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.
The L.A. Beer Float Showdown returns for LA Beer Week, and this year, five top chefs are collaborating with five top California breweries to develop imaginative beer floats. Every attendee is a judge, voting on “flavor,” “originality” and “presentation,” and the winning team not only gets glory, they also walk away with $500. The event is on October 15 at Eagle Rock Brewery from 1 p.m. – 4 p.m., rain or shine, and costs $35 per person. 25% of event proceeds will go to Share Our Strength, which is a charitable organization working to eliminate childhood hunger.
Brew & You
This week in Brew & You: We learn more about our favorite drink, take a walk down a Golden Road and another craft beer homework assignment to complete in a post titled Craft Beer 101.
When we last checked in with Randy Clemens, he just released The Sriracha Cookbook. Since then, the beer-fueled Renaissance man took a job in Escondido as Stone Brewing Co.’s Public Relations Coordinator. Less than 10 months later, he took that relationship to another level with the September 27 release of The Craft of Stone Brewing Co.: Liquid Lore, Epic Recipes, and Unabashed Arrogance. Clemens worked with Stone Brewing Co. co-founders Greg Koch and Steve Wagner on a Ten Speed Press tome that documents the history of the bold brewery and the brewing process while sharing recipes from Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens. Click Here to Learn More.
Beachwood chef-owner Gabe Gordon currently features Smog City Extra Pale Ale, Upright Brewing Five, Bear Republic Late Harvest lager, Duvel Single and New Belgium Belgo IPA in Seal Beach. Track changes to Beachwood BBQ’s 24-tap menu via Hop Cam.
The Long Beach location of Beachwood features Deschutes The Dissident, Beer Here Nordic Rye, Bear Republic Sour Black Mamba, Sierra Nevada Allocation Ale and Strand Atticus IPA. Track changes to Beachwood BBQ’s 24-tap menu via Hop Cam.
Beer Belly
On tap at Jimmy and Yume Han’s Koreatown establishment: “Craftsman Flanders Red Ale, Bootlegger’s Plum Riot, Golden Road Point The Way IPA, Golden Road Hefeweizen, Eagle Rock Populist IPA, Eagle Rock Manifesto, Cismontane Oktoberfest, Ballast Point Sculpin, Victory Festbier, Cismontane The Citizen, Brouwerij West Blond
On Deck: Cismontane Double Rainbow IPA All The Way, Cismontane Oktoberfest, Craftsman Oktoberfest, Craftsman Harvest Saison, Craftsman 1903 Lager, Telegraph Rhinoceros Barleywine, Alesmith Speedway Stout.”
Blue Palms taps are pouring High Water Hop Riot, Surf Brewing County Line Pale, Golden Road Point the Way IPA, Stillwater Stateside Saison and Craftsman Flanders Red among many others. Track changes to Blue Palms Brewhouse’s 24-tap menu Here
From bar manager Rory Snipes: “Hope all is well, if you’re going to Denver I hope you have a blast! New beers on tap this week include: Firestone Double Jack, Stone Oaked Arrogant Bastard, Firestone Velvet Merlin, Maredsous 10, Jacobin Rouge, Dogfish Head Punkin, Grand Teton Wake Up Call Imperial Coffee Porter, AleSmith Speedway Stout, and Anchor Liberty Ale. For the upcoming L.A. Beer week we’re teaming up with the Bruery for an amazing beer dinner – details are below, and on 10/18 we’re doing a 3 year vertical of Oskar Blues Ten-Fidy on tap, gonna be awesome! Also during the entirety of this year’s beer week, come into Boneyard with a ticket from any Beer Week event and get 50% off local drafts (Los Angeles, Orange and Ventura Counties)!
Boneyard/Bruery Beer Dinner on October 13, 2011 – 12 courses, paired with thirteen rare Bruery Beers – “Our approach when putting together a beer dinner at Boneyard is a little different than most. Where many pairings simply match beer and foods which will taste good together, we try to take it a step farther and really focus on the beers. Our goal is not simply to find beers that pair with certain foods, but to design food around a specific beer; to identify specific flavors in the beer, and then use food to highlight those flavors. The pairing is designed to showcase the beer, with the food providing a supporting role. This not only allows the beer to be shown in the best light possible, but hopefully exposes characters in the beer which are subtle or not present when the beer is consumed on its own. If you’ve been to one of our dinners in the past you already understand, for those of you who have not – come experience what beer and food pairing can be. $115 per person, seats are limited, please purchase tickets at Brown Paper Tickets, or through the restaurant at 818-906-7427.”
