San Francisco. It’s been on my short list of places to visit for quite some time, but for whatever reason, I just haven’t made it there yet. The Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz, Lombard Street, Fisherman’s Wharf, and numerous other sites are all on my “things to do in San Francisco” list, but what really intrigues me are the multitudes of food and drink experiences that I simply must try. I’ll blame TV shows like Anthony Bourdain’s The Layover for this. Show me enough bars and restaurants serving tantalizing drinks and mouth watering food, and I’m gonna want to go there. And if you’re a city that is home to two of my favorite breweries, i.e. Anchor Brewing Company and 21st Amendment, then the sooner I get there the better!

Speakeasy Ales & Lagers is yet another brewery that is located in San Francisco (they’ve been brewing in San Fran since 1997). I’m not exactly sure when they first hit the shelves in South Jersey, but after hearing mostly good things about them over the interwebs, and after seeing their very cool label art, I decided to pick up a few of their beers to see what all the fuss is about. Here’s hoping that Speakeasy is yet another reason for me to visit San Fran in the not too distant future!

Before we get to my review, here are a few words about the Big Daddy IPA taken directly from the Speakeasy website:

No lightweight, Big Daddy IPA tips the scales with a huge hop flavor and a clean, dry finish that leaves the scene without a trace.

And now for my impressions of this beer…

Appearance : Clear, pale orange color with soft, off white foam that peaks at about an inch and then dissipates fairly rapidly, leaving some light lacing behind.

: Clear, pale orange color with soft, off white foam that peaks at about an inch and then dissipates fairly rapidly, leaving some light lacing behind. Aroma : A much more subtle nose than I’m used to these days. Light citrusy notes of orange zest and pink grapefruit coupled with some honey and lightly toasted biscuit scents.

: A much more subtle nose than I’m used to these days. Light citrusy notes of orange zest and pink grapefruit coupled with some honey and lightly toasted biscuit scents. Taste : Light to medium carbonation with some fizzy bubbles that tickle your tongue. The flavors are fairly consistent from start to finish. The mildly bitter hops and sweet malts are definitely working together. As you approach the middle, the bitterness builds up a bit, but it never gets overwhelming. The finish is crisp and clean with a slight lingering bitterness that I find very appealing.

: Light to medium carbonation with some fizzy bubbles that tickle your tongue. The flavors are fairly consistent from start to finish. The mildly bitter hops and sweet malts are definitely working together. As you approach the middle, the bitterness builds up a bit, but it never gets overwhelming. The finish is crisp and clean with a slight lingering bitterness that I find very appealing. ABV: 6.5%

Here we go again! Yet another superb IPA to add to my Craft Beer drinking repertoire. This is my first experience with a Speakeasy beer, and if their other stuff is as good as this one, then there are definitely good times ahead. Overall, I found this to be a lightly hoppy and easy drinking IPA that reminded me (if my memory serves me correctly) of the Three Floyds Zombie Dust and Firestone Walker Union Jack IPA. Not a mind blowing IPA, but definitely one worth trying. I’ll be seeking this out again.