“Does 38 Degrees get better with age? We like to think so! Not too many beers get better, but some special barrel aged gems from some of our favorite breweries will be showcased on draught for 38’s 3rd Anniversary event. Just as the barrel aged madness last June, various styles such as sours, porters, stouts, strong ales & barleywines racked straight from a barrel will be flowing from the taps Saturday, June 16th starting at 1:00 pm. Over 25 barrel aged beers on tap and plenty of fresh ales as well to quench your particular thirst. We still carry over 180 specialty bottles as well FYI. No entry fee at all… Full 38 degrees service all day & night to all who would like to raise a glass to 3 fantastic years serving very fine foods & brilliant beers here in Alhambra. Official list released Monday, June 10th. Please chime in with some requests and or guess'”
Dogfish + Bocce Ball =
Thanks to the Four Point Sheraton and the beer crew at Brewsters. Congrats to the Surly Goat team. 2012 Champions. And thanks to Dogfish Head and Sam Calagione for coming in from the East Coast with their great beers.
Gnome Week
If you are not scared of Gnomes than you will have a good time at either Congregation Alehouse Chapters or at Little Bear because Brasserie d’Achouffe’s is in town…
First up Congregation….
“Brasserie d’Achouffe’s Gnome Week kicks off on Wednesday June 6th and ends on Saturday, June 9th where we will be a part of The World’s Smallest Toast at 6:66pm (you read that right!)
June 6 will mark the 6,666 year Anniversary that the Gnomes started to brew beer, and all
CAH Chapters will be celbrating with a 4 day Gnome week celebration.
We will be providing Gnome Hats and Mini Mugs for toasting (while the suppies last) for all the little gnomes that wish to partake in the toast! AND Brasserie d’Achouffe’s Operational Mangager Jean-Lou Barbette will be gracing the halls of our very own Long Beach Chapter on Saturday for the toast.
Beers
La Chouffe, Houblon Chouffe, N’ice Chouffe, Biere Du Soleil, McChouffe and Ommegang’s Gnomegang.
Over at Little Bear, near downtown….
“Gnome Week is kicking off at Little Bear on June 6th, featuring Achouffe beers including Biere du Soleil and their collaboration with Brouwerij Ommegang, Gnomegang. Get a gnome hat, an interactive gnome coaster, and be a part of the world’s smallest toast!”
Rock & Brews goes Local
There is a lot of talk about the soon to be expansion of Rock and Brews franchises and Gene Simmons of KISS being involved but what you should be talking about is their Local Craft Beer Festival which is now in it’s second year. Below is the details and the brewery list. It is a killer list of locals….
The 2nd Annual Local Craft Beer Festival at Rock & Brews
this Sunday, June 17th 2012 from 11am – 4pm
“Enjoy the fresh and unique beers from local breweries at the the 2nd Annual Rock & Brews Craft Beer Festival. We have brought together the best local breweries in Southern California representing LA, Orange, Ventura, and Riverside Coounties. Limited, seasonal, and special beers will be available. Along with many of the your favorites. It’s a great time to be a beer drinker, so come celebrate the men and women who make it happen!”
What you get:
Admission to the event starting at 11am.
8 Beer pours.
Complimentary buffett
Commemorative event glass
Breweries included:
Strand Brewing Co., El Segundo Brewing Co., Cismontane, The Bruery, Eagle Rock, Monkish, Smog City, TAPS, Bootleggers, Golden Road, Hangar 24, Figueroa Mountain, Port Town and more TBA…
# 4 for Hangar 24
“Hangar 24’s turning 4 and we’d love to have you celebrate with us. Join us for a year that’s even better than the rest with more food, more music and a bigger variety of beer than ever before. We’ll also be releasing our surprise 4th Anniversary beer. The party’s sure to be great but what makes it even better is the support that we are able to provide to a local charity. Proceeds from our Anniversary Celebration will benefit the Childhood Cancer Foundation of Southern California.”
Dogfish by the Pool
This Saturday, June 2, 2012 from 2:30pm until 6:30pm at the Four Points Sheraton LAX pool is a Dogfish Head Beers & BBQ.
Dogfish Head beers like:
Chicory Stout
Aprihop
Black & Blue
Urkcontinent
Ta Henket
Tweason
…and you can Say “Hey” to Sam too!
$20 admission includes 6 samples & complimentary parking
plus there will be Special Beers from… The Bruery, Golden Road and
Hamiltons
RSVP on Facebook – appreciated but not required
Kings Row
Firestone Walker Backyard BBQ with (8) Firestone Taps + Surprise Keg!
