Beer of the Week: 9th Anniversary IPA

Palates are like personalities – everybody’s is unique. Our taste buds react differently to individual stimuli. Some flavors come across as more intense while others may not register at all. In the case of yours truly, the bitterness of certain items – watercress, mustard greens and, most notably, hops – is overbearing and sometimes downright ruinous. When brewers started shifting away from triple-digit IBU IPAs in an effort to show off the subtler characteristics of the hops in those beers, it was immensely helpful, especially as someone who describes beers for a living. Then there are the flavors we’re individually blind to. It is extremely rare for me to pick up the flavor of peanut butter in beer. It’s a severe bummer, but that trend is largely in the rear view mirror, so I’ll survive. For a long time, I was under the impression that I also had a problem picking up on a flavor attributed to a particular hop. That Pacific Northwest varietal goes by the name of Strata and is primarily known for imparting red-berry essence into finished beers. When I first tasted a beer brewed with Strata back in 2018, I mostly got tropical fruit, but also picked up on that certain something everybody was instantly giddy for. Then, for the next few years…nothing. I thought my palate had a legitimate blind spot, but in recent years, I’ve been able to detect that berry flavor, and the Strata-laced beers I’ve found it in are all the better for it, including this week’s featured brew, 9th Anniversary IPA from Culver Beer Co. A limited offering making its debut as part of tomorrow’s anniversary celebration at the brewery’s Carlsbad tasting room, it is almost exclusively red currant up front; the boldest berry expression I’ve ever experienced. From there, orange rind (which later presents as citrus juiciness as the beer warms) takes over before giving way to a sturdily resinous finish. It’s a beer worthy of a brewery birthday and one even a guy who thought he had a busted berry sensor can easily appreciate.

We’re so stoked to be celebrating nine years at Culver Beer this week with a new IPA and some special sandwiches from our onsite deli, Locally Toasted. This batch leans into a hop combo I’ve really been digging lately at other breweries around town, with Strata CGX up front for berry and cannabis notes, some Simcoe for that classic citrus and pine, and a little Luminosa to brighten it all up with melon and more citrus. The beer sits at 6.8% (alcohol-by-volume), drinks dry and clear, and carries a punchy hop aroma. It’s the kind of IPA that disappears fast, especially when there’s a French Dip involved. We’d love for you to stop by and celebrate with us in Carlsbad, right near Bressi Ranch. Cheers!”

Mike Stevenson, Head Brewer, Culver Beer Co.

Culver Beer Co. is located at 2719 Loker Avenue West in Carlsbad