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.
Brew & You
This week in Brew & You: A recap of two recent L.A. craft beer events. A hoppy fruit beer or is it a fruity hop beer? And another craft beer homework assignment to complete in a post titled What Did I Miss?.
Echo Park bar owner Elizabeth Fischbach says, “This week on tap I have Maui Cococnut Porter, Stand Atticus, Iron Fist Renegade Blond and Oskar Blues G’Knight.”
Beachwood chef-owner Gabe Gordon currently features draught beers such as Avery 18th Anniversary Rye Saison, Ballast Point’s Pescadero Pilsner, Midnight Brewing Reality Czech, Russian River Pliny the Elder and Bear Republic Big Bear Stout. Track changes to Beachwood BBQ’s 24-tap menu via Hop Cam.
Beer Belly
On tap at Jimmy and Yume Han’s new establishment: TAPS Seaward pale ale, El Segundo Blue House pale ale, Ladyface La Blanche Wit and Craftsman Citrus Saison.
Blue Palms taps are pouring Big Sky Mexican lager, San Diego Brewing Down Under IPA, Marin Chocolate Airporter, Port Brewing Ad Lib Strong ale and New Belgium’s Lips of Faith Metric 10 among many others. Track changes to Blue Palms Brewhouse’s 24-tap menu Here
From bar manager Rory Snipes, “Here’s what’s new this week: Avery Anniversary Eighteen – a Dry-Hopped Rye Saison, Barbar Golden Honey Ale, Craftsman Biere de Blanco, St. Bernardus Prior 8 and Telegraph Reserve Wheat. We’re also pouring Sam Adam’s Utopias by the glass, and…for our third monthly beer dinner on Sunday 6/26 we’re partnering with Eureka’s Lost Coast Brewery, and they’ve sent us a couple of rare barrel-aged beers for the occasion. We’ll be pouring Bourbon Barrel Aged Imperial 8 Ball Stout, and Oak Aged Fog Cutter Barleywine alongside Great White & Tangerine Wheat. Always food friendly, these Lost Coast beers will be paired with food designed to highlight the more subtle flavors in both the beer and the food; if you haven’t experienced one of our beer dinners yet, you should – the pairings are amazing! 4 courses, 4 beers. $45 covers the cost of food/beer, and tax.
Event starts at 7:30.”
The Bottle Room
New on tap are Unibroue Raftman Belgian pale ale and Delirium Nocturnum.
And coming up on June 21st is their summer beer dinner featuring the beer of Great Divide of Colorado.
Among the many taps pouring are Goose Island Matilda, Sierra Nevada Southern Hemisphere Harvest, Stone Belgo IRS, Brouwerij West 5 and Schneider Hopfen Weisse.
Since last Thursday, Phil McGovern’s iconic Santa Monica bar has added Firestone Walker’s Velvet Merlin and Stone IPA to their beer list.
On tap beer wise are the nitro version of Solidarity, Manifesto wit, Revolution XPA and a ginger Saison. On the Food truck front, Thursday brings the Clean Street Food truck, Friday is Grilled Cheese Truck night and Saturday, Grill ‘em All is in.
The Factory
The latest from Eric Gutenkauf in Long Beach, “Awesome brews keep coming to The Factory Gastrobar in Long Beach. Tonight (Thurs., 6/16) we welcome Evan Weingberg and Ross Stewart of Cismontane Brewing! They will be pouring their Citizen Common Ale, El Toro Trio Hafer Weizen, Coulter IPA, Black’s Dawn Stout, and for the first time ever–anywhere–Double Coulter! In addition to these great brews we will aslo be pouring Firestone Walker Parabola, Lagunitas Undercover Shutdown Ale, and Bear Republic Apex Strong IPA. Through Saturday, we will rotate through Bootlegger’s Plum Riot and Old World Hefeweizen, Sierra Nevada Southern Hemisphere Hop Harvest, Rubicon Monkey Knife Fight Pale Ale, Lagunitas IPA, Alesmith IPA, Stone IRS, Stone Belgo Anise IRS, Great Divide Oak Aged Chocolate Yeti, and Iron Fist Dubbel Fisted–yes the cooler is packed!
But on Sunday, it will all change for Dad! The Factory is celebrating Father’s Day with a 2PM bike ride around Bixby Knolls, California Heights and the Virginia Country Club. When we open at 3PM, Dad will toast the 20th anniversary of New Belgium’s Fat Tire Amber Ale with $3 Fat Tire Cans and 7 New Belgium concoctions on tap to include: Le Terroir Dry Hopped Sour, La Folie Oak Aged Sour, Abbey Grand Cru, Fat Tire Super Cru, Trippel, Ranger IPA and Somersault! All dads will get a New Belgium globe glass to enjoy their beverages in!”
Golden State draught beers include Victory Prima Pils, Deschutes Twilight, Uinta Dubhe Black IPA, New Belgium Super Cru, Port Mongo. Telegraph Arborea Obscura and Ommegang BPA.
