Iron Fist Brewing Spice of Life
Iron Fist Brewing Spice of Life is one of the beers that opened the Vista, California brewery — a 6.5% ABV Belgian-style spiced ale (bière de garde) built on bitter orange peel, grains of paradise and coriander. Brewed by the family-owned Iron Fist team since the grand-opening weekend of October 2010, it pours golden and aromatic, all marmalade and warm spice over a smooth, rustic farmhouse body. It is available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor.
- ABV: 6.5%
- Size: 750mL
- Style: Bière de garde / Belgian-style spiced ale (20 IBU)
- Spices: Bitter orange peel, grains of paradise, coriander
- Origin: Iron Fist Brewing, Vista, California — one of five opening-day beers, October 2010
Variety Is the Spice of Life
The name comes straight from the idiom — and from the brewery's own tagline: "Our catalyst for such an excursion out of the ordinary is, um, actually spice." Iron Fist made its name on Belgian-style ales, and Spice of Life is the house calling card: the bitter orange peel reads like orange marmalade, the grains of paradise bring peppery warmth, and the coriander lifts it all. Find more California craft beer and the rest of the Iron Fist Brewing range at Del Mesa Liquor.
Tasting Notes
Nose: Orange marmalade, coriander, peppery spice, Belgian yeast esters. Palate: Smooth and full — bitter orange and warm spice over bready malt. Finish: Dry, gently bitter, warming.
How to Enjoy
Serve cool in a goblet with roast chicken, Moroccan-spiced dishes or a firm washed-rind cheese — the spice bill loves food with its own aromatic edge. A blood-orange variant (Crimson Spice) exists; this is the original.
Frequently Asked Questions
What style is Spice of Life? A bière de garde — a French farmhouse style — brewed Belgian-style with three spices.
What spices are in it? Bitter orange peel, grains of paradise and coriander — the brewery's verified bill.
Is it a winter beer? It was part of Iron Fist's original 2010 lineup and pours year-round; the warm spice profile suits cool weather but isn't seasonal-only.
An original lineup legend — order Iron Fist Spice of Life online at Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.