There are a lot of neighborhoods and cities in what we call L.A. Obvious, I know, but I start with that reference point because it will take a while for craft beer to infiltrate everywhere. There are some neighborhoods that have no breweries yet and some areas that are just now getting local bars or in the case of stop # 1 of 1st Visit Night, neighborhoods that are making due with their locals that have been plugging along for years already.
That establishment being Crazy Harry’s. It is a shoebox of a bar with plywood walls which is a décor option. Not one that I care for but I am picky about bar ambience. It is dimly lit with an off/on string of lights above the bar. I was there on a special release night of a Maltose Falcons / Firestone Walker Brownywine. (which was not all that good. Too sticky sweet and tasted kinda dull and old. Maybe my expectations were too high).
The bar was packed and getting packier during the duration of my beer and the vibe was convivial. It certainly leaned toward old-time bar that happened to have craft on tap. And that tap list was pretty good, a few Firestone Walker choices plus a range of styles. It is also the only place that has Hand Brewed beer on tap. A local brewery in progress.
By the time this posts, Ryan Sweeney will probably have opened a few more beer bars and whiskey emporiums. I finally caught up with the fairly new Sherman Oaks, Woodman. And this spot has way too many TV’s going on. Even though my Portland Trailblazers were on and beating Houston, I felt it was too distracting. This is the first of Sweeney’s bars that has a “designed” look to it. Despite the flat screens, Woodman is as dark as the Verdugo but that bar is simpler and not “dressed”.
The beer list had a good many options that you come to expect and a surprising food menu with multiple slider options including a very filling biscuit fried chicken slider. I would suggest the patio seating to watch the traffic and people pass by.