With the growth of the craft beer industry we’re seeing the expansion of some long lasting breweries from local brewing icons to regional players. In the Bay Area this has meant our own Drake’s Brewing has become a standard after years of being an East Bay secret. We’re also lucky enough to have recently been added to the distribution territory of San Diego’s Karl Strauss. The Beer of the Week is Karl Strauss’s Tower 10 IPA.
Tower 10 IPA boasts hops from beginning to end, and everywhere in between. We fill the brew kettle to the brim with assertive Chinook hops, giving the beer its intense grapefruit and pine flavors that linger through its dry finish. After fermentation, we dry hop with a blend of Cascade and Centennial hops for a floral citrus aroma. A touch of lightly kilned caramel malts make Tower 10 a well balanced, full flavored IPA.
Mission Beach, the late 1980s. Amid a sea of neon bikinis, Tower 10 marked the spot where two college grads and a 75 year-old master brewer drew up plans for the first local craft brewery in San Diego since Prohibition. Named in honor of our first good idea, Tower 10 IPA is brewed to inspire the next one.
2012
CA State Fair Commercial Beer Competition
Silver2010
LA County Fair
BronzeAlcohol by Volume: 7%
Color: 9 SRM
Bitterness: 70 IBU
Availability: 24/7/365, Kegs, six-packs, and twelve-packs.
Tower 10 IPA isn’t a big double IPA or aged on oak. It’s a straight forward IPA brewed to modern, hop loving standards. As such, the description of this beer will sound familiar to any craft beer fan. Pine and citrus in the nose gives way to a light bodied but full-flavored malt profile with a kick of bitterness in the finish.
What I really enjoy about Tower 10 IPA is the light bodied nature and flavorful but not overly bitter hopping. Tower 10 IPA is a thirsty man’s IPA as I found myself prone to large gulps and finish my pint sooner than anticipated.
With the late summer beating down on us in Sonoma County, I can see myself reaching for this beer as we get those late season BBQ’s out of the way. While the IPA market is crowded, it’s nice to have each brewer’s variation on the style. Additionally, Tower 10 is a great introduction to this San Diego brewery who is just now venturing into the Bay Area after over 20 years brewing in San Diego.
CONTEST! Want to have a little bit of Karl Strauss schwag? Comment on this article on Facebook and be sure to follow Brewed For Thought. I’ve got pint glasses to give away. Winners will be announced Monday morning.
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