Homebrew and Beer of 2025
January Meeting - Mead
Grand Hydro
- Wild Parrot - "The Claw" Super Lager
- Superstition Meadery Marion Melomel
- Roger Taylor's Pomegranate Mead
Mead Competition - 15 entries
- John Aitchison - Traditional Mead with Bennet's Orange Blossom
- Geoff Robertson - Traditional Mead with Meadowfoam and Wildflower Honey
- Jenna Bonney - Traditional Sweet Clover Mead
- Roger Taylor - Traditional Macadamia Nut Mead
- Danny Stahl - Dark Avocado Honey Melomel with Plums, Red Currants and Tart Cherries
- Tiffany Ashrafi - Melomel with Freeze Dried Strawberries and Gooseberries
- Ed Kochanowski - Tart Cherry Melomel
- John Aitchison - Blackberry Melomel
- Bob Dexter - Tart Cherry Melomel
- Jane Pojawa - 2006 Loquat Melomel
- Roger Taylor - Key Lime Melomel
- Roger Taylor - Hatch Chile Mead - Third Place
- John Aitchison - Apple Bochet - Second Place
- Roger Taylor - Bochet - Winner
Homebrew
- Japanese Rice Lager (with ground uncooked short grain rice) - Masa Kitano
- American Lager - Marvin Gomez (President of the SoCal Cerveceros)
- Hopped Table Mead (Dry) - Danny Stahl
- Hopped Table Mead (Semi-sweet) - Danny Stahl
- Sour Prickly Pear IPA Mead - Danny Stahl
- 5 year old Date Winter Warmer (with Unibroue yeast) - John Aitchison
February Meeting - Local Ingredient / Chili Cookoff
Grand Hydro - "Local Ingredient" (with Special TIPA appearance)
- Iwatekura Japanese Sansho Ale
- Brewery X Pickle Me Lager
- Firestone Walker Cali Squeeze Blood Orange
- Brooklyn Brewing Fonio Rising Pale Ale
- Maui Coconut Porter
- Bottle Logic War & Peaches Haberno IPA
- El Segundo Power Plant Triple IPA
- El Segundo Nuclear Power Plant Quadrupel IPA
Homebrew
- Scout Stout - Carl K
- Maltose Falcons 50th Anniversary IPA Recipe - Rick Morales
- Hop 2 Hell IPA - Jim Moorman
- Hog in the Fog IPA - Carl K
- Black IPA - MB
- Bochet - Daniel
Chili Cookoff - 9 Entries
- First Place: Karen Dexter
- Second Place: Amanda Griswold
- Third Place (tie): Fallon Ginsberg, Tiffany Ashrafi
February Virtual Happy Hour - ISM Brewing
- Icy Death Cold IPA
- Nihilism West Coast IPA Collab w/ Boneyard Beer
- Astralism West Coast IPA Collab w/ Human People
- Dank Azaria West Coast IPA Collab w/ Cellarmaker Brewing
March Meeting - Stouts
Grand Hydro - Stouts
- O'Hara Irish Stout
- Guinness Extra Stout
- Angkor Premium Extra Stout (from Cambodia)
- Kern River Class V Stout
- Silva Brewing Ouroboros Imperial Stout
- Alesmith Speedway
Special Treat: Smog City - We ❤️ LA West Coast IPA
Demo: CO2 Purge Kit for Extract Bottles & Biofine/Hop Extract Keg Injector - MB Raines
Homebrew
- Dougweiser Shop Brewing - MB's Version
- Dougweiser Shop Brewing - Jamie Crawford's Version
- Bohemian Pilsner - Roger Taylor's
- Bohemian Pilsner - John Aitchison's
- Irish Red - Ryan
- Dank Pale Ale with "weed terpenes" - Mike S
- Sour Cherry Catharina Sour - John Aitchison
