Category: Guide to better beer

how to discover new beer to try

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Beer Pair(ing)

Here is a heads up. One week from today, the great Library Alehouse is pairing with the Beer Chicks for a beer dinner pairing that benefits What a Pair.
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Here is the 411 and the menu:
“Christina Perozzi and Hallie Beaune, better known as the Beer Chicks, are the co-authors of The Naked Pint an Unadulterated Guide to Craft Beer. They will be on hand to show us their Pair(ings), and guide you through some of beer’s best styles. Come and learn a little about the world’s favorite beverage.

15% of sales from the entire day will be donated to What a Pair.
Cost is $50 a ticket. Seating is limited, please RSVP ASAP.
To RSVP call Tom Kelley, Alehouse Cicerone at 310-383-2329 “

Their will be 9 beers with some small plates for pairings.

Mamma’s Little Yella Pilsner

Weihenstephaner Hefeweizen (bottle)

Allagash White – Gioia Ricotta dressed with lemon and Allagash White

Ballast Point Calico Amber – Semi-firm Cheese TBA

Bruery Tradewinds Tripel – Heirloom Tomato Salad

Bear Republic Racer 5 IPA – Fish Taco and mango salsa

Chimay Blue (bottle) – Beef Carbonnade with pommes frites

Rodenbach (bottle) – Chocolate

Coconut Porter – Ice Cream float

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Nano Monday

Mix in an exotic brewer like Trade Route of Washington. (See motto: “Drink our beer and voyage the trade routes of the old world. At Trade Route Brewing Company, we like to think of ourselves as explorers charting the beer frontier. We are inspired by time honored brewing traditions of the world. We innovate with a bounty of wonderful ingredients. We make beer for the adventurous. We make beer for you. Explore the beer frontier.”)

Then add in a 5 gallon homebrew set-up so that you can experiment with small batches.

Then serve it up on Mondays at their tasting room and you have some magic going.

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the Stone collaborations keep coming

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San Diego County Session Ale is the latest in the lovely etched collaboration bottles to soon grace our ‘fridges. It was brewed over the course of the summer by Colby Chandler from Ballast Point, Mitch Steele from Stone and Kelsey McNair from a brewery I have yet to taste from called North Park Beer Co..

I am glad the session is taking over!

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your review here…

I will admit up front that I think Yelp and it’s ilk are just flat out useless except for posting hours of operation. Too many opinions from people who didn’t get their precious food fast enough or complaints about parking. So, instead of just complaining about it, why not fix it? Just for the beer world in Los Angeles at least. Each month, I will ask for reader opinion on a new or old beer bar or restaurant that I haven’t visited.

I am asking because I am in Glendale and I don’t want to drive across town for beer that I can get out here unless the beer list, vibe, the location or the food really warrants it.

So first in the crosshairs, here is your chance to let me know your reactions and reviews of the newly opened Venice Ale House. Have you been? Was the beer list good? How was the service?

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Defense agains the Dark Beers- Wynkoop

In a bit of a departure for my intrepid dark beer correspondent, a sampler tray was tasted! I know it is heresy but to truly appreciate the dark beer side of life you must check the lighter side. Here is the report:
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“From right to left
Light Rail Ale – light citrusy going to a doughty dusty wheat – good gardening beer. Also functioned as a palate cleanser for the subsequent beers.
Tut’s Royal Gold – sweet malty finishing with a nice sour tastes more carbonated at the finish.
Wixa Weiss – not my fab. Too barnyardy.
Mile HIPA – seriously hoppy grapefruity super bitter finish.
Railyard Ale – pretty reddish orange. Nice floral notes with a mellow finish
B3K Schwartz Bier – smoky goodness with a smooth finish. Probably my fav of the night.
Monkey’s Fist IPA – not as hoppy as the mile high but bitter finish continues to build.”
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“Ignore the glasses in the background. Still working right to left

My notes were getting fuzzy by this point.

St Charles ESB – totally coats the tongue and palate. Light grapefruit with a slight bitter finish that continues to build
Patty’s Chili Beer-most interesting beer of the night. Light but definite jalapeño flavor without the spicy heat
McKenzies Milk Stout – chocolate/ espresso. Really sweet a little smoky sweet finish. Would make a great float.”

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Concordia Cup

Old News to those in Portland, but I thought I would share this information from a great beer destination in Portland. (If you haven’t been during one of their blind tasting competitions then you have missed out)

Concordia Cup Results

“Deschutes Brewery Portland Pub – Hop Henge Experimental Batch #8 Wins Concordia Cup
Cam O’Connor Head Brewer at Deschutes Brewery Portland Pub has won this event three times in a row, winning the “Oregon Only” Imperial IPA Concordia Cup for three straight years, 2008, 2009, and 2010. He will captain the OREGON BEER BRAWL IV team at Concordia Ale House yet another time coming 02/2011.”

After 579 taster trays Hop Henge Experimental Batch #8 won by 6 votes over Hopworks Ace of Spades.

Blind Imperial IPA Tasting Results
1. Deschutes Brewery Portland Pub Hop Henge Experimental Batch #8
2. Hopworks Urban Brewery Ace of Spades
3. Widmer Brothers Brewing Co. Deadlift
4. Rogue Ales’s I2PA
5. Double Mountain Brewery & Taproom Molten Lava
6. Caldera Brewing Hopportunity Knocks
6. Ninkasi Brewing Co. Tricerahops

I have “only” had the Deadlift, Hopportunity Knocks and Tricerahops. Not bad for a LA based beer boy!
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Eagle Rock Brewing – IPA Class

Hey beer lovers!

I am big on educating yourself in not only different beer styles but also in the building blocks of beer. So each time my local, Eagle Rock Brewery does a new beer education class, I get excited. I have attended these classes so I know they are done well.
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“We are super excited to announce that our next beer class is all about IPAs, the perfect summer beverage. Yes – hopheads unite! The class will take place in the Eagle Rock Brewery taproom on Tuesday 8/24/10 from 7pm to 9pm. As usual, the taproom will be open at 6p for those registered in the class to come in to pickup the course materials and enjoy a pre-class beer. Cost will be $30 per person. Register at our online store.

Class registration is non-refundable so please do not register for the class until you are absolutely certain that you will be able to attend. No exceptions will be made. The registration does not include a guest, so please do not bring guests with you and expect that they will be able to stay. All of our classes have sold out and space and class resources are limited, so as a courtesy to everyone involved, no exceptions please.”