During my review of the OC Brew Ha Ha, I reported that one of my favorite “new find” breweries was Wicks Brewing Company.  Located in Riverside, Wicks Brewing opened on 22 April 2013.  Wicks is not your typical microbrewery/gastropub.  In addition to offering tasty craft beers and food, patrons can brew their own Craft Beers or Soft Drinks.  Wicks offers its patrons the ability to “Brew on Premise” and has six separate stations where you can brew your own Craft Beer or Soft Drink.

This weekend my wife and I traveled to Riverside to have lunch with her sister and sister’s  husband (hmm….  Will I get in trouble if I give them Firkin nicknames?).  We met at Wicks Brewing for lunch and beer.  Wicks is located in an industrial park in an outlying region of Riverside.  Parking is easy.

The entry to Wicks is inviting and we were greeted as soon as we walked in the door.  The brewing room and tanks are visible through glass wall in the back.  A bar offers casual seating with a TV for viewing sports events.  Table seating is plentiful and comfortable.

Once seated, I ordered a sampler of Wicks beers that were being offered on tap – Wicktoberfest Golden Amber, Sir Gordon’s Pale Ale, Barbaric IPA, Black Knight Imperial Porter, White Monk Belgian Blonde, West Coast Strong, and Freight Crain Chocolate Milk Stout.  My tasting notes (ordered as beers were listed on menu) follow.

Wicks Wicktoberfest Golden Amber (6.0% ABV): Wicktoberfest pours a clear gold color with white foam that leaves a nice spidery lace.  An aroma of sweet malt embraces the nose.  Wicktoberfest is medium-bodied with mild carbonation.  The beer has a delightful toasted malt and biscuit flavor with a hint of lemon citrus that is followed by a very mild hop bitterness that adds character and a dry, crisp finish.  This is an excellent beer for celebrating October in California while avoiding lederhosen.

Wicks Sir Gordon’s Pale Ale (5.5% ABV): This beer pours a clear golden color with white foam that left nice, circular rings of lace.  Sir Gordon’s Pale Ale has a nice malt aroma with a mild citrus bouquet.  The beer is medium-bodied with moderate prickly carbonation.  Sir Gordon’s Pale Ale has a nice toasted malt flavor that is followed with pine resin and a mild to moderate hops bitterness.  The beer has a dry finish with lingering pine resin and hops bitterness.  Sir Gordon’s Pale Ale is a tasty session beer with balanced integration of flavors.

Wicks Barbaric IPA (7.2% ABV):  This IPA pours a clear amber color with off-white foam.  Barbaric IPA has a biscuit malt aroma with a bouquet of strong pine resin and subtle grapefruit pith.  The beer is medium bodied with mild carbonation and hop oils coat the tongue.  Barbaric IPA has a delicious malt biscuit flavor that is followed with bold pine resin and a hint of grapefruit.  This IPA has an assertive hops bitterness that is well-integrated.  The beer has a dry finish with a lingering hops bitterness that demands you try another sip.  Barbaric IPA will bring out the savage beast in hop lovers. Get ready for a delicious assault of your taste buds from my favorite Wicks beer.

Wicks Black Knight Imperial Porter (8.5% ABV): Black Knight is brewed with six different malted grains and pours a deep dark black color with off-white foam. This Imperial Porter has a dark roasted malt aroma with bouquet of espresso coffee and chocolate.  The beer is medium-bodied with mild carbonation.  A drink fills your mouth with flavors of sweet roasted malt, espresso coffee and chocolate cocoa.  This beer has a sweet, wet finish with mild to moderate hops bitterness.  The alcohol is well-integrated and deceptive.  I found Black Knight to be a straightforward expression of good flavors.

Wicks White Monk Belgian Blonde (5.0% ABV): White Monk pours a clear straw to gold color with no foam.  The beer has a light malt and tropical fruit aroma.  White Monk is medium-bodied with very mild carbonation.  White Monk tastes of malt combined with apple and pear.  The beer has a wet finish.  This beer is easy to drink, but to be honest it tasted a lot more like a weak cider to me than a Belgian Blonde.  It lacked the earthy and spicy assertive characters I seek. 

Wicks West Coast Strong (7.2% ABV): This beer pours a clear amber color with an off-white frothy foam that left a nice layer of lace.  West Coast Strong has a biscuit malt aroma with a mild pine resin bouquet.  The beer is medium-bodied with moderate carbonation and hop oils can be felt on the tongue.  West Coast Strong has a delicious sweet and slightly nutty malt flavor with moderate hops bitterness and a dry finish.  I found this beer to be deliciously quaffable.

Wicks Freight Crain Chocolate Milk Stout (4.5% ABV): Made to honor fallen Riverside Police Department (RPD) Officer Michael Crain, this beer pours a dark black color with beige foam.  Freight Crain has a roasted malt and mild coffee aroma.  The beer is light-bodied with mild carbonation.  Freight Crain has flavors of roasted malt, strong espresso, and chocolate.  The beer has a has a lingering chocolate finish.  Overall Freight Crain tastes like a cold, sweetened espresso (which is true to the style).

After sampling the beers, we had lunch.  I had the BBQ pulled pork sandwich.  The sandwich consists of natural applewood & hickory pit-smoked BBQ pork that is slow cooked with thinly sliced red onions, Habanero jack cheese, on a croissant bun.  The meat was tender, juicy and delicious.  The Habanero jack cheese gave the sandwich a nice spicy kick.  I’m definitely glad I sampled the beers first as the Habanero would have made tasting many of the beers impossible.  Others had the Turkey Chipotle Swiss Wrap, the Barbaric Turkey Salad, and the Rustic Apple Tart.  Comments around the table indicated that all were delicious.  We did have a about a 10 minute delay between when some folks at our table were served.  (Note to Wicks kitchen and serving staff: All main dishes should be served to a table at the same time.)

Overall, we had a fun time at Wicks.  The staff was very friendly and courteous and the beers were delicious.  I definitely recommend you give Wicks a try.  I know I plan to go back again.

A big thanks to my sister and brother-in-law (MA & K) for buying lunch!  And thanks to my lovely wife (Patricia) for driving after my beer tasting.