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: creative ways to enjoy the big sports of events of January, a beer that is more brown than black and a new homework assignment to complete in a post titled Craft Beer for the Big Game.
From Echo Park bar owner Elizabeth Fischbach, “This week in tap we have the following: Port Brewing Old Viscosity, Iron Fist Hired Hand Saison, Black Market Rye IPA and Sudwerk Pilsners. Tonight is Thursday tamale happy hour from 6-8, a delicious tamale will be served with each beer (or wine) followed by an old time open jam 8-11pm.”
Beachwood chef-owner Gabe Gordon currently features Speakeasy Sutro’s milk stout, El Segundo White Dog IPA, Kern River winter ale, Bacchus Flemish red and Triple Rock’s 4th Anniversary in Seal Beach. Track changes to Beachwood BBQ’s 24-tap menu via Hop Cam.
The Long Beach location of Beachwood features 50/50 Totality Imperial Stout, Sierra Nevada Black Hop Rising, Eagle Rock’s Jubilee, Ballast Point Longfin lager and Stone’s 11 11 11 Vertical Epic. Track changes to Beachwood BBQ’s 24-tap menu via Hop Cam.
Beer Belly
On tap at Jimmy and Yume Han’s Koreatown establishment: Unibroue Ephemere, Hangar 24 Winter Warmer, Cismontane Brut de Sauvin and Ladyface Midnight Special among other handles.
Blue Palms taps are pouring Golden Road Rye on the Palate, Duvel Single, Ladyface La Trappastine, Craftsman Triple White Sage and Ballast Point Tongue Buckler among many others. Track changes to Blue Palms Brewhouse’s 24-tap menu Here
From bar manager Rory Snipes: “Some of the good stuff on tap right now: Russian River Pliny and Blind Pig, Bear Republic Tartare Berliner Weiss and Heritage Wee Heavy, 2010 and 2011 Dupont Avec Les Bons Voeux, Cismontane Dead Santa, Knee Deep Tanilla Porter, Ommegang Seduction, Lagunitas Sucks, Double Dry-Hopped Stone Sublimely Self Righteous, N’Ice Chouffe and Duchesse, along with a few others of course.”
The Bottle Room
From Tony Alcazar in Whittier: Eagle Rock Brewery’s Vanilla Bean Solidarity has been tapped recently along with some Deschutes beers from Oregon.
The latest from Wen Yeh at BruHaus: “On Draft: Trois Pistoles, Delirium Noel, Lagunitas Sucks Holiday ale, Blanche de Bruxelles, Flying Dog Raging Bitch, Magic Hat #9, Piraat, Ommegang Rare Vos, Weihenstephan Kristalweiss, Tripel Karmeliet, Hofbrau Original, Pranqster, Malheur 12, Duvel Single, Reissdorf Kolsch, Paulaner Pils, Ayinger Celebrator Doppelbock, Shipyard XXXX IPA, Schneider Edelweiss (Organic), Weihenstephan Vitus, Delirium and Lindeman’s Framboise.
Coming soon on draft: Uinta Labyrinth & Alesmith Nautical Nut Brown.
Bottle: N’ice Chouffe, Ommegang Adoration, Old Rasputin XIV.”
From Matt at City Tavern: “On Deck: Lost Abbey Angel’s Share Gran Cru, Thirsty Bear Seventh Stave, Two Rivers Blood Orange Cider, Dust Bowl Chardonnay Barrel Aged Rye Belgian Blonde and Sequoia Brewing General Sherman IPA
Upcoming Events:
1/12/12 Hanger 24 pint night: For Pint night Pugachev’s Cobra, Winter Warmer, Chocolate Porter, and Double IPA. We will be giving away a commemorative pint glass with any flight or pint ordered. (limit one per customer) Our Table Taps will be Hanger 24 Orange Wheat, Helles Lager, Columbus IPA from 1/11-1/25.
1/26/12 Lagunitas Pint Night: Cappuccino Stout Stout, Ipa, + 2 more styles. We will be giving away a commemorative pint glass with any flight or pint ordered (limit one per customer).”
Here is the latest from the Congregation: “The Chosen One(s): Long Beach, Deschutes Mirror Pond Pale Ale – Azusa, Bootlegger’s Mint Chocolate Chip Porter – Pasadena, Belhaven Scottish Ale. Cheers!”
Since last Thursday, Phil McGovern’s iconic Santa Monica bar has added Chouffe N’ice, Rogue Russian Imperial Stout and a cask of Stone IPA to it’s taps.
