Strawberry Fields (maybe) Forever

I don’t know where we are in the arc of fruit beers being in vogue in heavily fruited sorta sours, sorta IPA but if it means that we get fruity Berliner Weisses and Goses too, then I hope we are still in it so that we can get unique beers like a recently released Arrow Lodge strawberry beer…

1st Visit – Arrow Lodge DTLA

On a recent Saturday, I struck out for the Arts District to visit the new DTLA location of Arrow Lodge Brewing. Arrived a hair late behind a ton of runners who stop at breweries in between running or maybe vice versa.

That long wait time snafu aside, the corner space of the Covina brewery’s DTLA taproom is a bit spare looking and does not have the outdoorsy camp vibe of the original.  Concrete floors and walls with a few L.A. sports murals of Fernando Valenzuela and Kobe Bryant.  Only a small patio space too and quite loud when full.  

Not that I need a big beer list but there were only 8 beers on tap with three being sours / fruited beers. Considering the rain and cold that L.A. rarely gets, a couple heartier beers would have been good.

I liked the name, so I ordered up the Zig Zag Zig IPA which was solid. The beertender did a a tremendous job with the rush crowd and made me feel at home despite the LA Galaxy jersey. (RCTID)

With both Angel City and Arts District within a few minutes slow walk, you can grab one beer at each while avoiding the running crowds.

Eponymous

I firmly agree with a brewer naming at least one beer after themselves. Seems only fair after all the work done in making the beer.

And in that vein, I present…

….Heller’s Lager from Arrow Lodge.

(It is also good to see a non-IPA pun)

Arts District Lodge

Arts District spot in massive Aliso complex that had a Mumford sign for a hot minute might instead get Arrow Lodge Brewing. I say might because too many times, I have seen a liquor application sign posted and nothing happening.

So file this under, hopeful waiting because having Arrow Lodge closer than Covina would be good.  Though it is a tough call as to what is worse finding parking in the Arts District or driving the parking lot that is the 210 freeway.

Five Arrows

Arrow Lodge will be splitting time between gazing at their beautiful beers and fawning over classic cars when the mark their 5th anniversary next month.

So follow their feed for further details and maybe anniversary beer news.