Indie Brewing will be doing their 2nd Anniversary thing with TWO very special beers being tapped. The first beer is a throwback as their, Superfood Saison will return (and in cans no less.) Also their newest New England Style double IPA, Sophomoric Juice will be available on draft (growler fills available). Special pecial glassware available only in the tasting room as well as “3 food vendors, 2 bands and a DJ, and a pop up market with everything from pins to hot sauce.”
L.A. 1 A.W.
It may seem that all I write about at times is to post about an upcoming anniversary party for a brewery. Such is the life when breweries come hot and heavy over a short 8 year period.
Next up is in Hawthorne where L.A. Ale Works will be hitting the 1st year mark in early February….
Recap – DTLA United 2018
I made a late decision to attend the DTLA United event last Sunday and I am glad I did because my two favorite beers were from a DTLA brewery that has been hit or miss in the past,
that brewery being Boomtown. But their brand new Ignorant NE DIPA has excellent label art and is really good (though I am still partial to Mic Czech). I also tried their Little Shady Dark Lager and it was top notch too. The malt really got to shine.
Sour wise both the Mumford Something Borrowed Sour IPA and the Dry River F1 were excellent. My second and third favorites whose beers I now expect to be good or the very least unique.
The only down beer of the few I tasted was from Arts District, my now perennial back of the pack of the DTLA group. I had Nigel, which the placard said was hazy but Untappd claims is a Mild. The beer I had was neither. Maybe by that point the heat had gotten to me. Despite the rain earlier in the week, this event seems to always be bathed in penetrating sun. The good idea to have special barleywine tappings is great on paper but I could not bring myself to taste even one over 10% bruiser.
The event has expanded it’s footprint to include the mini Street between the Triangle and Angel City which allowed for elbow room and a bit more seating but misting stations or pop-up tents were sorely in need to keep the sun at bay. I certainly would have stayed longer with a tent to shade me.
The format of this event works for me though I think it might also work to sell flights in a separate area. One from each brewery and the barleywine for say $15 because with each brewery bringing only two beers, it is a quick festival with only 7 breweries pouring, that is 14 beers in small doses minus any you may have already imbibed before.
Melting
El Segundo is melting down. The upcoming release of their very, very burly TIPA Power Plant will kick off on Day 0 at the brewery. Then the rest of us from Ventura to San Diego will be part of the blast radius the next day for their traditional Day 1 release.
Here is the latest info on what will be pouring…
Power Plant Triple IPA
Nuclear Power Plant Triple IPA
Cerveza Fresca – Guava – NE IPA
Electric Jungle Juice – Hybrid IPA
Spark Plug – small hoppy beer from Power Plant second runnings
…and certainly a few casks and variants we are currently still dreaming up!
Recap – Transplants Brewing Anniversary 2018
I made a (finally) second visit up north to Transplants Brewing to join in the festivities for their anniversary bash.
And I was surprised at the width and breadth of beers on offer (32 all told) as well as the growth in the brewing as well. I sampled 8 beers from the list and was impressed by all save one that was probably just too green (The Bible Salesman). I really liked the Mecha Pronghorn that was recommended to me by a certain beer Provocateur that was one of many beers aged in Koval barrels. The Imperial Stout had loads of chocolate taste to it and was very smooth.
I also tasted my first pastry stout with a great name of Cut & Pastry. It certainly did have a doughy sort of taste to it and though not my favorite was certainly well executed. IPA wise I tasted CatBirD which was brewed with Hop Hash and Hemp CBD, it tasted very nice with a near NE hazyness to it. Fringe Element was a bit strong for an “IPA for Everybody” but I liked the taste of it and it paled to the two over 10% Triple IPA’s on offer. Going back to the dark side, the Ultra Double Filbert was probably my second favorite after Mecha. Both big beers aged in Koval Bourbon barrels, the UDF being a brown ale.
And while the artwork is still a little too weird for me, I can see how as a portfolio it is all tying together into a cohesive whole and really tells the story of this Palmdale brewery.
Hopefully, it won’t be another two years before I return.
Booming Today
If you are a fan of the large Boomtown Brewing mural in DTLA is releasing a new IPA with a label designed by the same artist.
Starting at 7:00pm the artist Fuzi (whose mural adorns the outside wall of the brewery) and head brewer Samuel “Chewy” Chewinga will be present as Boomtown Brewery hosts a celebration in honor of the release. DJ Jack Tompkins will be spinning all night and food will be supplied by CA Burger Shop. The event is completely free.
Ignorant is a Double IPA that clocks in at a robust 8.4% ABV, has a hazy golden color, and is packed with Galaxy and Mosaic hops. It features flavors of mango, tropical fruit, grapefruit, and is balanced by other bright citrus. Cans will be available starting at 12:00pm (until they sell out) and are $18 for a four-pack.
e8
Eagle Rock Brewery is one of the standard bearers of the L.A. beer scene and they are now turning 8 and celebrating in hazy style!
Here are the initial plans for that day….
“And you’re invited to the party! Since we’re considered “so old-school” now in the exploding beer community in LA, we’re gonna celebrate with an old-school luau from 12p-6p on Sunday January 28, 2018. We’ll be serving up a whole roasted pig, offering a bunch of super-special beers on draft, AND releasing our 8-year anniversary beer! Juice Pop (hazy double IPA) will be released on draft and available in 4-packs of 16oz cans that day.”
L.A. Beer & Food – Take 2
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/la-beer-food-festival-2018-tickets-41576281778?aff=efbeventtix
Returning to the Mack Sennett Studios is the second take of the L.A. Beer & Food Festival.Presented by the Los Angeles County Brewers Guild Saturday, January 27, 2018.
There will be 50 independently-owned craft brewers in Silver Lake that day with tastings of over 100 beers and for the second part of the title, complimentary bites too.
Here are the admission details:
General Admission – $60.00 (3pm-6pm) includes:
-keepsake tasting glassware
–craft beer tastings
-complimentary bites from local restaurants (while supplies last)
-educational panels and entertainment
VIP – $75.00 (2pm-6pm) Admission includes:
-all of the above
-Early entrance at 2pm
United 2018
1st Anniversary – Verdugo West
I think a need a bigger spreadsheet to chart the L.A. area anniversary dates. They keep coming at a rapid fire pace. Here is another to add, Verdugo West.
Part of the 2017 Burbank brewing boom, they will be hitting the one year mark with a 1st Anniversary beer and growler fill specials on January 13th.