Category: Where to go…

bottle shops, pubs and breweries

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Fall in Huntington Beach

Recently, I was chauffeured around the Huntington Beach area to check out some beer locations on my long list of need to visit spots.

First up was actually some hotel beers. 4 Sons Brewing supplies the Shorebreak Hotel with two beers for rooms and for their social hours each night. There was a session pinepapple IPA and a light lager. Safe choices for a vacation crowd. The lager was too light for my taste and did not have the needed zing. The pineapple was better but, again, not zingy enough with the pineapple. (I will return to this fruit again)

Way past my bedtime (you do not want to know) was my first visit to Beachwood Beer + Pizza. I really likes the spot even though it starts at a disadvantage of being in a typical corner mini mall location. It is bright and airy and the beer selection is all over the board. The Rustic pilsner, Barrels to Bavaria worked well with the excellent pizza. I also had a dessert beer of Mocha Machine Picoso which had a little chile kick but was still filled to the brim with coffee.

Next day was two close to each other PCH breweries. First up was Riip Beer where I went for my first taster tray of the day. And it was all IPA, NELTRA, Stratacaster, Cache is King and my choice for best based on uniqueness alone, Pineapple Panacea which was the least hoppy and has a crazy pineapple smoothie look and taste.

Last up was Green Cheek in Sunset Beach. In an all blue building, no green, this is like an In ‘n’ Out but with Evan Price’s beer. My smashburger was super carmelized and delicious and my taster tray had a golden coffee stout, a Fest Bier and a couple more IPA’s. The space also has an upstairs seating area which is great on beach days. I probably should have tried the G&T inspired hard seltzer but stuck with the beer this time.

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Add to the Visit List – Campsite Brewing

If I ever camp again, it will be too soon.  Some folks have the “roughin’ it” genome and others have the hotel with hot tub one.  I am the latter.  So seeing a brewery named Campsite conjures up smoke in your eyes and uncomfortable sleep.

But Campsite Brewing in Covina seems more on the luxe side with a long list of beers covering a range of current must have styles as well as food. I first caught wind of them this time last year but they opened without hitting my radar.

Look for a 1st visit report next time I head out Covina way.

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To the Visitor Center!

In my mind, there are not enough beer centered visitor centers out in the world. Maybe we do not think 30-40 years of craft beer is enough I guess.

Belgium does not have that length of time issue and do have a beer center that you can read about HERE.

In this lovely old building….

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After the Game

Yes, your favorite team getting W’s is important but if you follow this link to Give Me Sport HERE, you will see what is even more important.

How many pubs are in walking distance from the stadium.

Chelsea FC land in 6th way behind league leaders Newcastle with a tremendous 131!

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Some Dry Goods Too

Stanley’s Wet Goods is part of the Los Angeles trend towards fancy grocery shops that every cool neighborhood has to have.  SWG is on Venice a few short blocks off the confusing road patterns of downtown Culver City.

Big high ceilings houses what, to me, is a goodly sized wine selection.  There are tinned fish cans because this is also de rigeur in L.A. now.  A liquor selection that is better gin wise than bourbon and a smallish, kinda old look can collection for craft beer fans.

There is a nice sized bar area, inside and out and predominantly wine by the glass along with a food menu that is a little bigger than what I have seen at other shop and stop spots.

If you need a beer, draft is a better choice.  Only five options but two are Radiant Beer Co. which are always solid.  

The best option is the RTD cooler.  Lots of great options from Ventura Spirits and Death & Co.  and you could get a canned French 75 too.

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1st Visit – Paperback at the Exchange

The City of Glendale loves a shopping block that hides.  There are two on successive blocks on the main drag, Brand Boulevard. The Exchange is the older and the city has been trying to revitalize for a long time. The dark side of the building is partially pedestrian only and except for a stalwart coffee shop has had a flux of shops.

But now Paperback Brewing has arrived alongside a British Tea Shop and a live comedy venue.  Maybe? a corner has been turned.

The question is how to get people to the space because the space is cool.  Nothing extraordinary, just a typical retail rectangle but it has been decorated artfully well and there is plenty of seating.  It is a cool spot with a summarized selection of their overall portfolio that I encourage people to visit.  

Get a King Taco or In n Out and have a beer a food on a weeknight for date night.

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WW

I have given shout outs to San Diego Beer News and Brandon Hernandez a few times on this blog and have used his brewery travel guides to help when visiting a beer inundated part of the country and now he has a new guide up appropriate for hop season, Walla Walla.

One of my beer bucket list items, climate change permitting, is to visit that major hop growing area during harvest, and I will book mark the Walla Walla via San Diego page for sure.

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Pocock 2

Pocock Brewing up in the Santa Clarita Valley social media’d a rather big announcement.  They are opening a second location. Since I do not get out that way much, I will rely on the comments that the new location is Newhall but I will course correct if I learn that is not the case.  Whatever the location or the opening date is, congratulations to the Pocock team.

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CCBA 2024

I don’t generally plan too far out in the future. When I hear a movie or TV show will premiere in 2024, my first thought is tell me a couple months out.

But, I fully understand that mega planners operate differently from me, so here is your first California Craft Brewers Summit heads-up…..