Category: LA Craft Beer Events

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Back to School


Readers of this humble blog will know that I am a champion of Craft Beer Education. I always learn from these events. And I think they are vital to getting more and more people into our little world of craft beer. And here is another opportunity to take notes….
“Leave the Cliff’s Notes at home: Beer Champion Paige Reilly (Zagat’s 30 under 30), the mastermind behind the taps at Tony’s Darts Away and Mohawk, will be eschewing September’s usual textbooks and tests for pint glasses and hops at Mohawk Bend’s “Back to School” Beer Class Series. The hour-long classes will be held on Monday, September 10th and 17th, and will conclude with a “graduation” dinner on September 24th.”

Here are the details:
Registration is open now through August 31st, with a 30-student cap on each class. Please see below for additional information, and let me know if you have any questions.

September 10, 2012 – 7pm
Lesson 1: Beer Fundamentals & Process
Introduction to ingredients, what makes beer taste different, and how it is made. Approx. 8 beers tasted during the class to help explain.
$20 per person

September 17, 2012– 7pm
Lesson 2: California Beers, Styles & Breweries
The class will focus on what makes California beers so great and some of the leading craft breweries in Southern California. There will be 6-8 beers tasted during this class as well.
$20 per person

September 24, 2012– 7pm
Graduation Dinner
Chef Mike will be pairing a three course meal with five beers that Paige has selected from a So Cal Brewery with the guest brewer in attendance (TBD) for the graduation dinner.
$30 per person

All three classes can be purchased together for $60 total or individually as listed above. Please call Mohawk Bend at 213.483.2337 to grab a spot!

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These are the Beers You are Looking For

Many a day I wish that Pizza Port was closer than San Clemente. Luckily L.A. gets the occasional beer and Blue Palms has done Pizza Port Tap Takeovers. But I think I may need to check out this special event in a Galaxy, far, far away…

The names are great and thankfully avoid the crappy prequels altogether though I don’t know if I could stride up to the bar and ask for a Bantha Poodoo.

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another Stone anniversary!


“Stone Brewing Co. may be celebrating its sweet 16 this year, but true fans know that the brewery’s aggressively-flavored bitter ales are anything but sweet. To commemorate the happy (hoppy?) day, Stone is releasing Stone 16th Anniversary IPA on August 13, and will hold its annual 16th Anniversary Celebration & Invitational Beer Festival August 17 and 18. One hundred percent of the profits from the festival will be donated to local charities including: Boys & Girls Club of San Marcos, Fight ALD, Palomar Family YMCA, and Surfrider Foundation.

The two-day event begins Friday, August 17 with the Brewers Reception held on the grounds of California State University San Marcos (CSUSM). The $75 ticket price includes a commemorative glass, tastings of special beers, meet and greet with the world-class brewers featured at the festival, and complimentary gourmet fare and live music. The Stone 16th Anniversary Celebration & Invitational Beer Festival is also held at CSUSM and tickets are $40 per person, per session – Session A is 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Session B is 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. The Festival features more than 40 breweries and 100 beers, as well as the infamous Arrogant Bastard Ale onion rings, complimentary homebrewed sodas, and samples of Mike’s Beer Cheese. Ticket holders will receive a commemorative tasting glass with 10 four-ounce samples. All Access Pass/Rare Beer Section tickets have already sold out.”

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City Tavern + Beachwood Brewing =


City Tavern’s Beachwood Brewing & BBQ food & beer pairings – Friday, July 20th, 4:30pm-close

Here is the menu for tommorow night’s event:

Ahi and plum salad with Persian cucumber and lemon mustard vinaigrette ($13)
o Suggested pairing with Mandarin Dream
Potted Duck Confit with crisps ($9)
o Suggested pairing with Knucklehead Red
Light Sabers (Corn Dogs) with Hop Vader Pub Cheese ($10)
o Suggested pairing with Hop Vader Black IPA
System of a Stout Milkshakes with Udder Love backs ($9)
· Foam Top Popsicles ($3)

I would go just for the desserts. I have made my own popsicles but the award winning Foam Top is a great choice to make a frosty treat with. This is the 2nd to last Beachwood 1st year event so if you have been procrastinating despite the fact that I have warned you with many posts about it then get moving to City Tavern or Beer Belly on Sunday!

Prices per beverage vary, and more than 10 flavors from Beachwood will be available.

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Beer Advisory

Earlier this year the Four Points at Sheraton LAX hosted a writing contest to gain a seat on the Beer Advisory Board for what is called the Beer Hotel.

And I am now on this board! So I will be able to advance both the cause of craft beer in L.A. but I will also hopefully be able to impress those visitors to Los Angeles who make their way to the hotel about how our scene is evolving.

More on this and the other members of the board in August. But for now there is an event you can go to, tomorrow night
“Wine Warehouse’s Larry James is hosting a Belgian Beer Tasting along with his famous Texas BBQ poolside. Enjoy the Beer Tasting for $30. Plates of BBQ $15. Parking is free.”

Here is the beer list:
Bavik Pils (draft)
Petrus Aged Pale Ale (draft)
Silly Scotch Ale (Btl)
Piraat (draft)
Gulden Draak (draft)
Troubadour Magma (Simcoe dry hop) (Btl)

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Beer (and Cocktails) for the People


One sure fire way to appreciate our favorite malty beverage more is to check out what the world of wine and spirits are doing. I have already highlighted the Beer vs. Wine annual showdown at Ladyface because I believe that beer people are not alone in crafting high quality drinks. But if you just can’t go without craft beer then how about the new-ish world of beer cocktails? Clear space on the 25th in your calendars.