- Abbey Saison - Daniel Stahl * - co-winner
- Lemonade Mead - Daniel Stahl
- Fruitcake Metheglin - John Aitchison
- Lambic Barrel Mead - John Aitchison
- Orange Marmalade Mead - Roger Taylor * - co-winner
March Virtual Happy Hour - Brown Soul Brewing
- Quiero Maiz Mexican Lager
- Stilo Italian Pils
- Lighter Shade of Brown - English-Style Brown
- Juguito Hazy IPA
April Meeting - Bock/Experimental Competition
Grand Hydro - Alt/ Bock
- Enegren Brewing - Valkyrie Altbier
- Shiner Bock
- Enegren Maibock
- Abita "Mardi Gras" Bock
- Paulaner Salvator
- Spaten Optimator
- Plank Helles Weizenbock
Something Extra
- ISM Brewing - Big & Busy TIPA
"Experimental Local" Competition - 5 entries
- Roger Taylor - Blorange Blonde ale with orange blossoms instead of aroma hops
- Adrian Febre - Bread-ka This is a slightly citrus-heavy Kvass brewed with Rye Bread from a NoHo bakery - 3rd Place
- John Aitchison - Satsuma Catherina Sour Sour ale with satsuma plum - 1st Place
- Daniel Stahl - Rye of the Bumblebee Pumpernickel bread and Bochet clover honey
- Roger Taylor - Heavenly Bliss braggot with orange juice and orange blossoms - 2nd Place
Homebrew
- Koñsky Zadek Czech Lager - Carl
- Janet's Brown Ale - Jim Moorman (following a recipe!)
- Gigantic IPA - Alec
- Cherry Melomel - Roger Taylor
- Candy Heart Table Mead - Danny
- French Toast Mead - Danny - Meeting Winner
April Virtual Happy Hour - Common Space Brewing
- WE LOVE LA Wildfire Relief Lager
- Con Amor Amber Lager
- Liquid Dreamscapes West Coast IPA
- Chubby Unicorn Milkshake IPA
Southern California Homebrewers Festival
The Beer Bar
- Apricot Lager – 5% - Kevin Baranowski
- American Lager – 5% - Kevin Baranowski
- Dougweiser – 5% - Jamie Crawford
- Cream Ale – 6% - Jeff Mathiowetz
- Black IPA (“Chocolate Hops”) - Mike Summers
- The Duvel Made Me Do It - Mike Summers
- Flanders Red Sour (“Pucker Punch”) - Mike Summers
- Orange Blossom Ale - Roger Taylor
- American Brown Ale – 6%
- Deacon’s Boddington Mild - MB Raines
- Wit - Jamie Crawford
- German Wheat – Lady Falcon - Karen Dexter
- Dole Whip Tripel – 9.1% - Drew Beechum
- Mars Needs Mild – 4.1% - Drew Beechum
- Fibonacci Saison – 9.1% - Drew Beechum
- Fonio Gold – 5.3% - Drew Beechum
- Belgian Dark Strong – 10%
- Amburana Scotch Ale – 4.5%
- Sternenfrau Hefeweizen – 6.5%
- American Barleywine – 10.8%
Randall Bar Beers
- Sweet Stout — Run Thru Coffee Beans - Kevin Baranowski
- Lady Falcon Wheat Ale — Run Thru “Atta Girl” & “Right On” Small Batch Coffee Beans - Tiffany Ashrafi
The Mead Bar
- Missy's Tangerine Dream Mead - Brian Vessa, Bruce Brode, Mark Fitzsimmons
- Pomegranate - Roger Taylor
- Key Lime - Roger Taylor
- Sweet Clover - Roger Taylor
- Strawberry Cheesecake - Daniel Stahl
- Apple Bochet - Roger Taylor
- Cherry - Roger Taylor
- Barrel Aged Blend - Roger Taylor
- S’mores - Daniel Stahl
- Salted Caramel - Daniel Stahl
- French Toast - Daniel Stahl
