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 Toast from Coast to Coast, the penultimate “epic” and a new homework assignment to complete in a post titled Toasting across the Country.
Top Selling Beers from Los Angeles Bars
At the L.A. Beer Week fest on October 23, we asked three of L.A.’s best beer bar owners (and one GM) pointed questions. In this case: “What’s your top selling beer, and why do you think that’s that the case?”
Click Here For Their Responses.
Q&A with Black Market brewmaster Andrew Marshall
Black Market Brewing Co. founder Andrew Marshall isn’t the first man to get Temecula’s wine drinkers thinking about beer. That would be Vinnie Cilurzo, who founded Blind Pig Brewing Co. in 1994 and spent two years in town before heading north to establish the now-famed Russian River Brewing Company. Still, Marshall is keeping with that type of crafty legacy, brewing beers like the Bavarian style hefeweizen, rye IPA and Dunkelweizen. Click Here to Learn More.
Beachwood chef-owner Gabe Gordon currently features Avery Old Jubilation, Secret Squirrel Kona coffee stout, Dupont Pasca Rustica, Russian River Pliny the Elder and Smog City Saison in Seal Beach. Track changes to Beachwood BBQ’s 24-tap menu via Hop Cam.
The Long Beach location of Beachwood features Moylan’s Chelsea porter, Hitachino Nipponia, Coronado Nada Nectar wit, Sierra Nevada Northern Hemisphere ale and New Belgium Imperial Berliner Weiss. Track changes to Beachwood BBQ’s 24-tap menu via Hop Cam.
Beer Belly
On tap at Jimmy and Yume Han’s Koreatown establishment: “Stone 11.11.11 Vertical Epic Ale, Stone Double Dry-Hopped Sublimely Self-Righteous Ale, Bruery/Elysian/Stone La Citrueille Celeste de Citracado, Golden Road Burning Bush IPA, Ladyface Palo Comado XPA, Craftsman Edgar’s Ale, Craftsman Ruddy Bloke, Telegraph Rye XPA, Surf Brewery County Line Rye, Surf Brewery Shaka XPA, El Segundo Blue House Pale and Craftsman 1903 Lager.
On Deck: The Bruery Four Calling Birds, Stone Double Dry-Hopped Ruination, Stone Double Bastard Ale, Craftsman Harvest Saison, The Bruery Humulus Lager, The Bruery Mischief, Surf Brewery Surfer’s Point Vienna Lager and Surf Brewery Mondo’s Cream Ale.”
Blue Palms taps are pouring Smog City Groundwork coffee porter, 50/50 Totality Imperial porter, Golden Road Burning Bush smoked IPA, Beachwood BBQ Bulldog stout and Bear Republic’s Wine Country wheat among many others. Track changes to Blue Palms Brewhouse’s 24-tap menu Here
From bar manager Rory Snipes: “New beers for this week include Great Divide Fresh Hop, Weihenstephan White Hopsplosion, Golden Road Hefeweizen, Bear Republic Mach 10, Bruery Loakal Red, and Russian River Pliny the Elder.”
From Tony Alcazar in Whittier: “New on tap: Brasserie Dupont Foret Blanche (Witbier @ 5.5%) and New Belgium Clutch (Sour Brown Ale @ 9%).” Beers updated daily on Facebook
The latest from Wen Yeh at BruHaus, “Currently on draft: Gnomegang, Magic Hat #9, Cismontane Citizen, Piraat, Dogfish Head Punkin Ale , Saphir Bock, Weihenstephan Kristalweiss, Blanche de Bruxelles, Lagunitas IPA, Hofbrau Original, Pranqster, Malheur 12, Duvel Single, Reissdorf Kolsch, Paulaner Pils, Ayinger Celebrator Doppelbock, Schneider Edelweiss, Spaten Marzen, Paulaner Marzen, Shipyard XXXX IPA, Schneider Edelweiss (Organic), Weihenstephan Vitus and Delirium.”
Recently tapped: Craftsman’s Angelino Weisse, Sour Ale, 6.1% and Ladyface alehouse, weizenbock, 8.6% abv.
Tonight: Ballast Point Pint Night @ City Tavern, starting at 6pm. 5 limited release styles: Brother Levonian Saison, Oktoberfest, Navigator Doppelbock, Brandy Barrel Aged Navigator, and Indra Kunindra. With each pint receive a commemorative pint glass while supplies last (limit one per customer).
