Here are still more photos from my “Shadow a Brewer” day at
Angel City.
Brewing is so glamorous….
Backstage at Angel City – Part 1 – Grain
Recently, I was given the opportunity to follow a brew day from opening of the building until the liquid was sent to fermenter.
I shadowed brewer Layton Cutler of Angel City as he made the Angel City Wit.
Here is a “grainy” photo essay of the day.
5 Avocados
We are now up to five. The number of Avocado Fest’s that Angel City has celebrated. This year two days of Avocado love on August 5th and August 6th will be happening.
Plus the special can release of Avocado Ale that I mentioned in a previous post.
Here are the details per the brewery:
-live music from 2 pm to 7 pm each day
-Avocado themed contests
-live mural painting presented by Art Share-LA
-a crowd participation mural
-outdoor beer garden
-partial proceeds will benefit Art Share-LA and Ron Finley Project.
-great food
-And of course… Avocado Ale!
Featured Review – Sunbather from Angel City
Angel City hasn’t done canning that I know of so it is interesting that they are starting with a Sour IPA, Sunbather. A beer canned right here in L.A.
I tried the kettle soured beer (from the tap) and was pleasantly surprised. It is not Sour but has a tang of tartness that allows for the Citra hops and particularly, the toast-centric malts to shine on through. This is the first of the series which will use a single, different hop each time.
It will be interesting to see which hop comes next. My bet is on Mosaic.
Featured Review – A Free Sample Duo
The Duo of Reviews today are two California brewed beers that I recently received samples of. Both feature agricultural products as well. We got peanuts and citrus.
First up is Oggi’s Roasted Peanut Stout.
Pours a super dark black. Espresso head fades super quickly. Missed getting a photo with my camera. You have to search out the peanut aroma but it is in the taste right up front. You can probably make some interesting food pairings if you look past desserts. Not a heavy beer. Mostly peanut and some chocolate. Simple and direct.
Next is the Citrus Wheat from Angel City.
The mural artwork on the new labels is quite cool. Grounds the beer as part of a community. Citrus Wheat pours an orange juice color. A bit hazy. Has a just juiced orange taste to it. Leaning toward tangerine. Once the juice is gone, the beer leaves you with the wheat taste solidly. Little sticky on the palate. As advertised on the name.
Review – Duck and Cover DDIPA from Angel City
The latest in the Warehouse Collection made it to my door, Duck and Cover Double Double IPA from Angel City.
This is certainly a double double. Probably at the intersection of barleywine and imperial IPA. Right at the top of the sip is a tiny hint of dark citrus. Blood orange. Then the alcohol and the earthy/herbal bitterness takes over with a hint of caramel at the back. A cheek warmer for sure and when you wake up the next morning you will remember that the beer is 12.1%. This is a beer to take in smaller amounts than a 22oz bottle.
Photos – DTLA United Festival
I fought my way through the Ciclavia to Angel City for the first (of what may become annual) DTLA United Festivals.
Here are a few photos and my quick thoughts on the event…..
DTLA Fest
I knew that this was a small festival but it was literally just the corner lot where the Farmer’s Market normally congregates in the Arts District. There were no lines to get in. Only 150 tickets were sold. Plenty of elbow room and you could talk with the brewers for minutes on end without interruption.
Onto the beers that struck my fancy. Cowboy Curtis from Arts District (the silver medal winner from GABF) was a finely balanced hit of smoke and chocolate. By far the best beer on the day and that I have had from ADBC. Second for me was Llorona from Dry River. Described as a dark sour which it was in flavor if not color. Indie Brewing had a lacto version of the 7th Street Saison that was wonderfully dry and quite earthy.
The two beers from Mumford Brewing, well, I was expecting more. The Pantsuit Saison was a bit rough and abrasive and the DTLA IPA was not to the heights that past hop offerings from them have been.
Not only was their craft beer flowing, there were two emissaries from the land of spirits. Greenbar Distilling and the Spirit Guild were pouring as well. Spirit Guild makes their Vapid Vodka and Astral Pacific Gin from Clementine oranges which added a citric tint to both. Greenbar was pouring their foray into hops with their hop liquer.
Because the fest was so tiny, there wasn’t much to take issue with. There was a good variety of beer, there were special pours throughout the afternoon. Water was readily available, as were restrooms. Everyone was in a great mood and you could almost (if you were ambitious) try everything that was being tapped before hopping onto public transport.
DTLA United – The Festival
If you missed the first two DTLA Beer Hop Shuttle days, well now you have the opportunity to sample beer from each and every of the 7 DTLA breweries in 1 spot. In case you need the full list: Mumford, Arts District, Iron Triangle, Boomtown, Indie, Dry River & Angel City
And it will go 100% to the Keep a Breast charity. Plus you can brag that you went to the 1st ever DTLA United Festival.
$45.oo will get you in to select from limited edition and specialty beers as well as other “local libations” such as spirits, juice and coffe plus food trucks too. Mark October 16th on your calendar.
Featured Review – Peach Berliner Weisse from Angel City
Time to dive into a summer treat with the Peach Berliner Weisse from Angel City in DTLA.
From the Warehouse Collection comes this fruited take on the classic German beer style. It comes close to emulating the peach color but is a couple shades too light. There is a hint of fruit and tartness on the nose. The beer is very bright on the tongue with an almost soda carbonation. Throughout, the peach taste is there. Fleshy stone fruit notes almost but never gallops ahead of the beer. There is still quite a bit of grain here. The flavors end up sticking to the roof of the mouth with each sip.
Overall, this is a lovely and light beer that I think would make an excellent beer float.
Holy (not yet) Guacamole
Now, I am not a fan of avocados or guacamole but the Avocado Ale from Angel City is actually very interesting. And for the 4th year the DTLA brewery will be celebrating with an all-day ‘cado event.
And $1 from every Avocado Ale will go to support “The Ron Finley Project and their goals of transforming our food deserts in to food forrests!”
You will get…
*Avocado Ale food pairings by: Taqueria El Severo, The Surfer Taco,TheGrilledCheeseTruck, Salt & Straw Ice Cream, Lawless Jerky & The Bikini Bakery!
*Avocados and prizes will be available for sale from our partners at Eco Farms Avocados
*Brewer-led tours from 12-6p will be free, open to the public & first come/ first served
*Specialty beer flight & michelada bars
*Avocado Bazaar presented by Raven Gypsies
*Avocado Amusements
*Avocado photo booth
*Gallery exhibit presented by Art Share-LA
*Live music from 2-7p