- Plum Cherry Red Currant - Roger Taylor
- Fireweed - Roger Taylor
- Pyment - Roger Taylor
- Wildflower - Roger Taylor
- Lehua - Roger Taylor
- Rabbitbush - Roger Taylor
- Washington Buckwheat - Roger Taylor
- Perry - Roger Taylor
- Raspberry - Roger Taylor
- Cyser - Roger Taylor
- Apple Bochet - Roger Taylor
- Fireweed Peach - Roger Taylor
May Virtual Happy Hour - Solaris Beer & Blending
- Lighght - Single Decoction Helles with Saphir hops
- Destino: Loza Farms - West Coast IPA
- Non Disclosure 4 - Hazy DDH
- Red Flowers - Sour Ale with Hibiscus, Red Currants, Tart Cherry and Vanilla
- Shared Logic - Collab with Horus Ale - Imperial Sour Ale with cherries, lemon, juniper and bitters - aged in gin barrels
Mayfaire - Leo Carrillo Beach
- American Lager - Kevin Baranowski
- Apricot Lager - Kevin Baranowski
- Deacons Mild - MB Raines
- Berliner Weiss - Mike Summers
- The Duvel Made Me Do It - Mike Summers
- Hopped Dragon Fruit Mead - Daniel Stahl
- Hefeweizen - Jen Rhude
- Bravery Brewing's Brighton ESB
- Kolsch - John Aitchison
- Lady Falcon Wheat Ale with Lady Falcon Coffee - Tiffany
- Sweet Stout with Chocolate Coffee Bean - Kevin Baranowski
- Tart Cherry Seltzer - Kevin Baranowski
- Toasted Marshmallow Seltzer - Kevin Baranowski
Mead
- Rabbitbush - Roger Taylor
- Fireweed
- Washington Buckwheat
- Perry
- Wildflower
- Pyment
- Raspberry
- Lehua
June Meeting - "Inspired By"
Grand Hydro - "Inspired By" - aka Sign Up for the Advent Calendar!
- Epic Brewing - Horchata Cream Ale
- Pfriem - XPA
- Hitachino Nest - Saison du Japon
- Harviestoun - Old Engine Oil
- Gouden Carolus Imperial Dark
- Wild Parrot - The Claw (checking in to see how it's aged!)
Homebrew
- Shine On Bruce Porter Monkeyshine - Art Fitzsimmon
- Tavern Brew Saison - Scott Donahue
- Hibiscus Tepache - Danny Stahl
- Hopped Dragonfruit Mead - Danny Stahl
- Hopped Mead - Danny Stahl
- Project Barley Bucket Sauce Lager - Roger Taylor
- Blueberry Mead - Roger Taylor
- Witbier - John Aitchison
- Raspberry Catharina Sour - John Aitchison - Meeting Winner
- Hard Marshmallow Seltzer - Kevin Baranowski
- Hard Tart Cherry Seltzer - Kevin Baranowski
- Witbier - Jamie Crawford
- Lady Falcon Wheat with Saison Yeast - MB Raines
- Deacon's Boddington's Clone - MB Raines
- Mars Needs Milds - Drew Beechum
- Fonio Gold - Drew Beechum
- Fibonacci Saison - Drew Beechum
- Dole Whip Tripel - Drew Beechum
- Chit Happens Hazy IPA - Scot Beidelman
- Session IPA - Adrian Febre
- Dark Mild - Adrian Febre
- Kolsch Style - Adrian Febre
June Virtual Happy Hour - Five Point Five Brewing
- King Kolsch
- Citrus Aftermath IPA
- Hazy Daisy Hazy IPA
- Pacific Standard IPA
Summer Solstice Bruce Brode Memorial Mead Tasting
Held by Roger Taylor in Northridge on June 21st as a memorial to Bruce Brode and his mead making ways! A partial list - as mead tastings tend to work against accurate reporting!
