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 and learn about industry leaders. 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.

Beginning this week, the full L.A. BEER BLAST will only be available online, so you’ll have to click through from the newsletter. It no longer made sense to have the exact same information in two places.

Craftsman Brewing founder Mark Jilg was born in Idaho and raised a bi-coastal child, ping-ponging back and forth between L.A. and northern Virginia. He snagged a bachelor’s degree in Photo Science from Rochester Institute of Technology before returning to Southern California to work as an archival printer in the fine art photography world. He spent over seven years at the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory before giving into his passion for beer. Jilg and his wife started Craftsman Brewing in 1995 and he left JPL to brew full-time in late 1996. We met on October 30 at his Pasadena brewery, where he discussed his approach to beer. CLICK HERE TO READ THE Q&A.

We first checked in with Eagle Rock Brewery in April, before Jeremy Raub and father Steve started construction and Jeremy explained their background and vision. Now the Family Raub is finally on the verge of fermentation. If all goes well with the Health Department, they can be brewing as early as November 10, with beer released to the public just 2-3 weeks later. CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE.

Stout is a new burgers-and-beer concept that opens on Sunday in the former home of Karma Coffeehouse [1544 North Cahuenga Boulevard]. On October 29, Stout partners Charles Lew and Alex Kagianaris teamed with Spacecraft designer Kristofer Keith to preview the casual restaurant. Stout offers 10 different burgers: six beef, two chicken and two veggie (made with a quinoa and three bean base), plus one monthly Kagianaris wild card. Kagianaris and beer sommelier Sam Chuwenga are overseeing the beer list, which includes 30 taps. CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO AND THE MENUS.

This week, Brew & You columnist Sean Inman discusses the best ways to approach beer pairings at a dinner party in a post titled “The Man Who Came to Dinner…with Beer.”

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

New draught options at Gabriel Gordon’s noted Seal Beach beer bar include Victory Kolsch, Green Flash Gruit, Moonlight Reality Czech, Strand Genisis II, Mt. Tam Pale Ale, Ommegang Three Philosophers, Big Sky Tripel and The Bruery 2 Turtle Doves. Track changes to Gordon’s 24-tap blackboard menu via HOP CAM<. BLUE DOG BEER TAVERN
4524 Saugus Avenue, Sherman Oaks, 818 990 2583

According to last night’s update from Manager Ray Garcia, “The Blue Dog was very excited to put Duvel Green on Tap just 2 weeks ago and It is going very well. In preparation for the winter months we decided to put Unibroue’s Maudite on tap for all to enjoy something like a little darker and a little warmer. Stop by and Try it Out!”

Blue Palms Brewhouse
6124 Hollywood Boulevard, Hollywood, 323 464 2337

According to Blue Palms proprietor Brian Lenzo, the new bottles are Stone Double Bastard and Alpine ~ Willy, Nelson, Duet. “All week during San Diego Beer Week [November 6-15], we will be featuring all San Diego beers.” Think Alpine Nelson Cask, Alpine Pure Hoppiness, Pizza Port San Clemente ~ Obession and Ernest’s Silky Smoove; Green Flash Gruit, Coronado 13th Anniversary and Red Devil, La Jolla Brewhouse Mr. Brown and Night Shift, San Diego Brewing Company Monster Mash, plus special beer from Lost Abbey.

The tap list current includes options like Ballast Point Sea Monster, Green Flash Hop Head Red, Avery Piglet Purgatory and Marin BlueBeery.

BOHO
6372 West Sunset Boulevard, Hollywood, 323 465 8500

Verdugo Bar co-owner Ryan Sweeney curates the beer program at Boho. Here’s today’s update. New on draught: Allagash Interlude. On deck: The Bruery 2 Turtle Doves and The Gentleman Scholar Espresso Stout.

BONEYARD BISTRO

According to chef-owner Aaron Robins, “We have added Schneider-Weisse Edelweisse to draft and this weekend Delirium Noel. We also have been aging St. Bernardus Noel 2007 and Gouden Carolus Noel 2008 which are available as well.”

BOTTLEROCK LA
1050 South Flower Street, Downtown, 213 747 1100

Here’s last night’s update from Alex Macy, BottleRock LA’s resident beer expert:

NEW BOTTLES

“Allagash Fluxus 2009 (made with sweet potatoes and black pepper) De Proef Van Twee a collaboration with Bell’s Brewery! (It’s a dark Belgian ale brewed with cherry juice)”

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

The Daily Pint owner Phil McGovern updated his tap selection earlier today, highlighting Lagunitas IPA, Lagunitas Lil Sumpin Sumpin, Lagunitas Lil Sumpin Extra, Lagunitas Hop Stoopid, Lagunitas Brown Shugga, Sierra Nevada Anniversary Ale, and on cask, Firestone Walker Reserve and Firestone Walker Pale 31.

