Enbeerment’s Lagerbier of the Week: Brighter Than Sunshine

*Originally posted August 5, 2021*

Radiant Beer Co. opened its doors, kind of, during the height of pandemic in 2020 with to-go only packaged beer and shined bright from day one. Only a few weeks later, their first Lager was packaged and sold. Since then, Radiant’s head of all things brewing Andrew Bell his brewing team has consistently had a Lagerbier flowing and available on-site ever since it was safe to do so. Their latest German-Style Pilsner (Pils), Brighter Than Sunshine is Enbeerment’s Lagerbier of the week!

Any well-produced German Pils benefits with the use of traditional old-world ingredients. Brighter Than Sunshine does just that with the use of only German malt and hops, with a focus on the application of Saphir, Tettnang, and Hallertau Mittlefrüh hops. Tettnang and Hallertau Mittlefrüh are both Noble Hops and are renowned for their pleasant properties and elegant nature. Saphir, a popular German hop, is a fairly recent addition to the available hop roster. Only being bred by the Hop Research Center Hüll (about 45 minutes north of Munich) in 2002, Saphir imparts a nice mix of “noble” qualities along with some added new-world characters. All three shimmer in sophistication in Brighter Than Sunshine.

Pouring a pale golden yellow with a fluffy cap of foam, aided using a LUKR (Czech “slow pour”) Faucet when ordered at the tasting room. Aromas of biscuit let the hops gracefully take the spotlight. Tettnang and Hallertau Mittlefrüh provide the black tea, sage, dried lavender, fresh pine, sweet spices, and new-mown hay while Saphir adds lemon zest and berry stems all in graceful balance. The palate is much the same with the addition of an earl grey tea and lemongrass. Medium-bodied and highly effervescent with a snappy mouthfeel. Pleasantly bitter and clean, semi-dry finish.

Pair with almost any meal one may think of especially Mexican and Thai dishes where the hop flavors resonate with the cilantro and lime while the carbonation washes away any oils left on the tongue. A great partner with carne asada, too. If seafood is more your liking, shellfish or delicate fish will work, especially with citrus marinades or drizzles. Brighter Than Sunshine can stand up to spicy dishes (did someone say Buffalo Wings?) and salty dishes are tamed by the bitterness.

Enjoy a pour while it’s still around and take home a 4-pack.

Radiant Beer Co.
1566 W Lincoln Ave, Anaheim, CA 92801
Website, Insta, Facebook

Prost!

Gilbert “Charlie” Perez, Advanced Cicerone®

It’s Time to Shine! Radiant Beer Co. Open to the Public

Blank Slate, Parallel Path, and Becoming More Real by Radiant Beer Co.

*Updated February 19th, 2021*

Where one giant that was too ambitious to succeed was slain, another with the right vigor and comprehension has resurrected in its place. Housed where Towne Park used to be, Radiant Beer Co. is Anaheim’s newest brewery to add to OC’s impressive line-up of amazing beer producers. Radiant is shining brightly ever since their initial releases of Blank Slate (Witbier), Parallel Path (West Coast IPA), and Becoming More Real (Hazy IPA).

Released as a sneak-peak back in early January, these first three Radiant offerings were an appropriate display of the skills, experience, and potential of this tight-knit award-winning team. Lead by Managing Partner Jonas Nemura, Director of Brewing Andrew Bell, and Director of Marketing Cambria Griffith, this team gained much clout during their careers at The Bruery.

Left to Right: Andrew Bell, Jonas Nemura, and Cambria Griffith
Photo by Radiant Beer Co.

Since then, the patio area has been opened up while more improvements and renovations continue indoors. Soon, Radiant's tasting room will have a more colorful decor, murals, and, of course, beers for us to enjoy. Furthermore, a food concept will be added (flatbreads are a big possibility, but my money is on tacos!) along with activities, when it is safe to do so, such as creating your own tie-dye shirt.

The brewery itself keeps shifting in the right direction, too. Unusable tanks, piping, and plumbing accessories have been removed and replaced where applicable, and a new RO Water System. Furthermore, the inherited canning line will be refurbished for future use. A barrel program is already underway with some impressive finds to age some beer in. Names like Buffalo Trace, Elijah Craig, and Wild Turkey adorn the first barrels acquired by Bell and the team.

But, how are the suds? Well, a small review of the original three beers plus a current favorite are below.