The Bottle Room
On tap recently in Whittier are Avery Dugana (Double IPA @ 8.5%), Russian River Damnation (Belgian-style Golden Ale @ 7.75%) and Great Divide Hades (Belgian-style Golden Ale @ 7.8%)! Beers updated daily on Facebook
The latest from Wen Yeh at BruHaus: “Oktoberfest Biers on Draft: Weihenstephan Festbier, Ayinger Oktoberfest, Saphir Bock, Spaten Oktoberfest, Weihenstephan Hoplosion, Paulaner Oktoberfest, Hofbraus Oktoberfest, Weihenstephan Kristalweiss Shipyard Smashed Pumpkin, Reissdorf Kolsch, Paulaner Pils, Ayinger Celebrator Doppelbock and Schneider Edelweiss.
In Bottle: Augustiner Brau, Hopf Dunkel Weiss, Hopf Spezial Weiss, Hopf Helle Weiss, Paulaner Salvator, Schoenramer Pils, Ayinger Jarhundert .
On sale throughout September & Oktober: 1L Steins filled with your choice of Spaten, Paulaner, Hofbrau for $20, you keep the glassware. Refills for $15. Weihenstephan for $25, refills for $20. ”
City Sip
Here is the latest from Echo Park: “City Sip LA is pouring some fun stuff this week!! Avery Brewing IPA, Ommegang Abbey Ale, Ommegang Hennepin farmhouse saison, Cismontane Black’s Dawn, The Strand’s Beach House amber and Mamas Lil’ Yellow Pils from Oskar Blues.”
Beers on draft right now at City Tavern: Craftsman’s Flanders Ale, Strand’s 2nd Anniversary Braggot, Cismontane’s Double Rainbow All the Way IPA, Eagle Rock’s Dortmunder, Lost Abbey’s Road to Helles and Ventura’s Surf Brewing Co. Shaka XPA.
Thursday 10/6/11 – Firestone is going to be featured for a special pint night. City Tavern will be putting up a few beers that normally are only available in the Firestone tasting room. In addition we will be giving away a commemorative pint glass to anyone that orders a pint (while supplies last), and we will also be offering a tasting flight option for the night if you want to try all five. The event starts at 6pm and runs all night long.
Germany invades City Tavern’s Table Taps thru October 2nd. For the first time a beer made outside of California will grace a handle at City Tavern. During the two week period of Oktoberfest City Tavern will be showcasing traditional Marzen beers from Munich on our Table Tap tables only! People that reserve a table tap table will be able to drink these classic German Marzen beers and compare them to some of the best Marzen beers that California has to offer. The final day of Oktoberfest is normally the biggest day of celebration during the festival, so on October 2nd we will be giving away a commemorative City Tavern growler bottle to all the guests that sit down at our Table Taps. (While supplies last).”
From Eli Wilson at Congregation: “Oktoberfest has commenced at Congregation Long Beach, soon to follow for our brethren up north in Azusa! Come down and join the sudsy fun with full, frothy Steins of Oktoberfest, Pilsner, Kolsch, Bock, and Helles (or IPA, if you wish)! 10 Rotating German and German-style beers on tap for the duration of the festivities.”
Since last Thursday, Phil McGovern’s iconic Santa Monica bar has added Avery The Kaiser Octoberfest lager and Stone Ruination with Chinook hops to their line-up.
On tap beer wise are Solidarity and Solidarity on Nitro, Manifesto Wit, Revolution XPA, Dortmunder Export and Populist IPA.
On the Food truck front, Friday brings the Mandoline Grill and the Grill ‘em All Truck rolls in on Saturday night.
The Factory
According to Eric Gutenkauf, “The Factory Gastrobar has an incredible lineup on tap right now and more great brews on the way. This week we debuted High Water Brewing Hop Riot, and there are still a few pints left to pour tonight! Also on tap, Rubicon IPA, Bear Republic Mach 10 Double IPA, Stone Belgo Anise IRS, So Cal Brewing Black Bear Porter, New Belgium’s Kick Pumpkin Cranberry Sour, Strand’s 2nd Anniversary Braggot, and the Oktobefest spirit is catching on with Sudwerk Munchener Helles and New Belgium Hoptober. Over the weekend we will be debuting Tahoe Tessie IPA from Reno’s Buckbean Brewing, and also pouring Bootleggers palomino Pale Ale and Anderson Valley Mowkief Saison. Mark your calendars for Thursday, October 13, as The Factory presents “Night of 1000 IBUs”, with early entrants such as Drake’s Aroma Coma and Cismontane Double Rainbow, and featuring the debut of Knee Deep Brewing Company!”
