brewed to 6% ABV through natural fermentation.”

“Passion Fruit Hard Kombucha will not only appeal to hard kombucha lovers, but all consumers, including those who may love hard seltzers, wine, craft beers, or are seeking alternative and refreshing beverage options to cap off the remaining weeks of the summer season.”

“Working with the Kombrewcha team to create this new flavor was a complete collaboration and we couldn’t be prouder of the final result,” said Victor Novak, Brewmaster, Golden Road Brewing. “The Passion Fruit Hard Kombrewcha is a harmonious balance that’s true to both Golden Road and Kombrewcha’s craft, with a hint of classic kombucha acidity on the nose and palate, complemented by the passion fruit. We’re thrilled to have had the opportunity to create something new in the kombucha space and hope folks love it as much as we do.”

“Passion Fruit Hard Kombucha is now available in 12 oz. can six-packs at select retailers throughout California while supplies last as well as in the Golden Road Pubs in Los Angeles, Anaheim and Huntington Beach.”

Golden Road’s acclaimed Brewmaster Victor Novak pops the tab on a can of a properly chilled Passion Fruit Hard Kombucha and joins us.

Show 422, April 24, 2021: Alexandra Nowell, Brewmaster & Partner, Three Weavers Brewing Company Part Two

Three Weavers Brewing Company is an independent craft brewery based in Inglewood with a mission to build a positive sense of community through the collective passion for craft beer. Founded by Lynne Weaver in 2013, Three Weavers is one of the largest independent craft breweries in Los Angeles County and currently expanding production and distribution on the West Coast.”

“Three Weavers has debuted the seasonal release of It’s Blursday, a 5.5% ABV Rosé Sour designed for whatever day this is. It’s Blursday is now available at Three Weavers’ Inglewood taproom and at select California beer sellers in 4-packs of 16 oz. cans.”

“In a world where blursday is the norm, Three Weavers could think of nothing better than this tart, fizzy, rosé-inspired beer to enjoy all blursday long. The Three Weavers brewing team combined a lacto souring technique with additions of cranberry, tart cherry, raspberry and passion fruit for their color and tart flavor properties.”

Brewmaster Alexandra Nowell explained, “The healthy additions of fruit purees during fermentation give the beer its deep pink color. Raspberry is a common flavor descriptor of rosé wines, and it builds upon the ester content of the beer. Then we dose in passion fruit because in small amounts, it provides thiol compounds that translate into tropical characters found in wines – and in our beer.”

Other Three Weavers styles discussed are the flagship Expatriate IPA, Light Trails West Coast IPA and Some Dark Hollow Imperial Stout aged in Jameson Casks.

Show 413, February 20, 2021: Brewmaster Ian McCall, Riip Beer Co., Huntington Beach Part One

Ian McCall of Riip Beer Company

Riip Beer Co. is located in Sunset Beach, a historic sub-district of Huntington Beach, California directly on Pacific Coast Highway across the street from the beach & the Bolsa Chica Wetlands. “Riip Beer Company started in 2014 as a Home Brew Operation on a 20 Gallon Brew Sculpture by More Beer in a small garage in Downtown Huntington Beach, California.”

The winning tradition of Riip has continued under the direction of Brewmaster and Director of Brewing Operations, Ian McCall who is a Huntington Beach resident. Ian joined Ripp Beer Co. (a bit over 2 years ago) from Beachwood Brewing where he was lead brewer of their Long Beach facility. At last year’s Great American Beer Festival in Denver, Riip was in the highly exclusive category of most medaled breweries garnering a Gold and two Silvers! 

For this Weekend Riip has a pair of news brews on tap. Playa Nublada: Hazy IPA dry hopped with Citra, Mosaic and Simcoe. Old School Values: a modern take on a classic IPA. Riip “paired classic American hops, Amarillo, Centennial and Zythos with modern kettle and dry hopping processes and the result is rad!”

We’re tapping the keg with Brewmaster Ian McCall.

