Long Beach, Azusa & Pasadena and David Walker


Not only did Firestone-Walker put on a great show (from all eyewitness accounts) at their 1st beerfest. Not only are they expanding tanks but they are on the road and bringing their beer to L.A. Last week I mentioned an event at the Federal Bar in North Hollywood and now more traffic to wend their way through….

“Sir David Walker starring in The TRILOGY

Join us Thursday, June 28th at All Congregation Alehouse Chapters as we celebrate the latest release of Firestone Walker Parabola.

Sir David Walker will be the first to host a Chapter neer event at all 3 Chapters in one evening.
Join us at 6PM in Azusa, 8PM in Pasadena and 10PM in Long Beach!”

Gnome Week

If you are not scared of Gnomes than you will have a good time at either Congregation Alehouse Chapters or at Little Bear because Brasserie d’Achouffe’s is in town…

First up Congregation….

“Brasserie d’Achouffe’s Gnome Week kicks off on Wednesday June 6th and ends on Saturday, June 9th where we will be a part of The World’s Smallest Toast at 6:66pm (you read that right!)
June 6 will mark the 6,666 year Anniversary that the Gnomes started to brew beer, and all

CAH Chapters will be celbrating with a 4 day Gnome week celebration.

We will be providing Gnome Hats and Mini Mugs for toasting (while the suppies last) for all the little gnomes that wish to partake in the toast! AND Brasserie d’Achouffe’s Operational Mangager Jean-Lou Barbette will be gracing the halls of our very own Long Beach Chapter on Saturday for the toast.

Beers
La Chouffe, Houblon Chouffe, N’ice Chouffe, Biere Du Soleil, McChouffe and Ommegang’s Gnomegang.

Over at Little Bear, near downtown….

“Gnome Week is kicking off at Little Bear on June 6th, featuring Achouffe beers including Biere du Soleil and their collaboration with Brouwerij Ommegang, Gnomegang. Get a gnome hat, an interactive gnome coaster, and be a part of the world’s smallest toast!”

substitute L.A. Beer Blast

The L.A. Beer Blast that pops into your inbox on Thursday nights courtesy of yours truly and FoodGPS is on hiatus for a couple weeks as the delivery system and other behind the curtain changes are made.

But that doesn’t mean craft beer stops in L.A. Far from it! Here is a totally unalphabetical, non-geographic look at what is on tap and in store for the craft beer lover this weekend and into next week.

1. At the Azusa chapter of Congregation Alehouse – Uinta Brewing Company Event with owner Steve Kuftinec, Thursday March 29th
Stone Tap Takeover Weekend with brewer Kris Ketcham Fri March 30- Sun, Apr 1.

2. The Factory Gastrobar in Long Beach is leading the way again this week by being the first taphouse to pour Triple Voodoo Brewing in Southern California. Their aptly-named first brew, Inception, is a great meld of belgian strong ale (8%) and a hoppy dry pale ale–unique and refreshing, but it also packs a punch. Also pouring right now are Hangar 24’s Small Stout and Double IPA, El Segundo White Dog IPA, Chelsea Moylan’s Porter, Sudwerk Helles Lager, Anaheim 1888 California Steam Beer, Green Flash Barleywine, and Eagle Rock Revolution Pale Ale. The cooler is chock full of awesomeness with the likes of: Avery Maharaja, Hangar 24 Columbus IPA, New Belgium La Folie, Heretic Evil Cousin, Knee Deep Resurrection Red and Grand Teton Lost Continent! Don’t forget that The Factory has $4 pours on Thursday, and 50% of food after 8PM on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday.

3. From the Golden Gopher – Here’s our info: Currently on draught at this DTLA luxe lounge are Craftsman 1903, Brouwerij West 5 Blond, Oskar Blues Mama’s Little Yella Pils, Cismontane Citizen Common, Cismontane Black’s Dawn, El Segundo Blue House Pale Ale, El Segundo Citra, El Segundo White Dog, Golden Road Hefeweizen, Hangar 24 Orange Wheat, Allagash White, Allagash Black, Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, Ballast Point Big Eye IPA, New Belgium Belgo IPA, Bootlegger’s Knuckle Sandwich, Bootlegger’s Black Phoenix, Bootlegger’s Rustic Rye IPA, TAPS Irish Red, TAPS Cream Ale, The Strand Atticus IPA, Anchor Brewing Porter and Lindeman’s Peche Lambic.

Craft beer “to go” also available at the Beer Chicks 8th Street Bottle Shop inside the bar.

4. Tuesday, April 3rd is the City Tavern 1 Year anniversary in downtown Culver City.

5. Also on April 3rd at the Blu Jam Cafe, Hosted by chef & owner Kamil Majer, along with beer expert Larry James, the evening will feature a five-course tasting menu to complement the five delicious brews. With an emphasis on Belgian beers (Larry James is a Knight of the Belgian Brewer’s Guild in Brussels) and global cuisine, this is an event not to be missed by any beer enthusiasts.