- Hopped Spice Mead - Daniel
- Tepache Fruit and Spice Mead - Daniel
- Cherry Black Lime Melomel - Daniel
- Orange Blossom Traditional - Mark
- Mixed Berry Blossom Traditional - Mark
- Western Buckwheat Traditional - Mark
- Aroiera Blossom (Brazilian Pink Pepper Tree) Traditional - Mark
- Bruce’s Nectarine Melomel - Bruce/Brian/Mark
- Bruce’s Pyment - Bruce
- Bochet - Roger
- 2024 Pomegranate Melomel - Roger
- 2023 Pomegranate Melomel - Roger
- 2023 Pomegranate Barrel Aged Melomel - Roger
- Cherry Melomel - Roger
- Key Lime Pie Melomel - Roger
- Hatch Chili Mead - Roger
- Lambic Barrel Aged Mead - John
- Peach Blossoms Traditional - John
- Sweet Clover Traditional - Jenna
- Fig and Black Sage honey Mead - Jayne
- Date Mead - Jayne
- Poblano Chili and Eucalyptus honey Mead - Art
- Ginseng and Buckwheat tea Mead - Eric
- Braggot - Eric
- 22/21 Pomegranate Blended Mead - Roger
- Project Barley Bucket Sauce Braggot - Roger
July Meeting - Altbier, Highland Park and Others
Grand Hydro
- Highland Park Timbo Pils
- Highland Park Boartzbo Dark Lager
- Highland Park Turple Timbo - DDH West Coast Pilsner
- Kirkland Vintage Ale
- Bravery Brewery Maltose Falcons Barrel Aged Imperial Honey Stout
- Solaris Brewing Shared Logic - Barrel Aged Sour Ale
Homebrew Competition - Altbier
1st Place - Adrian Febre
Homebrew Tasting
- Kolsch - John Aitchison
- Bohemian Pilsner - Roger Taylor, John Aitchison, and others
- Stroh's Original Recipe (Homebrew) - Scott Donahue
- Stroh's "New Recipe" (Commercial) - provided by Scott
- Tepache Mead - Daniel Stahl
- Cherry Black Lime Mead - Daniel Stahl
- Cider - Jamie Crawford
- Cherry Catherina Sour - John Aitchison
- Fonio Chit Hazy IPA - Ryan Griswold
July Virtual Happy Hour - Burning Bridge Brewing
- SGV Light Lager
- I Love You Honey Blonde
- Monsters Never Die Pale Ale
- Swing of the Axe Hazy DIPA
August Meeting - Beers of Maine
Grand Hydro
- Atlantic Brewing Blueberry Ale
- Allagash Kickabout Lager
- Allagash/Crown & Hops - Cur-8
- Bissell Brothers Substance IPA
- Bissell Brothers Swish DIPA
- Allagash From Main with Love DIPA
Homebrew Tasting
- Orange Blossom Melomel - John Aitchison
- Belgian Quad - John Aitchison
- Traditional Mead - Geoff Robertson
- Dougfoot - MB Raines
- Session Blonde - Scot Bedielman
- Passionfruit Mead - Roger Taylor
- Barrel Aged Pomegrante Mead - Roger Taylor
- Hopped Mead - Nelson - Daniel Stahl
- Hopped Mead - Hallertauer - Daniel Stahl
- Hopped Fruited Mead - Daniel Stahl
- Orange Blossom - Pet Nat Mead - Daniel Stahl
August Virtual Happy Hour - Ikasu Brewing
- LArigato – Japanese Rice Lager
- New-Z New Zealand Pilsner
- Matcha Tart – Gose with Matcha Green Tea
- Goma Me – American Porter with Black Sesame
- Yuzuko Show – Chili Saison with Yuzu Kosho
Sunfest - Lake Arrowhead Brewfest
- American Lager - Kevin Baranowski
- Apricot Lager - Kevin Baranowski
- Septemberfest Fest Ale - Scot/Krysten Beidelman
- Morning Sunshine Hazy IPA - Scot/Krysten Beidelman
- Lady Falcon Wheat - Quinlan Ginsberg
- Black IPA -
- Dry Cyser - Jenna Bonney
- Hop Water - Scot/Krysten Beidelman
- Sweet Stout poured through Coffee beans -Kevin Baranowski
- Hand Pump English Bitter - John Aitchison
Mead
- Passionfruit
- Blueberry
- Cherry
- Orange Marmalade
- Pomegranate
- Hatch Chile
- Banana Bochet
- Apple Bochet
- Apple Pie Cyser
- Barrel Aged Pomegranate
- Barrel Aged Blond
- Mango
September Virtual Happy Hour - Crown and Hops Brewing
- 8 Trill Pils
- Dopetoberfest Marzen
- The Dopest Hazy IPA
- Los Angeles Sun West Coast IPA
October Virtual Happy Hour - Gigantic Brewing
Our first out of California brewery!