Draught beers on Fairfax include Craftsman 1903, Firestone-Walker Unfiltered DBA, High Water Retribution Imperial IPA, New Belgium Clutch and Grand Cru, Craftsman Sour Grapes, Grand Teton Pursuit of Hoppiness Imperial IPA, Ommegang BPA, Bruery Autumn Maple. On deck are Great Divide Belgian Yeti and Port High Tide.
According to Ladyface rep Robyn Britton, “Ladyface Weizenbock is back for Oktoberfest! Our dark, German-style wheat beer has chocolate & raisin tones, with notes of cloves & banana, & a dry finish. Unfiltered, the large amount of wheat in the recipe lends a rich body & characteristic cloudy haze. Next week, we’re releasing a brand new wet-hopped harvest ale called Hutash. It boasts the intense presence of Citra® tropical fruit fragrance and flavor but with very low bitterness. It’s a beautiful fall amber color and very sessionable at 3.8% abv
Cask of the Week is “Good Cop. Bad Cop”, our Chesebro IPA with peaches & chipotle peppers. Joining the lineup of Ladyface ales are Russian River Pliny the Elder, Dubuisson Cuvée de Trolls, Sierra Nevada Torpedo, Ballast Point Sculpin, Stone Smoked Porter, La Chouffe Houblon, Heretic Evil Cousin Imperial IPA and North Coast Grand Cru. Flight of the Week features 5 oz tasters of Pliny, Torpedo, Sculpin and Evil Cousin. See some of you at GABF? We’re Booth J15 in the Pacific section.
To our friends and neighbors celebrating the beginning of Rosh Hashanah at sunset tonight, we wish you Shana Tova Umetukah, a good and sweet year.”
Lost Abbey Red Barn now on tap in Santa Monica. Plus: “America makes great beer, but the Germans still make their beer better than we do (they’ve been doing it longer after all). Since we enjoy German beer so much, we thought we’d feature one of the country’s finest breweries in the month of October. Come to Alehouse on Wednesday, October 5th and you’ll have the opportunity to sample FOUR beers from the Weihenstephan portfolio: Vitus Weizenbock, Korbinian Doppelbock, Festbier and White Hopsplosion (Brand New Hoppy Weissbier). We’ll have a limited amount of Hopsplosion glassware to give away so get there early!” Check the Library Alehouse Facebook page for updates.
“Join us for our annual Oktoberfest at any of our 3 locations. We will be serving Oktoberfest beers from Germany and USA in special Oktoberfest glassware! Don’t miss the good beer and good fun at Lucky Baldwins!” Starting September 17th and running until October 2nd.
Lucky Devils
“Lucky Devils is tapping Craftsman Marzen Oktoberfest and Laguinitas Lucky 13.alt plus we’re featuring Craftsman Triple White Sage, Weihenstephaner Original Lager, Sierra Nevada Kellerweis, Craftsman 1903, Weihenstephaner Kristall, Racer 5, Firestone Double Barrel Ale, Anglo-American Style Brown Ale, Schonramer Saphir Bock, SoCal Red Carpet, and Stone Belgo Anise Imperial Russian Stout. Try a pairing with our Diable Pizza or Flaming Goat – it’s awesome.”
Mediterraneo
Adam Aro reports these new brews on tap: “I currently have these up: Ayinger Oktoberfest-Marzen, Alesmith Anvil ESB, Reissdorf kolsch, Weihenstephaner hef, Craftsman 1903 lager, Abbot Ale (nitro), North Coast Le Merle, Flying Dog Double Dog dbl pale and Ballast Point Calico amber on nitro, Port Shark Attack red and Mongo IIPA, Brewdog Tokyo, Lindeman’s Framboise, Strand 2nd Anniversary braggot, La Chouffe, New Belgium Abbey Grand Cru, Kick, Clutch, and Belgo, Ommegang Witte, St. Bernardus tripel, Avery Joe’s pils, Stone Highway 78 collaboration, Lagunitas Lucky 13alt, Dogfish Festina peche, Cismontane 1st anniversary Blk Lager & Antigua Caturra, Lost Abbey Angel’s Share(brandy), and Avery Collaboration not Litigation. Cask is Stone Vanillla Smoked Porter. Coming soon- North Coast Grand Cru, Lost Abbey Angel’s Share(brandy), Sierra’s entire 30th Ann. line-up. Casks coming from Telegraph, Ballast point, and Cismontane. Cismontane is being highlited for L.A. beer week. I will have 7 or 8 beers from them.”
