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.

When people think of Santa Fe, certain thoughts spring to mind: picturesque mountains, adobe buildings and strings of dried chilies. Craft beer has been pretty far down the line, but Brian Lock has been working to change that perception since arriving at the 22 year-old Santa Fe Brewing Company in 1995. We recently met at Taste of Santa Fe and subsequently spoke by phone, where Lock discussed his background and approach. CLICK HERE TO READ THE Q&A

Last Saturday, Brew & You columnist Sean Inman once again found himself at the Pacific Gravity Home Brew club Summer Party, where he encountered “a tremendous collection of beers from Chipotle Stout to Yuzu Wit in celebration of 15 years of club activity.” He shares his impressions in a post titled The Gravity of the Situation.

BEACHWOOD BBQ

Beachwood chef-owner Gabe Gordon currently features draught beers like The Bruery Autumn Maple, Sudwerk Berliner Weisse, Black Diamond Imperial IPA, Blanche de Bruxelles, Lost Coat Alley Cat Amber, Porter House Oyster Stout and North Coast Blue Star Wheat. Track changes to Beachwood BBQ’s 24-tap menu via HOP CAM

BIERGARTEN BBQ

According to Neil Kwon, who opened Biergarten five months ago at 206 N. Western Avenue, in Koreatown, “I don’t know if you heard or not but we are a beer bar with 25 beers are tap, mostly Belgium, German, and American craft beers…Alesmith Horny Devil, Alesmith X pale ale, Hofbrau original and Gouden Carolus Hopsinjoor are new. For the next week, I’ll be tapping in Lindemans Peche, Hite (Korean) – very temporary.”

BLUE PALMS BREWHOUSE

According to proprietor Brian Lenzo, “The list is pretty strong. Pliny, White Knuckle, Big Sky Double IPA, Stone 08.08.08. Lots of great beers on this week!”

Lenzo has room for 10 more people on his Party Bus to Stone 14. Participants meet for breakfast at Blue Palms on August 21 at 7:15 AM. Enjoy a bus ride bottle share, Session A at Stone and a pint at Beachwood BBQ before returning to Hollywood. The bus ride costs $45 per person.

THE DAILY PINT

Phil McGovern’s Santa Monica bar recently added draught beers like Dogfish Head 90 Minute IPA, Green Flash West Coast IPA, Affligem Tripel, New Belgium Eric’s Ale, Port 4th Anniversary Imperial IPA, Firestone Walker Walker’s Reserve, Deschutes Mirror Pond Pale Ale, and on cask, Stone Pale Ale with Coriander.

THE FIFTH AMENDMENT ALEHOUSE

According to co-owner Eden Noe, new beers consist of Chimay White, Delirium tremens, Hollywood Blonde, Bootlegger’s Old World Hefeweizen, Hoegaarden and Allagash White.

THE GOLDEN STATE

According to co-owner Jason Bernstein, new beers include Port Mongo IPA, Port Road To Helles Bock, Bruery’s Autumn Maple, Green Flash IPA and Racer 5 IPA.

LADYFACE ALE COMPANIE

According to Ladyface rep Robyn Britton, “Weekly Cask is “Little Jack Horner”, plum-infused Blind Ambition. Ladies: compliment your pint with new Ladyface Mercantile, plum-colored LF logo tees. Blind Ambition and La Blanche Wit are back, pouring alongside Ladyface IPA, Chesebro DIPA, Picture City Porter, and special brew Ladyface Red Rye (Catch it while you can!)

Guest ales on tap now: RR Pliny the Elder, Sierra Nevada 30 Series Helles Bock, Bootlegger’s Knuckle Sandwich, La Chouffe Houblon, Avery Reverend and IPA, Drake’s 1500, Port Hop 15, Oskar Blue’s Gubna, Corsendonk Abbey Ale. Rotating in this weekend: Damnation, Val Dieu Grand Cru, Drake’s Hopocalypse, AV Imperial IPA, and Oskar Blue’s Mama’s ‘Lil Yella Pils.”

LIBRARY ALEHOUSE

According to Library Alehouse general manager Tom Kelley, “We have on Sculpin IPA, Abandon Ship Smoked Lager, Yellowtail Pale and Calico Amber from Ballast Point as well as Allagash Blond.

Tonight from 5 PM – 7 PM, The Beer Chicks – Beer Sommeliers and Authors Christina Perozzi and Hallie Beaune – will be at Library Alehouse to tap their Sierra Nevada Beer Camp beer, the Almond Marzen Project, a Nutty Lager brewed with locally roasted Almonds. Anyone who buys a pint will get a raffle ticket for a chance to win an autographed copy of their book, The Naked Pint: An Unadulterated Guide to Craft Beer.

Kelley added, “We are on running a bus from Library Alehouse to San Marcos for Stone Fest on Saturday August 21. We will be attending the first session at 11 AM, which means the bus leaves here at 9 AM sharp. You must have tickets for the 11 AM session. After the celebration we will in San Marcos, we will be cruising to a new gastropub called Urge for lunch on the way to the Ballast Point tap room at Scripps Ranch for a private tour and some more beers.”

LUCKY BALDWIN’S DELIRIUM CAFE

Belgian Beer Fest is going strong at Lucky Baldwin’s eastern outpost. Look for beers like Leffe Blonde, Scaldis Noel, Affligem Noel and Cuvée des Trolls. Belgian Beer Fest includes glass, T-shirt and food specials.

NAJA’S PLACE

According to assistant manager Martin Svab, “Tonight from 8pm till 10pm, Racer X roars into Naja’s Place with a tapping of this rare Double IPA (only 7 kegs in LA!). In addition to Racer X, we will feature the following Bear Republic beers: Pete’s Tribute Brown, Racer 5, Red Rocket.

Next Thursday, August 26, 2010: FUNK ‘N SOUR (MINI) FESTIVAL. Join us for a tribute to all beers funky and sour. We will feature over 15 palate-twisting Flemish Sours, Gueuzes, Barrel-Aged and Farm House ales on draught. An additional 8+ will be available by the bottle. These beers will be available by the glass only. No entrance fee. Just pay as you go. Some of the beers that will be featured include: Russian River Consecration, Russian River Supplication, Jacobins Cuvee Rouge, Monstre Rouge (Red Monster). The mini-fest kicks off Thursday, August 26th, 2010 at 8pm…It will run approximately one week (or until all beer runs dry).

SIMMZY’S

According to Simmzy’s manager Peter Shuey, “This week, we’ve got a 2nd keg of Dogfish’s “Theobroma” We also have Sierra Nevada’s autumn ale “Tumbler”, Koningshoven Witte Trappist Ale, New Belgium’s Hoptober, Deschutes “Hop in the Dark”, Shipyard XXXX IPA and this week only Port’s “Older Viscosity” and we were one of only 10 in all of L.A./OC to get Allagash “Fluxus!”

We’ll also be hosting a New Belgium Brewery Thursday on Sept 2 @ 6pm with Hoptober and the new Belgo IPA!”

THE SURLY GOAT

You’ll currently find beers on tap like The Bruery Coton, Rogue John John Juniper, Sierra Nevada Tumbler, Avery White Rascal, Eagle Rock Limbo and Marin Point Reyes Porter.

TONY’S DARTS AWAY

According to manager Paige Reilly, “We have some amazing local brews on right now: Eagle Rock’s brand new IPA, Populist, ON CASK dry-hopped with Citra hops; Nibble Bit Tabby’s Uncle Arnie’s Irish Red (one of the first kegs EVER!!!!); Moylan’s Pomegranate Wheat; certainly not to be forgotten, Hopocalypse from Drake’s as well.”