- Kolschtastic
- Wonder Crusher Session IPA
- Sodbusted Simcoe Fresh IPA
- Gigantic IPA
- MASSIVE! Barleywine
Oktoberfest - Birmingham Hospital Veterans' Hall
- American Lager - Kevin Baranowski
- Weissbier - Nic
- English Bitter - Geoff Robertson
- Dougfoot - MB Raines
- Saison - Bill
- Braggot - Daniel Stahl
- Belgian Quad - Scot Beidelman
- Adambier - Scot Beidelman
- Hop, Drop & Roll IPA - Tiffany Ashrafi
- Citra Pale Ale - Scot Beidelman
- Belgian Imperial Stout - Scot Beidelman
- Adambier - Scot Beidelman
- Dry Cider - Jenna Bonney
- Festbier - Adam
- Octoberfest - Paul
- Dunkel - Paul
November Meeting - Cider
Grand Hydro
- Single Fin Dry Cider
- Etienne Dupont - Bouche Brut De Normandie
- 2 Trees Cosmic Crisp Imperial Cider
- 101 Cider House - Sunlit - Grapefruit and Citra Hops
- Balcom Canyon Cider - Saison Cyser
Homebrew Competition - Bockbier
- Helles Bock - John Aitchison - 2nd Place
- Wiseass Weizenbock (Krausened with Mead)- Roger Taylor - 3rd Place
- Weizenbock - John Aitchison
- Imperial Helles Bock / Imperial Pilsner - John Aitchison - 1st Place
Homebrew Tasting
- Lemon Mead - Still - 10% - Jim Moorman
- Lemon Mead - Sparkling - 10% - Jim Moorman
- ESB - John Aitchison
- Hefeweizen - John Aitchison
- Pale Ale Braggot - Daniel Stahl
- NOT BEER White Wine Spritzer - Scot Beidelman
November Virtual Happy Hour - Balcom Canyon Cider Company
Our first cidery!
- Gateway Session Cider (with Citra hops)
- Hibiscus Cider (their original product)
- Mali-Bougie Cider (collab with Malibu Brewing)
- Vin de Pomme Apple Wine
- Imperial Cascade Cider
December Meeting - Northern California Christmas
Grand Hydro (thanks to Ed's Celly Drippin' Adventure)
- Sierra Nevada - Christmas Jam IPA
- New Glory - Slay Ride Red IPA
- Almanac - Xmas Tree Lot North Pole IPA
- Kern River - Bad Santa Doppelbock
- Faction - Blitzen Triple IPA
Bonus: Solid Ground Black Twig Off Dry Cider
Homebrew Tasting
- Double IPA - Scot Beidelman
- Cider - Scot Beidelman
- Pomegranate Mead - Roger Taylor
- Belgian Blond - John Aitchison
- Belgian Blond on Brett - John Aitchison
- Cider - Daniel Stahl
- Hopped Cyser - Daniel Stahl
- Sagebrush Saison - Justin
2025 Holiday Beer Tasting - Hop Merchants NoHo
- Oxbow Brewing - Double FPA
- Maine Brewing Co - Lunch IPA
- Pure Project / Burgeon Beer - Home for the Holihaze
- Grimm - Super Spruce Gose
- Domaine Dupont - Cidre Bouche Brut de Normandie
- Highland Park - Competition IPA
- St Feuillien Tripel (in a double Magnum!)
- Bottle Logic - Aether Forged Spiced Brown Ale
- El Segundo Brewing - Santa's Secret Stash Rum Barrel-Aged Xmas Ale
- St. Bernardus Christmas Ale
- Secret Flight (Guess the Beer!)
- Anderson Valley Winter Solstice
- Enegren Christmas Bock
- Lost Abbey Gnoel de Abbey
- Prairie Artisan Ales Christmas Bomb