Pouring at Mohawk Bend per Paige Reilly, “At Mohawk, we’ve got some DELISH Bourban Barrel Aged Angel’s Share on tap along with Sublimely Self Righteous, Mondo’s Cream Ale on Nitro, Sudwerk Maibock, and Port Hot Rocks. We also have the last few days of our Grand Teton beers: Pursuit of Hoppiness, The Grand Saison, Bitch Creek ESB and Lost Continent Double IPA. Wowza!”
The latest bulletin from Martin Svab at Naja’s, “Officially kick off the 3rd Annual LA Beer Week in style at Naja’s Place (one of the oldest beer bars in SoCal) with Stone Brewing Company. This highly anticipated event will be the ultimate Stone Brewing experience unlike any other (ever) outside the brewery. Rare Stone beers (40+ on tap), VIP guests, book signing, and Stone Catering-provided food will round out this unique event with a surprise or two.
The Kick Off Celebration will feature TWO SESSIONS:
Session A 3:00pm – 7:00pm // Session B 8:00pm – 12:00am
Price of admission for EACH SESSION ($45 + handling charges) includes the following:
*Commemorative LA Beer Week ’11 / Naja’s Place tasting glass
*Admission to ONE four-hour session
*10 six-ounce samples; additional taster tickets will be available on site
*Access to 40+ great Stone Brewing beers (many very rare)
*VIP Stone Brewing guests including Greg Koch (CEO), Steve Wagner (President, Brew Master), Mitch Steele (Head Brewer), and more!
*Q&A Session with Stone Brewing VIP guests
* “The Craft of Stone Brewing Co.” book signing with authors Greg Koch & Randy Clemens (book will be available for purchase)
*Small bites provided by Stone Catering
*Chance to purchase limited edition LABW ’11 / Naja’s Place commemorative T-shirts”
The latest update from assistant manager Josh Salinas: “This week we are pouring Bootleggers Rustic Rye IPA, Black Market Bavarian Hefe, Uinta Wyld Extra Pale Ale, Sierra Nevada Tumbler Autumn Brown, Craftsman Flanders Red Ale, and Craftsman 1903 Lager. On deck we have Bootleggers Pumpkin Ale. Don’t forget this Sat, Oct 1st is the Eagle Rock Music Festival happening right on Colorado in front of the Oinkster. See ya here.”
P.S. 612
On tap at PS 612 in downtown L.A. is featuring Telgraph Brewing’s Reserve Wheat and many more on draft.
From Justin Blake at Dave Furano and Michael Zislis’ El Segundo biergarten, “This week we are pouring Iron Fist The Gauntlet on cask w/Key Lime and Tangerine, Grand Teton Wake Up Call Imperial Coffee Porter, Port Brewing Mongo, Strand Beach House Amber, Iron Fist Velvet Glove, Cismontane Black’s Dawn, Drakes Zatec Pilsner, Beer Valley Jackalope Imperial Pumpkin Porter, Alesmith Speedway Stout, Cismontane Antigua Caturra Infused Citizen, Oskar Blues Gubna, Hofbrau Oktoberfestbier, Paulaner Hefe-Weizen, and Sierra Nevada Allocation Ale among many others. We also have bottles of Mountain Goat Pale Ale, Mountain Goat Hightail Ale, Orval, Rodenbach Grand Cru, and Russian River Consecration. On deck, we have Heretic Taffelbully, Bootleggers Black Phoenix, El Segundo Blue House IPA, Stone Ruination, New Belgium Lips of Faith Kick, and Brouwerij West Blond.
Next Wednesday, October 4th, we are a having a pint night with Hangar 24 Brewery. Also, on Thursday/Friday night and all of Saturday/Sunday through the end of October, it is Rocktoberfest at Rock and Brews. We will be serving a German inspired food menu and feature liter steins of German beer.”
