Temecula is coming to Eagle Rock in the form of Relentless Brewing that posted this signage on their social media….
The space will also house a distillery both of which should find ready taps and bars on the busy stretch of Colorado Boulevard.
Refurbished TAPS
TAPS in Brea took some time to refresh the look of their brewery/restaurant and this last weekend, I checked out the reset with a focus (obviously) on the beers and beer service.
There is big news coming from the multiple outlet brewery. First, within a month or two a brewery and tap room will be operational in Tustin. With room for production. Kegging and bottling. 16 Beers on tap. And it will have their own TAPS food truck.
As founder Joe Manzello explained, it will be the “Anti-TAPS”. They will barrel age much more with 450 barrels to start. Two barreled beers will be on tap. Fire pits, cornhole and other activities will be around. Anti-TAPS.
They will make Corona the R&D hub and the brewing system in Brea, well, that is done.
Of the four current beers that were sampled at a media event recently, lighter offerings like Hiya and Das Booze were my favorites. The first with Sake yeast had a lovely light pear touch to it. DB was really nice and crisp.
Look for TAPS to be coming out of the shadows of Orange County. They have some good brewing talent and now the facility to crow about.
ESBC Pints & Pizza
El Segundo Brewing is opening a second location but it won’t be too far and the focus will be on pizza (with IPA of course). The new spot in El Segundo will be called The Slice and Pint.
Pizza specialist Noel Brohner will handle the slice side of the brewpub business and though no beer will be brewed on site, it will still be really, really local and most certainly hoppy.
If you have set your timer, The Slice and Pint is expected something mid-to-late summer at 130 West Grand Avenue.
Zlatan goes to Kona
If I were the L.A. Galaxy, no need to have a beer sponsor, just package your beer as ZlatanAle and it will sell.
That being said, the original L.A. MLS team has teamed with the Kona Brewing Company making the brewery with both mainland and island operations the official craft beer of the LA Galaxy.
As part of the pairing there will be a new “Kona Lanai” bar at StubHub Center in Carson serving Big Wave Golden Ale, Longboard Island Lager and Hanalei Island IPA (the only one of the three that I have not tasted) plus taps of seasonal beers.
Sounds fine by me, though I am not really the target market since the beer pricing is so astronomical that I would much rather pre or post drink at the nearby Phantom Carriage.
1st Visit – Hollingshead Deli
It is amazing that it took me this long to visit Hollingshead Deli in Orange.
The deli is tucked into a long strip of not-mini mall on Main Street. Inside you might possibly notice that they favor a certain team from the National Football League. You can either take a Lambeau Leap to the counter for a sandwich, the back well for a stool and a peek at the tap list or to the right to find yourself some to-go options.
The tap list was well curated on the day of my visit. An eclectic mix of beers from locals to state to foreign. I ordered up a new (to me) IPA from Docent Brewing and really liked the beer though I had to say that getting it in large German Mas was not expected in the least. I also bought a four pack of the Unsung Brewing Chocolate Snowball since they do not distribute up in L.A.
If Mario’s Deli in Glendale added #independent beers, I would be there a lot. So it should come as no surprise that I am thinking of a return trip to Hollingshead.
#FWIBF18 – The Breweries
Firestone Walker chose April Fool’s Day to announce their brewery line-up for their 2018 Invitational Beer Fest and SURPRISE!, the list is great…
For those lucky enough to snare tickets to this sought after event, here are my recommendations of booths to visit….
Fonta Flora was my favorite last year and got a lot of positive press, so hit them up early. New this year are Jack’s Abby from the East Coast and there beers will be perfect for the summer sun of Paso Robles.
WeldWerks had a hella’ long line at the Beer Advocate fest so I would head to another newcomer, Oxbow instead.
The foreign tent has some big names. Thornbridge being the one that I would run to. (Oh how I love to watch the beer snobs run) Also hit Beavertown and Garage Project before their lines grow.
