Category: LA Craft Beer Events

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Cask Showdown

It won’t be a showdown with bloody knuckles at the end but rather a showdown with Bloody Knuckle as the base beer for some wild, cask beers.

And it all goes down at Smog City in Torrance on the 28th.

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Here is the info for the event and if you miss it, you’ll have to wait until March for the next one.  So get your calendars out.

“We’re going head to head in our inaugural Smog City Battle of the Cask!! Each member of our Smog City crew has designed their own cask recipe, yes, even Laurie and we need your help to determine a winner!

At Noon on Saturday, Dec 28th, we will be tapping all five at the same time in a. Who’s cask will win? It’s up to the fans to chose!

In honor of the holidays and the lovely chilly weather, all of the casks will be made using the Bloody Knuckle, our Robust Porter, as the base beer. “

Cask Line-Up
*Fruit and Maple Cask
Contains Dried Orange Cranberries and Maple Syrup

*Peanut Butter and Chocolate Cask
Contains Dried PB, Chocolate Powder and Cocoa Nibs

*Mint Chocolate Cask
Contains Chocolate Powder, Cocoa Nibs, Mint Oil and Vanilla Beans

*Toasted Coconut Cask
Contains Toasted Coconut and Vanilla Beanks

*5th- Raspberry chocolate sticks porter
Contains: Raspberry Purée, Freeze dried raspberries. Coco powder, Cocoa nibs, Vanilla beans

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Paso to Venice

Earlier this month, Firestone Walker pitched their plans for their Venice facility to the community.  (I did not attend because two days earlier I had visited both their Paso Robles and Buellton locations)

This is what they presented…..

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The reason why I brought up my visit to the other two locales is because they are classy spots.  Both lie off the 101 freeway but once you step inside it is a beer and food wonderland.  The open face turkey sandwich I had paired with a Tap Room IPA was excellent.  My only request would be that they leave the 805 beer up north.  Make that a beer that you can’t get here.  Brew us Angelenos a 310 and 213 beer.  (And for me an 818 beer)  A great Christmas present for me would be swift passage of their plans.

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Ninkasi in LA

I have talked about how happy I am that one of my favorite Oregon breweries, Ninkasi is in Los Angeles now and not just in Seasonal Sampler Packs.  I love the Oatis and Vanilla Oatis and I have a Sleigh’r in the ‘fridge awaiting the true Holiday ale season (AFTER Thanksgiving).

Further proof was a recent dinner that they held for the L.A. Beer Bloggers at the Library Alehouse.  I wasn’t able to attend but the intrepid Rich Rosen was there and sent back the photographic proof……

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Here is the menu: Squash meets Ninkasi

Total Domination IPA / Tricerahops Double IPA – Vegetable Curry Served in a Roasted Delicata Squash
Believer Double Red – Spice-Rubbed Chicken Roulade with Yam Puree
Sleigh’r Dark Double Alt Ale & Vanilla Oatis Oatmeal Stout – Pumpkin Panna Cotta w/ Chocolate Ganache and Oatmeal Cookie

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curry

If you haven’t had the food at Library Alehouse, it rivals the beer list is all I am going to tell you.

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A Later Black Friday

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There is no surfeit of craft beer events.  I try to keep up but it seems many slip through my grasp.  If you need a post Thanksgiving Pick-Me-Up the folks at the Factory Gastrobar can help because this Friday, November 29 is…
BLACK FRIDAY!!

“One of the greatest traditions in craft beer continues as black brews pour on every tap!!

But this year Black Friday is bigger and better–The Factory opens at noon!

So get your shopping in early and watch Facebook for the final legendary beer list!  We have already secured the services of Sierra Nevada Narwhal Imperial Stout, Almanac Smoked Chipotle Stout, Ohana Saison Noir and Beer Valley Black Madness!  The rest of the beer list is TBA–To Be Awesome!!!”

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LA IPA Fest

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I sauntered over to Mohawk Bend on Day 2 of the inaugural LA IPA Festival and was glad to see that all the beers sans the winner of the judging competition from Noble Ale Works was STILL on tap.  So many choices, here are my tasting notes from what I tasted along with my Yea or Nay vote….

