From the Beer Writer: I am a native San Diegan wearing a Milwaukee Brewers cap and jersey as I type this. (Hey, when you grow up rooting for San Diego sports teams you learn really quick that you’re going to need a Plan B.) My team is currently battling the Dodgers in baseball’s National League Championship Series, so it’s particularly odd for me to focus on a beer that is named for an L.A. team’s superstar, but quality is king, every bit as much as the player I’m alluding to, LeBron James (AKA: “King James”), who is ruler of the modern-day NBA…and, more recently, Los Angeles Lakers fans’ hearts. Enter Savior: a triple-hopped, hazy double IPA that will be released at noon today by Mikkeller Brewing San Diego in cans with labels featuring LeBron’s cartoon mug in Laker purple and gold. The name speaks to Angelinos’ hopefulness that the Lakers will return to their former glory after luring James to the City of Angels during the off-season. Regardless of how the Lake Show fares over the next six (or seven) months, this beer is a play-off contender. Despite an 8% ABV, it comes across as the low-viscosity mimosa beer it’s intended to be, with orange juiciness accented by toasty pine-cone notes and pithiness in the finish. This weekend you can drink this purely S.D. beer brewed with a nod to L.A. while supporting an N.Y.C. charity, as a portion of all sales at Mikkeller’s Miramar tasting room will be donated to Pencils of Promise, a New York-based non-profit organization enhancing educational opportunities in needy communities worldwide.
From the Brewer: “Welcome to the land of the Lakers, King James! We specially brewed a triple-dry-hopped double IPA featuring Nelson, Belma, and Waimea hops. Savior is a three-time champion of tropical fruitiness and piney dankness. This double IPA is a windmill of guava and pineapple with hints of Sauvignon Blanc. Mikkeller Brewing challenges the concept of good beer through hard work and having a hell of a lot of fun while doing it…just like L.A.’s new savior. Come enjoy this special release at our two local San Diego locations in Miramar and Little Italy. Also, visit our L.A. location next time you’re up for a game!”—Daniel Cady, Brewer, Mikkeller Brewing San Diego