Someone told me once that Victor Novak is one of the last remaining ‘traditionalists’ when it comes to his liquid creations. A recent visit to the Brea location of TAPS Fish House & Brewery reinforces that praise in that, no matter what you choose from their menu, Victor & his team of brewers have created a wonderful beer that is true to style. And they have plenty of medals to prove it.
‘Very mindful of tradition, our beers are handcrafted from the finest English & German malt & hops, pure water and our unique strains of yeasts’
-Victor Novak: Brewmaster, TAPS
Cream Ale [5.5abv] *Gold Medal GABF ’01 & ’05 // First Place CA State Fair ’09
A light, turn-of-the century American ale with a hint of residual sweetness. Straw colored, a bit fruity and smooth, with a pleasant hop bouquet.
California Gold [5.8abv] *Bronze Medal LA County Fair ’05
This medium-bodied, slightly citrusy golden ale is miles apart from its Canadian cousin. It gets its big hoppy punch from our generous use of Columbus hops, NOT for the hopophobic!
Biere de Garde [6.6abv]
Biere de Garde or ‘beer to keep or to store’ is a farmhouse style ale that is typically brewed in the spring to be enjoyed throughout the summer months. Medium to full-bodied, a bit earthy, nice and malty with a smooth finish.
Kellerpils [5.2abv]
An unfiltered version of TAPS’ German Pilsener- this rendition is also light in body & color. Using German Hersbrucker and Tettnang hops lends a pleasant hop nose and a classically dry, crisp finish.
Hefeweizen [5.3abv] *Silver Medal LA Int’l Beer Competition ’09
This is classic Bavarian wheat beer that uses a hefty percentage of wheat malt, adding a slight tanginess to the finish. The true Bavarian yeast strain provides a hint of clove, banana and even hints of bubblegum at times. This classic style is left unfiltered by the brewers to leave in the utmost flavor.
Irish Red [5.6abv] *Gold Medal GABF ’06 // Gold Medal World Beer Cup ’06
A medium-bodied, slightly toasty, Irish-style ale. This was definitely my favorite of the night, I really enjoy a nice & malty red- I even took a growler home for later! Like the menu says, ‘Very smooth and easy to drink’.
90 Shilling Scotch Ale [8.9abv]
Full-bodied, deep reddish-brown and malty, with a hint of toastiness and slightly sweet finish. Higher in alcohol content, it is dangerously drinkable.
Schwarzbier [5.2abv]
Smooth, black, rich medium-bodied German lager. If you thought lagers tend to be light and thin, this baby will rock your world but pamper your palate.
CASK APA [5.5abv]
The TAPS unfiltered APA was inspired by local West Coast hop-heads and this Cask version was extra dry hopped with Yakima Cascade for that extra-special hop kick of flavor & aroma. Definitely NOT a tooth-stripping hop-bomb, this full flavored pale is very nicely balanced and a worthy experience.
Don’t think I left out the food, the chefs at TAPS have gone out of their way to create menu offerings that pair exceptionally well with the in-house beers allowing the flavors of the ingredients to shine through. The extensive choices on the TAPS menu make it simple to please any palate, young & old.
TAPS Brea is located at 101 E. Imperial Hwy and is open Monday – Saturday for lunch & open seven days a week for dinner. For an extra special Sunday, join them every weekend for the Jazz Brunch extravaganza. To make reservations or get hours of operation, visit their website or call direct at 714.257.0101
