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.

“Every year, Lucky Baldwin’s pub (either Pasadena or Sierra Madre) brings in all the Belgian beer they can find and for two weeks you can travel the length and breadth of this great beer country while parked on a stool at the bar. And these aren’t the usual Belgian suspects.” So says Brew & You columnist Sean Inman, who just visited Lucky Baldwin’s Belgian Beer Fest. He wrote about the experience in a post titled “A Gathering of Belgians”

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

New draught options at Gabriel Gordon’s noted Seal Beach beer bar include Marin Tiburon Blonde, AleSmith Anvil, The Bruery Melange No. Sechs, Craftsman Honesty Ale, Avery Reverend Quad, Speakeasy Scarface Stout, Port Brewing Moon Lit Sessions, Anderson Valley Oatmeal Stout, New Belgium Wild Ale and Sierra Nevada Golden Ticket Baltic 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, new beers include Alpine Duet, Alpine Token, Sea Monster Cask soaked in devils share whiskey chips, San Diego Brewing Company Love potion #9 and 100% Barrel Aged Serpent Stout.

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

The tap selection at Phil McGovern’s Santa Monica bar now includes Grand Teton Sheep Eater (Scotch ale), The Bruery Melange No. Sechs, Lagunitas Wet Hop IPA and Bear Republic Apex (double IPA). On cask: Ballast Point Big Eye IPA and Stone Smoked Porter with American oak.

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

According to resident beer expert Dave “Gueuze Hound” Watrous, new beers consist of The Bruery Mélange No. Sechs, AleSmith Speedway Stout, Duvel Green and Babycham cider.

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

According to The Golden State co-owner Jason Bernstein, “We just put on Port Mongo IPA, The Bruery Mélange No. Sechs and New Belgium’s Fall Wild Ale. On deck is Hopsickle and probably Stone Cali-Belgique.”

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

According to co-owner Zac Crandell, “Eagle Rock Brewery and Johnny’s Bar bring to you night of handcrafted beer tasting. 
Come try all Eagle Rock Brewery beers on tap @ Johnny’s! Feb 27th at 7.30. 
Three of their regular beers plus one extra special release all on tap.
 Each brew will be paired with food! That’s four pints of fresh beer plus delicious food 
for $25. Spaces are limited and are going to fill up fast. To reserve your seat please 
contact zac at [email protected].”

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

According to Ladyface rep Robyn Britton, “Ladyface’s Cask of the Week is our own IPA dry-hopped with that holy trinity of hops – Centennial, Amarillo and Simcoe. Also on tap is Ladyface’s new “La Blanche”, our Belgian Wit. Dried orange peels and coriander help brighten this already crisp ale and an ABV of 4.3% makes it a great beer for a sunny day on our patio. Additions to the Ladyface cellar include Castelain Blond Biere de Garde and Saison Dupont.

Saturday is National Cherry Pie Day so Chef Ray is cooking up Crème Brûlée with dried Morello cherries. As one of the servers said upon tasting “OMG!”, which, it being Lent, means “Oh my goodness”. It pairs perfectly with our Picture City Porter. Last on our Lenten list are growlers. Hallelujah, the new shipment has arrived.”

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

According to the update from Library Alehouse Sustainability Manager Thomas Kelley, “Thanks to everyone you joined us for Pliny the Younger and our Double IPA night to kick off this two week long hop madness.

We still have on draft Port Mongo, Avery Dugana, Moylan’s Hopsickle, and Stone Ruination, and they should run most of the weekend. Come see us this weekend for a glass!”

On February 23, Library Alehouse is hosting Fest de IPA, with 10 IPAs on draft: Stone IPA,
Avery IPA, 
AleSmith IPA,
Bear Republic’s Racer 5 IPA,
Russian River’s Blind Pig IPA,
Firestone’s Union Jack IPA,
New Belgium’s Ranger IPA,
Green Flash IPA,
Drakes IPA
and Moylan’s IPA. A Flight of 3 beers costs $6. A flight of 5 beers costs $9. Kelley said you’ll also have the option to be a beer judge. “For $17 you get all 10 IPA’s and a judging sheet. We will compile all the scores afterwards and the winning beer wins a handle at the Alehouse for a month.” 15% of sales from Fest de IPA will be donated to Santa Monica College Foundation. If you can’t make it to Library Alehouse on Tuesday, many of the IPAs will remain on tap throughout the week.

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

The Belgian Beer Fest runs through February 28 at the Old Pasadena flagship. Saison Dupont is the sponsor. Expect a glass, T-shirt and beer special, with discounted refills.

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

The Belgian Beer Fest runs through February 28 at the Lucky Baldwin’s eastern outpost. Saison Dupont is the sponsor. Expect a glass, T-shirt and beer special for $22, with $1 off refills with the glass. There’s also a glass and beer special for $13. Bring your glass back all year for a $1 discount. New Belgian beers include La Cuvée des Trolls, Brigand, Gouden Draak, Maredsous 8, Delirium Fruli (strawberry beer), Augustijn Grand Cru, Kasteel Brune, Scaldis and four beers from Saison Dupont: Foret, Monet, Avec Les Bon Voeux and Saison Dupont.

NAJA’S PLACE
154 International Boardwalk, Redondo Beach, 310 376 9951

According to Assistant GM Martin Svab, new beers on draft are North Coast Red Seal, Green Flash Hop Head Red, The Gentleman Scholar Requiem Espresso Stout (batch 3) and Saison DuPont.

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

According to The Surly Goat co-owner Ryan Sweeney, new kegs include Ballast Point Sculpin IPA. They’re gearing up for Kern River Just Outstanding IPA, Kern River Class V Stout, Bear Republic Apex, The Bruery Melange No. Sechs, Eagle Rock Brewery Manifesto, New Belgium Le Fleur Misseur and Sierra Nevada Estate Hops. Also on deck: Firestone 13.

VERDUGO BAR
3408 Verdugo Road, Glassell Park, 323 257 3408

According to co-owner Ryan Sweeney, new kegs include Bear Republic Apex, a double IPA

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

On February 24 at 6:30 PM, The York is hosting a Firestone Walker 5-course beer dinner. The dinner costs $40 per person and features pairings from chef Dimitri Stephenson and Firestone Walker rep Jace Milstead. The includes Unfiltered Double Barrel Ale on Cask (Hors d’oeuvre), California Pale 31 (Creole and Pale 31-boiled shrimp served with house-made cocktail sauce), Union Jack India Pale Ale (Mixed green salad with pepitas, Calabasas red onion, Chèvre, and sherry vinaigrette), Walker’s Reserve Robust Porter (Robust Porter braised baby back ribs with porter infused barbecue sauce, parsnip puree, and radicchio di Treviso) and Velvet Merkin (Oatmeal stout float with crème fraîche gelato and chocolate covered cherries). It’s limited seating and reservations are filling up quick. Call (323) 255-9675 or email [email protected] to reserve your space.