According to Ladyface rep Robyn Britton, “We have 11 Ladyface ales on tap alongside Alesmith X, Ballast Point Calico, The Bruery Anniversary, Port Anniversary, Sierra Nevada Ovila, Taps Barley-Wine, and Stone Old Guardian. We’ll tapping the Cask of the Week on Friday, rather than our usual Wednesday, as we’re down at the American Homebrewers Conference in San Diego. The firkin will be worth waiting for – Ladyface IPA with Ghost Peppers (yes, that’s the hottest pepper on the planet).
We’ll be in Ojai this Saturday, June 18th, pouring at the Salute! Festival. And Monday, June 20th, 6:00pm is the 2nd meeting of our new Women-Only Social Club, centered around beer tastings and food pairings and open to beer beginners, enthusiasts and lady-geeks alike. This month’s meeting will include a brewery tour. Purchase your pints at the bar, and come have some fun, Ladies!”
Here is the latest from Alex Davis at Library Alehouse: “Right now I have Drakes Denogginizer, Ichtegem’s Grand Cru, New Belgium Super Cru, Ballast Point Pescadero Pils, Karl Strauss 22nd Anniversary, Blue House Pale and Avery Eighteen. Waiting in the wings I have Straffe Hendrik Quad, Coronado Idiot IPA, Bellegem’s Brune, Strand Atticus IPA, Sierra Nevada Southern Hemisphere and Ballast Point Sea Monster.” Check the Library Alehouse Facebook page for updates.
All three locations of Lucky Baldwin’s will be hosting their annual IPA Festival.
Mediterraneo
From Adam at Mediterraneo: “Currently on draft I have Strand Blk IPA & beach house, Weihenstephaner hef, Hitachino white, Telegraph reserve wheat, Victory summer love, Houblon chouffe, Deschutes obsidian (nitro) & mirror pond, Old speckled hen (nitro), Flying dog gonzo (nitro), Ommegang hennepin & 3 philosophers, New Belgium le terroir, Reissdorf kolsch, Tripel karmeliet, Lagunitas hairy eyeball, Craftsman 1903 & citrus saison, Ballast point calico, Russian river Pliny the elder, Great divide titan & espresso oak aged yeti, Dupont biere de miel, Cismontane citizen, Maui coco porter, Magic hat #9, St. martin brune, Unibroue raftman, Black Market rye IPA and Cismontane El Toro Trio Hef on cask. Coming soon- Great divide chocolate oak aged yeti, Cismontane 1st anniversary blk lager, maredsous 8, and ballast point sculpin on cask!”
According to Naja’s assistant manager Martin Svab, New Beer on Tap: Moose Drool, Lost Abbey Lost & Found, Pliny the Elder and El Segundo Brewing’s Blue House Pale (batch 2).
This Saturday 6/18, we will tap a cask of Sierra Nevada’s Torpedo IPA at 1pm. In addition, we’ll throw on a keg of Sierra Nevada’s Southern Hemisphere Fresh Hop Ale. Our house reggae band “Urban Dread” go on at 2pm (till 6pm).
Thursday, June 23, 2011 from 8pm till 11pm we host Brouwerij Duvel Moortgat featuring all three beers from the Maredsous Abbey family featuring “6” (blonde), “8” (Bruin), and “10” (Tripel). A limited amount of Maredsous glassware will be available.
Near future events include the following craft brewery hightlights: Great Divide Brewing Co., Allagash Brewing Co., and Dogfish Head Brewery.”
According to Tuesday night’s update from assistant manager Josh Salinas, “Here’s the goods. This weekend we are pouring Great Divide’s Rumble IPA, El Segundo’s Blue House Pale, Sierra Nevada Summerfest, Eagle Rock Solidarity, Strand Beach House, and Craftsman 1903.”
According to today’s update from Justin Blake, at Dave Furano and Michael Zislis’ El Segundo biergarten, “This week we’re pouring Port Brewing Anniversary ale, Firestone Walker Double Jack, Jolly Pumpkin E.S. Bam, Port Brewing Older Viscosity, Oskar Blues G’knight, Bear Republic Apex IPA, and Bootleggers mild among many others. On deck we have Coronado Saison by the Sea, St Feuillen/Green Flash Biere de l’amitie, and Sierra Nevada southern hemisphere harvest ale.”
The latest from general manager Micah Schiesel, “I hope this email finds all of you thirsty and in need of something strong and good. IPA’s going and in-line to be hooked up, Pliny the Elder, Black Diamond’s Rampage triple dry hopped Imperial IPA, Port’s 4th Anniversary Imperial IPA, Rubicon’s Hop Sauce (I hear this one is a winner,) Kern River Brewing’s Just Outstanding IPA, Coronado’s Idiot IPA, Santa Cruz Alewerks IPA, Mikkeller’s Our Side Gypsy IPA and more arriving every day.
