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.

Ballast Point Brewing was a 1996 outgrowth of the Home Brew Mart, which Jack White founded in 1992. The bulk of Ballast Point’s beer production is overseen by head brewer Yuseff Cherney at the Scripps Ranch facility, which opened in 2005. Cherney already helped lead Ballast Point into San Diego’s upper beer tier, and he recently expanded into the spirit world, which he considers “advanced brewing” and “the next step in alchemy.” CLICK HERE TO READ THE Q&A

“Every craft beer is a learning opportunity. New flavors. Re-discovered styles. Differing opinions. And that could be all in one pint of beer. But if you are looking for a more structured learning environment, then the monthly Education nights at Eagle Rock Brewery are for you.” This week, Brew & You columnist Sean Inman discusses his first Eagle Rock Brewery class in a post titled “Back to School at Eagle Rock Brewery.”

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

New draught options at Gabriel Gordon’s noted Seal Beach beer bar include Avery Elles Brown, Tripel Karmeliet, Green Flash Hop Head Red, New Belgium Biere de Mars, Rubicon Rose Bud, Strand Pale Ale, Drake’s Hefe, Mad River Scotch Porter and Stone Smoked Porter with French oak 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

Here’s yesterday’s update from manager Ray Garcia: “We just got back in stock the Saison Foret and we are excited to have Saison Dupont as well! Both are served in 25oz bottles.”

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

According to Blue Palms proprietor Brian Lenzo, “Angel Share on Tap Monday. Lighting Beers are here with their Black Lighting Porter & Old Tempest Ale Wednesday. San Diego Brewing BlueBerry Wheat. Alpine Duet & Token.”

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

The tap selection at Phil McGovern’s Santa Monica bar now includes Einhorn Doppelbock, Port Brewing Santa’s Little Helper, Bear Republic Racer 5, Sierra Nevada Glissade, Rogue Hazelnut Brown, The Lost Abbey Gift of the Magi and Lost Continent Double IPA. Now on cask: Stone IPA and Stone Arrogant Bastard.

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

According to resident beer expert Dave Watrous, “New on draft this week @ the Fifth: Avery Czar R.I.S. (will tap this evening), Alesmith X (Extra Pale Ale), Stone Brewing Cali-Belgique (Belgian I.P.A.), North Coast Scrimshaw Pilsner, Allagash Curieux (Bourbon Barrel-Aged Belgian Tripel) and Eagle Rock Brewing Revolution (Extra Pale Ale). The Fifth will also tap The Bruery’s “Mischief” tonight. New In Bottles This Week: Jolly Pumpkin Le Roja (Flemish Red)”

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

According to The Golden State co-owner Jason Bernstein, “The two things that are coming on Thursday are Avery Dugana and The Bruery’s Mischief on draft. Pretty excited for that one as I haven’t had it yet. In bottles, we just got Hair of the Dog Adam.”

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

According to co-owner Zac Crandell, “We have Eagle Rock Brewery Solidarity black mild on tap $5. Also on deck is special release Stone Cali-Belgique which is a IPA brewed with Belgium yeast.”

LA GRANDE ORANGE CAFÉ
260 South Raymond Avenue, Pasadena, 626 356 4444

LGO is now pouring Eagle Rock Brewery Manifesto, the L.A. brewery’s witbier.

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

According to owner Cyrena Nouzille, “There’s no firkin way! Yes, it’s true. Thursday January 21st, Ladyface Alehouse & Brasserie will tap its first firkin keg. Brewer David pulled from the second batch of our beautiful Blonde and put it to bed with Czech Saaz whole leaf hops. After a week in a cask together, the Blonde and the Saaz have produced a “Love Child,” an unusual dry hopped Belgian style ale using a Noble hop with lower alpha acids for less bitterness and a lovely earthy quality.

Cask conditioned ales involve using a traditional hand pump, not a CO2 push liked other kegged beers. So that long, sexy white handle at the bar, and our bartenders, are about to get a work-out. At four o’clock Thursday, happy hour starts, the keg gets tapped, the oxygen hits the “Love Child” and the race is on. Once tapped, this is not an ale with longevity and there’s just one keg, so get it while it lasts. We’re only serving it by the glass, no pitchers, but we’re guessing it’ll be gone by Sunday.”

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

According to the update from Library Alehouse Sustainability Manager Thomas Kelley, “We now have on draft Allagash Curieux, Alaskan Smoked Porter, Gentlemen Scholar Espresso Stout and New Belgium’s Transatlantique Kriek. Ballast Point Big Eye IPA should come on some time this weekend.

In bottle we are now carrying World Wide Stout from Dogfish Head, 18% stout or “a very dark beer brewed with a ridiculous amount of barley”, as well as Jolly Pumpkin’s Oro de Calabaza.”

On the last Tuesday of each month, Library Alehouse hosts a benefit for a different nonprofit. On January 26, the 14-year-old alehouse honors The Boys and Girls Club of Santa Monica. $20 scores you an order of Fish and Chips, a 10 oz. pour of La Folie, a Flemish sour brown ale from New Belgium Brewing, and the glass. If you’re not a sour drinker, Fuller’s London Pride and Fuller’s London Porter are also on tap.15% of proceeds directly benefit the organization.

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

New beers on tap at Lucky Baldwin’s Old Pasadena flagship include Pyramid Snowcap, Biere du Boucanier Red, Leffe Brune, Leffe Blonde, Avery Dugana double IPA, Cherish Raspberry Lambic, Grimbergen Brown and Bear Republic Racer 5 IPA.

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

According to Jamie, a staffer at Lucky Baldwin’s eastern outpost, the current draught line-up now features Kwak, Biere de Miel and Tripel Karmeliet. Also, the Belgian Beer Fest starts on February 13.

STOUT
1544 North Cahuenga Boulevard, Hollywood, 323 469 3801

According to Alex Kagianaris, the co-owner of Hollywood’s newest burger-and-beer joint, “Some of our new beers that we have on tap right now are Moylan’s Hopsickle, Braumeister Pils, Spaten Optimator, and Brother David Double. We just tapped the Delirium Noel also as it was a favorite.”

38 DEGREES ALEHOUSE
100 West Main Street, Alhambra, 626 282 2038

Here’s today’s update from 38 Degrees co-owner Clay Harding, who oversees the beer program: ”We will tap into Eagle Rock Brewery’s Extra Pale Ale called Revolution Friday as well as Allagash FOUR, Alesmith Wee Heavy scotch Ale, Blind Pig IPA, Anchor Steam, Black Butte Porter and Angel’s Share from The lost Abbey. Many new bottles available to share here or take home including brew from Marin, Moylans, Allagash, Alpine, Deproef and more. I forgot Baladin Elixir from Italy.”

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

According to The York manager Mary Drenthe, ”This last week we added Brasserie Caracole Nostradamus (a Belgian strong dark ale), Steelhead Scotch Porter, Belhaven Scottish Stout and Hofbrau Munchen Hefe Weizen on draught. On deck, we have a keg of Eagle Rock Brewery’s latest, Revolution XPA, which will join their Manifesto Wit Bier in our lineup.”