In the Tap Lines for December 2025

Congratulations for making it 11 months. That is no joke. If you are still around and not checked into an asylum then you are doing well ’cause it is weird out there right now. To help get you through this hectic month, here is what you will find in December….

~ e-visits to (3) breweries from wherever Kris Kringle flies

~ special featured reviews of random beers from the ‘fridge as well as a Winter Ale or two

~Heads-Up on Los Angeles Beer Events

~ Three suggested beers to buy this month. One light, one medium and one dark

~ A Book & A Beer reads Death Comes at Christmas

~ A Podcast & A Beer listens to The Official Welcome to Derry Podcast

~ Sports & A Beer returns with sports at Sphere and Cosm

~ New Beer Releases and Best Beers of the Month

~ I will tap the Firkin and give my no holds barred opinion on the craft beer world.

In the Tap Lines for September 2025

September when one turns away from Oktoberfest beers because it is now Christmas season according to all the stores and because all the Festbiers came out early in August and are now kaput. But it is also the time for…..

~ e-visits to (3) breweries from Baltimore

~ special featured reviews of a bevy of hoppy beers from the likes of Russian River and Stone

~Heads-Up on Los Angeles Beer Events

~ Three suggested beers to buy this month. One light, one medium and one dark

~ A Book & A Beer reads some Stephen King

~ A Podcast & A Beer listens to Hard Knocks

~ Sports & A Beer returns with the Portland Trailblazers have been sold!

~ New Beer Releases and Best Beers of the Month

~ I will tap the Firkin and give my no holds barred opinion on the craft beer world.

In the Tap Lines for July 2025

We are no entering the back half of this Annus Horribilus, aka 2025. And here I want to make a plea to Los Angeles craft beer fans to go out and visit an L.A. brewery. Use a vacation day, head out on a Sunday but please go out and support our breweries. Then post about it, let people know that L.A. (or your city) is not some bad place that must be warred upon by its own Federal governmenr.

~ e-visits to (3) breweries from Vinepair’s Best New U.S. breweries

~ special featured reviews of a bevy of beer styles

~Heads-Up on Los Angeles Beer Events

~ Three suggested beers to buy this month. One light, one medium and one dark

~ A Book & A Beer reads Weep – Slack Jaw by Eion Brady

~ A Podcast & A Beer listens to Lost Notes – Groupies

~ Sports & A Beer returns with Club World Cup

~ New Beer Releases and Best Beers of the Month

~ I will tap the Firkin and give my no holds barred opinion on the craft beer world.

In the Tap Lines for May 2025

You may be asking yourself why there is a green glow around May. Surely, March would be a better month to talk toasties and spice bags. The reason behind the Irish centered posts this month is that, I will be there on the Wild Atlantic Way seeing what places like Galway, Limerick and Tullamore ( home of the D.E.W.) are like in 2025.

~ e-visits to (3) breweries from the Emerald Isle

~ special featured reviews of Irish beer

~Heads-Up on Los Angeles Beer Events

~ Three suggested beers to buy this month. One light, one medium and one dark

~ A Book & A Beer reads Tilt by Emma Pattee

~ A Podcast & A Beer listens to Stakeknife

~ Sports & A Beer returns with the sports of Ireland

~ New Beer Releases and Best Beers of the Month

~ I will tap the Firkin and give my no holds barred opinion on the craft beer world.

In the Tap Lines for April 2025

Heading into the 2nd quarter of a truly horrendous 2025 here in America. If you are reading this in an airport or dock as you make your escape Casablanca style from this country, I will keep you updated on the beers of SoCal and the rest of what’s left and I hope I will hear about wonderful beers from other countries.

~ e-visits to (3) breweries from Vinepair’s Breweries to Watch list

~ special featured reviews

~Heads-Up on Los Angeles Beer Events

~ Three suggested beers to buy this month. One light, one medium and one dark

~ A Book & A Beer reads Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir

~ A Podcast & A Beer listens to Setting the Table

~ Sports & A Beer returns with NBA tanking

~ New Beer Releases and Best Beers of the Month

~ I will tap the Firkin and give my no holds barred opinion on the craft beer world.

