Fall in the District

Autumn with a little snap in the air is a great time to check out the DTLA United Fest that pops up next week. Here are the details….

$45 includes unlimited tastings and a commemorative glass.

Featuring limited edition “Legends of the Fall” beers from DTLA Breweries and other local libations. 100% of the proceeds will benefit CF Foundation.

From 1-4 PM, Sunday, October 13th – space is limited so get your tickets now!

Benefiting: CF Foundation

Breweries: Mumford, Arts District, Boomtown, Indie, Dry River, Highland Park, Angel City, 101 Cider House & Imperial Western

Food: Yes! We will have food on site provided by A’s BBQ!.

1st Look – Mikkeller DTLA

A couple nights ago, I got a sneak peek into the latest Mikkeller west coast outpost (following San Francisco and San Diego).

Here are the take-aways from Mikkeller DTLA.

The long space is fronted with windows that view directly into a new condo complex across the street. The ceilings give the bar/restaurant an airy feel. Seating is split into four different areas with bar furthest from the windows, next to a series of communal tables, then a short wall separating the table seats and finally more bar seating right at the window. The distinctive Mikkeller art/cartoon people line the walls.

On to the beer, I tried two of their collaborative beers from their San Diego brewery. Devil’s Triangle and Triple Connected were brewed with Alpine and our own Arts District Brewing. One was super hazy with a nice subtle rye spice note to it that undercut the cream feel of the beer. The hops were in high abundance as well. TC poured a more reddish color and while using rye as well, that spice note didn’t come through the malt nearly as much. Both were excellent but the menu for the day was missing a couple of the more exotic barrel-aged beers that I saw on their website.

I can imagine that this place will do bang up business during the week. Especially at Happy Hour or before events at nearby Staples Center. I would suggest heading there early on Saturday to get the less crowded view of what the Mikkeller team have done.

I will certainly be back to check out the adjacent Kaffebaren which has food, coffee and beer.

KS in DTLA

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Many out of town companies are planning DTLA locales but Karl Strauss Brewing is planting a flag first with a satellite brewery and brewpub at the corner of Wilshire and South Grand Avenue.

The facility will serve as an R&D facility and will have a 7-barrel brewhouse, two 14-barrel fermenters to scratch the creative brewers itch and have plenty of fresh beer on tap.

The brewpub opened a few days ago and is the second in Los Angeles, the other being the somewhat inacesssible Universal City spot that has been around forever.

News & Notes – DTLA Version

Despite Monday being a beer off-day for me, I headed down to Angel City to hear what some of the DTLA breweries had to say about the area and the growth of LA beer as well as their fledgling DTLA Brewers United group.

I took notes and when I got home, a trend emerged. They were mostly about Mumford Brewing. Not a smack at all against the others on the panel but what was piquing my interest were three things from the Skidrokyo brewery…

1. Cloudy IPA is coming this weekend. Will our West-Coast San Diego culture join this trend?
2. Mumford is looking into canning and getting some core beers onto shelves
3. June 12th is the date for the 1st Mumford anniversary. They will have a Russian Imperial Stout in three different variants.

Other tidbits, Indie Brewing is looking at end of year for their tap room to be open. Arts District Brewing is looking at creating a “Study Room” for the more beer obsessed and geeky. Plus this fall, their just might be a DTLA only brewfest.
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Movies, beer and quiet

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If the L.A. Times and the construction around the Macy’s Center downtown is to be believed, DTLA is inching closer to our own Alamo Drafthouse which would be such a boon for both movie fans and craft beer fans as well.

The trend at theaters has been toward 4D and immersion and food delivered to your seats but none of it is cheap and it usually ain’t all that gourmet. Ballpark and stadium food and drink usually has more choices and more quality to explain their higher prices. Alamo will change that. Just check out their Deschutes dinner that they paired with the movie Stand by Me:

Amuse Charred Arbol Marshmallow Paired With Fresh Squeezed IPA

One Ham Sandwich Jamon Serrano On Toasted Brioche With Baby Arugula, Crispy Leeks, Sherry Vinaigrette And Roasted Roma Paired With Mirror Pond Pale Ale

Two Sic Balls Fresh Hand Ground Beef Tenderloin Meatballs In A Pumpkin Truffle Broth With Shaved Asiago Paired With Black Butte Porter

Three Roast Bone In Pork Chop With Sugarcane Coca Cola Glaze, Burnt Ear Of White Corn, Roast Brussels Paired With Chainbreaker White IPA

Four Fresh Blueberry Pie Paired With Black Butte Reserve, Imperial Porter

They can’t open soon enough for me if only for their stringent rules on quiet in the theater.

Horse Thief BBQ and (now beer)

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The Grand Central Market in downtown LA has made some changes and now the mix of vendors is trending more trendy.

You can get Hop Tea at B&A  and now, right outside you can get BBQ and craft beer at the Horse Thief BBQ joint that has a brand new patio to enjoy your food and beverage on.

There will be ten taps including a couple of Shiner beers from Texas to quench your beer thirst.

I want to try the rib tips and aged cheddar mac ‘n cheese with a Smog City Little Bo Pils.

Hops Tea

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Hops aren’t just for beer. They can be used for other beverages. One of which is right here in Los Angeles. G&B Coffee in the Grand Central Market downtown sells a hop infused tea along with coffee in that bustling market.

It is on the Angel Flight side of the market and you can order up the tea which comes in a wine glass.  It is very light in both hop flavor and tea flavor as well. You have to search for the bitterness but it is quite refreshing.

You should check out the interview with the co-founder Charles Babinski on KCRW’s Good Food program that also talks about 2 other beer-y topics in that particular program.