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: We dive into the world of smoke beers. A sorta new beer from an old brewery and another craft beer homework assignment to complete in a post titled Where There is Smoke.
Q&A with brewmaster Rich Higgins (Social Kitchen & Brewery)
Rich Higgins has no trouble keeping busy. For six years, he pulled double-duty at ThirstyBear Brewing Co. and Gordon Biersch breweries before landing the head brewer job at Social Kitchen & Brewery in San Francisco’s Inner Sunset neighborhood. The certified cicerone also makes time to work as President of the San Francisco Brewers Guild and consults on the beer programs for restaurants Delarosa and Starbelly. Click Here to Learn More.
From Echo Park bar owner Elizabeth Fischbach, “Here’s what I have on tap: Bear Republic Mach 10, Stone Smoked Porter, Lost Abbey Red Barn and Grand Teton Bitch Creek.”
Beachwood chef-owner Gabe Gordon currently features SourFest in Seal Beach. And in Long Beach, Mean Time Scotch Ale, Green Flash Double Stout, Anchor Small Beer and North Coast Bourbon barrel aged Grand Cru are on tap. Track changes to Beachwood BBQ’s 24-tap menu via Hop Cam.
“CLOSED FOR IMPROVEMENTS UNTIL 9/14. SORRY FOR THE INCONVENIENCE!”
Blue Palms taps are pouring Pizza Port Carlsbad Revelations Belgian Strong ale, 2010 Ballast Point Sea Monster Stout, Surf Brewing South Swell IPA, Ommegang Hennepin and Heretic Evil Cousin among many others. Track changes to Blue Palms Brewhouse’s 24-tap menu Here
BoHo
Just added at Hollywood and Highland: The Bruery Autumn Maple, Lost Abbey Bourbon Angel Share, Stone Ruination, Oskar Blue’s G’Knight and New Belgium Kick.
Pouring according to chef-owner Tony Alcazar: “Rince Cochon (Belgian Ale @ 8.5%), Gouden Carolus Hopsinjoor (Belgian IPA @ 8%), Cismontane Antigua Caturra Infused Citizen (CA Common w/ Coffee @ 6%), Allagash Curieux (Jim Beam Barrel Aged Tripel @ 11.1%) and Inland Empire Victoria (Double IPA w/ Orange Blossom Honey @ 10.6%)!” Beers updated daily on Facebook.
City Sip
Here is the latest from Suzanne at City Sip, “Avery Brewing Co.- Joe’s Pils, Unibroue- Blanche de Chambly, Strand Brewing Co.- Beach House Amber, Great Divide Brewing Co.- Hercules Double IPA, Ommegang Brewery- Abbey Ale and Cismontane Brewing Co.- Blacks Dawn.
October 11th we will be featuring a Beer and cheese pairing with a brewery representative for beer week.
We still provide an assortment of over 40 wines by the glass!”
Beers on draft right now at City Tavern: Ballast Point Sculpin Red, Black Diamond Saison, El Segundo Blue House IPA, The Bruery Autumn Maple, Cismontane Antigua Coffee infused Citizen, Craftsman Fireworks, Firestone Oaktoberfest, Iron Fist Off Hand, Lost Abbey Road to Helles, Sierra Nevada Autumn Brown, Sierra Nevada Life and Limb 2 and Telegraph Petite Obscura.
“City Tavern is teaming up with one of SoCal’s hottest craft beer breweries, Ladyface Ale Companie on September 15th, to bring you a special 4-course beer-pairing dinner for an end of summer picnic and of course, ale-tasting. Cost: $46 per person. Call to reserve a spot.
From September 2nd – 16th we will be featuring Eagle Rock Brewery’s beers on our three Table Tap tables. You will be able to pour off three different styles of Eagle Rocks’ amazing beers at your booth. Solidarity, Populist, Revolution, and Manifesto will rotate on those handles plus possibly a couple of other styles that aren’t seen outside the tasting room at Eagle Rock very often. Make reservations over the phone (310) 838-9739 or on our website as soon as possible to guarantee a spot at the tables during those two weeks.”
Coney Dog LA
Here is the list from this new dogs and beer spot on Sunset” Eagle Rock Revolution, Ballast Point Sculpin and Alesmith Speedway Stout. New are cans of Maui CoCoNut Porter and Dale’s Pale Ale from Oskar Blues.
