The L.A. BEER BLAST is a weekly newsletter 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. Subscribe to Food GPS and you’ll receive the L.A. BEER BLAST by e-mail.

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

CURRENTLY ON TAP

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

NEW ON TAP

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

NEW ON TAP

AleSmith Grand Cru arrives on Tuesday, in time for St. Patrick’s Day.

NEW IN THE BOTTLE

Co-owner Jason Bernstein said Russian River and Avery Brewing’s “Collaboration…Not Litigation” (Batch #3) is “spicy but raisin-y at the same time. It’s described as a ‘golden ale brewed with Belgian yeast.’ It’s a bigger beer.”

North Coast Brewing Red Seal Ale – Fort Bragg, CA

JOHNNY’S BAR
5006 York Boulevard, Highland Park, 323 551 6959

NEW ON TAP

Co-owner Zac Crandell said they’re going with Murphy’s Irish Stout for St. Patrick’s Day, replacing Grimbergen.

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

NEW ON TAP

For St. Patrick’s Day, Guinness will be flowing full-stream from the taps.

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

NEW ON TAP

Lucky Baldwin’s eastern outpost extended their Belgian beer festival through Sunday, and maybe further. They still have plenty of Belgian beers, T-shirts and mugs. La Chouffe Belgian Tripel is back on, and they ran out of the Gulden Draak Vintage Ale.

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

Owner Ryan Ballinger checked in on Tuesday with a full report The York’s beer offerings:

NEW ON TAP

“Into the second and final keg of Craftsman’s Honesty Ale, a seasonal offering, a tart cherry Belgian-style fruit beer. When this one is gone, it is gone for 11 months.”

“There has been talk of picking up a hoppy rye beer on tap soon.”

NEW IN BOTTLES

“Now in 12oz. bottle is Kronenbourg 1664, and we have a small Belgian called “Stella Artois” on draft in its place. I’m pretty sure we’re getting in on the ground floor with this beer. If I have to give you notes on what sSella tastes like, you have been sleeping for five years at least.”

“750ml of The Bruery white orchard, a Belgian-style ale brewed with spices, wheat and oats. It is a great beer for our new longer afternoons. Their tasting notes: “flavors of fresh citrus, bready wheat, and a hint of lavender.”

“We also sell The Bruery black orchard, a dark-colored but light-flavored beer of a similar sort in 750ml bottles.”

“Just in is the 2009 release of Reutberger’s St. Josephi Bock, a seasonal bock beer they release in the spring each year. It has a fantastic amber color, nice malt balance, and wonderful finish. It is 6.9% ABV, easily one of my favorite breweries. Better to drink it there, but we get some here, which is easier of course.”

“Also, a light beer from German schonram brewery called Surtaler. It is light and crisp, or as the Germans put it: “Ein „schweres Leichtes, da mit 3,4 % Alkohol stärker als die meisten seiner Gattung. Eine wohlschmeckende Alternative zu allen Biermischgetränken (unter Brauern als „Bierpanschereien“ bekannt). Spezialmalze runden den Geschmack ab. Das malzige Aroma erinnert an eine frisch gemähte Wiese. Im Antrunk schmeckt man eine leichte Malzsüße, die in eine angenehm anhaltende Hopfenbittere übergeht. Im Nachtrunk sehr spritzig. Das Surtaler ist ein Leichtbier mit überraschend viel Rückgrat, das es dem relativ hohen Stammwürzegehalt und der Verwendung von 15 % Spezialmalz verdankt.”

“We will be open early (2 p.m.) and going big on Tuesday for St. Patrick’s Day with our Guinness and Smithwick’s in addition to an assortment of Irish whiskeys, corned beef and cabbage, and all kinds of affronts to proper drinking.”