Over the weekend, I had two craft beer encounters that made me happy. First, Congregation Alehouse in Pasadena had Boo Goop, a wheat wine collaboration between Three Floyds and Mikkeller. Two days later at the fabulous El Segundo Whole Foods, what did I find but a Brewers Share series ESB from Full Sail Brewing in Hood River, Oregon? I have even seen a Texas brewery, Jester King, pop up in a couple spots.

It got me to thinking of the breweries and beers that I wish I could see on even just a semi-regular basis down here. Forthwith is my list culled from a long want/need list:

Brooklyn Brewing – I would love to get their pilsner all year round. It is “brewed in the style favored by New York’s pre-Prohibition brewers” and it would be great for those really hot days.

Cigar City Brewing – My beer blogging colleague BrewDad made the trek to Florida (yes, I am jealous) for such favorites as Jai Alai IPA which would be a frequent guest in my fridge or in any hophead’s home.

Minnesota – This is one hot brewing state, with Surly Brewing leading the pack with their tallboy cans. But there are four or five more like Brau Brothers, Leech Lake Brewing, Ovalde Farm and Summit Brewing that I wish I could get a bit of here or there.

Breakside Brewing – This small Portland outfit makes some really innovative beers. I would love access to their Cranberry Biere de Table or their Gin Barrel IPA.

Aztec Brewery, Hess Brweing or Airdale Brewing from San Diego. Hard to believe that a beer geek like me hasn’t had one single beer from these three breweries, but they just don’t seem to find their way to my neck of the woods.

For the craft Beer of the Week, I recommend Widmer Brothers O’Ryely from Oregon. It is part of their rotating IPA series. Previously there was a Falconer hop based IPA, and next up is a Spiced IPA, but now you get a rye IPA made with Nelson Sauvin and Galaxy hops from New Zealand. A little spicy with some grape notes and some strong bitterness.

This week’s Homework is to make sure that if you have a Beachwood BBQ & Brewing growler that you pay attention to the color of the logo. Because in February and in one week every month, Beachwood will have Growler Days. Where you can get $3 off a fill. But you have to bring that growler down on the right day. If you have a red one, February 21, White for Wednesday February 22, Blue logo on clear glass is Thursday, February 23, green on Friday, February 24, and blue logo on BROWN glass on Saturday, February 25.

That’s a great deal for beer that good.

Find more of Sean Inman’s writing on his blog, Beer Search Party.