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: how to maximize your craft beer for Super Bowl Sunday, a beer from Sierra Nevada and the passing of a beer legend Super Beer for the Super Bowl.
Echo Park bar owner Elizabeth Fischbach is now pouring Eagle Rock Populist IPA, Port Brewing Shark Attack, Allagash Black and North Coast Scrimshaw Pilsner.
Beachwood chef-owner Gabe Gordon currently features draught beers such as Rubicon’s Irish Red, St. Louis Gueze, Deschutes Jubelale, TAPS Helles Lager, Ballast Point Bourbon barrel Black Marlin porter and Strand 24th Street pale ale on cask. Track changes to Beachwood BBQ’s 24-tap menu via Hop Cam.
Blue Palms is pouring beers like Coronado’s Golden ale, Cismontane’s Citizen, Rubicon Hop Sauce, Alesmith Wee Heavy, Victory Hop Wallop and the Sierra Nevada Beer Camp brew Outta Town Brown amongst many others. Track changes to Blue Palms Brewhouse’s 24-tap menu Here
BoHo
From Chris Sobolewski, the beer dude at BoHo, “Big news at BoHo this week. The long rumored move is finally upon us. BoHo will be shutting its doors on February 13th and moving over to Hollywood and Highland for an early April opening. So come get all your BoHo favorites while you still can.
Highlights this week are a pair from Ommegang: Chocolate Indulgence and Hennepin 6.7, Sierra Nevada Estate and Paulaner Weis’n Oktoberfest. Tune in to next week’s beer blast for our closing night specials! Cheers!”
BottleRock
Here are the new drafts at each BottleRock locations: “Besides Allagash Black we are now running the Unibroue Terrible and the Alesmith Horny Devil is back as well at BottleRock L.A.”
The Bottle Room
According to Tony Alcazar, “On deck we have Nogne Winter, Lost Abbey Brandy Barrel Aged Angels Share, and Cismontane Blacks Dawn.”
Broadway Alehouse
According to co-owner Eden Noe, “We have Great Divide Expresso Stout, Duvel Green, Delirium tremens, Lost Abbey Judgment Day, Firestone Velvet Merlin Oatmeal Stout, Black Diamond Rampage Double IPA, Greenflash IPA, Allagash White, Affligem Blond, Fat Tire, Dogfish 90 Minute IPA, Stone Pale Ale, Allagash/New Belgium Vrienden, Moylan’s Tippery Pale Ale. We will soon tap Consecration by Russian River this week!! We also have Fantome Noel in the bottle which is an awesome beer and New Belgium La Folie.”
According to Beverage Director Eli Wilson, “This Super Bowl weekend we will be pouring FOUR amazing Ballast Point brews: Tongue Buckler, Bourbon-barrel aged Black Marlin Porter, Sculpin, and Sextant Oatmeal Stout. Marin Brass Knuckle, Sierra Nevada Hoptimum and St. Bernardus Abt will also likely make it on tap before The Game.
Lastly, we have two very special events this February! On February 12th, we welcome the owner of Belgium’s Het Anker Brewery, maker of Gouden Carolus and Lucifer. Come pay your respects with a goblet of any of the FOUR Carolus beers on tap, plus Lucifer. Finally, on February 26th Saturday, start getting excited about our 1st Annual INTERNATIONAL STRONG ALE FEST!! Tap list and details to follow…”
Since last Thursday, Phil McGovern’s iconic Santa Monica bar has added Stone’s Arrogant Bastard with American oak on cask.
Get a growler fill or stop in for a pint at Eagle Rock Brewing. Great food trucks this weekend include Mac N’Roll on Thursday, The Manila Machine on Friday and Grill ‘em All on Saturday.
The Factory
According to owner Natalie Gutenkauf, the current draught beer list includes Marin Brewing Mt. Tam Pale, Bootlegger’s Mint Chocolate Porter (get a porter float for only $3, yum!), Mission Brewing IPA, Green Flash IPA, Beer Valley Black Flag Imperial Stout, Deschutes Abyss and Stone Double Dry Hopped Arrogant Bastard.
We enjoyed a pint with John Lundholm and the owners son of Grand Teton Brewing today for lunch at Congregation Ale House. They let us know that the Persephone Pilsner, currently on tap at The Factory, is one of only three 5-gallons in existence.
We have a big weekend with First Friday, big art walk and live music at The Factory all night long.
Saturday we will have a launch party for Karl Strauss 22nd Anniversary Brew … this is a bourbon barrel, vanilla bean imperial stout. We will be serving the “22” in Karl Strauss Tulip Glasses for $5 and keep the glass!!!!
Then Super Bowl Sunday with $4 pints on all draft beer. Just for Super Bowl we are tapping a special keg of Sierra Nevada’s whole cone Imperial IPA, HOPTIMUM!”
According to James Starr at The Golden State, draught beers “Ballast Point Sculpin, Old Rasputin, Firestone-Walker Union Jack, Russian River Consecration, Yellowtail Pale ale, Craftsman’s 1903 and Aurora Borealis, Drake’s Jolly Rodger and 1500 and Espresso Yeti from Great Divide.”
