San Diego Beer Week starts on the 4th with a virtual toast then kicks into gear the next day with Brewers Guild festival. That is just the start. You can also peruse the calendar for the rest of the activities, right HERE.
SDBW 22
1st Visit – Walt’s Bar
Walt’s Bar has been on my to visit list for awhile now and despite it being literally one neighborhood over, I had not stepped inside until this year. Maybe because I am more of a sit down with a beer kinda guy and not a play pinball and drink guy.
For those of you who, like me, haven’t visited, and are curious about it, here are my impressions…
There are 10 pinball machines lined up against one wall and that is probably the best decoration outside the very 50’s diner green bar stools and red bar counter. The interior is quirky to say the least with formerly live stuffed animals, rotating hot dogs and with a big neon chicken on the wall. And it gets loud quickly if more than three machines are played.
But there is loads of outside seating to enjoy beers with friends. Speaking of, on my visit there were two Radiant beers, an IPA from There Does Not Exist,
Craftsman, Beachwood, Common Space and Highland Park as well as canned Hamms. Oddly, there were no beer names on the menu. Just brown ale, IPA or hoppy lager.
The vibe is a little hipster and the beer choices pale compared to nearby Talon or the Glendale Tap but I can totally see how people would enjoy it. Probably won’t order a hot dog though.
Cellador Update
Coming off of their anniversary party yesterday, here is your Cellador Ales update: Their current taproom in North Hills will run until just before Christmas, December 23rd to be exact.
They have a production space with “an (unnamed for now) LA Brewery, and plan to sublease space from them as our barrel warehouse.”
They are also on the hunt for a new taproom which may or may not be in the San Fernando valley lime they are now.
The more you know.
Experiential
Beachwood’s The Blendery is changing how you experience their Lambic-inspired beers plus learn more about them and their blending methods.
It is in a similar vein to the bourbon tours that I went on last month. Here are the details…
“Starting October 1st, we’re transitioning to a brand-new service program we’ve been working on to bring you a more personal, exciting, and dare we say geeky Blendery experience.
The Blendery will now operate as reservation-only with various packages that include curated beer flights of our latest releases, detailed tasting notes, charcuterie boards, and guided tours of our custom-designed barrel room.”
Instead of educating one customer at a time over a busy bar, this is a say to really showcase the beer.
Happiest Pint On Earth
If you have saved money for years and can afford a ticket to Disneyland and the churros then you should head to California Adventure because La Bodega Brewing has two beers pouring at that park.
And if you find other California breweries pouring, send some love their way too.
Bourbon & Kentucky – more photos
Anytime you travel, you have more photos than you know what to do with. For me, that means posting them here, there and everywhere. Here are more photos from the Kentucky Bourbon Trail…
Bourbon & Kentucky Report # 3
Tour time. Bourbon tours book in advance and many distilleries don’t really have walk-in policies. So before leaving, I plotted three tours that covered new, old and cocktails.
First was NuLu and Rabbit Hole…
…this is a really cool space with my favorite bourbons of the trip plus a barrel-aged gin that was great too. Our tour took us three levels up and allowed us to see fermenting beer as well. We got a cocktail at the beginning of the tour and a tasting at the end at their bar.
Right down the street was Old Forester. This was a well oiled tour. Disney-esque. You get quick history of the brand and a nice tasting at the end. Plus you get a barrel charring show too. This bourbon was good but I liked the chocolate from the tour better.
The next day at the Bardstown Bourbon campus that is at 14 rickhouses but going to 30! This tour was cocktails both shaken and stirred…
This was fun. Our tour took us to a special bar in a rickhouse. We got instructions to make a Bourbon Mule and an Old Fashioned. I learned which gear I need and how to use it. And we got a glass at the end.
When you plan a trip, I strongly suggest planning in advance and to choosing more than just a basic tour.
Sleek New Design
This month, All Season Brewing unveiled their 16oz label designs….
They don’t scream automotive but the names and design look very 60’s mod car design. I like the prominent top of can placement and color variations of the logo. Simple but cool. The award winning Bullitt green cans will look good in the refrigerator.
Pomona Now, Covina Later
Old time L.A. beer fans might remember Sanctum Brewing in Pomona, well that space is now the home of Neon Bear Brewery. The owner/brewmaster is Ryan Walton, who last worked at Last Name Brewing Co. They are now open and showing off neon signage because, for some strange reason, the City of Glendale’s Museum of Neon Art, has a storage facility not in Glendale. I digress, the brewery is now open and is on my to-visit list.
Coming later is Campsite Brewing settling in Covina and a planned opening date later this year. More info to come as they get closer to opening the taps on what should include a rauchbier or s’mores stout.
1st Visit – Orange County -Part 2
I have to admit that Monkish Brewing has not been on my radar for quite some time. Not due to quality or anything, they just blew up and getting in was simply harder to either avoid a can drop or big tap room crowds.
But the Anaheim location has been on my radar, and I finally checked out M2 recently and here is what I found….
The old Anaheim Brewing space seems way more garden like. Trees and shade on a hot day worked wonders. It is blocked off a bit but not so much that it is darkened. Way less space inside. Gotta say, better than the cramped Torrance brewery. Even though the seating is not what one would call comfortable.
If soft hops is your jam and you want to hit two breweries, Monkish and Unsung Brewing nearby would be a great 1-2 punch.