For those of you originally from Norcal we got Moylan’s Black and Orange, Rubicon’s Monkey Knife Fight and Lagunitas Fusion 6. A new favorite to our line-up is Midnight Sun’s Panty Peeler Belgian style triple and after that runs out we got a keg of their Mayhem Belgian IPA. Also new to us is a collaboration between St. Feuillien and Green Flash Brewing called Biere de L’amitie. Right now we are running Firestone’s Velvet Merlin on nitro and as soon as it runs out we have Ballast Point’s Sextant Oatmeal Stout on nitro to follow. Come by and see if you are one of the lucky ones to get a sample of Firestone’s Abacus!!! Don’t be shy we like beer drinkers.” Track changes to Simmzy’s tap list Here
For the month of June, Marlene Samaniego and husband Sam are featuring This month it’s time to celebrate Anniversary Beers from Breweries around the United States!
Here’s the first round of Anniversary Beers now on Draft: Flying Dog 20th Anniversary Ale , Avery 17th Anniversary Lager , Stone 13th Anniversary Ale , Great Divide 17th Anniversary Ale , Rogue 20th Anniversary Ale , Lost Coast 20th Anniversary Ale, He’Brew 13th Anniversary Ale , The Bruery 3rd Anniversary Cuir Old Ale , Gentleman Scholar 1st Anniversary Stout .
Per Andrew Kelley: “14 beers still on from our Dogfish Head/Bruery night. also…Brewers Reserve – Sierra Nevada (American Strong Ale), Love & Hoppiness – Rogue (German Pilsner) and Unfiltered DBA – Firestone Walker (English Pale Ale).
On deck: El Toro Trio – Cismontane (Hefeweizen), Southern Hemisphere Harvest IPA – Sierra Nevada (Fresh Hop IPA) and Blue House Pale – El Segundo (American Pale Ale). We will also be tapping a cask of Alesmith Speedway Stout on Tuesday 6/21.” To get the latest tap news, check out the Surly Goat Tap List
“In celebration of our 2nd Anniversary here at 38 Degrees Ale House & Grill we will be pouring many gorgeous beers aged in wood or with wood. Our barrel aged line up will begin June 28th at 4:00pm. All beers will be available in 5oz pours or full pours. Also special barrel aged flights will be available for added value.”
On tap at the all-California brewed bar are Moylan’s NorCal IPA, Bootleggers Anniversary 78 Wee Heavy, High Water Hop Riot, Linden Street Burning Oak, 21st Amendment Back in Black and Rubicon Purple Maibock among many others.
Vendome Toluca Lake’s weekly Beer Tasting is from 2-5 pm on Saturday and Sunday. Each week has a theme and this weekend you will be treated to Double and Imperials. Such as Drakes Draconic Stout, Port Brewing Anniversary Ale, Mikkeller Beer Geek Brunch Weasel, Dieu Du Ciel Peche Mortel.
The Craft Beer Chronicles
Today, Brand X contributor Steven Armstrong shared his latest installment of The Craft Beer Chronicles, titled A Guide to brewing up a Father’s Day adventure.
New Belgium Beer Dinner at Cabo Taco Baja Grill
“Thursday June 16, 6 pm to 10 pm, please join us for a great evening of craft beer and tacos. The dinner cost $20 for everything listed below, but don’t worry if there is something on the menu you don’t like you can always order a la carte.
Tamarind Shrimp Taco with pea sprout salad and mango basil dressing.
Paired with Summersault Summer Ale
Hunan Beef Taco with tomatillo and fresh tomato salsa
Paired with Fat Tire Amber Ale
Coconut Chicken Taco with Thai peanut slaw
Paired with Ranger IPA
Cake Pops
Paired with Super Cru
City Tavern CismonTAPS Dinner
City Tavern’s next Brewer’s Dinner will be June 23 at 7 p.m. with Cismontane & Taps Brewery – it’s going to be a Southern-themed beer pairing dinner. Four-courses for $48 per person.
Amuse bouche: ambrosia, orange cream, Belgian white, witbier (6 oz., abv: 5%)
First course: pulled heirloom pork, Lexington red slaw and hushpuppies, The Citizen, Steam beer (6 oz., abv: 6%)
Second course: buttermilk fried chicken, corn and fava succotash, green tomato jam, Cismontaps, Saison (6 oz., abv: 7.4%)
Third course: shrimp and grits, country ham-braised collard greens, Biere de Garde (6 oz., abv: 7.5%)
Dessert: pecan pie, vanilla whipped cream, salted caramel, Black’s Dawn, American Double Stout (6 oz., abv: 8%)
For reservations: 310. 838.9739
Drink Local!
Southern California’s Burgeoning Brewery Scene
June 18th 3:00pm-5:15pm at Cafe Metropol, Downtown LA
Hosted by Tomm Carroll – Author of “To Live and Drink in LA” column in Celebrator Beer News.
Samples will be poured from among the following local breweries/brewpubs: Angel City, Beachwood, Bootleggers, Brouerwij West, The Bruery, Cismontane, Craftsman, Eagle Rock, El Segundo, Ladyface, Nibble Bit Tabby, Strand, TAPS and Tustin.
L.A. Beer Blast compiled by Food GPS Beer Editor Sean Inman
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