According to Ladyface rep Robyn Britton, “Just found out that Ladyface made RateBeer.com’s 2011 Best Brewpubs! New on tap – Cy & Dave’s Sierra Nevada Beer Camp beer, Outta Town Brown. Twelve Ladyface ales are on tap including limited release ales La Cerise Kriek, Blue-Belly Barleywine, Oude Blonde and Cabernet Barrel-aged Weizenbock. Guests include Rubicon Hop Sauce & Drake Alpha Session. Cask of the Week, straight from the firkin, is “Breakfast in a Glass”, our Picture City Porter with blueberry and maple syrup.
Super Bowl on the HDTVs. After 3pm, anyone wearing an official NFL jersey will get their 1st regular Ladyface ale for $1. Dueling specials: Pittsburgh’s famous Primanti Bros Sandwich versus Chesebro Cheesehead Soup, made with our award-winning DIPA. Fence-sitters can have the Soup & Sandwich Special. And the patio has been declared a Super-Bowl-Free Zone – just you, your craft beer and the sounds of nature. Cheers!”
According to General Manager Tom Kelley, a certified cicerone, “This week we are pouring Avery’s Joe’s American Premium Pilsner, Bruery Seven Grain (swapping for Saision de Lente soon), Unibroue Terrible, Sierra Nevada Glissade, and we are testing out Ommegang’s Belgian Pale Ale for the first time on draft. Tell us what you think.. it’s either BPA or Brouwerij West’s Blonde 5 that will take a handle for a while”
In addition, next week February 9th, Library Alehouse’s Thomas Kelley and Firestone Walker’s Jace Milstead will be hosting a pairing dinner centered around Firestone 14. The beer lineup is epic, and the food pairings will only serve to elevate the tasting. Thomas and Jace will provide thier own brand of witty banter, speaking about beer, why it is great, and how pairing food can make it even more enjoyable. The entire experience promises to be one to remember. RSVP required!
The festivities will commence at 6pm on Wednesday, February 9th. Tickets can be purchased for $45 each (plus tax and tip) in person at the Library Alehouse.
Starting February 14th is the HopHead Heaven event. $10 gets you a 6oz glass and an initial brew with each additional beer costing $2 – $3.50. Goes until the 24th. Check the Library Alehouse Facebook page for updates.”
According to assistant manager Martin Svab, “Here is what’s new on draft at Naja’s: Sudwerk Dopplebock, Gentleman Scholar Requiem Espresso Stout, Allagash White, St. Martin Bruin, Mikkeller Centennial and New Belgium Ranger IPA.”
Upcoming Events at Naja’s:
An Evening with…The Bruery
Thursday, February 10, 2011 (8pm till 10pm)
We’ll feature 7+ Bruery beers on draft including some Provisions only treats. There will be a limited supply specialty glassware as well. Specials guests TBA & more…
Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
Thursday, February 17, 2011 (8pm till 10pm)
We’ll feature a vertical tasting of all four 30th Anniversaries beers on draft, Empire Strikes Black (bourbon barrel aged), a rare cask & more. Limited pint glasses will be available. Special guests TBA.
Russian River Brewing
In honor of the release of Pliny the Younger, we will host an evening featuring the following Russian River beers: RR Pliny the Elder, RR Pliny the Younger, RR Blind Pig IPA, RR IPA, RR Damnation, RR Redemption, RR Consecration (Batch: June 1,2 ’10) and RR Temptation (Batch: July 19, ’10). “The exact date is yet to be announced. It will be the week that PTY arrives (Early February it the anticipated timeframe). Check our Facebook fan site for more info (Naja’s Place).”
According to Tuesday night’s update from assistant manager Josh Salinas, “We have some badass beer on tap for the weekend. We are pouring Deschutes Red Chair NWPA, Bootleggers Old World Hefe, Eagle Rock Solidarity, Moylans Tipperary Pale Ale, Craftsman 1903, and Ommegang Rare Vos.”
SideBar
According to yesterday’s update from Jace Milstead, a certified cicerone who’s consulting on the beer list, “So, SideBar is looking good. We have some fun things coming up. Most exciting is a craft beer Super Bowl party.
Superbowl Sunday
Feb 6th – Bar Opening at 1pm (Game starts at 3:30pm)
$4 All Draft Beers – All Game Long
Complimentary Grub for All
Complimentary Super Bowl Squares Pool – No “Buy In” – Winner gets Gift Cert to Sidebar – $25 Half Time & $50 Final Score”
According to manager Micah Schiesel, “We got a bit of Pliny the Elder on tap right now as well as one keg of Blind Pig. This week we are bringing in Deschutes Hop Henge, Marin County IPA, Eel River Organic Amber Ale, and we got some very special kegs of Abita’s SOS Pilsner, do something good and stop by and have a pint of the SOS, each pint sold gets $.25 donated to help the charities of New Orleans. For the Belgian lovers we got some Scaldis Tripel and Sasion DuPont getting set to be hooked up asap.” Track changes to Simmzy’s tap list Here.
