Category: About the Search Party

General information about the blog.

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The 2017 Blog Disclaimer

Each year, I start the blogging calendar with a disclaimer. It is not a sexy post but I feel it is important to take the tiny amount of time each year to set the ground rules.

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Every beer, brewery, event, restaurant reviewed on this site whether paid for or complimentary will get the same treatment when reviewed. If I don’t like the beer, it will be described as a beer that I did not like, even if it was handed to me by the brewer and I like the brewer.

If I forget (which probably will happen, because it has before) to mention how I got a beer or a pass to an event, then go back and read the previous paragraph. (I should just “If” “Then” chart this out.)

I clearly want the Los Angeles Craft Beer Scene to flourish and I want craft beer in general to flourish. So my reviews will also take that into consideration. Some points in time require cheerleading and others require harsh sentences. It shouldn’t take a reader too long to see where I stand.

I will be as impartial and truthful as I can be while also staying as opinionated as usual.

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In the Tap Lines for January 2017

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Good riddance to 2016! Let’s get 2017 off on the right foot with some rays of light and hope and great craft beer in the L.A. area.

~ e-visits to three breweries found in the pages of the Complete IPA book by Joshua Bernstein
~ special featured reviews of beers that I bought with my Craft Beer Cellar – Eagle Rock gift cards from Christmas.
~ Heads-Up on Los Angeles Beer Events
~ Three suggested beers to buy this month. One light, one medium and one dark
~ A Book & A Beer reads All That Man Is (and I did not care for it)
~ I will tap the Firkin and give my no holds barred opinion on the craft beer world.

Here are two events to get your January started in the Los Angeles craft beer world:
1) January 8th – Cheese and Beer Tour with LA Beer Hop and Vagabond Cheese
2) January 28th – L.A. Beer & Food Festival

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In the Tap Lines for December 2016

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The holiday beers have been rolling onto the site fast. And it will continue until the Big Day arrives. Enjoy our last holiday season before the dark times

~ e-visits to three breweries from Iceland. Olgerdin, Olvisholt Brugghus & Vifilfell. Don’t forget about Einstock too.
~ special featured reviews of (wait for it) Christmas beers!
~ Heads-Up on Los Angeles Beer Events
~ Three suggested beers to buy this month. One light, one medium and one dark
~ A Book & A Beer reads Valiant Ambition about George Washington & Benedict Arnold
~ I will tap the Firkin and give my no holds barred opinion on the craft beer world.

Here are two events to get your December started in the Los Angeles craft beer world:
1) December 7th – Far Bar hosts a ‘retirement’ party for Firestone Walker beers that are being discontinued.
2) December 14th – MacLeod Ales C.U.P. Hearing

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Happy Thanksgiving from BSP

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Everyone have a craft beer with turkey and cranberries and stuffing and if anyone talks politics, take a big hearty sip until they stop.

(You may have to bring a lot of beer this year, FYI)

Enjoy and give thanks to the good things in life!

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In the Tap Lines for November 2016

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We now begin the holiday season. Of course, we still have to get past the election but then we can be merry with holiday ales and big beers by the fireside. So be thankful for our bounty of beer.

~ e-visits to three breweries from the Southern Oregon coast – Defeat River in Reedsport then to Devils Brewing in Coos Bay and finally Chetco Brewing in Brookings.
~ special featured reviews of beers that can pair well with Thanksgiving meals.
~ Heads-Up on Los Angeles Beer Events
~ Three suggested beers to buy this month. One light, one medium and one dark
~ A Book & A Beer reads Inside the Apple
~ I will tap the Firkin and give my no holds barred opinion on the craft beer world.

Here are two events to get your November started in the Los Angeles craft beer world:
1) November 16th – Bruery Share This Dinner at Sausal in El Segundo
2) November 20th – Lutefisk & Lefse Dinner at Brouwerij West

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In the Tap Lines for October 2016

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We have entered GABF Season. The King of Craft Beer festivals. I will cover the L.A. focused results and any other news that springs forth from the Denver Convention Center along with my regular posts, reviews and events to check out.

~ e-visits to three breweries that took home gold medals at GABF this year.
~ special featured reviews of canned beers from a variety of styles.
~ Heads-Up on Los Angeles Beer Events
~ Three suggested beers to buy this month. One light, one medium and one dark
~ A Book & A Beer reads Doctor Sleep from Stephen King
~ I will tap the Firkin and give my no holds barred opinion on the craft beer world.