The latest from general manager Micah Schiesel, “We got some killer brews in for all of you fermented liquid sippers out there. Cisomtane’s Double Rainbow IPA, Russian River’s Blind Pig, Avery’s DuganA, Moylan’s Hopsicke, another keg of the Mach 10 and Stone’s 15th anniversary. Midnight Sun’s Panty Peeler is pouring right now and the Debutante Saison from Stillwater is up next. Oh and look out for North Coast’s Grand Cru, this is going to be getting tapped in the next few days.” Track changes to Simmzy’s tap list Here
Steingarten LA
From David Watrous and this new Pico establishment: “Just tapped De Ranke Guldenburg. This awesome Belgian spiced trippel goes great with Lamb Sausage! And Haandbryggerriet Royk Uten. This traditional smoked beer from Denmark is one of the best we have had in ages! Come on in and see the 85+ bottles now in stock including 20+ Lambic and American Sours!”
For the month of September, Marlene Samaniego and husband Sam, “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.”
From Alex Macy at the newly opened Sunset Beer: “We’re keeping it steady for the first few weeks with Victory Prima Pils, Telegraph California Ale, Brouwerij West Blond 5, Alesmith Speedway Stout, Eagle Rock Manifesto and Eagle Rock Populist.”
On tap at the Surly Goat are Stone Smoked Porter, Victory Fest Bier, Dogfish Head Chateau Jihau, Port Hot Rocks lager, New Belgium Clutch and Eagle Rock Solidarity. To get the latest tap news, check out the Surly Goat Tap List
The latest on tap in Alhambra: Iron Fist Spice of Life, Bruery Autumn Maple, Great Divide Hercules DIPA, Mad River Rorschach, Drakes 1500 Pale ale and Marin White Knuckle Imperial IPA.
The latest from Pete Shuey at Tin Roof Bistro, “Tin Roof Bistro’s 2nd Annual Oktoberfest is upon us. Come enjoy some amazing beers and brats on Saturday, October 8th!!!!” Also check out the Reserve list which includes Stone Russian Imperial Stout among others.
Today’s update from Paige Reilly in Burbank: “TDA is currently sporting a lovely Smog City IPA, Pliny the Elder, Bugger Brown, County Line Rye, and the AMAZING Point the Way IPA!!!!!!!! Come on in for a pint or two this week!”
Vendome Toluca Lake’s weekly Beer Tasting is from 2-5 pm on Saturday and 12-3 pm Sunday. This week’s theme is new arrivals. “Since we have received a decently sized variety of new beers over the past couple of weeks, it just seemed fitting to host a tasting featuring a portion of these brews. While some of the beers are very new, others are more on the newish side. Nevertheless, this tasting should prove to be another diverse and enjoyable one.”
Some New Beers: Anchorage Love Buzz Saison (an expertly brewed Saison aged in French oak Pinot Noir barrels), High Water Hop Riot IPA & Retribution DIPA (Brewed at Drakes Brewing Company, these beers are very much West Coast style and exhibit citrus and floral qualities) and De Proef Knock-Out Tripel (a strong, 10% alcohol Belgian Golden Ale).”
Tap highlights this week include Golden Road Hefeweizen, Heretic Evil Cousin DIPA, Craftsman Sour Grapes, Strand 24th Street Pale, El Segundo Blue House Pale and a Mystery Beer. On deck are Paulaner Octoberfest Marzen and Weihenstephaner White Hoplosian.
Other 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.
Bust out the lederhosen and beer steins, this October a taste of Germany is coming to Terranea Resort. On Sunday, October 9th, casual culinary destination Nelson’s is celebrating Oktoberfest with a special menu featuring an authentic German spread that includes House made Potato Dumplings, Bavarian Pork Sausage, Wiener Schnitzel, and Bavarian Desserts. The meat feast, paired with specialty beers like Paulaner Special Octoberfest Lager, will also feature a steinholding contest with liter beer steins and festive live music from the Rhinelanders.
Every Sunday in October, LA Market Restaurant at the JW Marriot Los Angeles L.A. LIVE is featuring an Octoberfest Beer Pairing Sunday menu. Each week, three unique beers from a craft brewery will be paired with a special three-course dinner. Sample menu items include lightly smoked salmon sashimi with pink grapefruit gelée, crunchy cucumber and spiced nuts; and beer braised pork belly with pickled cabbage and braised carrot. Flat screen televisions in the private dining room offer sports fans a chance to catch the football game while they dine. This Sunday will feature the beers of Allagash Brewing of Maine.
L.A. Beer Blast compiled by Food GPS Beer Editor Sean Inman
Blog Comments
Sean Inman
September 30, 2011 at 2:10 PM
Just an addition to the Sunset Beer entry, now Stone Imperial Russian stout and Golden Road hef are on.