Category: About the Search Party

General information about the blog.

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The Great American Beer Festival 2015

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I won’t be in Denver for the GABF tomorrow, live Tweeting or SnapChatting about the wave of beer that will descend upon the Blue Bear’s convention center but I will give you a re-cap of the awards and how California and (more specifically), Los Angeles fared.  And I may even live tweet some of the awards like Bernie Sanders with a Republican debate.  You can follow along with the Brewing Network if you are also not in Colorado.

If you are attending this year, make a point to go through the many, many guides out there to help plot your course. The only advice that I can give you is to try the local beer first and foremost. And stay hydrated.  And do take the tour of New Belgium if you haven’t before because it is amazing.

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In the Tap Lines for September 2015

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The drought continues as we in L.A. await the Godzilla El Nino.  But we are keeping cool with a bevy of events this month.

~ e-visits to three breweries just north of Beervana in Vancouver, Washington
~ special reviews of beers of Oktoberfest like Sierra Nevada and Left Hand.
~ Heads-Up on Los Angeles Beer Events
~ Three suggested beers to buy this month. One light, one medium and one dark
~ Beer-centric podcast review, Good Beer Hunting
~ I will tap the Firkin and give my no holds barred opinion on the craft beer world
~ … and Session # 103 will converge bloggers onto a single topic, this month The Hard Stuff

Here are two events to get your August started in the Los Angeles craft beer world:
1) September 1st – Angel City premieres their Jameson barrel aged beer.
2) Late September – Der Wolfskopf will be hosting Oktoberfest at their German themed Pasadena location.

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In the Tap Lines for August 2015

header_attractionsWe got a bit of rain here in L.A.  Enough to tamp down one fire but boy we could use a respite from the humidity and heat so that the wider spectrum of beer can be enjoyed instead of just lawnmower beers.  But enough gloomy weather talk, a new brewery opened in San Fernando at the tail end of July and it will be reviewed this month along with….

~ e-visits to three breweries in Idaho.  No potato beers here. Just Payette, Sawtooth and Portneuf beer.
~ special reviews of beers from just outside L.A. from places like Santa Barbara, Claremont and Temecula
~ Heads-Up on Los Angeles Beer Events
~ Three suggested beers to buy this month. One light, one medium and one dark
~ Beer-centric podcast review, Strange Brews from WBEZ in Chicago, (also home to This American Life)
~ I will tap the Firkin and give my no holds barred opinion on the craft beer world
~ … and Session # 102 will converge bloggers onto a single topic, this month it is the future landscape of beer

Here are two events to get your August started in the Los Angeles craft beer world:
1) August 7th – Brew at the Zoo
2) August 19th – Phantom Carriage One Night Stand at Beer Belly

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In the Tap Lines for July 2015

header_attractionsNow that we are all recovered from L.A. Beer Week it is time to suss out what July will be like in the L.A. craft beer world Plus…..

~ e-visits to three breweries in Portland including Baerlic, Buckman Botanical & Culmination
~ special reviews of beers from new to L.A. Left Hand
~ Heads-Up on Los Angeles Beer Events
~ Three suggested beers to buy this month. One light, one medium and one dark
~ Beer-centric podcast review, 1 Beer, 1 Song
~ I will tap the Firkin and give my no holds barred opinion on the craft beer world
~ … and Session # 101 will converge bloggers onto a single topic, this month it is Bottles, Caps and other Detritus

Here are two events to get your June started in the Los Angeles craft beer world:
1) July 4th – 4th of July Backyard Boogie at Beer Belly
2) July 11th – Draft Day at Cismontane Brewing in Santa Ana

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In the Tap Lines for June 2015

header_attractionsThis is L.A. Beer Week month. From the 20th to the 28th, the City of Angels becomes a beer destination for all comers starting with a blowout local brewery bash at Exposition Park near USC.  Plus…..

~ e-visits to three breweries who were at the recent Firestone Walker Invitational
~ special reviews of beers from new to L.A. 21st Amendment
~ Heads-Up on Los Angeles Beer Events
~ Three suggested beers to buy this month. One light, one medium and one dark
~ Beer-centric podcast review, goes scientific with Beervana
~ I will tap the Firkin and give my no holds barred opinion on the craft beer world
~ … and Session # 100 will converge bloggers onto a single topic, this month it is Resurrecting Lost Beer Styles

Here are two events to get your June started in the Los Angeles craft beer world:
1) June 1st – Burger Week at both of the Oinkster locations with Red Tick Ale from Highland Park Brewery
2) June (anytime) – Check out the new DTLA gastropub and homebrewer space of BarrelDown.

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May Beer Pics

There are too many beer photos stored in my iPad.  Most don’t get used for one reason or another.  But this month, with a stretch of beer events, left more photos off the blog than usual.

