The Growler Guys

We all know that southern California and Los Angeles in particular is a car intensive culture.  We measure time and not miles.  We speak fluent highway numbers.  And yet, for a autopia, we have no place that combines filling stations that do both gas and beer.

That is why I fervently hope that the Growler Guys head to LA.  Where are they now?  Bend, Oregon.

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Do you want Chimay Tripel while you fill your Camry?  Good Life Sweet as Pacific Hybrid Beer while you top off your Prius?  Or maybe something from Deschutes?

And if that is not enough, read on and be amazed as I was….”When you pull your vehicle up to the pump, an extremely friendly looking person in an old fashioned, white gas attendant’s uniform (hat included) comes running up to your window. All of the attendants are very polite when taking your fueling preferences; they always ask if you would like your tank topped off. While you wait for your tank to be filled, they clean your windshield and actually get every speck of debris off.”

Almost makes you want to move to Bend.

Ale Apothecary

The Ale Apothecary is not only a great name for a brewery but it is in the mega-beer town of Bend. (Now I really have to travel to Bend to drink).
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But what caught my eye is that their flagship ale, Sahalie is a mixed fermentation ale. It is brewed by Paul Arney who was at Deschutes and is now working with the wild yeasts. They also brew a “version of Finnish Sahti brewed in a traditional kuuma and spiced with fresh spruce tips.” And most intriguing of all, a hopless beer aged in brandy barrels called El Cuatro.

Xmas 2012 – 10 Barrel / Pray for Snow

We head to Bend, Oregon and 10 Barrel for today’s holiday offering……

“This delicately balanced Strong Ale starts with dark copper color mixed with slight reddish hues and a light tan head. Big malty aroma with a Munich character give way to a slight caramel & toffee mixed with spicy noble hop aroma, all wrapped together with a medium-bodied mouth feel. German malt flavor profile with slight roasty notes give Pray for Snow a subtle toffee sweetness balanced with spicy hop bitterness and slight alcohol warming.”

Deschutes Base Camp in LA

Woody and the Deschutes crew will be rolling into LA with a few stops including….

Tuesday, April 12th
Beer Tasting at Verdugo Bar (5-9pm)
“Our giant wooden barrel, affectionately known as Woody, and brewer Veronica Vega will be on site for this special Jubel 2010 tasting.”
Wednesday, April 13th
Specialty Beer Tasting at Surly Goat (5-9pm)
“Our giant wooden barrel, affectionately known as Woody, and brewer Veronica Vega will be on site for this special Jubel 2010 & Lost Barrels of Mirror Mirror tasting.”