On tap beer wise: Solidarity, Solidarity on nitro, Manifesto wit, Revolution XPA, Populist IPA, Botany Bay ESB and Jubilee holiday ale. On the Food truck front, Friday brings the duo of Frysmith and the Buttermilk trucks and Saturday is Grill ‘em All and Sunday brunch brought to you by the Flatiron truck.
The Factory
The latest info according to Eric Gutenkauf: “4 out of the 9 beers we are tapping tonight are over 10% ABV!! 2 others have 144 IBUs and 102 IBUs!!! The beer measuring elements may be high but the official currency is low … 4 dollars for all draft beer tonight! ”
From Jimmy Smith at the Little Tokyo bar, “We’re tapping a ton of fresh local love right before Happy Hour: Beachwood BBQ And Brewing Black Moon Rising(Belgian Black Ale) and Foam Top Cream Ale, Golden Road Brewing Hefeweizen, Eagle Rock Brewery Manifesto and Bootlegger’s Brewery Knuckle Sandwich! $1 off all drafts and $5 Burgers until 7.”
Draught beers on Fairfax include Sierra Nevada Northern Hemisphere Harvest, Ballast Point Victory at Sea, Stone’s Double Dry Hopped Sublimely Self-Righteous, Bruery Mischief, Craftsman Angelino Weiss, Uinta HooDoo Kolsch, Ommegang Witte, Avery Maharaja and on deck is North Coast Red Seal.
The LAB
Here’s what going on at The Lab Brewing Co: On the horizon – Tuesday, January 24th – The LAB is featuring a 5-course beer pairing dinner (reservations highly recommended, 818-735-0091). Currently, Lab brews include the potent Bad Influence (IPA), Lab Wit, Cold Fusion Java (Coffee Porter), Big Ass Red (West Coast Amber), and the Take Her Home (Belgium Tripel). Guest taps include Sierra Celebration, Anderson Valley Winter Solstice and Lagunitas Sucks. Finally, beer flights are now $10.
From Robyn at Ladyface: “Our Cask of the Week, “Vow of Silence”, features our rich Belgian dark strong ale, La Trappistine™, infused with Peach Tranquility Tea. If you followed us on Facebook, you’d have seen today’s secret words and know that the first ten folks who placed their hands in a prayer-like pose, looked beseechingly at their server and mumbled “mmmmm”, got the Ladyface ale of their choice for only $1.
Joining our lineup of Ladyface ales are Sierra Nevada Ovila Quad, Anderson Valley Brother David Dubbel, Avery Dugana, North Coast Pranqster, and Sierra Nevada Celebration. The last four make up our Flight of the Week. Visit the Ladyface website for more information on upcoming events, including Music Mondays, Trivia Tuesdays and our 2nd Anniversary Week this January 22-28, when all taps will be pouring Ladyface and we’ll be releasing our 2nd Anniversary Ale, a Belgian quadrupel!”
According to chef Brendan Collins, “We are doing a Cismontane Pint Night with the Brewers from Cismontane Brewery Sunday January 8th from 6pm – 10pm** at Larry’s. We will have Free Cismontane Pint Glasses Available! (While Supplies Last) Evan Weinberg the brewmaster at Cismontane will be bringing down their Oak Barrel Aged Dos Cone Es Imperial IPA, Hopped up with Cluster, Columbus and Sterling Hops. Weighing in at a modest 11% ABV. We will also have a medley of their beers on draft including: Dead Santa a mildly spiced American brown ale, Pandion Pale Ale, Southern Hemisphere Cyclone Yasi a crisp dry hopped lager and Blacks Dawn Double Imperial Stout! Hope you can make it.”
Here is the latest from Alex P. Davis at the Library Alehouse: “Right now I have Russian River Blind Pig, Heretic Evil Cousin, Avery Maharaja, Stone More Brown Than Black IPA, Lagunitas Sucks, Dogfish Head Chicory Stout, Ladyface La Trappistine, Brasserie Dupont Avec Les Bons Voeux, Pizza Port Carlsbad Great American Brown, Bruery Cuir, Melange No. 3 and 4 Calling Birds, Ommegang Seduction, Golden Road Rye on the Palate, Great Divide Hibernation and De Dochtor Van de Korenaar Oak-Aged Embrasse.
Coming up are Deschutes Jubelale, Smog City IPA and The Nothing, Firestone Union Jack, Brouwerij West Blond 5, AleSmith IPA, El Segundo White Dog IPA and Surf Oil Piers Porter.” Check the Library Alehouse Facebook page for updates.
