Follow Sean Inman to the best in craft beer
The Dudes‘ have been barnstorming across the southland. Taking their new beers to bars far and wide. I finally caught up with them at 38 Degrees in Alhambra and was finally able to try 5 of their offerings. I will detail that all tomorrow on FoodGPS but for now a couple photos from the night…..
Tomorrow over at FoodGPS, I talk about bottle shares and my “rules of the road” to make it more fun for you and the people you are sharing with. One of my tips was to follow the house rules. I did not want to run a full list in that post but consider this a quick primer on what two L.A. establishments say ……
Here are some tips/guidelines for our monthly bottle share:
– Please bring a bottle. Don’t feel obligated to bring anything more than 1- 22oz. bottle or 2 – 12 oz. bottles.
– Bring something on the unique/interesting side. Don’t stop by 7/11 on the way and bring a bomber of Corona. Try not to bring beers you are pretty sure everyone has tried multiple times.
– Feel free to bring home brews that you are proud to share.
Bring your friends who might be new to craft beer. This is a real eye opening experience!
-This isn’t a drunk fest. This is to promote the diverse world of craft beer, please don’t bring your hunting ice chest and a 30 pack.
– We have a large selection of amazing bottles to purchase if you are empty handed or stumped.
-Please tip our servers. We will be providing the glassware.
BOTTLE SHARE GUIDE LINES:
* No BMC (Bud Miller Coors) or any of their pretend craft beer
* Don’t be “That Person” … bring something interesting!
* Home brews welcome
* Maximum of 750 ml of beer
* Sign in your beer … we don’t want any poachers
* Open only the beer/s you bring
* Pour in moderation … this is a tasting!
* Participants will be given a tasting glass to reuse
* Support the pub … tip your waitstaff, purchase a pint, eat
Person who brings the most interesting beer will win a $10 Factory Gift Certificate!!! Judged by Popular Vote!!
Between these two lists, you should have a pretty good idea of how to prepare for the next bottle share that you attend!
A few days ago, I received this e-mail.
” Two days ago it was brought to my attention via Twitter and The Patch Carlsbad that 38 Degrees Ale House & Grill was opening in Carlsbad Village at the former “The Catch” location. This is in no way affiliated with my company. I had “The Patch” change this info as soon as I was aware. I am very concerned with the unauthorized use of my brand 38 Degrees as I have put all my passion, blood, sweat and tears into developing what I believe as one of Southern California’s top craft beer bars and New American restaurants. The owner Mayur Pavagadhi has built the façade with an almost identical logo using Orange color as I and Tan/Brown signs stating Craft Beer & American food. My brand 38 Degrees has symbolized and represents an enormous amount of good will in craft beer culture and our community since 2009. Confusion of the proposed Carlsbad location and mine is inevitable as folks were already mislead and commenting on “our arrival” into Carlsbad Village on internet sites. We have made personal contact with Mayur Pavagadhi and he was not accommodating in wishes for him to change name and look in Carlsbad and in fact stated he would seek legal action to up hold his rights to open as a craft beer focused restaurant using 38 Degrees Carlsbad as the DBA. I am writing all of you to consider helping me persuade Mr. Pavagadhi to dis continue this route of business. I do not have an e mail address yet for him but the 38 Degrees website now under “The Catch” Carlsbad will soon be live. If anyone personally knows this person, I strongly urge you to reach out ASAP. I will reach out to many of you via phone as I am very concerned. Let me know if you can have comments or disagree with me in any way.”
I know and repect Clay Harding who wrote this and I totally agree. It appears the whole “name” and “brand” issue is rearing it’s ugly head again. Coronado sues for the name Idiot IPA, not cool. The name Shift is being grabbed and re-used, not cool. Anyone with a grasp of recent craft beer history knows that the bandwagoners fall by the wayside when the boom and growth falter. LIFO in accounting terms. Last in, First out.
Here is the deal. If you are in the same market or same state. Don’t re-use names. If you do and it is an accident, apologize and then collaborate with the person who you wronged (that is called good PR). If you are a nano in California and won’t compete with a similarly named project in Georgia or Mississippi, then ask first (again, good PR, sense a trend?). Maybe it won’t matter and again, you should collaborate. There are many, many, many beer terms that you can use to name your bar, brewery or gastropub. Check out the Oxford Companion to Beer and you can probably find a cool brewery name or two. Due some diligence and don’t be a Mayur.
June 16 starting at 1:00pm
“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'”
Here is the full info on the re-scheduled Winter colLAboration event.
“Winter ColLAboration is back on! The mobile craft beer garden (from the brains behind Tony’s Darts Away/Mohawk Bend/Golden Road Brewing, Verdugo Bar/Surly Goat, Blue Palms and 38 Degrees) will be revived in the form of a weather-proof, indoor late-winter wonderland on Sunday, February 26th at the Belasco Theater in Downtown L.A. – located conveniently near the Metro Blue Line. 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.
As previously planned, the garden will feature a selection of winter brews and favorites from: Anchor Steam, Avery, Bootleggers, Bruery, Beachwood, Cismontane, Dogfish Head , Eagle Rock Brewery, Eel River, Firestone Walker, Hangar 24, Golden Road Brewing, Lost Abbey, New Belgium, Oskar Blues, Russian River, Sierra Nevada, Smog City, Stone, TAPS and many more.
Food will be available onsite.
Limited-edition Winter Fest Steins are $15 while supplies last. Any 2011 ColLAb glasses can be used for admission; most beers will be $5 to $6.”
Last night I had a great beer conversation with Clay Harding from 38 Degrees Ale House in Alhambra. It will be appearing either in next weeks FoodGPS beer blast or the next. (Depending upon my writing speed).
In the meantime, I highly suggest making the trek to Alhambra. Clay has a some really good draught beers and some amazing bottles. Victory at Sea from Ballast Point is on there. Also be sure to ask if there are any special bottles not on the printed beer bible. As you can imagine it is hard to constantly update a list in this ever growing beer world.
When I first moved to Glendale, I was shocked that there was little to no access to good beer. Now this was (dare I say) around 15 years ago and I was a spoiled Portland boy. One of the few places available along with Lucky Baldwin’s (which was nearby) was Crown City Brewing. It was a friendly place and I could easily get to it on the bus which was my main mode of transport out of college. As the years passed and more avenues for beer became available, I went less, but still held a fondness for Crown City.
When I drove by one day and saw that they were out of business, I was sad but not surprised. Their beer had been eclisped by bigger and bolder brews. I wished that I could have raised a final pint to the brewery that got me through the lean times.
And last night I did, a type of wake was held for Crown City (as well as the Dodgers as it turned out). Two of their beers returned, Arroyo Amber and Oatmeal Stout, and the large crowd got to see familiar faces and remember the Around the World beer club and sample from a special tasting menu created for this party.
The Oatmeal stout was mild but very nice after the extreme Green Flash beers from last night. The amber could have used a little more punch to it but was right on style wise. In the end, it was a fitting tribute
Click HERE to get to the LA Beer Week site