The latest at the Long Beach chapter of Congregation, “Hear ye, Hear ye! Let the Congregation rejoice for Maredsous has triumphantly returned to the Long Beach Chapter. In remembrance of our Grand Opening one year ago when we humbly hosted the Father Abbot of Maredsous, tonight we will be dedicating a portion of our tap list to the Belgian Abbey brews. Come Congregate with us, fill your goblets and enjoy this fun event!”
Since last Thursday, Phil McGovern’s iconic Santa Monica bar has added Sculpin from Ballast Point.
On tap beer wise are two versions of the new Dortmunder Export. One is fresh hopped and the other is not. Also pouring are Solidarity, Revolution and Manifesto. On the Food truck front, Friday brings Mandoline Grill and the Flatiron Truck rolls in on Saturday night.
From Jimmy Smith at the Little Tokyo bar: “I you missed the Ladyface Alehouse & Brasserie last night that’s Ok, we’ll be featuring their delicious brews all month long. Blind Ambition, Chapparal Saison, Unfiltered Chesbro, Palo Comado XPA and Picture City Porter on Nitro are all on tap now!”
Draught beers on Fairfax include Bear Republic Mach 10, Ballast Point Sculpin, New Belgium Kick and Super Cru, Craftsman 1903 and Triple White Sage, Iron Fist Dubbel Fisted, The Bruery Autumn Maple and Port Hot Rocks lager.
According to Ladyface rep Robyn Britton, “Brewer Dave is busing making a wet-hopped harvest session ale today, then it’s on to Weizenbock.
Cask of the Week is “PCH” (Palo Comado Homegrown), featuring our newest seasonal ale – All-Organic Palo Comado XPA – with fresh homegrown Malibu hops from our fireman friend, Rick. Some guests joining the Ladyface ales are Bear Republic Mach 10, Oskar Blues Mama’s Little Yella Pils, AndersonValley Hop Ottin, and Stone 15th Anniversary.
Flight of the Week features 5 oz tasters of Marin IPA, Ballast Point Sculpin, La Chouffe Houblon, and Heretic Tafelbully. Jazz this Sunday at 5pm on the patio. And tickets are now on sale for our Fall Brewmaster’s Dinner October 19th.”
Here is the latest from Alex Davis at the Library Alehouse: “We still have some awesome beer on from the Dogfish Head Study Hall last night. World Wide Stout, Olde School Barleywine, Palo Santo Marron (Vintage 2010), Sah’tea, Theobroma, Chateau Jiahu, Red & White, Festina Peche and Punkin are all still pouring. I also have New Belgium La Folie and Ranger IPA. Backing up those beauties, I have Karl Strauss Boardwalk Black Rye, Brasserie Dupont Foret Blanche, AleSmith IPA, Jolly Pumpkin Maracaibo Especial, Great Divide Belgian Yeti and other assorted goodies.
This coming Wednesday, we’ll feature local Enegren Brewing with a meet the brewer night and their California Alt, Imperial IPA and Summer Session all on tap.” Check the Library Alehouse Facebook page for updates.
According to Paige Reilly, “IDAHO IN THE HOUSE! Grand Teton’s Wake Up Call Coffee Porter (first keg tapped in the state of California!), Sweetgrass APA, Bitch Creek ESB, Teton Amber Ale, and Lost Continent Double IPA all on tap starting tonight. Also, 61 other CA favorites like Lost Abbey red Barn, Craftsman Heavenly Hef and North Coast Pranqster.”
The latest from Naja’s: “Sierra Nevada in da house this evening from 5:30pm til ? (at least 8:30pm). 5+ great SN beers & sweet glassware. Also, NFL kick off w/ Saints vs. Packers @ 5:30pm!”
The latest update from assistant manager Josh Salinas: “This weekend we are pouring El Segundo Brewing Blue House IPA, Black Market Bavarian Hefe, Lost Abbey Devotion Ale, North Coast PranQster, TAPS Swarzbier, and Craftsman 1903 Lager. On deck we have Bootleggers Rustic Rye IPA, Flying Dog “Doggie Style” Pale Ale, and Telegraph Stock Porter.”
From Justin Blake at Dave Furano and Michael Zislis’ El Segundo biergarten: “This week we are pouring Ballast Point Sour Wench, Ballast Point Sculpin, Cismontane Coulter IPA, Bootleggers Doggery Brown, Port Brewing Mongo, Bear Republic Mach 10, Drakes 1500, Weihenstephaner Original, Lost Abbey Devotion, Ommegang Aphrodite, Alesmith Speedway Stout, El Segundo Blue House IPA, Strand 24th St. Pale Ale, Stone 15th Anniversary Black IPA, and Jever Pilsner among many others. We also have bottles of Orval, Russian River Consecration and Russian River Pliny the Elder. On deck, we have Dogfish Head 90 Minute, Deschutes Black Butte Porter, Sam Adams Dunkelweizen, Beer Valley Jackalope Imperial Pumpkin, New Belgium Lips of Faith Kick, and Oskar Blues Gubna.