Lucky Devils
“Hollywood’s original craft beer bar is starting their remodeling soon to add over 40 beer taps. They currently are serving their classic selection of drafts like the Bear Republic Racer 5, Sierra Nevada Kellerweiss, and Ommegang BPA. Lucky Devil’s is also featuring Stone 2011 Double Bastard, Ruination Double Dry Hopped IPA, and Stone 15th Anniversary Imperial Black IPA. Lucky Devils is proud to announce a new addition to their draft beer line-up; The Wandering Aengus Anthem Cherry Cider. Stop in today and be happy, be Lucky!”
The latest on tap in Echo Park: Cismontane Dead Santa, Thirsty Bear Broadsword Wee Heavy, Sierra Nevada Northern Hemisphere Harvest IPA, Golden Road Schwartz Stout on Nitro and Smog City’s XPA.
It is Samuel Adams night, tonight starting at 8pm at this Redondo Beach beer spot.
The latest update from assistant manager Josh Salinas: “New Year, New Beer! Now on tap is Strand Brewing Atticus IPA, Great Divide Fresh Hop Pale Ale, Bear Republic Big Bear Black Stout, and Cismontane’s Southern Hemi: Cyclone Yasi.”
From Justin Blake at Dave Furano and Michael Zislis’ El Segundo biergarten: “You’ve heard the rumors and probably seen some of the pictures. Well its true. We will be remodeling this winter to make Rock & Brews bigger and better than ever. We [began] construction right after Christmas and reopen in mid February.”
The latest from general manager Micah Schiesel: “New Year new brews (and some old ones too) Sculpin and Dogfish Burton Baton are in house and hey, a keg of Bitches Brew and Abyss are here too. One of our many kegs of Maharaja is pouring right now with just one more in the wings, Lips of Faith series Prickly Pear Saison is tasting damn fine on these Summer in January days and El Segundo’s Summit Dry Hopped Pale is running low so come get one while it lasts. Let Simmzy’s help with your New Year’s resolution, drink more good beer! simmzysMB and SimmzysLB on twitter will help you stay current with our lineup…” Track changes to Simmzy’s tap list Here
Steingarten LA
New on draft for Steingarten LA: Anchor Our Special Ale (Christmas), Stone/Ninkasi/The Alchemist More Brown than Black IPA, Marin Hoppy Holidaze Winter Warmer, Ballast Point Indra Kunindra Coconut Curry Stout, The Bruery Humulus Wet, To Ol Snowball Saison, Eagle Rock Jubilee, The Bruery Four Calling Birds, Ommegang Adoration, Lagunitas Sucks IPA, Ballast Point Bourbon Barrel Aged Sextant Oatmeal Stout, Evil Twin Williamsburg Hipster American Pale Ale, Port Brewing Santa’s Little Helper and Kern River Class V.
Also, at 7:00 PM Monday January 9th 2012, Steingarten LA, “Proudly Welcomes: Bootlegger’s Brewing Company. Please join us for a special night featuring five amazing beers: Knuckle Sandwich Double IPA, Eliminator India Pale Ale, Rocco Red, Golden Chaos and Old World Hefeweizen. We will have a representative on hand from the brewery to talk about the beers. A special pairing menu will be available so come hungry.
Then at 7:00 PM Monday January 23rd 2012, The Hangar 24 Brewing Company will visit with…Seven Amazing Beers: Pugachev’s Cobra, Columbus IPA, Hangar 24 Double IPA, Hangar 24 Alt Bier, Orange Wheat, Chocolate Porter, Hangar 24 Helles Lager. Specialty Beer Cocktails: Hangar 24 Estate Hop Infused Gin & Vodka, Special Hangar 24 Beer Cocktail Flights. On hand will be brew master Kevin Wright to talk about all the beers. We will have a limited amount of keep the glass pints available at the bar *while supplies last. This will be your last chance to try the “Pugachev’s Cobra” which we will tap at 7:00 PM Sharp!”
For the month of January, Marlene Samaniego and husband Sam will be featuring porters and stouts on draft. Here is this month’s line-up: Kona Brewing Pipeline porter, Speakeasy Hunter’s Point porter from ’10, Port Brewing Santa’s Little Helper ’10, Firestone-Walker Velvet Merlin Oatmeal stout, Bootleggers Black Phoenix Chipotle Cofffee stout, Knee Deep Imperial Tanilla porter, Great Divide Chocolate Oak aged Yeti Imperial stout and Uinta Labyrinth Barrel aged imperial stout.
From Alex Macy at Sunset: “On tap right now: Eagle Rock Manifesto, Eagle Rock Jubilee, Eagle Rock Populist, Cismontane Dead Santa, Brouwerij West Blond 5 and Uinta Hoodoo Kolsch.