So, here they are…..

I wanted to focus on the Heritage Festival signage in my post but I like the art in the far back and the color of the beer, Marilyn cream ale
I wanted to focus on the Heritage Festival signage in my post but I like the art in the far back and the color of the beer, Marilyn cream ale
Smog City's SteamFunk Brett poured a strange color and clarity. I wanted to focus on leftovers and since this was a new beer, I didn't add this one.
Smog City’s SteamFunk Brett poured a strange color and clarity. I wanted to focus on leftovers and since this was a new beer, I didn’t add this one.
I just couldn't capture the right angle that got the goal posts and the beer but I still like the idea.
I just couldn’t capture the right angle that got the goal posts and the beer but I still like the idea.
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In the Tap Lines for May 2015

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We are now moving toward the summer, silly season of festivals here in Los Angeles.  Events will be held every weekend from here on out.  Angel City first weekend, then Smog City the next (see below) and then Eagle Rock (again, see below) and that is only the tip of the iceberg.  Plus a special Up from the Cellar re-visit.

~ e-visits to three breweries from new-ish brewers on the East Coast from Maine to Mass.
~ special reviews of beers from Base Camp of Portland Oregon and Anchor of SF
~ Heads-Up on Los Angeles Beer Events
~ Three suggested beers to buy this month. One light, one medium and one dark
~ Beer-centric podcast review, goes scientific with Gastropod
~ I will tap the Firkin and give my no holds barred opinion on the craft beer world
~ … and Session # 99 will converge bloggers onto a single topic, this month it is Localising Mild

Here are two events to get your May started in the Los Angeles craft beer world:
1) May 9th – Smog City Anniversary
2) May 17th – Session Fest at Eagle Rock Brewery

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In the Tap Lines for April 2015

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There will be some Firestone Walker coverage this month. For that, I do NOT apologize. This year marks the third trip to beautiful Paso Robles to catch up on all things Parabola, Easy Jack and Feral. Don’t worry, there will be plenty other beer news too.

~ e-visits to three breweries from new-ish brewers in the GunBarrel District of Colorado Asher Brewing, Vindication Brewing, Finkel & Garf
~ special reviews of beers from Bell’s (that I didn’t do last month)
~ Heads-Up on Los Angeles Beer Events
~ Three suggested beers to buy this month. One light, one medium and one dark
~ Beer-centric podcast review, Tales from the Cask
~ I will tap the Firkin and give my no holds barred opinion on the craft beer world
~ … and Session # 98 will converge bloggers onto a single topic, this month it is Cans or Bottles

Here are two events to get your April started in the Los Angeles craft beer world:
1) April 7th – National Beer Day at Project Taco
2) April 15th – Beers and Cheers with El Segundo Brewing at the Doughroom.

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In the Tap Lines for March

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Here’s to hoping that the little bursts of rain that California has been getting continue into March so that we don’t have to import water from Alaska via the H20 version of Keystone. Another reason to pray for rain is that I have quite a few stouts in the ‘fridge that drink better with cold/wet weather. Anyway, here is what is coming up this month on the BSP blog….

~ e-visits to three breweries from new-ish brewers in San Diego (yet again!)
~ special reviews of beers from Beach City of Huntington Beach, CA
~ Heads-Up on Los Angeles Beer Events
~ Three suggested beers to buy this month. One light, one medium and one dark
~ Beer-centric podcast review
~ I will tap the Firkin and give my no holds barred opinion on the craft beer world
~ … and Session # 97 will converge bloggers onto a single topic, this month it is who and where is Up & Coming

Here are two events to get your March started in the Los Angeles craft beer world:
1) March 9th BEER TALK – Cold Beer, Hot Pizza, Industry Pro
2) March 11th Crazy Harry’s taps the Maltose Falcons / Firestone Walker collaboration 

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In the Tap Lines for February 2015

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February starts off with a Super Bowl and ends with my birthday.  Which is bigger?  Depends on the beer in the ‘fridge at the time.

~ e-visits to three breweries from new-ish brewers in France
~ special reviews of collaboration beers with an Oregon connection
~ Heads-Up on Los Angeles Beer Events
~ Three suggested beers to buy this month. One light, one medium and one dark
~ Beer-centric podcast review
~ I will tap the Firkin and give my no holds barred opinion on the craft beer world
~ … and Session # 96 will converge bloggers onto a single topic, this month it is Beer Festivals, Yea or Nay?

Here are two events to get your February started in the Los Angeles craft beer world:
1) February 1st – Golden Road Brewing Super Bowl Party
2) February 11th – The Doughroom hosts a Pizza Port Tap take-over