Also, on September 11th @ 6:00 PM – Flying half-way around the world, from the land down under – meet Tom Delmont, the foremost expert on Mountain Goat Beer! Join us at Rock & Brews in El Segundo to taste Australia’s latest beers, hand crafted for the US market!
Next Wednesday, September 14th, we are a having a pint night with Sierra Nevada which will feature a few of the Beer Camp beers.”
The latest from general manager Micah Schiesel: “We got some fun stuff, New Belgium Clutch, just your run of the mill sour Imperial Stout, Stone Oaked Arrogant Bastard, Bear Republic Mach 10, Grand Teton Lost Continent imperial IPA, Flying Dog single hop “Centennial” double IPA, and hey, we have Strand Brewing 2nd Anniversary Mead Ale, one word sums up this offering DELICIOUS!!!” Track changes to Simmzy’s tap list Here
Steingarten LA
From David Watrous and this new Pico establishment: “Taplist: Weihenstephaner Heffeweisse, Gaffel Kolsch, Port Brewing Panzer Pilsner, Sierra Nevada Tumbler American Brown Ale, Beer Here Dark Hops – an awesome dry hopped cascadian dark ale from the Netherlandsm, Firestone Walker Union Jack IPA, Firestone Walker Double Jack, The Bruery Mischief, Sierra Nevada Ovila Saison, Liefman’s Fruitessa, Spezial Rauchbier – an awesome traditional smoked lager from Bamburg, Ballast Point Sculpin IPA, The Bruery Autumn Maple, Strand 24th St. Pale Ale, Blanche De Bruxelles White Ale, Port Brewing Ad Lib – a blend of 3 amazing barrel aged beers and Moylan’s ESB on Nitro, Yum!
New in bottles: Kern River Brewing Citra Double IPA, Russian River Supplication and Drie Fonteinen Oude Kriek. Come on in and see the 85+ bottles now in stock including 20+ Lambic and American Sours!
Next Wednesday the 14th at 7pm: Pint Night featuring The New Belgium Brewing Company. With six of the Colorado breweries ales like Belgo I.P.A. (L.A. PREMIER!), Kick (Barrek Aged Pumpkin Sour Ale.), Clutch (Barrel Aged Brown Ale.), Hoptober (American Blonde Ale), Abbey Grand Cru and Ranger IPA. On hand from the brewery will be “Beer Ranger” Brian Chorn to host and talk about all the beers. We will be giving away promotional items throughout the night so stop in for a cold one!”
For the month of September at Marlene Samaniego and husband Sam’s beer destination, “It’s Stone Brewing Days at the Stuffed Sandwich! We have the 15th Anniversary T-shirts and Glassware,the 22oz and 3 Lt bottles of beer now in stock. And, as in previous years we have brought in cases of older Anniversary, Vertical (a few 03-03-30 ,04-04-04, and 05-05-05’s), Double Bastard and Old Guardian beers for you to add to your collections. We even found a 3 Lt of the 10th Anniversary IPA!
Also available are the Stone Japanese Green Tea IPA, Double Dry Hopped Ruination, Oaked Arrogant Bastard, 15th Anniversary Escondidian Black IPA, Cherry Chocolate Stout collaboration, Sublimely Self-Righteous, Lucky Basartd ale, Double Bastard and 2010 Old Guardian barley wine.”
Some of the tap choices in West Hollywood from Andrew Kelley, “this week’s Surly update:
On tap: Grand Cru – North Coast (Bourbon Barrel Aged Strong Ale), Curieux – Allagash (Bourbon Barrel Aged Tripel), 15th Anniversary – Stone (American Black Ale)
On deck: Punkin – Dogfish Head (Pumpkin Ale), Ovila Saison – Sierra Nevada (Saison) and Conflux No.2 – Deschutes/Boulevard (White IPA). To get the latest tap news, check out the Surly Goat Tap List.