Since last Thursday, Phil McGovern’s iconic Santa Monica bar has added Dogfish Head Punkin and Ballast Point Sculpin to its taps.
On tap beer wise are Solidarity on nitro tap, Manifesto wit, Revolution XPA and Populist IPA.
The Factory
The latest info according to Eric Gutenkauf: “Another great week coming up at The Factory Gastrobar in Long Beach. On Friday we will celebrate the release of Stone’s 11/11/11 Vertical Epic with a Stone beer flight that also includes: Double Dry Hopped Ruination, Double Bastard, Oaked Bastard and Stone/Elysian/Bruery La Citruelle Celeste de Citracado. Also currently on tap are: Avery Kaiser Imperial Oktoberfest, Strand Beach House Amber, Rubicon IPA, and High Water Retribution Imperial IPA.
Next Wednesday, November 16, The Factory welcomes www.GreenDrinks.org, a networking group for people working in the business of protecting our environment, and those who want to help them. We will be pouring Deschutes Green Lakes Organic Ale, and Cismontane’s Oktoberfest with organic California buckwheat, as well as great organic wines from Paul Dolan and Girasole.
On Thursday, November 17, Rob Croxall and Tom Kelley of El Segundo Brewing will indoctrinate The Factory with their tasty brews including Blue House Pale, Blue House IPA, White Dog IPA and Hyperion Stout. We will also welcome the Long Beach HopHeads and the Bixby Beer Association, as hops will dominate the rest of the taps with Bear Republic Racer X, Kern River Just Outstanding IPA, Eagle Rock Populist IPA and Rogue’s St. Rogue Red, also scheduled to perform!”
From Jimmy Smith at the Little Tokyo bar: “Come join us for a classic AFC West rivalry (and about as local of an NFL rivalry as it gets in LA currently) at Far Bar. $5 Burgers and $2 off all Stone drafts and $1 off cocktails throughout the game. and if you wear your Raiders or Chargers gear you’ll receive $2 of all drafts and bottled beer (yes, all 38 taps and 70 + bottled beer throughout the game!) Finally, we’ll be tapping a keg of Stone’s Vertical Epic 11-11-11(brewed with cinnamon and Anaheim chilies), a day early, right before the game and yes this one is included in the $2 off Stone draft’s!”
Draught beers on Fairfax include Knee Deep Hoptologist, Bear Republic Racer X, Black Market Brown, Bruery Humulus, Great Divide Fresh Hop and three from Golden Road – Point the Way IPA, Hefeweizen and Burning Bush. Buy a Golden Road glass and get $6 refills. On deck are Lost Abbey Devotion, Oskar Blues G’Knight, Marin Alpha Session and Bear Republic Mach 10.
Also Golden State and Mexicali will be collaborating for another night of tacos and beer this coming Monday night the 14th from 6pm to 10pm.
According to Ladyface rep Robyn Britton, “What do you call our big, bad Chesebro IPA infused with ghost peppers, the hottest produce on the planet? Cask of the Week “Ghostface Killah”. Joining the Ladyface ales, including the latest batch of Blind Ambition which went on tap today, are Port High Tide, Oskar Blues Mama’s Little Yella Pils, Firestone Velvet Merlin, Green Flash Double Stout, North Coast Old Rasputin, Port Santa’s Little Helper. The last four comprise our Flight of the Week.
Veterans who have served in the United States Armed Forces are welcome to a 20% discount this Friday, November 11th. Veterans Day and every day, please remember to honor and thank all the men and women who have served our country.”
Here is the latest from Alex P. Davis at the Library Alehouse: “We have Deschutes Hop Trip and Fresh Hop Mirror Pond, Port High Tide, and Sierra Nevada Northern Hemisphere and Hutash on for the Wet Hop Mini-Fest. We also have Ballast Point Octoberfest, Russian River Blind Pig and Avery Dugana on.
On deck are the Stone / Bruery / Elysian Collaboration, Ballast Point Sculpin, Ballast Point Sextant Oatmeal Stout, Hangar 24 Columbus IPA, El Segundo Hyperion Stout and Smog City Groundwork Porter.” Check the Library Alehouse Facebook page for updates.
