Count me as a big fan of festivals that populate those smaller niches and Pale Fest from Institution Ale Co. easily falls into that category.
Keep up with their social media to get the date and ticket details.
Pale February
The Bracket is Set
Starting tonight, Native Son craft beer bar in Downtown L.A. is having friendly contests. Each Thursday is a Thirsty Thursday with two breweries going head-to-head.
The first duel is between ISM Brewing and There Does Not Exist. And the rest of the bracket is similarly stacked.
Trademarking Torrance
Long Beach’s Trademark Brewing is joining in on the 2nd location fun with a taproom in the very yellow, Enclave in Torrance.
This just adds to the large scene in that area which was already full day trip before.
Ojai
It has been quite some time since last I visited Ojai. Enough that I thought it was south of Ventura and not slightly north.
But there are a couple good beer reasons to visit. One is the Ojai location of Topa Topa Brewing. Second is the foraging and unique Ojai Valley Brewing.
The first is a nice Main Street spot with all the TT hits. I started with the red ale, Disco Solstice before moving on to can pours of the 2024 Howler Coffee DIPA and then the collaboration Extra Coasty XPA with Craft Coast of Oceanside. All three were strong but the cold brew taste and aroma of Howler was the clear winner.
After a beer siesta, a walk to OVB was in order and the Pixie Wit and Accidental Belgian at the start of the taster tray were strong. The Sugar Bush Pale Ale was good as well but the closer, Bruja, a barrel-aged stout was weak. The plus though is that the tasting room is also for Side Street Wine, so you can double dip.
For a third option, you can check out the selection at Ojai Beverage. There is a big beer cooler and some slightly overpriced spirits.
Pirate’s Booty
Blackbeard’s Crafts in West LA on Sawtelle was brought to my attention as a potential craft beer shoppe and a quick perusal of their online offerings showed a tilt to foreign beers which if holds true in store could make this a good stop. They also carry exotic snacks so it seems akin to Replicant in Pasadena. I will schedule a visit and see if it is worth a detour.
First Half of Function
Last year I finally visited one of the two Function PDX locations in Portland. And they are banging in the first half of 2025 with doubled up tap takeovers….
…and you are seeing correctly, there is a lot of SoCal represented. So let your PNW friends know they can taste some of the same beers that we are lucky to get.
2 Days from Now…
…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.
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.