1886 Nachos, aka a Matterhorn of crispy chips. photo – Greg Nagel Why do some people call it “the Orange Circle,” when it’s actually called “the Plaza Square,” I ponder, while sipping a rare brown porter in the brick-walled 1886 Brewing, just north of the newly rebuilt central fountain. I pick at my heaping plate of nachos, looking for the perfect bite, then gasp as I see the countdown to the 2024 World Beer Cup awards ceremony amongst the various brewpub TV sports. (World Beer Cup Winners are listed below) “They make beer here?” asks my niece, who attends college nearby. I point out the gri ..read more

It’s tough to write about beer dinners as the numbers show: people don’t like to read about them. As you’ve probably already nodded off to sleep, I’ll get to the nitty-gritty. The 2016 Darkstar November beer dinner was probably one of the best beer dinners I’ve been to. Why? It was relaxed. It was paced. It had hospitality. It didn’t have a billion calories. There wasn’t a nasty slab of pork belly. The dishes were portioned well. The beer pairings actually worked. It wasn’t overly gluttonous. It seems like Bottle Logic is getting incredibly comfortable pulling these dinners off. Crazy, huh? Th ..read more

We’ve all had a classic Americana-style Knowlwood burger in our lives, but the Anaheim Hills/Yorba/Placentia tri-city area location will soon transform into a local brewery. After checking the California ABC permit lookup for 5665 E La Palma Ave, Anaheim where Knowlwood was, the location has a coveted type 23 Small Beer Manufacturer license as the restaurant had begun to move in brewing equipment, but they ended closing suddenly this week. Bust out the bugle, it’s time for… teaser taster TAPS will be opening in that ol’ Knowlwood barn in the coming months… “TAPS Great American Brewery, yes ..read more

riip beer co took home four medals in 2023. Photo by Greg Nagel It’s a cold and rainy night up in the state’s Capitol, and the California Brewer’s Cup is making it rain INDOORS, with medals for our Orange County brewers. Winners were announced at the historic Crest Theater during the California Craft Beer Summit, which is running from March 20-22. Big congrats to all the winners! Gold (10) Brewery X Stein Me Up Münchner (Munich)-Style Helles Stereo Brewing Company Robot Imperial Red Ale Riip Beer Company Strategic Arrangement American-Style Stout Artifex Brewing Company ..read more

The only snakes in Ireland are the roads. Photo by Greg Nagel I haven’t written a lot about St. Patricks Day, as it’s more of a “drinking” day than it is a “beer” day, and we, as in, you and I, have made the day less of celebrating Irish heritage, and more about: Putting green dye in gross beer Eating the world’s saddest corned beef “tacos”  Flogging some poor gal named Molly Creepy-ass Leprechauns!  I’ve been to Ireland, and the beer they drink is BLACK. Corned beef? Turns out it was invented by the BRITISH. The lore behind it is also completely fake, as St. Patrick never drove ..read more

I feel like every blog needs to have some sort of stupid, “I’M BACK” post, or some fucking lame apology for lack of updates. Truth is, I’ve been busy pushing content on other sites, getting paid the “big bucks.” In case you missed it, I wrote over 250 articles at OCWeekly. I just crossed 300 on OrangeCoast! I wrote a bunch of words for The Full Pint! I’m still on the FourBrewers Podcast!  My good friend Kris from High School, recently reminded me of the importance of blogging. There’s a difference between what I write for publications and what I write here. In beer terms, this blog is l ..read more

Poolside sippin’. Reservations suggested. Photo – Nagel It’s weird to think all the way back in 1851 there was a utopian community in New York called Modern Times, where the founders and builders based its ideals on individual sovereignty and equitable commerce. There is some parking, but download the CtrCity Anaheim app and use Fran from the Center Street Promenade parking structures or rideshare. Neighborhood parking is permit. Photo – Nagel A few years later, the city of Anaheim would be built by a similar forward-thinking community of poets, vintners, and ragtag artists…soon to follow ..read more

′OCBeerBlog has moved on to hundreds of freelance gigs. Find his shenanigans here! Drink and Dine Writer at OCWeekly.com What the Ale Column at OCWeekly.com Booze Writer at OrangeCoast.com (2015-July 2018) Video Production on Youtube  Firkfest Cask Beer Festival Podcast on Four Brewers Follow him on social media: Facebook Instagram Twitter ..read more