Thursday 8th of August 2013 04:18:47 PM

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Ironfire - our ales are for outlaws.

So claims the Ironfire Home Page. Their taproom certainly echoes the manly-man theme of boots and saddles and gunslingers...as do their labels; Gunslinger Gold, 6 Killer Stout, Boot Hill Killer, Cucumber ale.

Wait a minute, wait?

Ok, ok -- so not ALL the names but this is a friendly place with a good variety of beers to choose from.

It was our 4th stop on a 5-stop, 3-hour tour if Temecula's breweries on a sunny Sunday afternoon.
This brewery is, like all the others, away from the "Old Town" area and thank God for that because Temecula -- little, once-sleepy Temecula -- has become a haven for bikers. They roar and rumble into and through town on most weekends, stopping to drink their weight (and their Harley's) in good old american lager Buds, Coors and Millers. There's nothing I like more than sitting outside on a warm summer day, enjoying a craft beer and watching the "hogs" thunder through the main drag announcing their beefy presence. Reminded me of Brando's old movie, "Wild Ones."

"What are you protesting Johnny?"
"Wadda got?"
"Well, how about your big oi' sorry fat ass spilling out of leather pants, throwing this little town into an uproar for no reason?"

Thankfully, as I said, all of Temecula's breweries are outside the "roar zone" although none of them have an outdoor "garden" area.

Ironfire is becoming popular -- they're invading the San Diego market with bottles of certain brews but if what we tasted on this Sunday was any indication, San Diego beer-ians have nothing to worry about.

From Pale Ales to IPA's to pepper and fruit beers, these brews leave much to be desired. The 51/50 IPA is making some noise but for wife Persimmon and I, it was yet another Americanized example of this style full of hops and more hops and more hops and for us, that's like drinking straw. The Habanero Pale had lots of heat but nothing else...the Berry Cream Blast tasted like Kool-Aid...the Cucumber Ale was full of peppers and had a taste similiar to desert snake....chicken...the Boot Hill Killer smelled and tasted of nothing but liquor.

So they may be brewing for outlaws....but even outlaws want to quench their thirst after a long day eating dust and smelling cattle.

They don't want their beer to smell and taste like it as well.