Merry Taj from Lost Abbey
Strong bitterness. Hazy amber. Kind of muddy tasting. Some fruit punch straining in the back. Expecting more from this brewery. Nay.

The Pupil from Societe
Looks like lemonade. Wonderful aroma. Grapefruit pith. Super light. Big Time Yeah.  Love the lightness of this beer.

Fall IPA from Faction
Aroma is minimal. A bit harsh tasting. Earthy. Thumbs down. Not a good introduction to a new brewery. So, nay.

Flying Ace from Automatic
Smoked IPA?  Light in color. Some citrus in the nose.  Not very bitter. Another beer that I was expecting more from, nay.

Illusion from Refuge
Pours clear orange. Clove nose to it. Banana notes to it. Hops in the background.  Tastes better as it warms and is nicely balanced.  Yea to this and I hope to see more beers from Refuge in LA.

Sticky Fingers from The Brewery at Abigailes
Orange yellow in color. Foamy head. Great pepper melon aroma. Tinge of cat pee. Honeydew melon primarily. Treading a fine line but it works for me.  It doesn’t show from those notes but it was my favorite in a close tie with The Pupil.

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Happy Firestone Walker Anniversary @ Blue Palms

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Do you like Firestone Anniversary Beers?  Do you like Blue Palms?  Then read on…..

Firestone Anniversary 17 -Saturday November 23rd
2pm- VIP Flight Session
3pm- Open to public

Every year, we celebrate (GABF Mid Size Brewery of the Year) Firestone Walker’s anniversary release.

This year is no different-Saturday, November 23rd join us in celeBREWtion.

In addition to Firestone 17, we will be pouring an array of their award winning brews on tap.

***VIP Flight Session- At 2pm, we will be opening for a extremely limited VIP session and opening owner Brian’s personal bottles!
Flight pours of Firestone 11 through 16 (2 oz each) are $50
Plus you will get to chat with a *special guest* from the brewery about those rare and delicious anniversary beers

Tickets for the VIP session available HERE

At 3pm we will be open to the public for food and brews and Flights of Firestone 13 through 16 will be readily available for $18 (Four pours of 2.5oz each).

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Pugachev goes Royale

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Hangar 24 Craft Brewery and their brand new branding are back for round 2 of their Barrel-Aged Beer Festival this December 7th, from 11am-4pm at their Redlands based Brewery.

This is your chance to sample many, many beers from the Hangar’s extensive barrel-aging program including the infamous Pugachev’s Cobra. To sweeten the pot, a brand new entry in the Barrel Roll series will be introduced: the very limited Pugachev Royale.

This was a fun event last year.  It is a long drive (unless you live out in the IE) but a good sized but not huge crowd was spread through the getting bigger brewery complex. And even though some of the rarer beers went quickly there was no wont of good beer choices.

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Appreciating the Fans of Smog City

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Smog City wants to appreciate the people who appreciate them.  Take a read….

“This year, we were among 11 breweries in L.A. entered into L.A. Hotlist’s voting for Best Local Brewery. To win it took your support, it took your votes and it took GREAT BEER! Thanks to YOU we were voted BEST LOCAL BREWERY of 2013!!

So….When you win something, it’s only appropriate to celebrate with a party and thank our fans!

Please join us

Saturday, Nov 16th:

12-4pm for celebratory $1 samples and $3 beers”

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Who Do You Hop Love?

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Do you like voting on something other than politics than this Saturday the 16th at El Segundo Brewery, you get the chance to have your VOTE heard!  Here is the info…..

Whichever beer Wins.. We brew next. 

The competition will be in two parts.

The Vote
$3 for a 5 ounce pour of each brew.

Vote for your favorite. Each vote counts as 50 points

One vote per guest.

The Volume
Every Ounce we sell of each beer counts as one point. Pints, growlers, bottles, tasters. Everything counts. So make sure to support your favorite!

Pints AND Growler fills all day long.

Winner gets brewed December 2nd and will be available after Christmas.

For those of you less inclined for DIPAs..
Tap list will also include:

Casa Azul
Vanilla Hyperion’s Stout
Smoky Hollow Scotch Ale (no growlers)
Blue House Citra Pale