Experience before you go . . .
With 2019 upon us, my son Jake in town and my good friend's son also in town visiting who's known as "The other Jake".....time for a couple brewery tours.
Catalina Brewing Company has been on my radar for a while now since we live nestled in the foothills of the Santa Catalina Mountains. So it was another beautiful day in Tucson and the beer was flowing across town at Catalina Brewing so the three of us jumped in the car and hit the road. A little bit of a drive during rush hour with the crazy Tucson drivers but we made it in one piece and believe it or not we definitely worked up a thirst.
Front sign selfie with the sun in our eyes and in we went. Bert the bartender greeted us as we filled three empty bar stools front and center "We Bike, We Brew" wis the Catalina mantra since it was on a 2009 Epic Rides bike race, a 24-hour ride which is where the brewery idea came together at 2:00 in the morning around a campfire drinking a home brewed IPA (0200 IPA). With Hank being the main brew-mister he started with a 3 gallon brew pot in his kitchen to a 10 gallon modified keg on his porch to their current location 3 years ago....great ideas take time! Hanks refers to their production as a Nano-brewery. Nano is a scaled down microbrewery, often run by a solo entrepreneur (Hank) that produces beer in small batches. Let the small batch brew tasting begin.
I have Bert set me up with an adventurous Catalina flight of five. Up first, La Rosa - Prickly Pear Cream Ale (4.5%, 25 IBU) rosy amber color, light refreshing prickly pear...nice. Mesquite Agave - American Ale (6.3%, 40 IBU) flagship...crushed mesquite pods, agave nectar with Northern & Perle hops, balanced with smooth finish. Next we have Canada del Oro Golden Blonde - Ale (5.2%, 20 IBU) easy drinking, light and smooth. Droolin Dolly's Amber (6.5%, 40 IBU) dark Amber in tribute to Dolly the dog. And last we had 0200 IPA - East Coast Style IPA (5.6%, 70 IBU) Amarillo, Simcoe & Centennial hop old school before the trendy hop bombs, balanced, refreshing and very drinkable....."Say Bert, can I have another"? Jake and the other Jake enthusiastically try as many as they can....Mesquite Porter (5.8%, 40 IBU) smokey and the bandit, Study Session IPA (4.0%, 45 IBU) Thunder Canyon collaboration and Mesquite Smoked Pecan Dopplebock (9%, 24 IBU) nutty, flavorful and sitting in front of a wood burning fireplace in a one room cabin in the middle of December located somewhere high in the rock mountains worthy!
Hank invites the three of us to step into the production area where he's doing some cleaning and brewing. Hanks teaches middle school social studies by day so talking us through the process and answering questions from the Jakes was second nature. Not often do you get a behind the scenes look and Hank is just an all around good guy. The Jakes were mesmerized, as was I as Hank worked the equipment with ease. Brewing for 20 years and turning a passion into a viable business is the American Dream and I love seeing it.
To my left we have Ian & Sarah who cashed in a Groupon and who are Hoppin through date night at Catalina Brewing......fun couple loving life! Right in front of me stands Griz...aka Hayden from Vancouver. He tells me about brewcouver.com, most definitely a future city visit on the Hoppin Brewery Tour.....so many places, so little time!
We had a ball at Catalina Brewing. Hank's a gem, Bert's the Bomb and the beer is brilliant!
Until next time and remember.........
Go get'cha one!!