For the month of February, Marlene Samaniego and husband Sam are featuring Barley Wines, beginning with Sierra Nevada Bigfoot (2008 – 2010), Stone Old Guardian, Victory Old Horizontal, Mad River Wheat Wine (2009), Lost Coast barrel-aged Fog Cutter, North Coast Old Stock Ale and Moylan’s Old Blarney.
According to Marlene Samaniego, “In addition to our Barleywine line-up we are doing something special this month. We are participating in the ‘Samuel Smith Salute’! This is a tribute to the British brewery that helped launched the U.S. Craft Beer Revolution. Samuel Smith has been brewed since 1758 and imported to the U.S. since 1978. We will be featuring different Samuel Smith beers as our Bottled Beer of the Week all month long.”
Event wise at the Surly Goat: Charles from Het Anker will be in the house on February 11th. To get the latest tap news, check out the Surly Goat Tap List
According to yesterday’s update from general manager Paige Reilly, “This weekend, get ready to enjoy Stone Ruination on cask, Green Flash Le Freak, Cismontane The Citizen, TAPS Barleywine, Craftsman Aurora Borealis, and AleSmith Nautical Nut Brown, just to name a few gems. 🙂 Also, please join us Tuesday for a very special T@T Flight Night honoring Don Younger, the proprietor of Horse Brass Pub in Portland, OR who passed away this week. Come by and share a DY story with the bar!”
Vendome Toluca Lake’s weekly Beer Tasting is from 2-5 pm. Each week has a theme and this Saturday you will be treated to English beers, including Fullers Honey Dew, Warm Welcome Nut Brown, Meantime London Porter, IPA J.W. Lees Manchester Star, Moonraker, Harvest Sherry Cask 2009, Fullers ESB, Vintage Ale 2010 and Gales Prize Old Ale.
According to Ryan Sweeney at the Verdugo, the following are on tap: Russian River Redemption, Deschutes Abyss, Port Brewing Midnight Session, Moylan’s port barrel Ryan Sullivan Imperial Stout and Victory Brewing’s Braumeister Harvest Wet Hopped. You can also get bottles of Cuvee de Tomme as well.
The Yard
Here is what is on tap at The Yard: Dogfish Head Chicory Stout, Ommegang Chocolate Indulgence, Allagash White, Allagash Curieux, Tripel Karmeliet, Lagunitas Brown Shugga and Lagunitas Fusion II
Also taking place at the Yard is the Beer Freek which is a series of rare beer tastings. According to owner Sean Norris, “We will be offering special tastings of all the beers listed for each event. Chef CJ will also be doing pairings and dishes inspired by the tastings, aka Food for the Freek. A number of the beers listed below are considered the best in the world, and many are difficult, if not impossible to get. At the final tasting, we will be giving away a number of tastings of one of the Holy Grails of the beer world – Narke’s Stormaktsporter, a rare Swedish porter. Everyone who attends a Beer Freek tasting and samples the rare brews will receive a raffle ticket for a free tasting at the Narke tasting on May 11th. Winners will be drawn on May 11th at The Yard. They’ll also get to taste some great beers along the way! Prices for the tastings will vary depending upon the beers being offered at each tasting.
The next Beer Freek event is February 9, including Stone Vanilla Porter (cask), Stone Verical Epic (draft), Stone Double Bastard (draft) and more Stone TBA.
Food: Goat Head’s soup.
Music: Rolling Stones.
According to Mary Drenthe at The York, “On deck this weekend we have a keg of Lagunitas Brown Shugga and Taps Cream Ale. Our cask is Craftsman Poppyfields Pale Ale.
And for Super Bowl Sunday we’re featuring $4 pints of Firestone Pale 31 and Spaten Lager as well as $4 Bratwursts. Go Packers! Go Steelers! Whichever you prefer!”
The Craft Beer Chronicles
Today, Brand X contributor Steven Armstrong shared his latest installment of The Craft Beer Chronicles, titled Jonathan Fischer finds family in the homebrew community.
L.A. Beer Blast compiled by Food GPS Beer Editor Sean Inman
Blog Comments
World Beers Review » Food GPS » L.A. Beer Blast C5
February 3, 2011 at 8:20 PM
[…] more here: Food GPS » L.A. Beer Blast C5 Related Posts:Food GPS » L.A. Beer Blast C5 According to owner Natalie Gutenkauf, the current […]
Tweets that mention Food GPS » L.A. Beer Blast C5 -- Topsy.com
February 3, 2011 at 6:35 PM
[…] This post was mentioned on Twitter by foodgps, libraryalehouse and Alltop Food, Alex P. Davis. Alex P. Davis said: RT @foodgps: L.A. Beer Blast C5, featuring the best in beer for the upcoming week. A lot of good events on the slate http://su.pr/1L22F7 […]