An Old Chalet in Eagle Rock


The Black Boar is no more and it is back to being the Old Chalet. But this is not some retro throwback to old school suburban dive bars.

I visited the Black Boar when it made the switch and found it to be one of those, “hey, craft beer is cool, let’s sell that without really changing much inside” places. I didn’t need to go back what with the Oinkster just down the block one way and then Craft Beer Cellar opening much later further east.

Now it is in the capable hands of Clay Harding of 38 Degrees fame in his role as part of the Artisanal Brewers Collective. That means the beer will be better and it will be my closest bar from their group. Will it be of a theme with Tony’s and Mohawk Bend? And will I find Bell Marker beer on tap?

Only a first visit will tell.

Winners!


The craft beer business history followers will catch the meaning behind the name of a new beer release at Eagle Rock. The clue is that Temescal Brewing is involved in the trio.

The Winning Team will be on tap on Friday, November 17, 2017, at the ERB taproom. Brewers from all breweries involved will be there and also on tap will be beers from all three breweries involved in the collab (HenHouse Brewing Co. and Temescal Brewing). If you can’t make the event 16oz 4-pack cans will also be available.

Eagle Rock Distilled

Colorado Boulevard has grown into a cool food & bevarage boulevard from Eagle Rock to Figueroa. And perhaps there will be a distilling addition as well.

This is early stages yet and I would expect the City of L.A. might bury the project in paperwork and inertia but the team behind the Four Cafe is planning on a distillery for their new location, code name Relentless.

The future restaurant is basically across the street from where they are now.

Sean Suggests for June 2017

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This month I am suggesting that you try a little bit of everything starting with a 3-Way Collaboration and ending in a super big and burly barleywine. A little America, Belgium and England this month.

~LIGHT
Mason Aleworks / Kern River / Eagle Rock/ Gutterball Trio5.3% ABV
“We got together with our friends at Mason Ale Work (San Diego) & Eagle Rock Brewery (Los Angeles) to make this light, refreshing Mosiac, Idaho 7 & Denali hopped IPA.”

~MEDIUM
Green Flash/ Baroque Belgique7.0% ABV
“If Green Flash were founded in historical Belgium, Baroque Belgique would have been our flagship brew. A bold and complex layering of herbal hops finds delicate balance from traditional malts. Bottle conditioning with fresh ale yeast and Brettanomyces adds a funky finishing touch, creating a delightfully bright effervescence, dryness, and continuously evolving character.”

~DARK
Dogfish Head/ Olde School Barleywine15.0% ABV
“Inspired by a tale of a cask doctor who brought sluggish ales back to life by suspending a fig in them. Brewed from 100% Maris Otter pale ale malt, a blend of fine hops and conditioned on dates and figs. User Instructions: open bottle, pour contents into two snifters. Enjoy. ALTERNATIVELY: Walk hand-in-neck with bottle into the middle of the woods. Use shovel to dig 2×2 hole three feet deep. Seal bottle in plastic bag. Place in hole and pack with dirt. Memorize location and leave. Return exactly one year later. Dig up bottle, open and enjoy.”

All of these beers can be found at Sunset Beer Co. (unless they got bought up real quick)

LABW9 & Craft Beer Cellar – Eagle Rock


Craft Beer Cellar in Eagle Rock will be very busy for #LABW9. Check out my picks from their roster of fun plans….

Saturday, June 17 – L.A. ALL DAY IPA – L.A. IPA Tap Takeover, 5 to 10 p.m.

Tuesday, June 20 – Transplant Bottle Release Party & Beer Trivia, starts at 8 p.m.

Saturday, June 24 – Hecho En the East Side Craft Beer & Art Show, featuring beers brewed in East/Northeast LA, 5 to 10 p.m.

Sunday, June 25 – Beer & Donut Pairing with Donut Friend – 2 to 4 p.m. (must purchase ticket in advance)

Craftsman at the Cellar

Tonight! Saturday, November 12 from 5 to 9 p.m. the Craft Beer Cellar in Eagle Rock will host their Second Saturday Session featuring the beer of Craftsman Brewing Company, the longest standing independent small brewery in Los Angeles!
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Outside of Maximiliano restaurant which has a long Craftsman list, we don’t usually see lists of Craftsman so take the opportunity for a flight special, LA Wing Co foodtruck will be in the parking lot and their will be merchandise giveaways!

Review – Longevity Baltic Porter from Eagle Rock

Full disclosure:

A) I know the home brewer whose recipe this beer is based on

B) I had this beer at the Kick-Off Festival for L.A. Beer Week (at the end and my taste buds were shot) and I wasn’t blown away by it.

That being said, I wanted to go back and re-visit this beer with a fresh palate.  So here is a second taste and first review on the blog of Longevity Baltic Porter from Eagle Rock Brewery & the Maltose Falcons home brew club.

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The Porter pours a dark and inky black with streaks of brown to it. There are a mixture of roast, tobacco and chocolate notes on the nose that are quite nice. It did take a few sniffs to figure out exactly what was coming through to me even though the aroma is fairly potent.

The texture is quite light and very drinkable. The most dominant flavor to me is smoke with hints of a sweet cola underneath. This is no rauch bier by any means but that taste of smoke is certainly there.

This is one of those styles that may not be to my taste. It is well done but the smoke notes are a distraction to my palate.

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If you are in the mood to try other Baltic Porters then check out Flying Dog’s Gonzo Porter, Victory’s Baltic Thunder or Baltika #6.