Bramble

Cocktails and beer can go hand-in-hand and Gigantic is doing it right. Primarily, they have learned how to use Old Tom gin barrels to re-create flavor profiles of a drink like the bramble. Now I am not a fan of blackberries IRL, but as a flavor, it really works for me and I hope to see #97 in L.A. stores.

#LABW8 – Polly Want a Whiskey?

Reverse barrel time for #LABW8 as Steve Lipp, owner of Alexnder Murray & Co, and the esteemed David Walker, of Firestone Walker Brewing Company, will be pub crawling this Saturday, June 25th to showcase their collaboration Polly’s Casks in Santa Monica.
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What are Polly’s Casks? It is a “Highland Single Malt Scotch that has been aged in Bourbon Casks previously used to age American Craft Beer.”

The three bar crawl will feature specialty cocktails with Alexander Murray Scotch whisky line along with Firestone Walker’s core and specialty beers (Parabajava Coffee, Sticky Monkeee Qua). Participating bars include: The Basement Tavern, Areal, and The Library Alehouse.

Style + Herb

I think there is a sub-trend lurking amongst the nitro beers and fruit IPA’s and it is the cocktail themed beer….
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Following on the heels of their Pumpkin IPA from last year and their cookie beers from Christmas comes this Mint Julep beer from Flying Dog. And I gotta say that I think the label is one of the better ones. Not as cluttered as the usual and I do hope to see this beer here in L.A.

Can-Tails

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The job of creating cocktails for a nationwide chain must be hard enough. Trying to please corporate and managers without ever seeing an actual customer and finding out what they would actually like with their Red Robin burger.

Then fold in having to satisfy tie-ins and “synergy” must just add a whole new level of difficulty.

I imagine the discussion was, “tell the cocktail person that they need to use this brand of vodka and this brand beer and to use the can too ’cause the dishwasher costs are too damn high.”

On a side note, I like how they slyly add craft into the tag.  It dresses up the Coors.

I would rather buy Paula Deen butter because these cocktails look absolutely gross.