We begin this week’s L.A. BEER BLAST in…San Diego?! Part of the reason is to introduce a new Food GPS feature – brewmaster profiles – and the other reason is that if you’re looking to take a beer-focused staycation, San Diego County’s incredible breweries and beer bars are only a two-hour drive from L.A.

When I met Alpine brewmaster Pat McIlhenney, the longtime fireman only had ten shifts left before turning his full-time attention to Alpine Beer Company, the East County brewery he founded in 2002. Good timing. Last November, he and son Shawn began their expansion plans, which include tripling production and launching an upcoming brewpub. CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL PROFILE.

Colby Chandler started at Ballast Point almost 12 years ago and serves as brewmaster at the company’s original San Diego location, which shares space with the Home Brew Mart. He currently oversees the facility’s 1500-barrel production, which includes his Hout series, a limited line of sours that’s flavored with ingredients like black currant and cherry. CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL PROFILE.

Blind Lady Ale House is a five-month old beerhall/pizzeria in Normal Heights that delivers some of the better draught beers and pizza in San Diego. CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL REVIEW.

San Diego’s 30th Street might as well be paved with gold considering its rep with SoCal beer drinkers. One of the reasons to visit: a larger incarnation of San Francisco’s famed Toronado. CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL REVIEW.

Due south, Hamilton’s Tavern is yet another beer lover’s haven along 30th Street that’s worth a detour. CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL REVIEW.

Now for the meat of the L.A. BEER BLAST, which is designed to let Food GPS readers know about what’s new at select L.A. bars and restaurants with great beer selections. Expect a new L.A. BEER BLAST every Thursday evening, in time for the weekend rush. Look in the left sidebar, SUBSCRIBE to Food GPS and you’ll receive the L.A. BEER BLAST by e-mail.

BEACHWOOD BBQ
131 Main Street, Seal Beach, 562 493 4500

Beachwood BBQ owner Gabriel Gordon streams his 24-tap blackboard menu via HOP CAM. Some of Gordon’s latest brews include Craftsman Poppy Fields Pale Ale, Deschutes Hop Henge, Gouden Carolus Van de Keizer Rood, Green Flash Double Stout and Mad River Jamaica Red.

BLUE PALMS BREWHOUSE
6124 Hollywood Boulevard, Hollywood, 323 464 2337

NEW ON TAP

BoHo
6372 West Sunset Boulevard, Hollywood, 323 465 8500

NEW ON DRAFT

DAILY PINT
2310 Pico Boulevard, Santa Monica, 310 450 7631

NEW ON DRAUGHT

NEW ON CASK

CASK ON DECK

Stone Sublimely Self-Righteous Ale with Columbus and Amarillo hops – Stone’s 11th anniversary ale

THE GOLDEN STATE
426 North Fairfax Avenue, Fairfax, 323 782 8331

Here’s today’s update from co-owner Jason Bernstein:

“We put on the Firestone Union Jack, their IPA. We have the AleSmith IPA on right now. For tomorrow, I’ve got a keg of Angel City Weizen, a really good example of a hefeweizen. It’s reasonably priced, it’s really approachable and it has a lot of flavor. It’s also really good when its fresh. I just got a keg of Avery Maharaja double IPA, which will probably go on Saturday.”

LUCKY BALDWIN’S
17 South Raymond Avenue, Pasadena, 626 795 0652

Hopheads rejoice. Lucky Baldwin’s is hosting an IPA Festival from June 13-21. Expect 50 IPAs on tap, including Russian River IPA, AleSmith IPA, Avery Maharaja Double IPA, Brewdog Hardcore IPA, Stone IPA, Firestone Walker Union Jack and Bear Republic Racer 5.

LUCKY BALDWIN’S DELIRIUM CAFE
21 Kersting Court, Sierra Madre, 626 355 1140

Lucky Baldwin’s eastern outpost is also hosting an IPA Festival from June 13-21. They have 10 IPAs on tap right now, with more to come. So far, you’ll find Stone Cali-Belgique, Port Brewing 3rd Anniversary, Alaskan IPA, Karl Strauss Tower 10 IPA, Craftsman IPA, Firestone Walker Union Jack and Stone Sublimely Self-Righteous Ale. Double Dog Double Pale Ale and Green Flash West Coast IPA are on deck.

In hop-free news, Lucky Baldwin’s also added Le Chouffe Blonde on draught.

SIMMZY’S
229 Manhattan Beach Boulevard, Manhattan Beach, 310 546 1201

Here’s today’s update from Simmzy’s General Manager Micah Schiesel:

“We did end up getting the Stone Sublimely Self Righteous black IPA hooked up. Its an extremely limited production beer so I recommend people getting here ASAP for that one. We also added Paulaner Hef to our rotating handles, it replaced the Einhorn Hef. We also added Sierra Nevada Summerfest to replace the seasonal ESB. We are still pouring the Schneider Weisse Iceboch, but as soon as we blow through the current keg we are switching over to the Schneider Weisse Doppelboch. Also we have the Lips of Faith Dandelion Ale in line to get tapped as soon as we finish up the Lost Coast ‘Old Ale.’”

VERDUGO
3408 Verdugo Road, Glassell Park, 323 257 3408

NEW ON DRAUGHT

NEW BOTTLES

WURSTKUCHE
800 East 3rd Street, Downtown, 213 687 4444

Apparently dominating sausages and French fries isn’t good enough for twentysomething cousins Joseph Pitruzzelli and Tyler Wilson. Wurstkuche’s owners are on the verge of adding a deluxe cocktail program to their triangular Arts District sausage kitchen. To oversee the upgrade, Pitruzzelli and Wilson hired noted bartender Matty Eggleston, who spent the past two-and-a-half years behind the bar at The Hungry Cat in Hollywood. Eggleston started working at Wurstkuche full-time at the beginning of May and is occupying himself with the Belgian-focused taps and bottles until Wurstkuche gets their full liquor license.

Here’s Eggleston’s beer update from last night:

Aecht Schlenkerla Rauchbier Maerzen – smoked beer from Bamberg – smells of bacon and sweet smoke – surprisingly clean finish

Uerige Sticke – in the ‘alt’ style of Dusseldorf – a bit extra hop and malt – a nice option for those looking for pale ales. Both $10

THE YORK
5018 York Boulevard, Highland Park, 323 255 9675

Here’s today’s update from owner Ryan Ballinger:

“The Guinness 250 year anniversary stout is on tap now, a more malty, bubbly version of the classic Guinness stout.”

“For the creamy stout lovers, we put on North Coast’s Old Rasputin Russian Imperial stout. With these oddly cloudy June days, you can’t go wrong with either of these bold beers. I’m having one now because you can only read about beer so long before you have to have some.”

“Craftsman India Pale Ale is coming on cask today. I spoke to an Englishman about having a longer swan neck shipped here for the beer engine at the recommendation of a customer. It isn’t going to happen right away, but maybe by fall.”

“There’s a couple new beers we’ll be adding soon, including a dunkel from Reutberg that tastes so good it could be candy.”