The L.A. Beer Week committee moved up their multi-brewery gala to the first Sunday of the “week,” welcoming over 50 breweries to Union Station’s old Art Deco ticketing hall. In 2014, the L.A. Brewers Guild will grab the reins and run beer week programming. In the meantime, click on the thumbnails to enjoy some highlights from the first session of the 2013 gala.
David Watrous (Beachwood BBQ & Brewing), Randy Clemens (The Sriracha Cookbook), Gabe Gordon ( Beachwood BBQ + Beachwood BBQ & Brewing) and Cambria Griffith (The Bruery ) caught up during L.A. Beer Week, as did plenty of other craft beer pros.
The gala didn’t just feature craft beer. Jeff Duggan (left) represented Portola Coffee and Seventh Tea Bar with six beverages on tap, including Kochere iced coffee from Ethiopia and Young Hyson Green tea from Putuo Island, China.
Simon Ford and Martin Svab helm one of L.A.’s newer breweries, Phantom Carriage
Beer Search Party founder (and Food GPS beer editor) Sean Inman helped Eagle Rock Brewery co-founder Jeremy Raub pour two Glassell Park brewed beers.
A golden beer festival rule: SAVE WATER DRINK BEER!
Each year, the L.A. Brewers Guild chooses a special ingredient for L.A. County breweries to use during L.A. Beer Week. This year, it was honey, and Ladyface Ale Companie added Sorachi Ale hops (and honey) into their Reyes Adobe Red.
Strand Brewing Co. co-founder Rich Marcello and Chris Pina poured Strand beers.
For instance, Strand poured White Sand IPA (8.5% ABV) on cask with Serrano.
Bernie Wire, the L.A. craft beer community’s most beloved photographer, was of course in house.
Wil Dee (Haven Brewing and Steven Kinsey (Kinetic Brewing Co.) poured side-by-side.
Kinetic later took home a bronze medal at GABF for Torque, their session IPA.
Bob Kunz, the main man behind Highland Park Brewery posed for a photo with Edible Westside publisher Linzy May Mahoney.
Firestone Walker Brewing Co. revolutionary Catherine Plane joined company co-founder David Walker.
Matthew Testa helped wife Hallie Beaune pour beers from Allagash Brewing Company.
Allagash’s prized pours were on Golden Brett, a pleasantly tart sour.
Fortunate Islands is a wheat ale that Modern Times Beer brews with Citra hops.
Mark Jilg, Craftsman Brewing Co. founder and one of Southern California’s most respected beer pros, helped pour six beers from his Craftsman-style bar, including Ursa Minor.
Smog City Brewing Co. didn’t name their IPA for the 1970s cartoon character, but Grape Ape did bring joy to gala-goers with muscat grapes and Australian topaz hops.
Josh Landan, Mike Taylor, Paul Rodriguez and their talented team of brewers operate Saint Archer Brewery out of San Diego. Jeff Hansson, Saint Archer’s VP of Sales, poured me a Blonde.
Drew Beechum, Cullen Davis and Kip Barnes all served craft sodas at the gala.
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