BBQ gets fired up at 5pm!!! and featuring:
Wookey Jack
Double Jack
Unfiltered Double Barrel Ale
Union Jack
Solace Summer Ale
Walker’s Reserve Porter
Pale 31
Double Barrel Ale.
There will also be a SURPRISE CASK ALE flowing from a hand pump that Firestone Walker is bringing especially for this momentous night.
BBQ Menu
We’ll be serving a Firestone Walker inspired BBQ menu, including the
“Juicy Dolan” – named For Firestone’s own Cathy Dolan – This Port Salut Stuffed Ribeye Burger is topped with all the fixin’s including a proprietary Firestone Walker Double Barrel Ale BBQ Sauce!!!
Summer Solace Salad – which is a stone fruit salad topped with a Solace Vinaigrette.
The Sloppiest Beef Po Boy that You’ve Ever Eaten rounds out the menu for the night with Slaw and Grapefruit Union Jack Reduction Sauce.
#ACBW12 in review
The week began in flight. A flight of Craftsman beers in Highland Park at Maximilliano. Three of which I hadn’t had before including Ochre (a sour ale), Point Five (the session IPA), Juniper (made with, you guessed it juniper) and the new Maximilliano House beer which is on a 1903 lager base but with oregano added. It is the one on the far left in the photo below.
Tuesday was a double shot. Finished at the Pub at Golden Road and had some Double Jack and Parabola from 2010 in Burbank at Tony’s Darts Away during Firestone-Walker night.
Wednesday was Beer Belly and the Bruery, hello again Fruet!
I also got a taste of Carmen with cranberries. Though not as sour as Filmishmish this was two distinct sour notes. One from the beer and one from the fruit.
I took Thursday and Friday off in preparation for two events on Saturday. First was the Farmer’s Market FestivAle at Blue Palms and second was the Eagle Rock Session Fest.
Blue Palms put quite the menu together in honor of fruit and vegetables. . Of the beers that I sampled the Honey Bee Hefe from nearby Golden Road was my favorite. Lost some of the hefe-ness but made up for it with a strong honey and pollen taste. And it was beautifully cloudy. I was a bit disappointed by the Almanac Fennel Biere de Mars and the Magnolia Gruit but the Ballast Point Winter San Salvador with all San Diego ingredients was quite nice though heavy on the bay leaves.
Then lastly on to Session Fest at Eagle Rock and boy was I shocked by how much I enjoyed the two beers that I had. By far the most flavorful and interesting of 2012. I started with the Citrus Basil Party and it was just that. Both ingredients there in ample amounts but not over the top. Light and refreshing and a pretty yellow. (Though not as pretty as the pink Kolsch). I followed that up with the Brett-a-Colada which was fantastic. Funky light farmhouse nose and initial taste followed by a wallop of coconut and fruit and then a gentle cooking spice note. Really interesting take that I enjoyed.
Then on Sunday the Beer Search Party rested.
Eagle Rock Session Fest
On Saturday, starting at 4pm is one of the most unique beer events in Los Angeles. The Eagle Rock Brewery Session Fest.
“Session Fest is coming back! All our taps will be pouring unique pilot batches of beers 4.5% ABV or lower brewed by the Eagle Rock Staff. Low on alcohol, but big on flavor. It was a hit last year, come and see what we brewed up this year! Grill’em All Truck will be here to feed ya!”
This is a great fest that really showcases creativity and maximizing flavors. The range of styles last year was amazing and this years brews will probably yield a great many tasty beers.
The Tripel + Smog City =
In one of my homework assignments over on FoodGPS, I implored people to sample some Smog City beers. Well, lo and behold, now you have a chance….
“To celebrate the culmination of American Craft Beer Week, Smog City Brewery and The Tripel are teaming up for a night of big brews and fantastic food. The evening kicks off with a cocktail beer hour, followed by a special four-course tasting menu created by Brooke Williamson and Nick Roberts. Each course will be paired with a limited edition Smog City beer, all on draft. This special evening on May 21st begins at 6:30 p.m., and seating is extremely limited! For those unable to make the ticketed event, The Tripel will offer the special menu à la carte along with the limited selection of Smog City beers from 9pm to close.
Selection of Hors Oeuvres” The cost is $65.00
Little Bo Pils
Hot and Sour Cockle Soup with Saison Runnings,
Sweetened Egg Omelette, and Wood Ear Mushrooms
L.A. Saison
Black Bread with Rabbit Pâté and Pickled Icicle Radish
Sabre-Toothed Squirrel
Beet Pasta with Wild Boar Ragout and Porcini Mushroom
Oaked Penumbra Stout
House Made Box of Candies
Groundwork Coffee Porter