The L.A. BEER BLAST is designed to let Food GPS readers know about what’s new at select L.A. bars and restaurants with great beer selections. You’ll also discover great beer-related events in the area. 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.
THE GOLDEN STATE/SCOOPS vs. BOTTLEROCK LA/MILK IN L.A. BEER FLOAT SHOWDOWN
On July 26 at 3:30 PM, come to Blue Palms Brewhouse and help to choose a champion in the first L.A. Beer Float Showdown. Everybody who attends is allowed to vote on two beer floats from each competitor. Four total. 8 ounces each. A score sheet will allow every attendee to judge the beer floats according to flavor, originality and presentation. Tickets cost $23 if you RSVP to [email protected] by July 25. Day-of admission is $28. Pay at the door. Proceeds benefit 826LA.
STONE SOUR FEST ON JULY 19
In March, Dr. Bill Sysak took over as Beverage Coordinator of Stone World Bistro & Gardens.
On July 19, his list for the third Stone Sour Fest will feature 45 kegs and 36 bottles, including Belgian breweries like Boon, Cantillon and 3 Fonteinen, plus domestic breweries like Russian River, Lost Abbey, The Bruery, Craftsman, Avery, New Belgium and Jolly Pumpkin. Stone Sour Fest begins at 11 AM and costs $30 for 10 taster tickets.
L.A. BEER WEEK
Cities like San Francisco and Seattle already got theirs. L.A. finally lands its first beer week October 15-25, featuring special events at top area beer bars. Beer distributors and Verdugo Bar co-owners Ryan Sweeney and Brandon Bradford will host several beer luminaries, including brewmasters from Chimay and Weihenstephan, plus Stone co-founder Greg Koch. L.A. Beer Week will culminate with a blowout beer event at Descanso Gardens.
VERDUGO BAR
3408 Verdugo Road, Glassell Park, 323 257 3408
Verdugo Bar co-owner Ryan Sweeney is hosting Lost Abbey brewmaster Tomme Arthur on July 30, featuring several rare kegs. This is Arthur’s first in-house L.A. appearance. This week, you’ll find AleSmith ESB (on cask),
Craftsman Bier de Blanco, a wit beer; Boon Mariage Parfait Lambic, Brother Levonian Saison, a rare keg from Ballast Point that benefits the daughter of a late home brewer; Brooklyner-Schneider Hopfen-Weisse, Ballast Point Abandoned Ship and The Bruery Hottenroth Berliner Weisse. Bottles include Sculpin IPA and AleSmith Decadence. Sweeney added cans of Caldera IPA from Ashland, Oregon. A rare keg of La Folie might go on this weekend. Verdugo Bar has also expanded its patio, added a grill and multiplied the number of bench seating by a factor of five. The patio opens at 1 PM on Sundays, featuring board games and guest grill masters. The food will change, but Sweeney says, “It’s always going to be under $5 and handheld.”
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 Avery Ellies Brown Ale, Telegraph Oatmeal Stout, Victory Golden Monkey, Moylan’s Pomegranate Wheat, Ballast Point Even Keel Session Ale and White Oak Sap, barrel-aged in a white wine cask.
BLUE PALMS BREWHOUSE
6124 Hollywood Blvd, Hollywood, 323 464 2337
Last night, proprietor Brian Lenzo said he has a keg of Killer Dana on deck. He also has big plans for their one-year anniversary party on August 8, including Exponential Hoppiness (Cask), San Diego Brewing Hop Goddess, The Bruery Sour on the Rye, Karl Strauss 20th Annv., North Coast Old Stock 06, Firestone Abacus, AleSmith X (Cask), Alpine Nelson. Allagash Curieux (Bourbon Barrel Aged), Guinness 250, Ommegang Rouge and Lost Abbey Duck Duck Gooze. Other Special Kegs from Pizza Port, Firestone, Allagash, Alpine, Speak Easy, Oskar Blues and more.
BOTTLEROCK LA
1050 South Flower Street, Downtown, 213 747 1100
NEW ON DRAUGHT
AleSmith IPA
Port Hop 15
Craftsman Biere de Blanco
NEW BOTTLES
AleSmith Yulesmith
Jolly Pumpkin Luciernaga “The Firefly”
THE DAILY PINT
2310 Pico Boulevard, Santa Monica, 310 450 7631
NEW BEERS: Stone Vanilla Bean Porter (cask), Stone IPA with Simcoe hops (cask), Russian River Damnation, Victory Golden Monkey, Avery Maharaja Double IPA, New Belgium Skinny Dip
It isn’t beer related, but on July 17 @ 9 PM, Master of Whiskey Ed Adams is hosting a Scotch Stimulus Tasting. It’s 9 single-malts for $50, including Glenkinchie 12yr, Dalwhinnie 15yr, Lagavulin 16yr, Oban 14yr, Clynelish 14yr, Caol Ila 12 yr, Talisker 10yr, Cragganmore 12yr and Singleton 12yr. 4 single-malts cost $25. Wear a kilt and receive a 25% discount.
THE GOLDEN STATE
426 North Fairfax Avenue, Fairfax, 323 782 8331
Co-owner Jason Bernstein just added Lagunitas Pils on draught and Stone Sublimely Self-Righteous Ale should go online later today. Allagash Fluxus on draught by next week.
LUCKY BALDWIN’S
17 South Raymond Ave, Pasadena, 626 795 0652
Lucky Baldwin’s Xmas in July Festival lasts until July 19, featuring over 50 Christmas beers, including Gouden Carolus Noel, Affligem Noel, St. Bernardus Noel, Scaldis Noel, Paulaner Salvator, Delirium Nocturnum, St. Bernardus Tripel and Trois Pistoles.
LUCKY BALDWIN’S DELIRIUM CAFE
21 Kersting Court, Sierra Madre, 626 355 1140
Lucky Baldwin’s eastern outpost is hosting Xmas in July through July 19, featuring Christmas beers like St. Bernardus Noel, Anchor Christmas 2008, Gouden Carolus Noel, Craftsman Holiday Ale. Grimbergen is back on. It’s not really Christmas, but it’s good.” AleSmith Speedway Stout. Port Brewing Old Viscosity. New Belgium Mighty Arrow.
THE YORK
5018 York Bivd, Highland Park, 323 255 9675
According to bar manager Mary Drenthe, “The highly anticipated Green Flash Summer Saison has just arrived. Brewed with orange curacao and ginger, this saison is a tasty beer that will quench your palate and keep you coming back for more. Also coming this weekend is Craftsman’s Biere de Blanco, which promises refreshing flavors of citrus and coriander.” “We added Reutberger Export Dunkel in a bottle. Made with dark malts, this beer has flavors of coffee, molasses, chocolate and caramel. We still have Reutberger Export Hell and Josephi Bock as well.”
“The Craftsman cask-conditioned real ale is their India Pale Ale. And on tap we are still pouring Guinness 250, Craftsman 1903, Alaska Amber Ale, Old Speckled Hen, and North Coast’s Old Rasputin Russian Imperial Stout, just to name a few.”
CANNED CRAFT BEER
Sean Inman makes his third Food GPS appearance as part of his “Brew & You” series. “This summer, someone might hand you a can of beer and it won’t look or taste familiar. Yellow, fizzy beer is no longer your only option. Canned Craft Beer (CCB) now has cache and is gaining shelf space around Los Angeles.” To read more, visit www.foodgps.com/drinks