Blank Slate

Witbiers can be romanticized as the feeling of a summer evening breeze on the beach in beer form. This Witbier embodies that sentiment as it pours out a veiled straw-colored with a pillow of foam just as the waves leave behind. Aromas of white tea leaves, lime zest, and an entire spice cabinet. Flavors are soft, yet present, with notes of grain, tea, orange, lime, sage, mint, and a faint acidity note that lends to the refreshingly dry finish. Wonderful stuff!! This will be one of those on regular rotation it seems. Can’t wait to pair this with a goat cheese omelet.

Becoming More Real

I’m not a hazy guy. If you are even remotely close to knowing anything about me, that would be one of the first things that I’ll unapologetically admit. With that said, my honest opinion here is…. Wow! This is some good stuff! These are the hazy’s, when I drink, I understand why a lot of beer drinkers admire them. Pours out a foggy (duh!) orange that looks like a Weissbier at first glance with a giant white cloud on top. Aromas of peaches and cream, coconut, and white strawberry with the taste being much the same. The texture is creamy, and bitterness is low but present in the finish. Pair this with your favorite salty ramen or spicy Indian curry dishes.

Parallel Path

Put another tick mark on great IPA’s out of Orange County. Golden pale-colored with a lightly off-white cap. On the nose, oh, the nose…. Various berries, cucumbers, and oranges spritzed with lime juice, and a hint of dried chives. The palate radiates (pun intended!) with blueberries, orange peels, limes, underripe pineapple, and a bit of that “dank” we all have come to love (or accept). The mouthfeel is smooth and a snappy bitter finish. Do you like firey Thai dishes such as Pad Kee Mao? Pair them with Parallel Path.

Inherent Good

Lager beers are some of my favorite styles, and I am quite critical of them. My criticism of this beer is... Nothing! We are spoiled in OC to have such wonderful Lager producers and we have yet another to add to our already impressive list. A dry-hopped version of their Recommission Lager generously dosed with Saphir hops. Crisp and refreshing, as any clean traditional Pale Lager should and with flavors of herbal tea, lemongrass, green spices, and fresh hay beam out of the glass. A pint is not enough! A mug is a must for this one.

Bell on the Brew-Deck of the Impressive Brewhouse
Photo by Radiant Beer Co.

This is a good, strong showing out of the gate for Radiant. I trust this is only a sign of what's to come. Do any of the three beers seem like they would be up your alley? I encourage you to give them a try. I thoroughly enjoyed each one of them. I can’t wait to see the completed transformation and enjoy a beer on-premise. See you there!

Inherent Good Dry-Hopped Lager

Public sales began on Wednesday, January 13th, 2021. It was symbolically considered their "opening day" for pick-up and delivery until regulations/recommendations allow for safe on-premise enjoyment. As of now, the patio is open for on-site consumption, too.

Radiant Beer Co. is located at 1566 W. Lincoln Ave, Anaheim, CA.

Web, Facebook, Instagram.

Stay safe, wear your face-covering, and respect your fellow humans.

Cheers!

Gilbert “Charlie” Perez, Advanced Cicerone®

Enbeerment’s Oktoberfestbier of the Week (2020): Festbier Ja! by Brewery X

Continuing from last week’s kickoff of Oktoberfest focused beers until the end of this month, we travel up La Palma Ave a bit for our next lagerbier. We arrive at Brewery X, the striking and almost unfathomably popular brewery that is celebrating its 1st year since it officially began pouring beer. One of the beers that was available shortly after opening was briefly flowing once again. Festbier, Ja! is our Oktoberfestbier of the week.

During their Oktoberfest and 1st Year Anniversary combo celebration the last weekend of September, Festbier, Ja! flowed so much the draught version unfortunately no longer available. But, as of this post, packed six-packs are available to take home. It is unfortunate you can’t enjoy this on draught out in their spacious biergarten, but there’s plenty of Stein Me Up, their Helles Lager which serves as a great substitute for on-site enjoyment.

The beer is one of the few local examples of the Festbier style. Not to be confused with the Märzen style, Festbier is more golden in color and a bit less on the toasty notes you’ll find in the darker malty lagerbier. Festbier, Ja! is perhaps slightly too pale gold, but I won’t knock it too much for that. The aromas are that of light toast, and a bit floral with notes of biscuits, rich cereal with honey, and a touch of grass on the palate with a lingering bitterness to prevent the finish from being overly sweet.

Brewery X is in Anaheim located at 3191 E La Palma Ave, or on-line (Website, Facebook, Instagram).

Prost!

Gilbert “Charlie” Perez, Advanced Cicerone®