“Come join Eagle Rock Brewery at Kings Row Gastropub in Pasadena for an evening of beer-infused tiki cocktails, masterminded by 1886’s Brady Weise.

Which beers will be used?? Well, your favorite Eagle Rock Brewery beers, of course! (Shhh… but there may even be some super special beer that we’ll tap a barrel for…) It’s a proper summer tiki party so be sure to come dressed in your best Hawaiian shirt (or hell, a grass skirt and coconuts if you’d prefer) because it may win you a fabulous prize!

The cost for 4 amazing beer-infused tiki drinks (complete with sidecars of the beer that’s in it) is just $15. But be sure to RSVP because space is limited. All you have to do is email james@kingsrowpub.com or call 626.793.3010 to reserve a spot.”

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3rd Annual Craft Beer Crawl


Here is your early warning to get your tickets for the Downtown L.A. Craft Beer Crawl!

Here is the info….
“The beer festival so nice, we’re doing it thrice! The 3rd Annual Los Angeles Craft Beer Crawl is happening again this year on Sat. August 18th. Again, we will showcase and celebrate all things craft beer in lively and vibrant historic downtown Los Angeles.

Taste as many samples of over 70 delicious craft beers across 7 different unique venues all within easy walking distance of each other (7 Grand, Golden Gopher, Las Perlas, Cana Rum Bar, Cole’s French Dip, Broadway Bar & Casey’s Irish Pub) We Beer Chicks are curating the beer and are collaborating on this event with Cedd Moses & 213 Ventures that will feature some of the top Craft and Artisanal Brewers in the country!

We’ve also added some awesome and fun specialty beer tasting sessions. We Beer Chicks will be hosting a session on our favorite beers of the crawl, then we’ll be doing a Scotch and craft beer pairing with Highland Park Brand Ambassador Martin Daraz. Beer Expert Tomm Carroll will be doing a special tasting highlighting Italian beers and the amazing craft beer revolution happening in Italy. And, last but not least, David “The Gueuzehound” Watrous will lead a class through a puckering selection of highly sought after sour beer.

A portion of the proceeds will go to Heal the Bay. an organization dedicated to making Southern California waters healthy, safe, and clean.”

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Let the Voting Begin…


I love these beer vs. wine competitions. Not because craft beer usually wins, though that is nice but because it gives both sides a chance to enjoy the other side of life and gain converts. Here is your chance to appreciate some wine and see the effects of wine on a great beer too.

But first the backstory and the scoop on what is going down in Agoura Hills, “It all started when someone suggested putting Ladyface beer in Malibu Family Wines’ barrels…

Ladyface triumphed in the 2011 Battle of the Barrel, but Malibu Family Wines was determined to win the war. The local estate winery presented their 2009 Semler Merlot for the challenge. Ladyface responded by creating Beffroi, aging their Picture City Porter in those same Semler Merlot barrels.

With neither side conceding, the final verdict is again being left up to retail consumers. From July 14th to July 24th, guests at both establishments will be able to purchase sample tasters of Malibu Family Wines’ Semler Estate Grown 2009 Merlot and Ladyface Ale Companie’s Merlot barrel-aged Beffroi and cast their votes.

The winner will be announced at the Battle of the Barrel Finale on Tuesday, July 24th from 5:00-7:00pm at Ladyface Alehouse & Brasserie. You must be 21 or over to cast a ballot. There’ll be music, voting and, no doubt, a lot of last-minute campaigning by both sides. Reserve now; ONLY 150 tickets available for the party!

Samples of both the wine and beer as well as ballots* will be available July 14-24th during normal business hours at both locations. “Vote early and vote often!”

*Ballots at the Finale Party will be $15 and includes entry to the party, one ballot, a sample of each beverage, plus one full pour of your choice. Ballots all other days will be $5 (sample tastes only).”

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Craft Beer and Fast Cars

Cars and beer do not mix. Unless you are just watching the cars from the comfort of a bar stool or inside a beer tent. And if you missed your chance to try local craft beer producers at Rock and Brews last month then here is another chance…..

“BEER FESTIVAL in a HUGE TENT ON THE STREET in front of The Factory Gastrobar at 4020 Atlantic Avenue at Carson Blvd. in Bixby Knolls

24+ LOCAL MICROBREWERIES:

Monkish Brewing
Bear Republic Brewery
Iron Fist Brewing
Strand Brewing
Lagunitas Brewing
Anaheim Brewing
Ballast Point Brewery
Cismontane Brewing
Eagle Rock Brewery
Bootlegger’s Brewery
Drake’s
Hangar 24 … plus many more!!!!

PURCHASE TICKETS AT THE BEER FESTIVAL … DAY OF THE EVENT. Credit cards accepted / Cash preferred

BEER FEST TICKETS: $15 Per Person which includes Tasting Glass and Four 5oz tasters
Additional tasters available for purchase.

The Factory Gastrobar will be OPEN from 1pm – Midnight for regular business, both inside and on the patio. We will be serving-up an awesome menu + 9 craft beers inside … NO COVER, festival beer tickets not accepted inside the restaurant

BIXBY KNOLLS DRAGSTER EXPO & CAR SHOW is FREE … check out over 250 cars, BMX demonstrations and more!!!