New in Oregon

The New School Beer Blog has posted up their list of anticipated breweries for Oregon. Check out their round-up HERE.

Mecca Grade is my #1 on the list. Their malt has been used in many a Brouwerij West beer so it will be interesting to see how often they will showcase other breweries that use their malt alongside their beers. Notable that Mikkeller will finally open in Portland as well. I am already charting how to get to some of these spots when I am next in Portland.

Rincon Reservations

Harrahs and The Rincon Band of Luiseño Indians have re-branded their beer concept as the new Rincon Reservation Road Brewery. Formerly SR76 BeerWorks, RRRB will have four core beers, a new food menu and updated interior.

I am on guard when I hear the words “concept” and “re-tooled” and I do not hear how the area’s resources and community are being folded into the recipes and mission, so I will keep an eye on the developments.

Beer & Bible

Whatever your stand on having a beer after mass, you have to admit that the Cathedral of Our Lady in Antwerp has some serious design savvy. The modular bar looks both modern and church-like. Just looking at the photo you would know that. Add in that the space can be booked for private events, that they have two special church only beers (Aurore blond and Memento dark), and is open during the cathredals normal operating hours and you have a really cool space to drink and discuss weighty topics of the day.

Monk List

If you thought the world of Belgian beer was easy to peg, well, You have to look for more than just the Trappist seal. Jeff at the Beervana Blog has compiled a helpful list that I know I will check back to in 2020.

Look at the rundown, right HERE.

Ale in the Ivy

Los Angeles Ale Works is getting a 2nd tap room location and it is in the “in the works” Ivy Station development that will be the new home of HBO amongst other shoppes and eateries. The location will have 24 taps, a patio to enjoy your beer on, and takeaway sales if you do not like patios. Expect last half of 2020 for this to open.

Farmer’s Market Tavern

A nice quiet and underrated spot to have beer is the classic Farmer’s Market on Fairfax Avenue. Bar 326 and E.B.’s Beer & Wine pour a good mix of beers so you can go touristy and show off some local beers.

Beer will get a British twist as a new British pub will open next year by the name of Market Tavern. Premier League on the TV and a curated beer list which hopefully will have a cask engine and some ESB ready.

November 16th

That date sees a pile-up of anniversaries to choose from…

Highpoint Brewing in San Dimas turns

Lincoln Beer Co. in Burbank and Brewery Draconum in Newhall achieve the 2 year mark.

And the longest runner is Alosta Brewing out in Covina who celebrate # 6.

1st Visit – Alamo Drafthouse

It has been open a while now but with a weekend in DTLA planned, I waited to try out the Alamo Drafthouse until a few days ago. Here is the re-cap…(with a bit of movie review thrown in)

Tucked into the back top right corner of the Bloc complex, the Drafthouse is not easily seen from 7th Street. Inside you have the typical ticket counter albeit not the huge but understaffed kind at your local multi-plex. To the right is where the fun is. The Video Vortex is part free video store and pre-show meet-up / hang-out space and the beer board is quite expansive and unlike other non-bar spots, they have made an effort to have both local and nationwide beers. And they have helped out educationally by separating them out on the menu board.

Now you can order here but if you are pressed for time. Ride the escalator up to the auditoriums and place your order there. The wait staff were helpful especially since many in our viewing of The Parasite were newbies to the Alamo. Place an order before the show or use their pencil and paper old-timey method to get a refill during the movie. Their was even a special Boomtown beer just for the movie, Bong Joon Hops named after the director.

The movie itself was very engrossing and just when you think you had it figured out, the plot would zig to the left and then zag to the right. It was hard at times to watch and funny as well but it certainly was making a commentary on the relationships of both class and families. And the twists are sharp.