In the Tap Lines for March 2025

Spring sprang into summer in February so lighter, crisper beers are already in season as it were. Also in season is basketball and soccer plus….

~ e-visits to (3) breweries that will be pouring at the Firestone Walker Invitational Beer Festival

~ special featured reviews

~Heads-Up on Los Angeles Beer Events

~ Three suggested beers to buy this month. One light, one medium and one dark

~ A Book & A Beer reads Watford Forever

~ A Podcast & A Beer listens to Good Hang with Amy Poehler

~ Sports & A Beer returns with Why does March Madness not seem a sell-out but College football does?

~ New Beer Releases and Best Beers of the Month

~ I will tap the Firkin and give my no holds barred opinion on the craft beer world.

In the Tap Lines for February 2025

My favorite month is here. Mostly ’cause it is my birthday month and I use all 28 or 29 days that I get to the point of exhausting everyone else. For this blog, I will do my best to exhaust you with beer news.

~ e-visits to (3) breweries from Oregon

~ special featured reviews

~Heads-Up on Los Angeles Beer Events

~ Three suggested beers to buy this month. One light, one medium and one dark

~ A Book & A Beer reads Our Share of Night

~ A Podcast & A Beer listens to An Arm and a Leg

~ Sports & A Beer returns with How to Fix the Blazers

~ New Beer Releases and Best Beers of the Month

~ I will tap the Firkin and give my no holds barred opinion on the craft beer world.

In the Tap Lines for January 2025

Strap in folks, there is gonna be some turbulence in 2025. I have mentioned, just yesterday in fact, that economics are going to be bad and the now annual Dry January will not help the beer world so be kind and helpful to counteract the bad vibes that are sure to be spinning.

~ e-visits to (3) breweries from Hop Culture’s Best of List

~ special featured reviews

~Heads-Up on Los Angeles Beer Events

~ Three suggested beers to buy this month. One light, one medium and one dark

~ A Book & A Beer reads Knife by Salman Rushdie

~ A Podcast & A Beer listens to Sherlock Holmes Short Stories

~ Sports & A Beer returns with teams that are easy to hate

~ New Beer Releases and Best Beers of the Month

~ I will tap the Firkin and give my no holds barred opinion on the craft beer world.

In the Tap Lines for November 2024

It is peak holiday season with Halloween decor still up (probably) and Thanksgiving and Christmas fast approaching. As with previous years, the elves, reindeer and I will start highlighting holiday beers, but only AFTER Turkey Day.

~ e-visits to (3) breweries inside airports for those flying this holiday season

~ special featured reviews of two beers from The Rare Beer Club

~Heads-Up on Los Angeles Beer Events

~ Three suggested beers to buy this month. One light, one medium and one dark

~ A Book & A Beer reads Wool by Hugh Howey

~ A Podcast & A Beer listens to My Unsung Hero

~ Sports & A Beer returns with the coaching carousel

~ New Beer Releases and Best Beers of the Month

~ I will tap the Firkin and give my no holds barred opinion on the craft beer world.

In the Tap Lines for September 2024

Here in Los Angeles, September is the last real dry and hot month and I am so happy to see fall on the horizon. Except that fall brings the always too soon Fall Y’all Pumpkin Spice nonsense, followed concurrently by always too soon Christmas. So let’s do our best to stay in the present and keep our eye on all things Oktoberfest.

~ e-visits to (3) breweries in Colorado in anticipation of GABF

~ special featured reviews of Oktoberfest beers + tips on Fest Biers to buy in SoCal

~Heads-Up on Los Angeles Beer Events

~ Three suggested beers to buy this month. One light, one medium and one dark

~ A Book & A Beer reads The Watchmaker of Filigree Street by Natasha Pulley

~ A Podcast & A Beer listens to the NPR 4th Grade Podcast Challenge

~ Sports & A Beer returns with beer prices in the Premier League

~ New Beer Releases and Best Beers of the Month

~ I will tap the Firkin and give my no holds barred opinion on the craft beer world.