THE FIFTH AMENDMENT ALEHOUSE
129 Broadway, Santa Monica, 310 386 1428

According to co-owner Dan Petrovich, “New on tap are Avery Piglet Purgatory, Maredsous, Firestone Union Jack, Lagunitas Little Sumpin’ Sumpin’, Firestone Pale 31, Dogfish 90, and Berliner Weisse now with a variety of syrups.”

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

Here’s Tuesday’s update from The Golden State co-owner Jason Bernstein:

New on tap: Green Flash 2008 Grand Cru and Avery Dugana, a double IPA. Bernstein also secured a rare case of Alpine Duet.

LIBRARY ALEHOUSE
2911 Main Street, Santa Monica, 310 314 4855

Here’s last night’s update from Library Alehouse Sustainability Manager Thomas Kelley:

“This week we have Avery Dugana DIPA, Union Jack IPA, and we should tap Requiem Espresso Stout from the Gentlemen Scholar this weekend, all on draft. New in the bottle is Lost Abbey Judgment Day, and Vertical Epic 09 from Stone.”

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

Lucky Baldwin’s is continuing their 13 anniversary celebration through November 9 by collaborating with Stone. Expect rare Stone beers like 2008 Old Guardian BarleyWine aged in Red Wine barrels, Smoked Porter with chipotle on the hand pump, Russian Imperial Tout, Double Dry-Hopped Ruination IPA, 07.07.07 Vertical Epic and fittingly enough, Stone 13th Anniversary Ale. Russian River Brewing is contributing kegs of Pliny The Elder, Damnation, Blind Pig, Russian River IPA and Collaboration Not Litigation Ale, a collaboration with Avery Brewing Company. New beers this week include Ommegang Three Philosophers, Srasse Hendrinks, a Belgian style tripel, AleSmith Old Numbskull, Port Brewing Hop 15, Port Brewing High Tide IPA and Port Brewing Wipeout IPA. $22 gets you a commemorative T-shirt and glass, plus a choice of draught beer.

Lucky Baldwin’s
21 Kersting Court, Sierra Madre, 626 355 1140

Lucky Baldwin’s eastern outpost is also is continuing their 13 anniversary celebration through November 9. It’s a bonanza of Stone beers and hoppy IPAs. You can get a commemorative glass, T-shirt and beer for $22, and it’s a $1 discount on refills if you have the glass in hand.

NAJA’S PLACE
154 International Boardwalk, Redondo Beach, 310 376 9951

According to Assistant GM Martin Svab, new beers include Lucifer, Firestone Double Jack, Anderson Valley Winter Solstice, Halve Maan Tripel and Sierra Nevada Blonde.

STUFFED SANDWICH
1145 East Las Tunas Drive, San Gabriel, 626 285 9161

Here’s the update from co-owner Marlene Samaniego:

NOVEMBER IS STRONG ALE FEST ON DRAFT!!! Here’s the line-up:

“You may want to think about bringing a DD as all these beers are 7% and stronger.”

COMING NEXT

December 2009: Holiday/Winter Beers on Draft!
January 2010: Porters and Stouts on Draft!!
February 2010: Barleywines on Draft!!!

VERDUGO BAR
3408 Verdugo Road, Glassell Park, 323 257 3408

Here’s today’s update from co-owner Ryan Sweeney:

New on draught: Haf Man Straffe Hendreik, a Bruges Tripel; Ommegang Adoration, “which kind of tastes like Three Philosophers without the cherry,” North Coast Old Stock ’09 and Pour Man’s IPA, Jeff Bagby’s Double IPA. On deck: The Gentleman Scholar Espresso Stout, The Bruery 2 Turtle Doves, Craftsman Summer’s End sour and Mad River Extra Dry Stout, its first time in Southern California. Very soon, Craftsman Special Ed, wet-hopped Edgar’s Ale on cask. New bottles: Alpine Duet, a West Coast IPA with Amarillo and Simcoe hops, and Alpine Willy.”

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

According to The York manager Mary Drenthe, “On deck for this weekend, we have Napa Smith Lost Dog Red Ale, Rogue Hazelnut Brown Nectar, and Paulaner Hefe-Weizen. As for bottles, we added Stone Ruination IPA and Het Anker Lucifer Golden Ale. And be sure to check us out Mon-Thurs from 3pm-7pm when you can enjoy all of our tasty draught beers for only $4 a pint.”