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 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.

This week, Brew & You columnist Sean Inman discusses holiday beers and tells you where to buy them in L.A. and online. Click here to read his post, titled ”5 Golden Rings.”.

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

New draught options at Gabriel Gordon’s noted Seal Beach beer bar include Victory Yakima Twilight, AleSmith Horny Devil, Victory Whirlwind Wit, Grimbergen Dubbel, Firestone Velvet Merkin, Triple Rock IPAX and unfiltered Firestone DBA on cask. 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, “This week at The Blue Dog we received some great beers! We are now serving Franziskaner on Tap. We also have some awesome beers in bottle this week. We have Affligem Blond, Unibroue La Fin Du Monde, and Hebrew Jewbelation in bottle. If you do not know these beers, get over here! You will love them!”

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

Blue Palms proprietor Brian Lenzo is currently curating a roster that includes The Gentleman Scholar Espresso Stout, Craftsman Edgar’s Ale, Herbes de Provence, Collaboration Not Litigation Ale and Bootlegger Mint Chocolate, a winter warmer.

On December 16, Lenzo is pitting Christmas vs. Chanukah beers at 6 PM. “We are going to battle again, Gentile Brews vs Schamltz Brewing,” he says. “We will have authentic Kosher and Christmas holiday food with a great line up of beers to sample.” The lineup includes Speakeasy Holiday spice Ale, 2 Turtle Doves, Victory Limited Ale, Avery Jubilation Ale, Bootlegger Winter Ale Mint Chocolate Porter, Albino Python, Sword Swallower, Freaktoberfest, Jewbelation 13 and Rejewvenator.

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: Christmas beers, including Lost Abbey Gift of the Magi and Craftsman Holiday spruce, plus Eagle Rock Brewery Solidarity, a black mild ale.

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

Last night, resident beer expert Alex Macy announced, “We’ve got bottles of Stone Double Bastard, Jolly Pumpkin Noel de Calabaza, and Alesmith Yulesmith. And we have a keg of Unibroue La Terrible on deck (I’ve never seen it on tap before!).”

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

The tap selection at Phil McGovern’s Santa Monica bar now includes Marin Brewing Tiburon Blonde Ale, Anchor Christmas Ale, Affligem Noel, New Belgium “Lips of Faith” Fall Wild Ale, Russian River Consecration and Bootleggers Black Phoenix, a chipotle coffee stout. Currently on cask: Arrogant Bastard with Amarillo Hops and Smoked Porter with American Oak, both from Stone.

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

According to yesterday’s update from Library Alehouse Sustainability Manager Thomas Kelley, “Gentlemen Scholar Espresso Stout is on and running, as long as I can keep it in stock. And we are running a keg of Stone Pale, and Blind Pig IPA is on again, at least for now. Next week is our release of Bashah, Black Belgian Double IPA collaboration from Stone/BrewDog.”

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

New beers on tap at Lucky Baldwin’s include St. Feuillien La Blanche, Affligem Noel, Scaldis Noel, Delirium Noel, Stone Imperial Russian Stout, Anchor Christmas 2009, AleSmith Yulesmith and Lost Coast Winter Brown.

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

According to Jamie, a staffer at Lucky Baldwin’s eastern outpost, the current draught line-up is Christmas heavy, featuring options like St. Bernardus Christmas, Craftsman Holiday, Sierra Nevada Bigfoot Ale, Anchor Christmas, Sierra Nevada Celebration, Stone Double Bastard, St. Feuillien Noel, Avec Les Bon Vouex, Port Brewing Santa’s Little Helper, Delirium Noel and Scaldis Noel. They also have two glass specials. $12 gets you a Belgian beer, the glass, and discounts on refills. $9 scores you an American-style pint glass, a glass-appropriate beer and discounts on refills.

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

According to Assistant GM Martin Svab, new beers include New Belgium 2 Below, Delirium Noel, Rodenbach Grand Cru, Deschutes The Abyss, Deschutes Jubelale, Telegraph Winter Ale, Lost Coast WinterBraun, Stone 12th Anniversary, Craftsman Holiday Spruce, Sierra Nevada Celebration, Strand Brewing 24th Street Pale Ale, Oskar Blues Dale’s Pale Ale, Dale Bros. Winter Haze and Requiem Espresso Stout (Batch 2). Svab is one of the stout’s brewers and described Batch 2 as “More well-rounded. Lower in alcohol (7% ABV)… But richer/chewier. Espresso finish stronger.”

On deck, you’ll find N’ice Chouffee, Scaldis Noel, Eel River Noel, Russian River Consecration
Stone/BrewDog Bashah, Sierra Nevada/Dogfish Life & Limb, Affligem Noel, Telegraph Wheat Reserve and Craftsman Edgar’s Ale

STOUT
1544 North Cahuenga Boulevard, Hollywood, 323 469 3801

According to Alex Kagianaris, the co-owner of Hollywood’s newest burger-and-beer joint, “Right now we are getting our seasonal ales in – St. Bernardus Christmas Ale, La Chouffe Nice, Lost Coast Winterbraun, Scaldis Noel, Samichlaus Noel.”

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

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

Here’s this year’s Holiday line-up:

***Coming up Next***
January 2010: Stouts and Porters on Draft!
February 2010: Barleywines on Draft!!
March: A Surprise Brewery!!!

38 Degrees
100 West Main Street, Alhambra, 626 282 2038

According to 38 Degrees co-owner Clay Harding, they recently “Tapped into Ballast Point Yellowtail Pale, Port Santa’s Little Helper, Old Rasputin on Nitro, Anchor X Mas 2009, Craftsman Cabrenale, Delirium Noel and Bear Republic Hop Rod Rye. Also many new Christmas Bombers available for here or to go to use as stocking stuffers. All bottles at 38 Degrees are now available to go!!”

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

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

New on draught: The Bruery Rugbrod, Requiem Espresso Stout, Port Brewing Santa’s Little Helper, Christmas Beers like St. Bernardus, Gouden Carolus and Mikkeller Santa’s Little Helper, a rare beer. “This is the first time I’ve seen Mikkeller on draught,” says Sweeney. He also said Speakeasy drove down a keg of holiday spice beer. Last night, they burned through Solidarity, Eagle Rock Brewery’s black mild ale, the first keg tapped outside of the brewery. He also scored bottles of “some more bizarre Christmas beers and Russian River Consecration Batch #3, which is supposed to be the best batch yet. Sweeney’s also started assembling the opening keg list for The Surly Goat, which could open by the second week of January.