“Come and meet Dominique Friart, owner of St Feuillien, at Lucky Baldwins Trappiste Pub tonight at 6pm. We shall have a number of St Feuillien’s on Tap including the Noel, Speciale, Blonde. There will also be a St Feuillien Glass special: which will include any St Feuillien beer, and your St Feuillien glass to take home for only $13. All St Feuillien refills: $1 off all night!”
Mediterraneo
Adam Aro reports these new brews on tap: “I currently have these up: Blind Pig by Russ Rvr, Ballast Point Sculpin, Craftsman Flanders red & Fireworks Saison, Reissdorf kolsch, Abbot Ale (nitro), Victory Helios, Ballast Point Sextant oatmeal stout & Belhaven scottish ale on nitro, Port Shark Attack red, Weihenstephaner Hef, Alesmith X, Noble dark sybian IPA, Lindeman’s Framboise, Strand 2nd Anniversary braggot, La Chouffe, New Belgium Abbey Grand Cru & Clutch, Ommegang Witte, Val Dieu tripel, Stone Highway 78 collaboration, Cismontane Oktoberfest, Dos Cone Es DIPA & Antigua Caturra, Lost Abbey Angel’s Share(brandy), Bruery Autumn Maple and the 30th anniversary line-up by Sierra Nevada (stout, barleywine, bock, and grand cru). Cask is Ballast Point Sclpin dry-hopped with cascade. Coming soon- Russian River Temptation, Ommegang Gnomegang. Casks coming from Ballast point, and Cismontane.”
On tap in Echo Park are Craftsman Sour Grapes and Edgar’s ale, Moylan’s Hopsickle, Strand Atticus IPA and El Segundo’s Picket Fence wheat IPA. November is Dogfish Head month at Mohawk with many selections from the famous Delaware brewery on tap.
Tonight is Smog City pint night/movie night. We will tap Smog City beer at 8:00PM, and we will start the movie as soon as the Charger vs Raider game is over.
The latest update from assistant manager Josh Salinas: “This weekend we continue pouring some badass brews. We have Cismontane Coulter IPA, Eagle Rock Manifesto, Smog City XPA, Craftsman Ruddy Bloke, Bootlegger’s Mint Chocolate Porter, and Eel River California Blonde. On deck we have Speakeasy Big Daddy IPA, Strand’s 24th Street Pale Ale, and Telegraph Winter Ale.”
From Justin Blake at Dave Furano and Michael Zislis’ El Segundo biergarten: “This week we are pouring Smog City LA Saison, The Bruery’s Humulus Lager, Anchor Brewing’s Our Special Ale 2011, Hangar 24 3rd Anniversary Ale, and Coronado Dumb Blonde among many others. We also have bottles of Kern River Just Outstanding, and Russian River Pliny the Elder.
On Deck, we have Lagunitas Fusion7, El Segundo Hyperion Stout, Port Brewing Mongo, and Westoek XX.
Also, next Wednesday, November 15th, we’re having a pint night with Drake’s Brewing featuring some rarities from the San Leandro Brewery including their Saison.”
The latest from general manager Micah Schiesel: “If you get this an you don’t have plans yet come check us out tonight! Lagunitas mason jar / pint night is going down at Simmzy’s. Pils, IPA, Doppleweizen, and the Fusion 7 all are going strong tonight. Also just arriving, Pliny the Elder, Bruery 4 Calling Birds, and highly top secret, a keg from Nectar Ales of their Black Xantas has arrived. Follow us on twitter SimmzysMB to find out when we are tapping this bad boy!!!” Track changes to Simmzy’s tap list Here
For the month of November, Marlene Samaniego and husband Sam will be featuring Stone Brewing and ??? draft!!
From Alex Macy at the newly opened Sunset Beer: “On tap: Oskar Blues, Brouwerij West Blond 5, Golden Road Hef, Eagle Rock Populist IPA, Telegraph Oatmeal Stout and Hair of the Dog Adam with Allagash Hugh Malone on deck.
In bottles: He’Brew Genesis 15:15, Nectar Ales Black Xantus, Stone Vertical Epic 11.11.11, The Bruery 4 Calling Birds and very limited quantities of Dogfish Faithful and Firestone 15.”
On tap are Little Sumpin’ Wild from Lagunitas, Stoic from Deschutes, Double Aught from Bear Republic, El Segundo Brewing Blue House Pale Ale and Dark Seas from Mission Brewing among others.
