Category: LA Craft Beer Events

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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!”

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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…

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# 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.”

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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

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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.

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#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.

the new Golden Road Berliner Weisse

Parabola from 2010

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.

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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.

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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

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System of a Stout

Here is your teaser to what you will be reading in the Brew & You column tomorrow on FoodGPS….
DioNicEss has reached the # 10. And to go along with that momentous landmark, there is a special beer made specifically for the event by Julian at Beachwood Brewing in Long Beach. And I was lucky enough to see and taste System of a Stout before it was finished….

And here it is…. …before the aging with coffee and Armenian brandy are added to the mix.

And guests at the event will walk away with this custom growler…. To ensure that you try this beer (Oh and have a spectacular and extreme aged menu crafted at Beachwood BBQ), you will need to buy tickets HERE or grab a rare glass that will escape the brewery at select southland locations.

This will be a night of great beers and great food and I know this because I have been to a couple of these events and Gev keeps topping himself and because I really enjoy Julian’s beers. That + Beachwood food is all the reason you need to snap up one of the remaining tickets.

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One Week in May


It is that special time of the year where we celebrate craft beer even more than we usually do. American Craft Beer Week!

So, get out there and show the craft brewers that you appreciate that they offer you so many great choices in beer!

Here is a snapshot of where I will be headed.

Monday, Maximilliano for pizza and Craftsman beer flight

Tuesday, I will be at Tony’s Darts Away for a Firestone-Walker night. Maybe snag some more Wookey Jack.

Wednesday, On to Beer Belly to taste Fruet from the Bruery for the first time.

Saturday, the Farmer’s Market themed event at Blue Palms. Followed by Eagle Rock for their annual Session Fest. Low ABVs with big flavors.