Hey y’all, your traveling, beer-loving guest writer is back for another installment (thanks, Ama)! On a recent trip – OK, not too recent but we will get to that later – to Mammoth, California, a group of YOTB enthusiasts decided to hit up Mammoth Brewing Co. during whiteout conditions on the mountain to see if So. Cal. really is better in all things important. Rest assured, we are but Mammoth Brewing Co. is a definite do-over on my next snowboarding trip.
The MBC is nestled in a smallish warehouse and has a very homey, comfortable feel to it. Mammoth Mountain established itself as a ski resort in 1953 (a little history lesson for you) and the tasting room definitely embodies that era. Being a mountain town, the brewery had a very German chalet/mountain cabin vibe with natural, warm wood décor everywhere. There is no food available at this location, but there is a lot of swag for purchase, which after tasting every beer on tap at a higher altitude seemed like a GREAT idea! I see what you’re doing here MBC, and I am not mad about it. The shirts that came home with us are some of my faves.
As for our visit, the tasting room is a standalone establishment, but it will be moving to the actual brewery by the end of March.
The staff was super friendly, funny and welcoming. While a few of the less-patient YOTB participants were a little bummed that the tasting room didn’t serve pints, the staff more than made up for this oddity. During the tasting, it was evident the staff loved working at MBC and took beer very seriously, educating us on the flavors and the process behind each beer. These were definitely people I would go out drinking with. The only drawback to date, for me, was the lack of seating. After riding for better part of the day, I could have used a place to put my feet up. However, the brewery definitely redeemed itself by welcoming – not just allowing – dogs! At a couple points in the afternoon, the ratio of dog to human was pretty close to tied. Yuma and Lady probably got more attention from the staff than we did (and we clearly got a lot).
Please note, despite not serving pints, MBC did sell individual beers and filled growlers and kegs.
On to the really important stuff – beer.
Gold Trout
Vienna Malt with Saaz hops. It had a medium body, and was a bit peppery. The ending taste was softer with some floral notes. This was a good drinking beer, as in you could definitely have a couple and the taste wouldn’t be too overpowering. We really enjoyed this beer, but don’t know if it is one of those ones you crave. ABV 5.5%
Paranoids
Orange blossom, centennial and cascade hops. It was zesty, with hints of citrus and pine, without being overwhelming. At points, it almost taste burnt. This was not a crowd pleaser. ABV 5.5%
Real McCoy
This beer was deemed a “light amber” despite its dark color. There was more malt but less hops. The drink was mellow and smooth with great flavor. This beer was served on tap all around the resort and became the group’s go-to between runs. ABV 5.0%
Double Nut Brown
Chocolate Malt. This beer had a nice body with a coffee smell and aftertaste. There were just hints of chocolate peppered throughout the drink so it didn’t seem as heavy as some other browns. It paired perfectly with the snowy day. According to the staff, this beer is a local favorite and I can definitely see why. ABV 5.5%
Floating Rock Hefeweizen
White labs (shout out SD!). Hints of clove. Banana flavor. Given those were all the notes I took, plus the fact I don’t like bananas, I am going to hazard a guess this was not one of my favorites. ABV 5.0%
Epic IPA
Horizon, cotta and Amarillo hops. With its grapefruit taste, it was a lighter, brighter IPA. It had a medium body but still packed an IPA punch. It was delicious. Thankfully, this brew was also served on tap at the resort. ABV 6.5%
395 IPA
Made with local sage and juniper, it’s a bit more floral than most IPAs. This beer was also made with crystal malts, so it was a bit sweeter than expected. As such, the boys dubbed it a “chick’s IPA.” ABV 8.0% (You’re right boys, only us girls could successfully handle a higher ABV.)
Lair of the Bear
Barrel-aged imperial stout. This German-style double bock was pretty traditional and had some satisfying caramel notes. In a row of flavorful, memorable beers, this did not stand out. It was good, but not MBC’s most impressive. ABV 9.0%.
Elderberry Sour
A sour aged in a bourbon barrel?! Yes, please! The tartness of this sour was right on point, and was evened out by some delicious jammy notes. The only drawback for me was that it was overly carbonated and almost felt like drinking a soda. For a sour fan, this would be a great beach beer. ABV 8.7%
Blondibock
This blonde bock was aged in a bourbon barrel. It had some weird varying tastes that we just couldn’t figure out or get on board with. ABV 7.5%
1953 Red Ale
This beer was specially drafted to commemorate Mammoth Mountain’s 60th anniversary. It was a traditional Irish red with a hint of chocolate. This would be in the running for crowd favorite if it wasn’t for the brew’s odd aftertaste. ABV 6.7%
Fire & Eisbock
Whelp, this is the beginning of my end and the reason why it took me so long to write this blog post. This brew was smoother and sweeter than the rest, making it cravable and easy to drink. Prior to bottling, the beer is frozen in order to freeze out 2% of the water – making this tasty treat have an ABV of 10%. This, far and away, was the crowd favorite. So much so that asked for repeat tastes of this and got a growler that we promptly drank at home. Maybe this wasn’t the best beer to have prior to traversing icy streets (the end result being 3 broken bones)… But it was the best beer at MBC.
Sherpa Ale
Belgian hybrid that incorporates cardamom. It kind of tastes like chai tea. It was great to taste, but I don’t think I would want a whole pint of it. ABV 7.5%
Do-Overs:
Fire & Eisbock
Golden Trout
Real McCoy
Double Nut Brown
Epic IPA
395 IPA
Lair of the Bear
Elderberry Sour (if you like sours)
1953 Red Ale
Thanks, But I’ll Pass:
Sherpa Ale
Paranoids
Floating Rock Hefeweizen
Blondibock
And there y’all have it – the best beer Mammoth Mountain has to offer. If you need me, I’ll just be over here craving a Fire & Eisbock and dreaming about the next out-of-town breweries I’ll be traveling to in order to bring you hard evidence that San Diego truly has the best craft brews.
Click here to visit their website.
Bottoms Up!
-Whitney
Year of the Brew.2 