Show 413, February 20, 2021: Brewmaster Ian McCall, Riip Beer Co., Huntington Beach Part Two

Ian McCall of Riip Beer Company

Riip Beer Co. is located in Sunset Beach, a historic sub-district of Huntington Beach, California directly on Pacific Coast Highway across the street from the beach & the Bolsa Chica Wetlands. Riip Beer Company started in 2014 as a Home Brew Operation on a 20 Gallon Brew Sculpture by More Beer in a small garage in Downtown Huntington Beach, California.”

“Founded by two Brother-in-Laws in 2014, Riip Beer became one of Southern California’s first Nano Breweries to hit the rapid growing craft beer scene producing some of the best small batch, hand crafted ales in Orange County. Riip Beer was built organically from the ground up, the same way they craft their beers.”

“In 2016 Riip Beer Company for the first time ever entered the prestigious GABF (Great American Beer Festival) competition and received a Silver Medal for it’s Super Cali IPA in the uber competitive American IPA category. Brewed on their 3bbl system Riip Beer became the smallest brewery to ever win a GABF in the American IPA category with over 400 entries from around the globe.”

The winning tradition has continued under the direction of Brewmaster and Director of Brewing Operation, Ian McCall, who is a Huntington Beach resident. Ian joined Riip Beer Co. (a bit over 2 years ago) from Beachwood Brewing where he was lead brewer of their Long Beach facility. 

At last year’s Great American Beer Festival in Denver, Riip was in the highly exclusive category of most medaled breweries. They were awarded Gold for their Belgian-Style Ale – Category 82 (Tangible Passion,) A Silver for Coffee Stout or Porter – Category 10 (The Riizzo,)  and a Silver for American-Style Black Ale or American-Style – Category 69 (Black the Ripper.)

At any given time the Riip Beer Co. Tasting Room in Huntington Beach offers an impressive selection of 19 craft beers on tap. Soon to be released to the Riip Tasting Room is their collaboration beer with MoonGoat Coffee Roasters, “Triip to the Moon.”

We’re continuing our tasting with Brewmaster Ian McCall.

Show 387, August 22, 2020: Brewmaster Victor Novak of Golden Road Brewing on Hard Seltzers Part One

Victor Novak of Golden Road BrewingAccomplished Brewmaster Victor Novak of Golden Road Brewing with production breweries in Los Angeles and Anaheim really needs no introduction to our listeners. He’s generously mentored many of the rising young stars of craft brewing in Orange County over the years.

His latest project is the crafting of a recently released line of hard seltzers based on Golden Road’s fruit cart flavors. The new Golden Road Fruit Cart Hard Seltzers include Cucumber Lime, Mango, Strawberry Pineapple and Watermelon. The hard seltzers are made with real fruit juice.

Golden Road Pub OC including a full production brewery is located right across E. Orangewood Avenue from Angel Stadium. Their ample and shaded outdoor beer garden is comfortably serving guests with their wide selection of fresh craft beers and full food menu including daily specials and Game Day Bites. There is also a giant outdoor monitor in place with a clear, sharp picture to enjoy Halo games on. When the Halos are playing at Angel Stadium this as about as close to the baseball action as a fan can get this season.

Victor joins us to pull the tab on all that is hard seltzer.

 

Show 387, August 22, 2020: Brewmaster Victor Novak of Golden Road Brewing on Hard Seltzers Part Two

Victor Novak of Golden Road BrewingAccomplished Brewmaster Victor Novak of Golden Road Brewing with production breweries in Los Angeles and Anaheim really needs no introduction to our listeners. He’s generously mentored many of the rising young stars of craft brewing in Orange County over the years.

His latest project is the crafting of a recently released line of hard seltzers based on Golden Road’s fruit cart flavors. The new Golden Road Fruit Cart Hard Seltzers include Cucumber Lime, Mango, Strawberry Pineapple and Watermelon. The hard seltzers are made with real fruit juice.

“There are different ways of creating the seltzer base,” said Victor Novak, Brewmaster at Golden Road Brewing. “For us, we start off by actually brewing a light beer, then running it through a sophisticated cross flow filtration process to ensure that it’s a very neutral and clean tasting. We then blend in just the right amount of fruit juices and natural flavorings to create our light and refreshing seltzers that are bursting with flavor but not cloying. Getting that right is crucial”

Victor Novak rejoins us to pull a second tab on all that is hard seltzer.

