…you could choose to head to Burbank and Lincoln Beer Co. for their 7th Anniversary party…
You just might find the right beer for Thanksgiving pairing or a gift for Christmas.
2 Days from Now…
Book Day – Boozy Book Fair
Ambitious Ales is teaming with Bixby Knolls neighbor Bel Canto Books to present the 3rd Boozy Book Fair on Sunday, November 17 from 12-5PM. The third B along with beer and books is BBQ as Smoked and Salted will on site with their Filipino Fusion-Texas Style BBQ.
Pub in the Woods
As SoCal finally cools down into our approximation of fall, I do long for a serene outdoor spot to drink craft beer like the full introvert that I am and this spot, Pub in the Woods, has the right idea….
…there are spots like Stone HQ where you are in a garden atmosphere or a similar feel at Topa Topa and their HQ but what I wouldn’t give for a short hike to a secluded area with even just a tiny good beer selection.
Colorado Report # 3
After walking through Sloan Lake Park, I emerged in the Edgewater District and on the corner was Joyride Brewing. Opened in 2014, this local is kitty corner to the park. I went with two IPAs, a fresh hop and an experimental IPA. Their 35th one. Both tasted super fresh.
Also near the lake is the pilot brewery of Odell Brewing. Earlier in the trip, I had the flagship IPA and the flagship 90 Shilling and neither were on the menu here. I opted for a flight. Where I went all over the map from table beer to fruited lager to pumpkin beer. The five beers got better as I moved along with the pumpkin, double IPA and sweet stout being the best of the bunch.
For the third point in the beer triangle, head to Toast – Wine and Spirits a truly lovely little curated neighborhood shop. I got a sixer of Lady Justice Sandra Day IPA but man, if money and airport security were no object, I would have bought more. Leopold Brothers and Laws Whiskey and a whole pumpkin beer section.
In a week of ticking beer bucket list items, heading to Hops & Pie was a coupe de grace. A real “peach” of a final hurrah as I got to taste the Peach version of Weldwerks Brewing’s Juicy Bits IPA. I did not order the hoppy fries but the pumpkin soup and roasted pear salad were great.
To conclude, a special shout out to Chip and Erika for shuttle service and helpful tips.
Colorado Report # 2
Took a Lyft from LoDo to Novel Strand Brewing for a first visit to a truly neighborhood spot. Houses on the other three corners. Looks like a typical pub or coffee house, which it also is in the AM. Had the Ninja Shit and Green Showers on the beertenders recommendation. Both were easy drinkers.
After a Vieux Carre cocktail night, it was time to hit a really good brewery triangle centered on Larimer Street. First point was Our Mutual Friend Brewing where I taster tray-ed a few beers from their selection that held quite a few Belgian and funky choices like their two time GABF winner Biere Ovale. Which was quite a tart burst. I also quite enjoyed the Industry Appreciation IPA. You can’t miss the space as it is brightly colored outside.
Ratio BeerWorks is the punk brewery and again, Denver surprises with an eclectic beer list including a scotch ale and multiple saisons such as the carrot and elderflower that I chose. Bigger footprint than OMF but familiar garage door, indoor-outdoor set-up just one block up from OMF.
A slightly longer walk of three blocks led me to the very large industrial space of Bierstadt Lagerhaus where I had to notch the beer bucket list item of a slow pour pils at the source. The presentation, after the requisite time had elapsed, was spot on with the fancy gold embossed glass and the little paper doily and the parfait of foam is something to see. And of course to taste.
Are You Strong Enough?
The Pizza Port Strong Ale Festival should certainly be on any beer fans bucket list. Now in its 26th year down in lovely Carlsbad, it is a feast of big beers many of which are Belgian in style and perfect for December drinking.
Colorado Report # 1
Left Burbank International Airport early in the AM and despite a little turbulence into Denver, everything went smoothly and by early afternoon, I was in Colorado Springs sipping beer at Ivywild an old school converted into food and drink with a brewery (Bristol Brewing) and distillery on site.
Over a bacon and bleu burger, I tasted four beers. A pale ale, a fresh hop IPA, a nitro IPA and for a change a pumpkin ale too. All four were above average which is not bad for a brewery that I had never researched at all. So good that I got a big ol’ bottle of their saison, which also rang true. A good start to the trip.
Next up was a drive south to the Cristo de Sangre mountain range town of Westclifffe, where the beer choices were a tad slim but luckily the stovepipe cans are around and I found a reliable Colorado choice in 90 Shilling Ale and flagship IPA from Odell Brewing and also a not so mini whiskey from Laws Whiskey House.
Walk
The Brew Walk Craft Beer Festival is back for its second year.
It has featured breweries / local favorites that are not the usual suspects such as Norwalk Brew House, La Bodega Brewing Co. from Whittier, Brewjeria Company from Pico Rivera, Cerveza Xteca from San Diego, and Cerveza Cito hailing from Santa Ana.
And 100% of the proceeds from Brew Walk will directly benefit St. Linus School, that money goes to supporting educational programs and resources for the students. Maybe one of whom will become a brewer in the future.
A Beer Haven
A food hall in SoCal without a brewery presence is probably not really a food hall. But what if your food hall has two breweries?
Haven City in West Covina, wedged into an already busy big strip mall has recently opened and when I visited had a big crowd (even before a Dodger playoff game had started). Lots of food vendors right next to a big grocery store and there were still spots like Amboy not ready yet.
On one end is Ogopogo Brewing which had a full slate of their beers including two Fest-ish beers in Drude Marzen and Nachtkrapp Schwarzbier as well as a collab Nectaron Pils with Arrow Lodge. They are in a quiet corner that could probably use more seating but Drude was quite excellent.
Over on the other side is Burning Bridge Brewing which also does a small menu of tacos. They had quite a line-up on tap including a Belgian Dubbel, a PSL beer and, what I was told is a quite popular rice lager. I went with a hefty Hazy DIPA, Swing of the Axe, another beertender recommendation.
This City was full of people watching and also has a nice outdoor seating area as well. I would say pick a spot for a beer, then wander and choose some food and then have a second beer.
Seven Scraps
I am Team Cat when it comes to pets ’cause I like their attitude and their presence at breweries and distilleries and Los Angeles Ale Works will be honoring their house cat on Saturday 10/19 for Scrappy’s 7th Birthday, which will see the release of the birthday edition of Scrappalicious Juicy IPA plus other fun activities and maybe, even the guest of honor as well.
