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.
Oregon native Ron Gansberg started brewing beer back when he was 12 years old. Root beer. Later, as a teenage in Klamath Falls, he graduated to hard ciders and fruit wines before turning to wine, but he couldn’t leave brewing behind. In 1986, he began an eight-year run as brewer for BridgePort Brewing Company. He left to help Art Larrance design and install the brewing system at Raccoon Lodge & Brew Pub / Cascade Brewing Company. Since Cascade launched in 1998, Gansberg has worked as brewmaster. He’s also developed a passion and reputation for barrel-aged sours. We recently spoke over the phone, where Gansberg discussed his background and approach. CLICK HERE TO READ THE Q&A.
My interview series with brewmasters not only provides insight about the people who make some of the best beer; they’ve also been known to impart great advice on where to drink (and eat). My interview with Stone brewing co-founder Greg Koch yielded a recommendation for Neighborhood, a cool gastropub a short walk from PETCO Park in San Diego’s Gaslamp Quarter that features a great beer list and compelling pub fare. CLICK HERE TO READ THE REVIEW.
Greene King brewmaster John Bexon was recently in the U.S. for a promotional tour, touting beers from his employer’s 210-year-old family of pubs and breweries. During his brief L.A. stay, we met at 1739 Public House in Los Feliz, where he discussed his background and approach before providing insights about Greene King’s line-up, one bottle and can at a time. CLICK HERE TO READ THE POST.
Brew & You columnist Sean Inman was recently at Blue Palms Brewhouse, in the middle of American Craft Beer Week and he was seriously mulling skipping beer for the evening and ordering a cocktail. CLICK HERE TO LEARN WHY.
Beachwood chef-owner Gabe Gordon currently features beers like Sudwerk Imperial Pilsner, Mikkeller Single Hope Warrior IPA, The Bruery Coton, Eel River Tripel Exultation Old Ale, The Bruery Humulus Rice, Avery Karma and Dogfish Head Festina Peche. Track changes to Beachwood BBQ’s 24-tap menu via HOP CAM
Proprietor Brian Lenzo’s tap list at Blue Palms Brewhouse currently features beers like Pizza Port Carlsbad Black Wave, Pizza Port Face Plant, Victory Hop Wallop, Kern River Class V, Avery Ellie’s Brown and Port Brewing 4th Anniversary.
Phil McGovern’s Santa Monica bar now features Dogfish Head 90 Minute IPA, Firestone Walker Solace, Stone Cali-Belgique, and on cask, Stone Smoked Porter with American oak and Stone Ruination with Columbus hops.
FIFTH AMENDMENT ALEHOUSE
According to co-owner Eden Noe, “Dan and I picked the following beers: Einhorn Pils, Saison du buff, Lips of Faith Eric’s Ale, Firestone Hefeweizen, Speakeasy Double Daddy, Paulauner Hefeweizen.”
According to co-owner Jason Bernstein, The Golden State has a number of new kegs this week, including The Bruery’s Mischief, Craftsman 1903, Bootlegger’s Knuckle Sandwich Double IPA, Port 4th Anniversary, Firestone Union Jack, Flying Dog Raging Bitch, Allagash Curieux, North Coast Old Rasputin, Moylan’s Old Blarney Barrel Aged Barleywine, and Stone et al. Saison du BUFF.
According to Ladyface rep Robyn Britton, “Calling all Hop Heads! The Cask of the Week features our own Chesebro Double IPA with whole leaf Summit hops. Brewer Dave tapped the firkin Wednesday, May 26th. Also on tap this week – Ladyface IPA, Chesebro Double IPA, Tripel, La Blonde, Blind Ambition Amber and Picture City Porter; Allagash White, Oskar Blues Gordon and Mama’s Little Yella Pils, Lost Abbey Judgement Day, Port Wipeout, Green Flash LeFreak, Sierra Nevada Southern Hemisphere Harvest Ale, Ommegang Hennepin Saison, and Drake’s Denogginizer.”
According to sustainability manager Tom Kelley, “We are cleaning up the cooler after Belge fest this weekend. Piraat, Witcap Pater brune, Bacchus, Duchess de Bourgogne, Koeningshoeven Isid’or, New Belgium Belgian Blond, Saison du Buff will all be making appearances.
In bottle we now have two more Mikkeller single hops, Tomahawk and Centennial, as well as Depuceleuse from Avery, the fourth in their barrel aged series. A wild ale brewed with sour cherries and 100% brettanomyces and then aged in zinfandel barrels.”
New beers at Lucky Baldwin’s eastern outpost consist of Full Sail IPA and Cuvee de Trolls.
According to manager Micah Schiesel, “With a salute to the Czar we have Stone’s seasonal Russian Imperial Stout back for a quick cameo. If you look after a nice South Bay sunset you will see Green Flash’s Hop Head Read pouring. Also a special release of Firestone Walker’s Parabola which is an imperial stout and only 3 kegs in all of LA. Rogue Dry Hopped Red, MC Chouffe a Belgian Dark, and more IPA’s then you can shake a stick at.”
The Surly Goat’s tap list currently features options like Kern River Just Outstanding IPA, Avery 17th Anniversary Ale, BrewDog Black Dog, Moylan’s Port/Apple Brandy Barrel Aged Kilt Lifter, Craftsman Point Five, Firestone Walker Walker’s Reserve and Deschutes Obsidian Stout.
According to last night’s update from manager Paige Reilly, “One word… SCULPIN!!! Also, Sierra Nevada Southern Hemisphere Harvest, Black Diamond Jagged Edge IPA, North Coast Pranqster, and MateVeza Organic Black Lager. Yay beer!”
On May 29 from 2 PM – 5 PM, the Toluca Lake branch of Vendome Wine & Spirits is hosting a $10 tasting of “Wicked Weird Beers.” Expect beers brewed with ingredients like oysters, black pepper, mustard seed and tea. The line-up includes Birra Artigianale Quarta Runa, an Italian beer brewed with Peaches; Baird Jubilation Ale, a Japanese beer brewed with figs and cinnamon; Alvinne Melchior, a Belgian ale brewed with mustard seeds; Iwate Kura Bakushu Oyster Stout, a Japanese stout brewed with oysters; and Cuvee Alex Le Rouge BFM, an Imperial Stout from Switzerland brewed with black pepper, vanilla and tea. That’s far from all.
According to co-owner Kyle Bilowitz, some kegs that are currently on deck include Firestone Walker Parabola, Ballast Point Sculpin, Avery 17th, Dogfish Head Festina Peche, The Bruery Humulus Rice and Port 4th.
Blog Comments
Koozies online
May 28, 2010 at 6:59 PM
It seems like just the sort of thing that a group of drunk young men might try. If there were 3 or 4 of them they might be able to pull it off.