A craft beer institution (that I wrote about in the August Beer Paper), The Glendale Tap has an anniversary coming up fast….
….better alter your plans to have a Friday night pint in my ‘hood.
GT11
Ink is Dry
Inkwell Tavern is in a space that has turned over a few times now on San Fernando Boulevard blocks before downtown Burbank proper but I hope this one lasts a little longer especially if the cocktails themselves are as good as the literary names. And it is a good long list of cocktails too. Oh, and they do have a decent+ craft beer list too.
Three Weavers x 3 = 9
Three Weavers is hitting their 9th Anniversary on November 4th and they have laid out how they brewed Time is a Flat Circle which is a double dry-hopped Cold IPA.
“To even call it “double dry-hopped” seems a bit of an understatement because our brewers have added ridiculous amounts of hops during the following processes…
1. Mash
2. First runnings
3. Bittering
4. Flavor
5. Knock out
6. Whirlpool
7. Dry-hop 1
8. Dry-hop 2 (we’re at this step today)
…And you might ask yourself, “Gee, that sounds fun but *which* hops did they use?” Welllllll…
1. Simcoe Cryo
2. Strata
3. Citra
4. Idaho Gem
5. Mosaic Cryo
6. Citra
7. Chinook
8. Cryo Pop”
1st Visit – Creature Comforts LA
I am still scratching my head as to when it was first reported that Georgia based Creature Comforts Brewing was going to plant an outpost in Los Angeles, but it has been years.
I moseyed down to their San Julian and 12th address to see what the space and beers look like…
…and it is a really cool space. The Russo Brothers Motion Picture Universe is above them and they have two floors of space for brewing and canning.
The block also includes a coffee shop, a pizza place and the fancy Rossoblu restaurant as well plus it is super near the hustle and bustle of Santee Alley which is an L.A. institution.
I had four beers from different sections of the menu. A double dry hopped version of their flagship IPA, Tropicalia. Bibo pilsner as well as their sour Neon Cylinders, a rotating version, this time Rowdy Red which was 8% but tasted like 4%.
My favorite was the last. Just filled with cranberry and super tasty but within months, we will start to see Los Angeles brewed beer and that will require a second visit.
ISM on the Promenade
For 12 years, the Beachwood Brewing hub was in Long Beach on promenade. Now they are taking leave of that location and re-allocating, as it were over their other spots across South L.A. and Orange County.
From their recent social media posting, “This sale will allow us to move our specialty beer production to our Huntington Beach facility – so all the variety you’ve come to enjoy from Beachwood isn’t going away. With a growing footprint in Long Beach and Orange County, a newly launched distillery with artisanal spirits, and expanded beer production, we are committed to the same ethos we started with 12 years ago ”
Don’t fret though. Former Beachwood and Riip brewer – Ian McCall will bring his eponymous brewery (ISM) and his medals to the space which is quite exciting. A real win-win.
Beachwood – Long Beach’s last week will be October 23-October 29.
Encino9
Hand-Brewed Beer is cruising towards their 9th anniversary and are throwing the traditional party along with special brew for the occasion, an Encino DIPA for the community.
CiderCon 2024
The American Cider Association has settled on the location and dates for CiderCon®2024. It will take place in Portland, Oregon from January 16-19, 2024. It is the cider event of the year with “more than 1000 attendees to the city and surrounding areas for tours, tastings, educational workshops, networking opportunities, a trade show and more.”
As a bonus, the conference “coincides with Oregon Cider Week (January 13-21, 2024), a statewide celebration of cider, featuring events for both aficionados and the cider-curious, hosted by the Northwest Cider Association (NWCA).”
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.
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.
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….
