Logsdon Organic Farmhouse Ales

Session Beers are the new Double IPA’s.  If craft beer is to become a bigger part of the overall brewing market; lower alcohol beers are a necessity.  Not every palate is suited for big, hoppy IPA’s or boozey bourbon barrel aged stouts.  Me personally…I love big beers and I appreciate the complexity of these beers but I am also learning to love more and more session beers.

I popped in to Bottlecraft in San Diego last night  for a visit with friend Renee.  The place was packed.  My ability to drink beer has been a bit challenged lately so I was perusing the cooler looking for something mellow.  I spied a bottle of Logsdon Organic Farmhouse Ales “Kili Wit” and my choice was made.

Kili Wit is a 5.5% Witbier brewed with “organic barley malt, wheat and oats along with whole cone Oregon hops and African spice“.   This beer is bready (is this actually a word?) on the nose with hints of orange blossoms, banana and coriander.  The beer pours with a thick, off-white head that holds for a significant period.  Medium carbonation and dry mouthfeel.  The orange zest is prominent on the palate.   I detect a little funk but not sure where it comes from.   No hop bitterness.  The spice is light which appeals to my taste.  I don’t care for really spicy witbiers but that is just my taste.  I thought it finished quite dry with a little lingering spice.  I enjoyed this beer very much as did several others that I shared it with.   It’s so nice to find beers under 6% ABV that have complex flavors.  Consider me a fan!

I love the labels on the Logsdon beers, the Kili Wit being no exception.  What’s not to love about adorable giraffes gazing at the snowy slopes of Kilimanjaro?  In 2015 I hope to cross climbing this peak off my bucket list so the images on Logsdon bottles inspire me.  On a social note, a percentage of proceeds from this beer goes to the  K2 Adventures Foundation.  The brewery operates as a cooperative and the members participate in all aspects of the brewery work.  How cool is that?  They even have a small herd of organic raised Scottish Highlander cattle that dine on spent barely, oats & wheat!!!

You can check out the Logsdon Organic Farmhouse Ale’s website here:

http://farmhousebeer.com/farmhouseales.php

This is the 3rd beer I have tried from Logsdon and I am a fan of all three.  I can’t wait to try the Peche ‘n’ Brett and the Cerasus.  I will be keeping my eyes peeled for their new releases in the upcoming months.  I’ll also be checking out availability when I visit Portland next week.  If you can find Logsdon beers in your area, please give them a try.

Cheers!

xoxo
TheArtofBeer

PrepKitchen – The Latest Hot Spot in Little Italy

My lucky star was shining above me tonight when I parked my car on India Street directly in front of the new PREPKITCHEN location in Little Italy. I left work early to make the trek home from my office in Irvine and my agenda was picking up dinner to bring home. When I got out of the car I noticed all signs of construction were gone at the highly anticipated location and I stopped to look at the menu posted in the window. A really nice guy appeared at the door and asked if I wanted to come in and have a drink while they tested out their service. Why yes thank you…that sounds perfect!

I walked up the stairs and was gobsmacked when I saw the space! The transformation from the bizarro water boutique to this absolutely stunning restaurant and lounge is incredible. Prepkitchen is the latest addition to the very popular Whisknladle Hospitality creation’s of Ryan Johnston and Arturo Kassel. These guys clearly have a formula for success. Reclaimed wood, eclectic details and fantastic lighting make for a warm and inviting space. I had no clue this place was so big based on appearance from the street but the architect really did a good job creating division so that it feels cozy in each of the defined areas.

The bar is stocked with great craft spirits. My heart fluttered when I spotted the Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve and the Family Reserve Rye! Holy Impressive Bourbon Selection Batman! The craft beer selection is also notable. They actually represent a diverse style range which encourages experimenting with food pairings. I love that they have Rodenbach on tap and I am hopeful that Prepkitchen Little Italy will consider some innovative “Craft Beer Cocktails” as an addition to the very interesting list of Craft Cocktails and Wine. The prices are, in my opinion, par for the high quality of the ingredients. Their concept is definitely Farm-to-Table and this definitely appeals to the ethical foodie in me. The staff was attentive, friendly and best of all — void of hipster attitude! Please don’t get me wrong — there are times when I enjoy a hipster vibe, but really…I like people who are nice and that take a few moments to engage in conversation. My server behind the bar, John, was awesome. His knowledge of the product was exceptional. It’s hard to believe they had just opened. He made mention of the fact that several people there came from PF Chang’s. This is impressive. Paul Fleming wrote the book on consistent, superior service and I have always had respect for the PF Chang’s culture.

I ordered the Bone Marrow appetizer and a Warm White Bean & Arugula Salad. My cocktail choice was a Manhattan made with Basil Hayden’s Small Batch Bourbon and Antica Formula Vermouth. Wow, wow and WOW! The Bone Marrow was cooked to buttery perfection; topped with red onion, parsley, lemon and served with what I would describe as a ranch-style toast. The Pesto-Tossed White Beans and Arugula were topped with shaved-Parmigiano-Reggiano and the combination was scrumptious. I was totally checking out what other people ordered and everything looked delicious. I have a feeling it will take many future visits to make it through the menu which incidentally, will change daily based on available, seasonal, local ingredients. Prepkitchen sources produce from Suzie’s Farm (My CSA Provider) and several other local farms. This is another great notch in San Diego’s already stellar belt Slow Food restaurants.

Warm White Bean Arugula Salad

Bone Marrow

The official opening is Monday, January 30th. I highly recommend you hustle over to PREPKITCHEN and be one of the early fans! This is a much welcomed addition to my beloved and vibrant Little Italy neighborhood.

Cheers…TheArtofBeer
xoxo

You can check out their website for other locations and get an idea of their concept here ➙➙➙➙➙➙

http://whisknladle.com/about