 

Show 360, February 15, 2020: “Ask the Brewers” with Golden Road’s Victor Novak and Steven Torres Part One

Victor Novak of Golden Road BrewingIt’s definitely time with the new year and decade for another effervescent installment of “Ask the Brewers” where we answer listeners’ intriguing questions about craft beer. There are finally some decent non-alcoholic and low-alcohol beers on the market. It’s a promising growth area. How do you brew a premium non-alcoholic beer? How does the alcohol go out?

Joining us with all the needed intel is Golden Road’s uber-accomplished Brewmaster, Victor Novak, and Anaheim Head Brewer Steven Torres.

Golden Road’s first entry in the non-alcoholic craft beer market is Non-Alcoholic Golden Road Brewing Mango Cart – Mango Wheat Brew. We’ll get a taste…

“Our goal was simple…Make a full- flavored non-alcoholic beer (for beer drinkers). So here you have it, Mango Cart NA, inspired by the iconic fruit cart vendors of Los Angeles and bursting with fresh Mango flavor and aroma. Who says non-alcoholic means less flavor? Certainly not us.”

Show 360, February 15, 2020: “Ask the Brewers” with Golden Road’s Victor Novak and Steven Torres Part Two

Victor Novak and Steven Torres of Golden Road BrewingWe’re continuing our effervescent installment of “Ask the Brewers” where we answer listeners’ intriguing questions about craft beer. There are finally some decent non-alcoholic and low-alcohol beers on the market. It’s a promising growth area. How do you brew a premium non-alcoholic beer?

The conversation resumes with Golden Road’s uber-accomplished Brewmaster, Victor Novak, and Anaheim Head Brewer Steven Torres.

Victor & Steven also update us on Dingo Pup Trans-Pacific-Style Hazy Pale Ale, a collaboration craft beer between Golden Road Brewing and Sydney’s 4 Pines Brewing Co.

It’s also a tribute to Wandi, the rare purebred dingo pup (with an incredible story) now residing at the Australian Dingo Foundation. Golden Road and 4 Pines Brewing are contributing a portion of the sales of Dingo Pup to the Australian Dingo Foundation as well as fire disaster relief.

Show 346, October 26, 2019: “Ask the Brewers” with Golden Road Brewings’ Brewmaster Victor Novak & Anaheim Head Brewer Steven Torres

Steven Torres and Victor Novak at the KLAA StudiosTime for another effervescent installment of Ask the Brewers” where we answer listeners’ intriguing questions about craft beer. Joining us is Golden Road’s uber-accomplished Brewmaster, Victor Novak, and Anaheim Head Brewer Steven Torres.

It’s the season for special styles of limited production craft beers to celebrate the Holidays. Our brewers share the spirited Holiday cheer.

We sampled Victor’s signature (and long-ago perfected) recipe for Pumpkin Ale (6 % ABV) and Steven’s special creation, Drunken Pumpkin, which is 9.5 % ABV and is Golden Road’s Pumpkin Ale aged for 11 months in Buffalo Trace Bourbon barrels.

Victor mentioned that Golden Road Pub OC’s 25,000 square foot outdoor expansion has been completed just in time for the Holidays. It includes a dog run and is all child & Family-friendly. (More restrooms, too…)

Show 340, September 7, 2019: “Ask the Brewers” with Golden Road’s Brewmaster Victor Novak & Anaheim Head Brewer Steven Torres Part One

Steven Torres and Victor Novak at the KLAA StudiosTime for another effervescent installment of Ask the Brewers” where we answer listeners’ questions about craft beer. Joining us is Golden Road’s uber-accomplished Brewmaster, Victor Novak and Anaheim Head Brewer Steven Torres.

They truly enjoy interacting with craft beer enthusiasts.

First order of business is a tasting of Du Hast Dortmunder, an Oktoberfest bier.