Ontario International Airport
It is getting late in the day on a Thursday which means the week is coming to a close. The project is progressing nicely and with a few hours to departure I head out the door, swap my steel toed boots for sneakers and make my way to the airport. I’m flying out of Ontario again this week which means I have a mildly pleasant 25 minute drive to the rental car lot. It has been an uncharacteristically rainy week in Southern California. Earlier in the day, it was raining harder than I have ever experienced in this part of the country. I am accustomed to rain, so this does not bother me any more than normal. No rain, no rainbows and we got one, just as I was heading to the airport.
I kind of daydream my way into the car rental return. There are people and things on my mind and as soon as I pull into the return I realize I haven’t filled the tank with gas. While of no real consequence, it bothers me that there will be a charge of six or seven dollars a gallon for the fuel I have used while on the ground. Out of principle alone, I should have topped off the tank on my way in but I’m distracted by other thoughts and tired after another long week. Oh well, next time…
Everyone is lovely at the car return, and I make my way through the white gate and out to the shuttle. I am left alone with my thoughts this evening as my associate is otherwise occupied, there is no chat to be had. I am hoping the shuttle bus turns in to a tour bus again tonight. I would like to understand what happened with the hobos and the winery, as I missed a chunk of the story on my last visit. Alas, it’s just a shuttle bus. I don’t know if I will ever know how the hobos overran the beautiful winery. Maybe next week?
Once again I find myself sitting at the Cross Grain Brewhouse in Ontario, California. The ease of security in Ontario is well documented and tonight was no exception. The Bar is in its usual state and I can’t possibly bring myself to eat here again. The plucky local hockey team is about to begin a game which I can stream live and at this moment I’ve decided to drink my dinner. Not really, I’ve ordered some sort of brisket sandwich for dinner service on the plane. In the meantime, I’m going to spend some time with Sculpin, the very adequate IPA on draft, and watch the club try to scratch one out.
Sculpin IPA from Ballast Point Brewing Company in San Diego is the beer for me at this bar. The other offerings on draft are Bud Light, Blue Moon, Michelob Ultra, Modelo and something from 805 Brewing. I latched on to this beer a few weeks ago and have not found the need to keep searching. I thought I would attempt a proper scoring.
Stats
7% ABV
70 IBU
Visual
A very pleasant golden amber color, clear and unfiltered. Approximately 1 finger of head, and a lasting Belgian lace.
Available year round in bottles, cans and kegs
Nose
Mostly tropical notes, pineapple, citrus, pine with Wonder Bread in the background.
Flavor
Medium body, light tropical taste with mango, orange and slight grapefruit. Interestingly, the pine from the nose does not carry into a hoppy beer as is often the case. Not especially bitter in spite of IBUs. Pepper finish. This is a 7% ABV beer with no real hint of heat from the alcohol in any part of the sip. Nice mouthfeel, well carbonated, good representation of a west coast IPA.
This is a very workmanlike beer with a long history of successful sales and distribution. When the West Coast IPA revolution began 20 or 25 years ago this was probably a groundbreaking recipe. In 2023, it has more competition and does not really stand out as exceptional. Believe me, I am happy to have it on this night, as the food at Cross Grain Brewhouse just cannot be attempted one more time. Were it not for this sturdy, consistent, pleasant draft I would have to be stunt eating my way through Tilapia Fish Tacos or having a similar adventure of some sort. This brew has earned an 87/100 from me, I will be happy to cross paths at any point.
Airport and Bar 