Category: Where to go…

bottle shops, pubs and breweries

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Brews Hall at Del Amo

A comedian and a sports pundit walk into a food hall. That is both set-up and the punch line as it appears, according to Eater LA, that George Lopez is enlarging his branded restaurants with the Brews Hall. With an assist from Colin Cowherd.

And there is a beer facet to the operation, “The first is Buzzrock Brewing Co., which will operate off of a four-vessel, 20-barrel on-site brewhouse, and the second is a sub-label called George Lopez’s To Loco Brewing Co. Brewmaster Justinian Caire, who hails from the famed Stone out of San Diego, is on to oversee the brewing.”

I will keep you updated on the progress.

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BLVD MRKT

As great as it is to have more and more breweries open, you also need more and more places selling beer open as well and a really cool Shipping Container food pod is in process in Montebello with both a beer component and a neighborhood calling.

The beer will come from Alchemy Craft Beer that will serve only beers from L.A. County (along with wine). Phat Birds (chicken), VCHOS (El Salvadoran food) are currently on board for this concept that aims to give a hand up through mentoring, equipped kitchens and capital help to vendors who just need some help to get forward with their food and drink.

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Smog City – West

Though it has been “soft” open, I waited for the GRAND opening to visit the newest location for Smog City Brewing. I never visited the space in its previous incarnation so it is completely brand new to me.

Once you find the sign for Smog City – West amongst the many in this big strip mall, well off Hawthorne Boulevard, the space is pretty small all told. A square space of bench seating at the window, a few table tops opposite the bar. Very much similar to the original brewery.

This will be focused, at least at first, on the Wood Cellar beers. They may even (eventually) do some brewing here on the little system left over from Zymurgy.

As it stands, I would probably hit the main brewery first when the Smog City mood strikes. It is not a super easy drive down Hawthorne to get here from the north, But those coming from the south may find this to be an excellent location to pick up a taster and then buy some of the fancy sours and saisons that are becoming their calling card.

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New to the Congregation

With a new lead brewer comes revamped recipes at the four location strong Congregation Ale House. Per a recent e-mail, “Along with our recently tapped Abbey Ale there are now 6 new beers”.

Interesting new beers to me are:

C+A DARK of the COVENANT – ” A fun new approach to this beer includes a European ale yeast strain and Bavarian Mandarina hops. The finished beer then rested additions of fresh vanilla beans, Ghanan cocoa nibs and sweet and bitter orange peels. Along with a new grain bill expect a full bodied light roast ale with a touch of citrus on the nose, silky mouthfeel and subtle cocoa finish!”

C+A SAISON AUTOMNE – “a variant of this style with holiday leaning flavors of the fall- bright honey crisp apples, black peppercorns, fresh sage, roasted chestnuts and a classic Saison yeast strain giving the nose enough funk to compliment all of the above!”

C+A SOLA SERIES- Chinook American Single Hop IPA – “This new launch from C+A is an experimental series in different styles using single hop expressions. Brewer Bjørn Gjesdal created this light-bodied IPA with ample Chinook hops introduced at different stages of the boil, dry-hopped during fermentation and abundantly double dry-hopped in secondary…”

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Sylmar’s The Bottle Shoppe

I have seen posts about the Bottle Shoppe for a few weeks now and when I found myself with some free time on a recent Saturday, I decided to run up the 5 to Sylmar to check this beer retailer out. First off, yeah for parking! Even if the small lot had been full, there was plenty of street parking around. Secondly, it is a “not easy to miss” piece of architecture with a ski lodge look to it leads to well-appointed little “shoppe”.

The Bottle Shoppe leads with 4-packs. Bottles play a small role here. There is one cooler with singles with impressive amounts of Alvarado Street, Moonraker and others. You won’t have a hard time finding a hazy or a Bruery pastry canned pastry stout. You can find San Fernando and 8One8 as well but other local L.A. beers are absent for the most part. My gold standard is Sunset Beer and while they may not have some of the Central Coast hazies, their bench is deeper. But if you are heading north and need to bring stellar beer to the party, The Bottle Shoppe will make you look good.

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BSP at Universal Studios

Last February, the much better half gifted me a trip to Universal Studios Hollywood (actually Studio City / Burbank). And of course, I have to write about the beer that I found. Let me wave my Hogwarts wand……

I have to say that the Hogsmeade re-creation is quite impressive. All the set decoration and the forced perspective of the castle is really well done. The Hogs Head is a great place to get out of the California sun and relax as if you were in Westworld the Harry Potter version. I went with the pumpkin juice instead of the English/Irish beers on tap. Probably a mistake, it was sickly sweet. A pumpkin tinged apple juice with lactose.

I wish there was a “fishy green ale”, would have ordered that in a second. There was great beer signage to be found, including a Brews & Stews sign as well as a big cart drive faux keg of butterbeer. Just be sure to have your drink AFTER the ride. Your stomach will turn enough without beer inside.

Next it was on to the Duff Beer Garden, complete with taco truck from the Bumble Bee Man. Just like a proper brewery. Moe’s Tavern was across the street and you could get Duff, Duff Dry, Duff Lite and Dufftoberfest. Also Angel City IPA. I went for the fest bier and it did the trick. The price of $12+ is basically factoring in the photo opportunities and the chance to say “Give me a Dufftoberfest” out loud.

I also found a nice beer selection amidst the tiki drinks outside the revamped Jurassic World attraction. You could get Red Stripe and Carib Premium lager on draft. In a clear, tiki adorned plastic glass. It was perfect after being semi-drenched on the ride and to people watch those ordering frozen cocktails.

OVERALL – The alcohol selection is quite well done. Thought has been put into it to make sure that not only the various lands look right and transport you to Hogwarts or Springfield or Isla Nubar but that the drinks don’t bring you out and in fact enhance the visit. I just wish they had a Duff Beer Garden pass, I like the Duff dwarves.

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WBC in the Poet Gardens

Waaaay back in January of this year, I wrote a post about the Whittier Brewing Co. and their role in a new venture from Ricardo Diaz.

Apparently, after a couple years, it is looking like a Fall open for food hall / brewery. LA Taco has a nice piece on the set-up including a paragraph on the beer line-up, “Greenleaf Pale Ale, WBC’s flagship beer ….Other beers we can expect to see in WBC’s lineup include a Belgian saison, a Belgian continental style pale ale, a Double IPA, a witbier, and a seasonal beer such as porter.”

Expect a 1st visit review later this year.

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G2

Looks like an Costa Mesa based Gunwhale is branching out. The new location is Orangewood, close to Angel Stadium and technically in Orange.  They are planning on using a shipping container and have food and 9K of brewing square feet.  Plus they are across from El Camino Real Park.