Pouring in Burbank are Bear Republic Double Aught pilsner, Heretic Tafelbully, Golden Road Point the Way IPA, Firestone-Walker Double Jack and Eagle Rock’s Solidarity on nitro.
Vendome Toluca Lake’s weekly Beer Tasting is from 2-5 pm on Saturday and 12-3 pm Sunday. Each week has a theme and this week it is Belgian Strong Ales “This upcoming tasting will give you a sampling of some of the high quality, non-Trappist Belgian ales that are available in store. The hallmark of Belgium’s brewing tradition is the prevalent use of very rich malts along with the occasional sprinkling of candi sugar (a common addition in the abbey ales).
Some of the highlights of this tasting include: La Chouffe (Golden Ale), Urthel Vlaemse Bock (a rich Dubbel), Scaldis Refermentee (a 12% strong ale bottle-refermented in a hot chamber), Moinette Blonde (an abbey style Tripel) and De Ranke Noir De Dottignies (a rich, dark and strong ale).”
Picket Fence Wheat IPA – El Segundo Brewing Co, Horny Devil – AleSmith Brewing Company, MateVeza Morpho Herbal Ale, Double Bastard Ale – Stone Brewing Co., Double Dry Hopped 2xIPA – Stone Brewing Co., Rye XPA – Telegraph Brewing Company, South Swell Double IPA – Ventura Surf Brewery, 10 Fidy – Oskar Blues, Session IPA – Smog City Brewery, Populist IPA – Eagle Rock Brewery and Oktoberfest – Black Market Brewing Co.
Other Beer-y events
At the Four Points Sheraton LAX, aka The Beer Hotel, “On Friday November 11 our Monthly Beer Appreciation Night will feature Belgian Holiday Beers hosted by our good friend Larry James of Wine Warehouse. Some of the featured beers include St. Bernardus Christmas Ale, Gouden Carolus Noel, Affligem Noel, and Delerium Noel. As a special treat we will also be trying Barbar Winterbok on draft. As usual Larry will also be surprising us with some other rare beers of the season. For a great pairing and to help you soak up these strong beers Larry will help us serve up plates of Flemish Carbonnade, Belgian Fries with Truffle Salt and a Butter Lettuce Salad.”
According to Alan Breslauer, The LAB Brewing Co. has just opened our doors and are celebrating our “Official” Grand Opening next Thursday, November 17th. To mark the day, all house brews will be half off ($3) all night long. Currently our brewmaster, Roger Bott, is featuring the following three beers (with more to be added shortly, beer menu):
TAKE HER HOME TRIPEL – Belgian Style Triple
A classic Trappist style. Light in color yet packing a punch. The slightly sweet yet refreshing flavors of citrus and spice come from the Belgian yeast and help mask the heavy alcohol content. Cuidado!
BIG ASS RED – West Coast Red Ale
A west coast amber ale with a strong yet balanced hop character. Specialty malts create a slightly sweet yet highly quaffable flavor.
ATOM ALE XPA – IPs Baby Brother
A lighter and less aggressive version of the IPA. The light straw color is complimented by balanced hop additions and a mellow session-able alcohol volume.
At Golden Road Brewing, “Bigger, “full sized” growlers are now available at Golden Road Brewing! Sixteen dollars will get you a 64oz GRB growler full of Point the Way IPA or Golden Road Hefeweizen, available Monday through Saturday from 2pm – 6pm in Golden Road’s Blue Building. Refills are available for $10. And not to worry – Golden Road Brewing’s “baby” growlers are still available: $10 for a 32oz growler + fill, $6 refills.”
At Wades Wines in Agoura Hills, “European Barrel Aged Beer Flight Beer Tasting tonight from 4:30pm to 7:00pm. For this weeks Flight Night we will head across the pond to try some barrel aged beers from Europe. We have pulled bottles from our Library, and paired them with some beers we just got in stock.
Come and taste some Barrel Aged beers from Europe! Haandbryggeriet – Barrel-Aged Porter, Brew Dog – Paradox Isle of Arran (Whisky Barrels), Brew Dog – Paradox Smokehead (Whisky Casks), Mikkeller – Barrel-Aged Black Hole. Come in for a special $10 taster flight…stay to enjoy the 40 unique beers on taps!!!”
L.A. Beer Blast compiled by Food GPS Beer Editor Sean Inman
Leave a Comment