The latest from Pete Shuey at Tin Roof Bistro: “This week at Tin Roof we’re pouring Allagash Curieux, Craftsman Fireworks, Port Mongo IPA, Strand 24th St Pale, Brouwerij West Tripel, Iron Fist Saison, Rogue Hazelnut Brown, Ballast Point Yellowtail Pale, Blue House IPA from El Segundo Brewing, Victory Prima Pils, New Belgium Mothership Wit & Stone 15th Anniversary. Coming up we’ve got Firesone Reserve Robust Porter, New Belgium Clutch & Kick amd Dogfish Punkin. We also have some specialty bottles including Stone 2010 Old Guardian, Stone Imperial Russian Stout, Grand Teton Lost Continent DIPA (750ml) & 1 bottle of Brew Dog’s Sink the Bismark!!
This Saturday is our final Bocce Tournament of the year! C’mon out and enjoy some great Bocce action as well as a special treat from our friends at Strand Brewing! I could tell you, but then I’d probably have to harm you! Rich will be here pouring this special treat. There are great prizes to be had as well! Teams consist of 2 players and it’s round robin style starting at noon. Contact peter@tinroofbistro or call 310-939-0900 to sign up!
We also have a yet to be determined Beer dinner towards the end of the month; more details in next weeks blast. Also, look out for our Oktoberfest party…”
Today’s update from Burbank: “Ballast Point’s Sour Wench, North Coast’s Old Stock, Sierra’s Torpedo, Coronado’s Dumb Blonde and 35 other CA-only taps up and running at TDA this week!”
Vendome Toluca Lake’s weekly Beer Tasting is from 2-5 pm on Saturday and Sunday. This week’s theme is Strong Ales. “Just like what the highly descriptive title for this weekend’s tasting states, these beers will be strong. They will be sipping beers that are strong in flavor and alcohol, and meant to be consumed responsibly and in a contemplative manner (or at home in any manner you so desire).
Some of the highlights of this tasting include:Hair of The Dog Adam (an outstanding Old Ale), Hair of The Dog Fred (an American Strong Ale made with 10 different hop varieties!), North Coast Grand Cru (a 12.9% abv Belgian Strong Pale brewed with agave nectar and aged in oak), The Bruery Mischief ( a peppery and fruity Belgian Golden Strong ale dry hopped with American hops) and Life & Limb Batch 2 (a collaborative effort between Sierra Nevada and Dogfish Head, brewed with maple and birch tree syrup).”
Tap highlights from Ryan Sweeney include North Coast Grand Cru, Hangar 24 Polycot, Stone 15th Anniversary Escondidian, New Belgium Kick and Clutch, Stillwater Stateside Saison and on deck are Deschutes Stoic and Dogfish Head Punkin.
Beer-y Events
BAM (Beer-Art-Music) 2011 will feature 20+ breweries, 4 bands, 3 galleries and food trucks to benefit the 18th Street Arts Center. Tickets and more information can be found at Here
On October 21, public health professor Gev Kazanchyan is once again teaming with Dave “The Geuzehound” Watrous (Steingarten LA, Beachwood BBQ & Brewing) and chef/author Randy Clemens (The Sriracha Cookbook, The Craft of Stone Brewing Co.). For Dionicess IX, the ninth installment of the beer-focused culinary event series, they’ve recruited market-driven bartender Matt Biancaniello to craft beer cocktails at Steingarten LA. Clemens is serving vegetarian dishes after each cocktail, which they’re not calling pairings, but are designed to complement the food. Click Here To Learn More
Enegren Brewing Flight Night Beer Tasting Thursday, September 8th from 4:30pm to 7:00pm. Enegren is the newest brewery in Ventura County. Located in Moorpark, this will be their first “meet the brewers” event. They will bring the first three beers they have brewed, and a special version of their Altbier. Come in and taste these local beers for the first time! Captain’s Summer Session – Blonde, Valkyrie – California Altbier, Oaked Valkyrie X1 – California Altbier and Protector – Imperial IPA. Come in for a special $5 taster flight…stay to enjoy the 40 unique beers on taps!!!
“On Friday September 9 our Monthly Beer Appreciation Night will feature Steve Grossman, Brewery Ambassador, Sierra Nevada Brewing. We’ll be tasting 13 flavors of Sierra Nevada including some rare beers sent down from Chico especially for this event. One of them is Foam – a beer brewed for Phish – so maybe some tie die is in order! We are Poolside again so please remember your layers. We’ll be cooking Sierra Nevada Porter Brats on the Grill Poolside. These will be for sale for $7 each. Parking is validated and included in the entry fee.”
L.A. Beer Blast compiled by Food GPS Beer Editor Sean Inman
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