Category: Guide to better beer

how to discover new beer to try

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PS 612

I have visited the Public School 612 in downtown LA twice now. And both times, I have come away impressed.

I took different people each time to get their impressions. My wife and best beer buddy both commented on the really nice interior. Very calming. Both hip and modern at the same time.

The food has been quite good. The chicken was good and spicy for this scovill wimp and the burger with Huntsman cheese is not for the faint hearted. Bold flavors that you really need to savor and not scarf down.

Beer wise. This is a nice list. I would say you go here when people want something hearty but don’t want to sacrifice craft beer for good food. (Because of this, they have been duly added to my list of places to the right and under my cellar list and links)

The only downside is the noise level. As the evenings wear on, it can get loud. Not Bottega Louie loud but needing to shout loud.

Go early. Settle in and enjoy a great opportunity to pair food and beer.

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Get your Hops on!

71

As in 71 IPA’s in under one roof in Redondo Beach. A tremendous number brought together by the industrious Martin Svab and the Naja’s crew.

Here are some photos from the event.

the base of all hop bombs
the menu, well part of it
Iron Fist throws down the Gauntlet
Strand & Cismontane in the house

I sampled the Gauntlet from Iron Fist, the new Black IPA from Strand Brewing and Drake’s Symposium IPA. And I wish I could have had more.

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LongShot

Here is the info on this year’s LongShot winners!

“With the 2011 Samuel Adams LongShot American Homebrew Contest – Category 23 Variety six-pack hitting shelves this month, drinkers nationwide can taste the two innovative homebrews that triumphed over more than 700 competitors to win the 2010 Samuel Adams LongShot American Homebrew Contest. Samuel Adams founder and brewer Jim Koch tapped homebrewers nationwide to think outside the box and develop a “Category 23″ style beer unlike any other. Georgia resident Richard Roper’s Friar Hop Ale and Illinois resident Rodney Kibzey’s Blackened Hops beer were named the 2010 winners at the Great American Beer Festival (GABF).

In addition to Richard and Rodney’s winning brews, Samuel Adams also honors Employee Homebrew Winner Caitlin DeClercq for her Honey B’s Lavender Wheat beer. All three winning homebrewers had the opportunity to brew alongside the Samuel Adams brewers in Boston. Their recipes were bottled and are now available nationally in the 2011 Samuel Adams LongShot American”

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Karl Strauss – Coastal Reserve series

I really enjoyed the Vanilla Porter that KS came out with and the BIPA is a style that I enjoy as well. Toss in the New Zealand hops and I am in.

“Blackball is a Belgian-inspired India Pale Ale with a robust West Coast hop profile. Belgian ale yeast, coriander, and Curacao lend a fruity and spicy character for an ale bolder than your average IPA. A blend of New Zealand and Cascade hops add a vibrant floral aroma and clean citrus hop bitterness that lingers through its crisp, dry finish. Drink up while it’s young, heavily hopped IPA’s are best enjoyed fresh.”

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Best Damn Beer Shop

To me, the sign of a healthy craft beer scene is that all markets are covered. Breweries from large to small, beer bars dedicated to the breweries in the region, restaurants that serve up the good stuff and beer stores.

Which brings us to the Best Damn Beer Shop. Located in the Super Jr Market in San Diego. They carry the locals from Alesmith to Lightning and do tastings as well.

Looks like a great place to do some one-stop SD Beer shopping.

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Taps at the table

City Tavern in Culver City is going the tap within reach route.


They have three tables (that I am sure will be booked solid, so don’t wander in and get upset that you can’t get one) that have taps built in. You pay and off you go.

City Tavern are planning on local brews with a spectrum of choices on the three taps. Let’s hope that they keep that up. I would not want a Bud Light table for sure.

Check out this article in Urban Daddy as well for other information.

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Black & Orange

I have to admit that I am not a baseball fan. Not in the least. But I am a fan of the specialty and one off brews done in honor of sports, people or places.

Especially if done with a little creativity, which brings us to…

A black ale made with orange zest. Makes you wonder what the beer would be if the Dodgers or A’s win a world series.

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50 from 50 – Update


I had a flurry of activity on the 2010 challenge in January leaving me tantalizingly close to my goal.

The only holdouts now are Alabama and North Dakota. Actually, hold out is the wrong word. There are reasons why I haven’t tasted from these places. Two to be precise. And they both start with the letter P.

Alabama – Prohibition. Yup, I lay it all on that doorstep. Once that law ended, the state took over and draconian rules were kept and/or expanded upon. If you think draconian is too strong a word then check out these restrictions at Free the Hops. Until my travel plans take me near Alabama, I will probably not be able to check this state off my list.

North Dakota – Population. There just isn’t enough to gain traction for a niche market. According to what I can find on the internet, there is 1 brewery. Granite City. And I can’t expect them to ship someone in a California a growler.

So that is where I stand. As always, if you or someone you know is willing to send me some beer from those two states. I would appreciate it. Reach out at beersearchparty@gmail.com.