Who is Mike Hess?
Mike Hess Brewing of San Diego has quickly risen to be one of the most respected breweries on the California West Coast. Beer Hawk have just started stocking its award-winning beers. Here are the highlights
The plaudits speak for themselves: World Beer Cup Winner 2016 Gold Award for the Claritas Kölsch< and voted San Diego’s Best Brewery, which is quite saying something when you are up against Green Flash, Ballast Point, Modern Times, Stone and AleSmith. So what is it about Mike Hess, a newcomer to British shores at least, that has caught the beer world’s attention?
Mike Hess was started by, you’ve guessed it, Mike Hess back in 2010. Amazingly, this was the 33rd brewery to open in the city. Mike himself was a homebrewer for some 15 years, before making the jump to become a commercial ‘nano brewer’. It was an immediate success, selling out all the beer at the opening day party (they then had to close the tap room for two weeks to replenish stock).
Today, Mike Hess Brewing employs 20 full-time staff and 12 part-time staff across three San Diego sites. It has been a heady rise even by craft beer standards. This is partly down to the great tap room experience, but mostly the exceptionally high quality of its beer. The mantra is: “Our mission is to brew great beer. No exceptions. No excuses.” And that’s what it delivers, superlative beers brewed to style. The Thornbridge of USA perhaps.
Mike Hess / Habitus Rye IPA / 8%
One of San Diego’s premier craft breweries, Mike Hess Brewing proves that good things come in small packages. This comparatively small brewery made big noise by winning gold for their Habitus Double Rye IPA at the 2014 World Beer Cup. Piney, citrusy and spicy, this high-gravity DIPA is a surprisingly drinkable beer.
Claritas won gold at the 2016 World Beer Cup in the Kölsch category, alongside a raft of other awards. It is an authentically produced German beer in the Kölsch style with an exceptionally clean finish, alongsie some fruity aromatics.
Mike Hess / Grazias Vienna Cream / 5.4%
We love a Vienna lager, a style that is smooth and showcases a malt characteristic, plus a subtle hop aroma. It’s also surprisingly dark. This beer is all about balance, and Mike Hess Grazias is masterful. A wonderful, wonderful beer.
Mike Hess / 8 West / 6%
8 West is an Orange Honey Wheat beer and if that’s not sunshine in a glass we don’t know what is. It is even named after the road to the Pacific shores of San Diego. It’s brewed with local orange peel and loads of pure California orange-blossom honey, resulting in a smooth, crisp taste.
Mike Hess / Solis Occasus IPA / 7.5%
The Solis Occasus range of IPAs, each with different hop combinations and malt blends. However, it’s always 7.5%, always hop forward with some displaying fruit and citrus characteristics, while others may be earthier or offer up more pine notes. Either way, it’s always delicious.
