Heart

I have not written about the terrible fires that popped up seemingly everywhere earlier this month in the Los Angeles area. Mostly because it is so sad and disheartening to see such catastrophe some of it closer to where I reside in Glendale than wildfire has ever been.

And Los Angeles was already barely able to build enough as it was, especially when it comes to affordable housing for all economic levels. Now rents and home prices will push even higher than they already were.

But this is not a housing blog, though it kind of is, because the more people that can find housing at a price point that isn’t 75% of take-home pay, the more people will go out and buy good craft beer.

Anyway, the preceding paragraphs are prelude to the actual point of the fact that Common Space Brewery has stepped up to rally our remaining L.A. breweries into a special beer to help the rebuild cause, We Love LA will be showing soon up from over 50 California breweries participating and close to 10 from out of state as well, and I will be grabbing from wherever in financial support. I strongly suggest that we make this beer a complete sell-out.

Norm!

Collaborations that I would not have predicted.  Norm’s Restaurants, an L.A. landmark (at least sign wise, never been to one) has teamed with Common Space Brewery for a house IPA.

 22 locations and counting mostly in Los Angeles and Orange County.  But their menu shows no signs of alcohol at all, plus diner food and IPA doesn’t immediately scream a great pairing.

LA Beer Week 2023 Picks

Time to make my humble suggestions as to which L.A. Beer Week events merit your attention this year.  Here are my top 5 picks…

June 11th – Drag Brunch at Frogtown Brewery

“Join Frogtown Brewing  for their first ever Drag Brunch! We will have 4 performers, a booth with raffle from Nova Community Arts, a limited edition Beer Slushee and some brunch items from Heritage Kitchen LA! This event is free and open to the public.”

June 14th – Beer Side Talks

“Ambitious Ales joins Beachwood Brewing for an educational panel speaking event to discuss the impact of breweries collaborating, how it brings together community, learning experiences, and more. Coinciding with the event, the two breweries are both releasing a West Coast IPA, Neighborhood Pals. The event ticket includes a 10 oz pour of each of the collaboration beers. Help us celebrate LA Beer Week and independently-owned craft breweries strengthening the craft beer industry.”

June 16th – Hawthorne Block Party

“BBQ, Beer Releases, Bands/DJ’s, Games and Food. 2pm-12am at both L.A. Ale Works and Common Space Brewing.”

June 17th – Clean and Crispy

At Long Beach Beer Lab, “Over 20 curated breweries! Exclusive taster glass + unlimited samples. Marketplace, food vendors and more.”

June 18th – King of the Kolsch

Arts District Brewing hosts your favorite beer style from Cologne, Germany with many different Kolsch variations from LA breweries.

You can see the full event guide HERE

Review – Ice Cream Sandwich Dessert Beer from Common Space + Coolhaus

This is certainly a unique beer from Common Space in conjunction with ice creamery, Coolhaus. Right off the bat, the aroma is hard to pin down. I end up thinking cotton candy. I think it comes down to the style having a sharp edge to it that dulls the sweetness but also takes away that creamy lactose mouthfeel. Without a corresponding “cookie” aspect, it is one dimensional. Albeit a weird dimension.