Der Wolfskopf

Bar Sign Pasadena

Der Wolfskopf brings German focus to Fair Oaks Avenue in Old Pasadena.

The beer from foreign shores has to deal with travel times and freshness issues, which is a problem, but lately, I have noticed that some beers from Germany and Europe have gotten short shrift. With that in mind I headed to Pasadena to Der Wolfskopf to feed my Germanic (+Russian) heritage some homeland beers.

There are 20+ beers on tap to choose from. There is a pretty row of gleaming metallic taps with a Veltins dispenser on one side and a Weihenstephaner branded ceramic on the other. That is where I went first to try the Comet Weisse from the venerated Bavarian brewery on the hill. The Comet hop was unearthed to bring a more hop forward bent to a German wheat beer. It is a good start to come down from a West Coast hop high.

Grevensteiner Landbier was my second choice, edging out the wonderfully long winded The Monarchy Methusalem Holunderheimer. I could have also picked American takes on German styles such as Eagle Rock Umlaut or Oskar Blues Vienna Lager.

You can also select from other grand German Brewers like Ayinger and Schneider among others.

This space on Fair Oaks above Colorado in Old Pasadena has been a few bars in the past to my recollection and it may come across as a bit medieval/King Arthur looking inside with the banners and lighting fixtures and dark wooden benches. However, this is both a great location to try unique German beers and it is also a great place to watch a UCLA football game.

Or you could wait for the start of their Oktoberfest celebration and save yourself a flight to Munich and just take the 210 to Der Wolfskopf.

Your Beer of the Week is The Works.  It is the latest in the Custom IPA Series from Golden Road Brewing that I prefer to call the Los Angeles IPA betterment series. With each purchase of this limited-edition fall IPA, a portion of proceeds will directly benefit L.A. Works, the city’s largest volunteer network. You get Motueka hops from New Zealand, Jarrylo, Mosaic and Equinox from the U.S. and Opal and Saphir from, you guessed it, Germany.

Even though the German Football league is well underway, your weekly Homework is to bring good beer to your NFL football 2015 kick-off party. Whether it is fantasy football fueled or you love the Raiders, Rams or Chargers, don’t bring some flat beer to watch the action. There is no other quicker way to deflate the fun than bringing bad beer. And you don’t want to be called Garoppolo all weekend.

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

Address: 72 North Fair Oaks Avenue, Pasadena, CA 91103
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Sean Inman

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

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