The L.A. BEER BLAST is designed to let Food GPS readers know 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.

“Beer is finding its way into the sweet course. What started with beer floats has now spread to shakes, cakes, even candy.” In this week’s Los Angeles Times Food section, I wrote about beer desserts in an article titled: “A New Dessert Trend is Brewing.”

Last Saturday, BrewDog managing director James Watt made The Surly Goat his only L.A. stop on a two-week tour of the U.S. He brought a number of rare kegs and bottles. CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE

On March 19, Blue Palms Brewhouse hosted a Flemish Sour Blending Seminar with Brouwerij Bockor brewmaster Sam Quartier. He was in town from Belgium to educate attendees about brewing and blending West Flemish sour beer. CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE

The Vander Ghinste family has presided over Brouwerij Bockor, a small Belgian brewery, since 1892. For the past five years, Sam Quartier has been Bockor’s brewmaster, helping to ensure that Omer stays properly hopped and Jacobins remains consistently tart. Click here to learn more about his background and mission at Bockor.

“Your beer limit is broken down into two separate spheres. First you have your legal / safety limit and second is your “enjoyment” limit. Both limits have popped up in my beer travels, as of late. So I felt it was time to step back for a moment and stop chasing the next new beer or finding the latest craft brew hot spot and focus on how to maximize our drinking experience.” So writes, Brew & You columnist Sean Inman, in a post titled: “Slow and Steady: Know Your Beer Limit.”

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

New draught options at Gabriel Gordon’s noted Seal Beach beer bar include Deschutes 2010 Jubel, Mad River Mad Belgian, Marin Brewing Witty Monk, New Belgium Eric’s Ale, Avery Ellies Brown and Ballast Point bourbon barrel aged Black Marlin Porter. Track changes to Gordon’s 24-tap blackboard menu via HOP CAM.

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

According to Blue Palms proprietor Brian Lenzo, the tap list now includes Brouwerij Bockor Cuvee des Jacobins Rouge, Valley Brew IPA, Strand 24th Street Pale Ale, Valley Brew London Tavern, Lost Coast Fogcutter, Guinness 250 and Russian River Blind Pig IPA.

BONEYARD BISTRO
13539 Ventura Boulevard, Sherman Oaks, 818 906 7427

According to Boneyard Bistro bar manager Rory Snipes, “We added Lost Abbey Red Poppy, Oskar Blues Gubna Imperial IPA, Caracole Amber, and Avery Black Tot to our bottle list, and should be pouring Port Wipeout on draft sometime this week.”

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

Phil McGovern’s Santa Monica bar still has a number of kegs remaining from last Friday’s Double IPA event, including Avery Maharaja, Green Flash Imperial IPA, Speakeasy Double Daddy IPA and Firestone Double Jack. New beers also include Bass and Wexford’s Irish Cream Ale. Now on cask: Stone Smoked Porter with American oak and Stone Pale Ale with coriander.

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

According to beer fueled staffer Dave Watrous, who’s leaving to work at Tony’s Darts Away, “This will be my last night at the Fifth and I am pulling out all the stops. In addition to having the new Dark Heather Saison from New Belgium, I also have Victory at Sea on. I am also tapping all of the back logged beers I was saving, Ginger Big Eye from Ballast Point, Old Stock ’09, and am tapping a fresh keg of Carnvale.”

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

According to The Golden State co-owner Jason Bernstein, the latest offerings consist of New Belgium’s Fall Heather Saison, New Belgium’s Fall Wild Ale, Sierra Nevada Glissade, Drake’s Denogginizer (coming on Sat. to replace Port Mongo Double IPA) and a tiny bit of Rasputin XII. Just got some bottles of Ballast Point’s Victory at Sea.”

LADYFACE ALEHOUSE & BRASSERIE
29281 Agoura Road, Agoura Hills, 818 477 4566

According to Ladyface rep Robyn Britton, “High Gravity Week runs through Sunday, featuring Brewer David’s Blue-Belly Barleywine and Chesebro IPA, Drake’s Stygian Witches Barley-wine, Speakeasy Scarface Imperial Stout, Anderson Valley Imperial IPA, AleSmith Speedway Stout, and Avery Reverend Quadruple. Serious beer for serious beer fans!

Cask of the Week is “Aztec Fire” – own Blind Ambition Belgian Amber ale, infused with chocolate and pepper spice. Ladyface is now open daily 11:30am through midnight with a new spring menu. The patio beckons.”

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

According to sustainability manager Tom Kelley, “We have One keg of Old Rasputin XII, Sierra 30th, and Mikkeller Beer Geek Breakfast, and one last keg of Velvet Merkin. Coming this weekend we will see Port Midnight Sessions, Bootlegger Palomino Pale, Ranger IPA, and the Bruery’s Saison de Lente.”

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

Lucky Baldwin’s eastern outpost is now pouring Ranger IPA, Stone IPA, Bear Republic Racer 5, Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, Stone Arrogant Bastard and Pink Killer.

LUCKY DEVILS
6613 Hollywood Boulevard, Hollywood, 323 465 8259

According to Lucky Devils rep Stacy Failing, “Just tapped Flying Dog’s Raging Bitch, we’ve got just 2 kegs and that’s it – socome in while it lasts! Also new bottles include Stone Sublimely Self-Righteous and Oskar Blues Dale’s Pale Ale in the can. Also on tap Ballast Point Yellowtail, Pilsner Urquell, Blanche de Bruxelles, Craftsman 1903, Stone Pale Ale, Paulaner Heffweisen, Bear Republic Racer 5, Allfigem Blond, Oskar Blues Old Chub, Old Rasputin Russian Imperial Stout, St. Bernardus Abt 12, O’Hara’s Irish Stout and Stone Pale Ale.”

McG’s IRISH PUB & GRILL
21356 Devonshire Street, Chatsworth, 818 734 7056

According to resident Beer Geek David Stickel, the McG’s tap list now includes Eagle Rock Solidarity Black Mild, Boont Amber, Victory Yakima Twilight, Allagash White, Allagash Curieux, Lost Abbey Judgment Day, St. Louis Framboise, Abita Andy Gator, Pranqster, Scrimshaw Pils, Delirium Tremens, Big Sky Powder Hound, Unibroue Maudite, Flying Dog Double Dog, Flying Dog Raging Bitch, Stone IPA, Napa Smith Wheat, Old Rasputin Imperial Stout, Leffe Blonde and “plus all the usual suspects.”

THE SURLY GOAT
7929 Santa Monica Boulevard, West Hollywood, 323 650 4628

The Surly Goat is currently pouring beers like New Belgium Le Fleur Misseur, Deschutes, Jubel 2010, BrewDog 5 A.M. Saint, TAPS Barleywine, Sierra Nevada Big Foot ’09 and Unibroue La Terrible.

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

According to The York manager Mary Drenthe, “New on draught are Eagle Rock Brewery’s Equinox, a young Belgian sour, and Green Flash Le Freak, a cross between a Belgian Tripel and American IPA. On deck for the weekend we have Bear Republic Pete’s Tribute Brown Ale. And for those of you who are still in an Irish state of mind, we still have some O’Hara’s Irish Stout and Smithwick’s Irish Red Ale.

As for large bottles, we added Maredsous Tripel, Firestone Walker Reserve Robust Porter, and Stone Old Guardian Barley Wine.

On cask, we’re pouring Craftsman Beer Mountain, which is a delicious, well-balanced American Strong Ale that comes in at a nice 8.5% ABV.”