From the Beer Writer: Over its three years in business, Pure Project Brewing has been one of the most flirtatious fermentation interests in the county, collaborating with a long list of breweries. That includes operations near and distant, new and old. As they did for their anniversary last year, Pure Project’s brew crew has put together two beers by the same name, Power In Numbers, and though they are different, they hit on the same theme: there’s a lot of good to be gained by collaborating with beer-industry compatriots. For this year’s Power In Numbers beers—an IPA and a triple IPA—Pure Project consulted with all of the 39 businesses it collaborated with during the past calendar year. That roster includes locals (Abnormal Beer Co., AleSmith Brewing, Amplified Ale Works, Burgeon Beer Co., Horus Aged Ales, Karl Strauss Brewing, Mason Ale Works, Pizza Port, Stone Brewing and Thorn Brewing) as well as far-flung operations such as New Orleans’ Courtyard Brewery and Florida’s J. Wakefield Brewing. Developing a cohesive recipe with so many hands in the pot (no matter how skilled) can be rather challenging, but Power In Numbers IPA isn’t as “murky” (Pure Project’s term for its hazy ale stock) as its descriptor suggests. Peach and mango greet you on approach while ripe papaya, spruce and Semillon grape notes make themselves known on the palate. Sweeter than most IPAs, but not cloying, there’s a subtle cake-frosting quality, which is fitting given its birthday-beer status. Both versions of Power In Numbers will be on tap at Pure Project’s anniversary on January 12. Can’t wait that long? They are currently on-tap at the brewery’s tasting room in Miramar.
From the Brewer: “Power in Numbers is a really special series for us in that we get to bring everyone we’ve worked with over the year together to collaborate on a pair of beers. The idea behind Power in Numbers is community in the sense that the camaraderie we have within the brewing/beverage industry is very unique and not really seen in other manufacturing industries. This project is a celebration of the connection between us all and the spirit our industry embodies. It shows that when we get together we can become a larger force than ourselves as individuals. This years Power in Numbers beers are a 6.8% alcohol-by-volume (ABV) IPA featuring Strata hops with support from Motueka and Mosaic, and a triple IPA featuring Nelson, Southern Cross and Hallertau Blanc. The single IPA was designed to be floral and tropical in aroma while still having a very pillowy texture and huge hop flavor thanks to a new varietal called Strata, which has come in to the spotlight this year for its amazing tropical and Cannabaceae properties. The 10.6% ABV triple IPA version of Power in Numbers is an imperial homage to a very well-known San Diego-born rye IPA that I believe started the hazy IPA movement in America.”—Winslow Sawyer, Head Brewer & Partner, Pure Project Brewing