Here are two events to get your October started in the Los Angeles craft beer world:
1) October 2nd – Harvest Festival at Angel City Brewery
2) October 4th – Tuesday at Tony’s Mystery Flight Night

…and here is the beer photo of the month…
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In the Tap Lines for September 2016

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This month I make my first trek to Sacramento for the California Craft Beer Summit. I will be sitting in on seminars, learning about food and beer pairings and much more. Including some tiny amount of beer drinking. Look for that coverage and the following in the blog this month…

~ e-visits to Sacramento breweries
~ special featured reviews with one caveat, blind tasting, one vs. another.
~ Heads-Up on Los Angeles Beer Events
~ Three suggested beers to buy this month. One light, one medium and one dark
~ A Book & A Beer reads Between the World and Me
~ I will tap the Firkin and give my no holds barred opinion on the craft beer world

Here are two events to get your September started in the Los Angeles craft beer world:
1) September 10th – Sixpoint Ales tap takeover at Barrel & Ashes
2) September 15-18th Peachapalooza at Beachwood BBQ

…and here is the beer photo of the month…
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In the Tap Lines for August 2016

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With any luck the heat in Los Angeles will start to drop into fall-ish temperature ranges because there are quite a few Oktoberfest biers heading our way as well as the annual influx of gourd beers. Speaking of the pumpkin, considering the backlash and overproduction of the pumpkin beers last year, it will be interesting to see how much does get to shelves and if it is a little less this year. Now onto what you will see this month on this blog….

~ e-visits to three of the new arrivals to the filled Portland, Oregon scene. Ross Island Brewing, Ferment & Scout Beer.
~ special featured reviews of a mix of styles with fruits and herbs (but no fruited IPAs this month).
~ Heads-Up on Los Angeles Beer Events
~ Three suggested beers to buy this month. One light, one medium and one dark
~ A Book & A Beer reads City of the Lost
~ I will tap the Firkin and give my no holds barred opinion on the craft beer world

Here are two events to get your August started in the Los Angeles craft beer world:
1) August 2nd – Hopernicus DIPA re-release at Beachwood
2) August 11th – Nisei Week Pre-Launch Tap Take Over with Coedo Brewing at Far Bar.

…and here is the beer photo of the month…(OK, no beer this month but this time lapse photo of the moon in front of the Earth is too wicked cool to not re-post)
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BSP Drinking Statistics

The latest statistical sample is skewed. Anything that includes both L.A. Beer Week and the Firestone Walker Invitational will be either the high or low point on the graph.

But let’s dig into the numbers and see what pops out about my drinking habits since the last check in at Week 5.

Leaving out the weeks where I was “festing”, the average ounce intake was 212.5 a week or 42.5 a day, over a 5 day drinking week. That’s over where I would like it but under the 240 ounce max weekly that I set at the start. From a high of 234 to a low of 196.

Crunching the cash numbers, I paid about $.35 per ounce of beer. Or 4.20 for a 12oz beer on average. This I ascribe to buying the high price chalices of beer and special beers that come with the territory of L.A. Beer Week. These are the $8-9 dollars beers that come in 10oz pours. Even $2 tasters add up to $.50 an ounce. The best buys were at Trader Joe’s where I could pick up a 12oz single for $2.50 to $3.50.

Alcohol wise the average ABV is 5.0 to 8.0 with most weeks ending in the 6.75 area.

I will check back in in a few weeks to see how the trends hold up and to explore what styles of beers I have drinking.

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In the Tap Lines for July 2016

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Now we enter the heatdome.  It has been way too hot for way too long in Los Angeles so break out the pilsners and lawnmower beers and stay cool.  In addition to the items listed below, there will be an Allagash Little Brett report this month as I recover from the fests of June.

~ e-visits to new Minneapolis breweries Utepils, Wild Mind Artisan Ales and Venn Brewery which will open soon.
~ special featured reviews the Fat Tire & Friends Variety Box
~ Heads-Up on Los Angeles Beer Events
~ Three suggested beers to buy this month. One light, one medium and one dark
~ A Book & A Beer reads Wood & Beer
~ I will tap the Firkin and give my no holds barred opinion on the craft beer world

Here are two events to get your July started in the Los Angeles craft beer world:
1) July 9th – Beachwood – Long Beach 5th Anniversary
2) July 23rd – Bottle Room – Craftsman Brewing Special Event

…and here is the beer photo of the month
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