I’ve been casually writing about beer in Orange County since there were literally three breweries. Although I no longer have the time (or pay) to keep doing so on the reg, one sleepless night had me thinking…what are the best and most memorable beers I’ve had that are crafted here in Orange County?

For whatever reason, Orange County seemed to sweep world and national competition with Coffee Beers. Thanks to the incredible coffee-nerdiness of Jeff Duggan from Portola Coffee Lab, Beers like Mocha Machine from Beachwood, Dusk ’til Dawn from Pizza Port, Naughty Sauce from Noble Ale Works, Super Tonic from Docent, The Riizo from Riip, Portola Breakfast Stout from Tustin, There is no Cow Level from Gamecraft…and on and on and on. They’re not all Portola, but most of the brewery collabs he did set the bar for insanely aromatic roastiness in our beer scene.

The Bruery, Black Tuesday. Back in 2009, there weren’t a whole lot of local breweries putting Russian Imperial Stouts into freshly-emptied bourbon barrels. Now, every beer geek probably has a decade-long vertical gently resting in the back of their closet.

Green Cheek, Radiant Beauty. West Coast IPA wasn’t born in Green Cheek’s brewhouse, but they sure did seem to perfect it. Low bitterness, big aroma, resinous mouthfeel. After a pint, I always wanted another.

Unsung, Metaplex

Barley Forge, The Patsy

Bottle Logic, Fundamental Observation

Riip Beer Co, Dan K IPA

Everywhere Brewing Co, Everyone Kolsch

Stereo Brewing, Wall of Sound