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 meet industry leaders. The L.A. Beer Blast normally arrives 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.
Q&A with head brewer Wayne Wambles (Cigar City Brewery)
Wayne Wambles started out as a homebrewer in Enterprise, Alabama, and made his pro debut in nearby Dothan at Poplar Head Mule Company. Wambles currently practices alecraft in his role as the head brewer of Tampa’s Cigar City Brewery. Click Here to Learn More.
Brew & You
This week in Brew & You: A little schooling and a punk and another craft beer homework assignment to complete in a post titled Craft Rotations .
Echo Park bar owner Elizabeth Fischbach spotlights “Drake’s Denogginizer, Green Flash Hop Head Red, Eagle Rock Manifesto and Avery Joe’s Pilsner.”
Beachwood chef-owner Gabe Gordon currently features draught beers such as Xbeeriments Black Force One, Ballast Point Sea Monster Imperial Stout, Cosmic Ales Hell Hound Brown, Petrus Aged pale sour and Craftsman Spring pilsner. Track changes to Beachwood BBQ’s 24-tap menu via Hop Cam.
Blue Palms taps are pouring Humboldt Hemp brown ale, TAPS Belgian white, Morte Subite Lambic Blanche, Ballast Point Tongue Buckler and Biere de Provence among many others. Track changes to Blue Palms Brewhouse’s 24-tap menu Here
April 27 is Stone Brewing Co. Night from 6 p.m. – 9 p.m., including Smoked Porter with Vanilla Beans, Smoked Porter with Chipotle peppers, Double Dry Hopped Ruination and Old Guardian Belgo on draught, plus “various vintage collaboration bottles with recommended cheese pairings.”
From bar manager Rory Snipes, “New beers for this week include Ommegang and Brasserie d’Achouffe’s collaboration Gnomegang – as well as Rare Vos and Three Philosphers from Ommegang, and LaChouffe and McChouffe from d’Achouffe. Other standouts for his week include Lost Coast Imperial 8 Ball Stout and Bruery/Cigar City Marron Acidifie.
Details for our beer dinner with Bootlegger’s on May 1st are, barring any last minute changes: Tropical Tempura Shrimp with Ginger dipping sauce and Asian Pickled Vegetables paired with Old World Hefe, Black Phoenix Braised Oxtail Tacos with charred Tomato-Chipotle Salsa paired with Black Phoenix, Smoked St. Louis Spareribs with Anniversary Ale BBQ Sauce and Smoked Salt Potato Chips paired with 78 Anniversary, Pineapple Upside Down Cake with Chamomile infused Herb Honey paired with Spring Ale. Should be awesome! $40, tickets are pre-sale only, and available at the restaurant or by phone at 818-906-7427.”
The Bottle Room
According to chef-owner Tony Alcazar, “This week we pour Firestone Walkers Reserve, So Cal Red Carpet, Black Market Rye IPA, Craftsman 1903 aged in Buffalo Trace Bourbon Barrels, The Bruery Marron Acidifie, CismonTAPS Saison, and RRBC Pliny The Elder.
Saturday, April 30, The Bottle Room will host a Bootleggers 3rd Anniversary Celebration with a keg of 78th Anniversary Ale, a Scottish Rauch Ale. We will be pairing this with The Shorty, a pulled bbq short rib sandwich.
May 29th…”Praise the Lard” with Craftsman. More details to come.” Beers updated daily.
Broadway Alehouse
According to co-owner Eden Noe, “We have the following: Deschutes Hop Hendge, Deschutes Obsidian Stout, Allagash Black, Allagash White, Allagash Curieux, Ommegang Belgian Pale Ale, Gnomegang, Houblon Chouffe, Old Rasputin, Sea Dog Bluberry, Bootleggars Old World Hef, Hollywood Blonde Red, Racer 5, Dogfish 90 minute IPA, St Louis Frambouse, Delirium Tremens, Sierrra Pale Ale”
>City Sip
Here is the latest from Nicole at City Sip, “Eagle Rock Solidarity and Manifesto, The Bruery Orchard White, Alagash Curieux, Strand’s Pale Ale and TAPS Cream Ale.”
According to Beverage Director Eli Wilson, “Just ordered and on deck is Bruery Gremlin, St. Louis Gueuze, Birrificio Nuova Mattina, Mongo, Bear Republic “Grand Prix” specialties Black Racer and Carberator Doppelbock. As always please join us for Mass, Monday-Friday.”
Since last Thursday, Phil McGovern’s iconic Santa Monica bar has added Ovila Dubbel, Russian River’s Blind Pig and Stone’s Sublimely Self-Righteous to their beer list.
On tap beer wise are Solidarity and the nitro Solidarity along with Manifesto wit. On the Food truck front, Thursday brings the Flatiron Truck, Friday is Mandoline Grill and Saturday is the Lobstatruck.
Saturday, April 23, is also the first annual Eagle Rock Brewery Session Fest. Each tap will pour a pilot batch of beers 4.5% ABV or lower brewed by the Eagle Rock Staff. According to the ERB newsletter, “The event features a diverse menu from Red Milds to Saisons to a Kolsch to some more experimental offings. Choose your own flight, or dive straight into a pint!”
The Factory
According to Eric Gutenkauf, “At The Factory Gastrobar in Long Beach this week, Mad River Jamaica Sunset IPA edged Great Divide Titan IPA for a first round IPA Tournament victory to move on to the Sudsy Sixteen.
The Factory has a great list of craft brews on tap right now including: Drake’s Denogginizer, Bootleggers Dry Hopped ESB, Lagunitas Hairy Eyeball, Sierra Nevada Ovila Dubbel, Hollywood Blonde, Anderson Valley Wee Geech Pale Ale, and our next combatants in The Factory IPA Tournament– Karl Strauss Tower Ten IPA and Stone IPA.
This Friday, April 22, The Factory will tap Eel River’s Earth Thirst Double IPA in honor of Earth Day. Also in the on-deck circle we have Port Brewing Hot Rocks Lager, Sierra Nevada Bigfoot, New Belgium’s Le Terroir Wild Sour and Eagle Rock’s Revolution Pale Ale.
Speaking of Eagle Rock we are eagerly awaiting a May 12 Pint Night with brewer/owner Jeremy Raub where we will be pouring several Eagle Rock brews. ”
At The Golden State, draught beers include “Craftsman 1903, Port Hot Rocks lager, Great Divide Espresso Yeti, Lost Abbey Carnevale, Avery Maharaja, Black Market brown ale and the Bruery’s White Orchard.”
According to Ladyface rep Robyn Britton, “Weekly Cask is “Smokey The Bear,” Picture City Porter laced with mesquite smoke. Guest ales include Sierra Nevada Ovila & Outta Town Brown, Dogfish Head Aprihop & 90 Minute IPA, Saison Dupont, Tap’s Barleywine, & Ballast Point Yellow Tail Pale Ale.”
According to Library Alehouse staffer Alex Davis, “A very fresh keg of Kern River Just Outstanding IPA is currently flowing, as are Eel River Acai Wheat and Eel River Earth Thirst Double IPA. The weekend will bring Black Market Anglo-American Brown Ale to the taps along with another keg of the very popular Great Divide Colette.” Check the Library Alehouse Facebook page for updates.
According to GM Tom Kelley, Library Alehouse Belgian Fest kicks-off on April 25 with a “plethora of beers from the Duvel Moortgat portfolio,” including a special release collaboration from Ommegang and La Chouffe called Gnomegang, plus Ommegang Chocolate Indulgence. April 28 is Keep the Kwak Glass night.
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