Lastly The Rare Barrel and Sante Adairius should be on your must visit list for at least one beer.
The Bluebird is Flying
I still have not checked out the British themed Stalking Horse from the Artisanal Brewers Collective (ABC) and now they are introducing a Belgian addition to the family.
Bluebird Brasserie will open in Sherman Oakson April 2, 2018. This Belgian pub will have “beer brewed on site, themed cocktails, and a traditional menu featuring delicacies like Beer Cheese Croquettes, Moules-Frites and Liege Waffles for dessert.”
Noah Regnery will be concocting the “house beers” “while the remainder of the tap list will be replete with 10 taps of Belgian-style beers from known breweries such as The Lost Abbey, The Bruery, Allagash, Ommegang and more. A curated bottle list rounds out the beer menu with Belgian offerings such as Duvel, St. Bernardus 12, Deus, as well as some Trappist beers such as Orval, Chimay Red and Westmalle Tripel.”
But plan ahead because this new Pub/Brasserie will have limited reservations and allow in limited walk-ins for dinner only for the first two weeks of opening- starting at 5pm. Once that phase is complete they will be open from 12:00pm-12:00am on Sunday-Wednesday, and 12:00pm-2:00am on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
Angeleno Wine Company
First a park, then a restaurant, then a brewery and now, logically, a winery. Angeleno Wine Company is joining the Majordomo, Highland Park Brewery and the Los Angeles Historic Park. Returning wine to its past roots in the city.
Here are three of the wines that caught my eye that you will be able to try when they open later this year:
Alonso Family Vineyard Tannat
“Of all the magic that is the Alonso Family Vineyard, the crown jewel is the Tannat. Tannat is a grape that originates from the Southwest of France, areas like Irouléuy and Madiran, where it typically makes a rough tannic wine that can sometimes take years to mellow out. However, here in north Los Angeles County, the terroir is such that the wines come out softened, delicate and elegant and a nose that is vibrant with herbs and red berry fruit.”
Rio Del Mar Vineyard Pinot Noir
“Just east of Santa Cruz, pressed up next to Highway 1 and 3/4 of a mile from the coast, lies Rob Marani’s Rio Del Mar Vineyard. Just under 5 acres in size this is one of the closest, if not the closest vineyard to the coast in California. Planted to 100% Pinot Noir, the wine from this vineyard is cloaked with aromas of spice and brush. It is super velvety on the palate and thanks to the cool climate has plenty of acid to give it structure and life.”
Bike Path
“Made from 100% Los Angeles County fruit grown in Agua Dulce at the amazing Alonso Family Vineyard, Bike Path is a mellow, thirst quenching, silky red blend of Tempranillo and Garnacha.”
1st Visit – HPB Chinatown
Highland Park Brewing snuck in their Chinatown branch opening into the weekend of March 10th.
I snuck in on weekend # 2 and boy do I like it.
The location is across the street from the Historic State Park with its walking trails where you can watch the Gold Line trains heading into Union Station one way and Pasadena the other.
There is outdoor seating, barstools, tables and tall tables. There is even a dedicated cans, bottles and crowler order area. The inside is bright with light (almost opposite the dark interior of the Hermosillo). The long empty former warehouse has a sloping bar on one end and bright red tile. Everything is just light and open.
There is a short but fun little food menu so you can drink and eat right next to the tanks that are making the beer. So far, Good Smooth DIPA, 90 Hour Weeks Hoppy Pils and Four Pillars IPA have been brewed at the new place with Timbo Pils on the way.
This is just the type of place that I like and I am sure it will become very popular.
Gimme Shelter
Looks like the Mammoth area is getting a little more spirited. With not only a distillery but a brewery in the village (that I still have to visit, TL:BL too long:bucket list) going under the moniker of Shelter.
You can read more about their gins, brandy and beer here in the L.A. Times AND HERE at their website.