6. At Ladyface in Agoura Hills, Hopping your way April 1-7 is Hella’ Hop Week, a head-spinning, tongue buckling, palate wrecking collection of hop-centric, hop-forward, hopilicious brews. Brewer Dave has created something we’re calling Batch 200 to celebrate our 200th batch of beer. It’s a special version of Chesebro IPA, made with extra barley and 10 pounds of 10 different kinds of hops. At 10.5% abv, it’s also a full percent bigger than our regular Chesebro. Cheers!

7. Wades Wines in Agoura Hills, Firestone Walker Brewing Flight Night Thursday, March 29th from 4:30pm to 7:00pm

Firestone Walker Brewing Company is one of the most awarded, and creative breweries in the craft world. Beer enthusiasts specially seek out Firestone Walker’s yearly release of their Anniversary Ale. Each year Firestone Walker selects a panel of wine and beer makers to create this blend of mostly barrel aged beers. As well as this year’s 15th Anniversary Ale, we will have two of its individual components (Double Jack Double IPA, and Parabola Barrel Aged Russian Imperial Stout). To round out the tasting, we will pour Black Xantus, a popular beer from past anniversary blends. We will have Firestone reps on hand to answer any questions about the beers, or anything to do with the brewery.

Firestone Walker – Double Jack Double IPA 9.5%, Nectar Ale – Black Xantus Java Stout 11%, Firestone Walker – 2011 Parabola Barrel Aged Russian Imperial Stout 13% and Firestone Walker – 15th Anniversary Barrel Aged Blend 12.5%

Come in for a special $20 taster flight…stay to enjoy the 40 unique beers on taps!!!

We have a limited amount of each library beer available…first come…first served!!!

8. Sunset Beer Company in Echo Park has a Uinta Night with the Grill ’em All truck in attendance on Friday the 30th.

9. At the Oinkster in Eagle Rock, This week we are pouring Cismontane Coulter IPA, Anchor Liberty, Craftsman Monkey See Monkey Do DIPA, AleSmith Nautical Nut Brown, Telegraph Los Padres, and Smog City Penumbra Stout. On deck we have Surfers Point Black IPA, Uinta Monkshine, Uinta Wyld Organic Extra Pale Ale, Telegraph Stock Porter, and Eagle Rock Manifesto.

10. Maximilliano’s in Highland Park – Drop by anytime to enjoy our new draft beer lineup which consists of all Craftsman Brewing Co Beers 1903 Lager, Poppyfields Pale, Heavenly Hefe, El Prieto Sour Black Ale, Acorn Saison, Monkey See Monkey Do Double IPA, & the Brand New Juniper Ale. We also have some fresh Hair of the Dog Blue Dot Bombers!

11. Vendome Toluca Lake will be holding their weekend beer tasting. The theme this weekend is Thirst Quenchers. You will find Jester King, Avery, Epic, Green Flash and Grand Teton on the list along with many others.

12. Haven Gastropub in Pasadena – Beers that should tap this weekend: De Koninck Belgian Amber, Grateful Dog Barleywine, Sea Monster by Ballast Point, Brouwerij West Saison, Art of Darkness by Ommegang and Sculpin on Nitro (hopefully!)

13. The info for Far Bar – Highlights on tap: Green Flash Palate Wrecker, Ballast Point Sculpin, Firestone Walker Pale 31, Bruery Humulus Lager, Firestone Walker Double Jack, Ballast Point Sea Monster, Eagle Rock Manifesto, Eagle Rock Libertine, Lost Abbey Avant Garde, Marin Chocolate Airporter, Dogfish Head Aprihop, Avery Maharaja, Kern River Class V Stout, Taps Schwarzbier, Cismontane Classified Dopplesticke and many othere.

Event This week: Final Four of Pale Ales with El Segundo Brewing Tuesday, April 3rd at 7pm. On tap will be:Four Double-Dry Hopped Blue House Pale will be on draught: Citra, Cascade, Nelson, and Simcoe. Rob Croxall (Owner, Brewer) and Tom Kelley (Sales Manager) will be in the house joining us.

TAPS @ Congregation Alehouse in Pasadena

On Thursday night, I ventured two towns over to Pasadena to the bustling Congregation Alehouse in Pasadena. (The newest chapter of the three strong alehouses) for TAPS night with brewmaster Victor Novak in the house.

Here are some photos of the night…..

Travis from Congregation with Victor

My favorite beer of the night. Crystal Pils.

My second favorite of the night was the coffee aromatic Mocha Stout.

The TAPS barleywine.

Me with Travis.

Beer in the LBC

First excursion to Long Beach in a long while but when you have Beachwood and Congregation within spittin’ distance of each other than it is easier to make the trek from valley to sand. Especially when a designated driver is involved. (Thanks Jennie!)

First stop was Beachwood BBQ…..

…for house beers to go with brisket and blue cheese grits….

…my first Beachwood beer was Reckless Session ale….

…but before that was a trio of Evil Twin beers Ryan the Beaster Bunny saison, Before, During and After Christmas DIPA and my favorite, Biscotti Break….

Then it was a stone’s throw (literally you could throw a stone from one to the other) to Congregation Alehouse….

…to gaze upon the multitude of taps…

… I settled on a Blue House IPA from El Segundo. Second time tasting in two days. A new favorite is found!