On deck: El Segundo White Dog, El Segundo Hyperion’s Stout, Alesmith IPA, Strand 24th Street Pale Ale, Telegraph Obscura Vieja, Ventura’s Surf Mondo’s Cream Ale and Ventura’s Surf Surf Patrol Black IPA.
New bottles: Ventura’s Surf Surf Patrol Black IPA, Alpine Pure Hoppiness, Alpine McIlhenny’s Red, Vanberg & Dewolf’s Lambickx, Dupont Monk’s Stout, Ommegang Seduction, Sam Adams Infinium, Goose Island Sofie, Stone More Brown than Black Stone and Jolly Pumpkin, Nogne-O Holiday Ale from 2008.
Highlights from the taps at Surly Goat are Craftsman Acorn Saison, Lagunitas New Dogtown Pale, Drake’s Jolly Rodger, Beachwood Dominator IPA and Sierra Nevada Golden eState.
On January 19th, “Ballast Point Tiki Takeover! Join head brewer Yuseff Cherney for your chance to try the rarest of Ballast Point brews & craft spirits from their own distillery whipped up into exotic concoctions and served in a thee Ballast Tiki Mug! Full Tap List coming soon…”
Some of the taps you will find in Burbank are Ladyface Weizenbock, Hangar 24 Chocolate Porter, Heretic Evil Twin, TAPS California Gold XPA and Golden Road’s Point the Way IPA.
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 rare ales. “To start the new year off right, I decided it would be a good time to pour some of the more expensive and limited release ales for your tasting pleasure. So without further introduction, here is the complete list for this weekend: Stillwater Stateside Saison, Stillwater Autumnal, Pretty Things Field Mouse’s Farewell, Xbeeriment Hoppenheimer DIPA, Xbeeriment Madraz IPA (let’s discover how this ale is holding up), Nebraska Brewing Hop God IPA (A delicious cross between a Belgian Tripel and a West Coast IPA), DeProef Flemish Primitive (A Brett fermented Belgian Strong Golden Ale that finishes refreshingly dry), Allagash Victor (Belgian Strong Ale brewed with Chancellor red grapes), Nøgne Ø Sunturnbrew (A smoked Barleywine brewed with 30% smoked malt and 20% rye), Karl Strauss Two Tortugas Quadrupel, Ballast Point Sculpin (a consistently delicious IPA with tropical fruit flavors and aromas), Russian River Supplication Batch 008, Brouwerij De Molen Pek & Veren “Tar & Feathers” (brewed with peat smoked malt), North Coast Barrel Aged Old Rasputin 14th (need I say more?), Mikkeller Black (a 17.5% abv Imperial Stout…not for the faint of heart).”
On tap offerings from Ryan Sweeney are the Firestone-Walker 15th Anniversary, Lost Abbey Ad Lib, Deschutes Abyss, Russian River Damnation 23, Sierra Nevada Beer Camp Golden eState, Anchor Christmas ale and Sierra Nevada Celebration. And a new Belgian beer-centric bar by the name of Little Bear starts up soon in the downtown area. Look for it in future beer blasts.
Other Beer-y Events
Golden Road Brewing is thrilled to announce the newest addition to their brewery: the pub! Starting in mid-January, The Pub at Golden Road will be open 7 days a week with an extended menu.
At Cabo Taco Baja Grill in La Mirada, “So we all love Third Thursday Beer Dinners, but are you truly getting the education you need to appreciate the beer you are drinking? What malts are they using in the beer? Why does it pair so well with the food you are eating? Why some beers are so bitter and what ingredients make them this way? Starting in January, we will be hosting Beer School every First Friday of the month to answer any questions you may have about beer, and give a short lesson on specific styles of beer. January 6th at 8pm we are going to discuss the history and fundamentals of Pale Ale. Beers on the Menu: Bass, Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, Firestone Walker Double Barrel Ale and Firestone Walker Pale 31. The Price of the Class will be $10 and will include a 6oz. sample of each of the beers listed above.”
At Wade’s Wines in Agoura Hills, “Hoppy New Year!!! Flight Night Thursday, January 5th from 4:30pm to 7:00pm. To celebrate the start of another year we are going to bring out the hops! We have selected a flight of hoppy beers for your drinking enjoyment. Come in and start the New Year off bitter!!! El Segundo Brewing – Blue House Pale Ale (Double Dry Hopped with Summit Hops), High Water Brewing – Retribution Imperial IPA, Black Diamond Brewing – Harvest Black IPA and Uinta Brewing – Dubhe Imperial Black IPA. 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