L.A. Beer Blast – Beer Search Party

September 24, 2013September 10, 2018

Larry’s in Venice

In my years of doing the L.A. Beer Blast for Food GPS, I have attempted to stay current with all the beer-y spots on the list. I have failed miserably. Which means there is plenty of good beer out there. But last week I made it out to Larry’s Venice on a sweltering day to have a cool beer.
You know you are there when you see the lamp posts with multicolored tiles. They have an elliptical stone bar, a covered patio area and another smaller seating area with sun overhead. They have 26 tap offerings (including some locals which I like to see). I started with Das Tart from Ohana Brewing which pours orange and not raspberry red. But the raspberry taste is there and it has a slight tartness to it

There is a quirky hat display above the bar and despite being mere steps from the beach is not a typical beach place like others. Has a more upscale and classy feel to it. Very easy to make yourself at home at the bar so I ordered up a Sam Adams Rebel IPA which had a bit of a caramel aroma and a bitter taste of grapefruit and herbs that has to be searched for a bit to locate. A little to blah for my taste.

They have a wild looking menu that looks pretty good. The only downside being the prices are very typical for a beach. A little on the high side. But it does look like quality. Beer wise the 26 selections were strong and I liked that there were a smattering of German and English beers as well. We can get so caught up in American beers that we forget some of the classics. If I had more time, I would have tried the Crazy Ivan Belgian IPA from Bear Republic.

Now I have to see what other Beer Blast spots that I have been remiss in visiting.

July 21, 2013September 10, 2018

Tuning Fork

I don’t usually go out on Friday nights. In equal parts due to having to get up early in the morning, being a homebody and an aversion to the larger crowds. But I made an exception last Friday to make my first ever visit to Tuning Fork in Studio City.

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(For those putting one and one together, they are members of the L.A. Beer Blast community so I am inclined to partiality towards them.)

That being said, here are my thoughts on how they pair craft beer with gastropub cuisine and the width and breadth of their beer choices.

There were six choices available on tap including the just added Trade Winds Tripel from the Bruery. Two pils on the list from Ballast Point and Firestone Walker plus the gold medal winner from Smog City – Groundworks Coffee Porter and the one that I chose, Lightning Double Strike DIPA. Cause I needed something to balance out the burger that I had.

For a small place, that is a sizable beer list. But they also had a cooler of bottled choices that run front and back of an 8 1/2 by 11 menu sheet.

I had the Bleu Cheese and cucumber burger which I enjoyed. The additional pickles gilded the lily a bit but it was a hefty burger with a good bun and the price was good. Plus I got rosemary chips with it. The desserts passed muster with my wife and they are more of the small bites type which after a full stomach of beer and burger is probably better.

And they have mac ‘n’ cheese, which I may have to return for.

If you haven’t visited them, this Thursday is a special menu that might just be a perfect introduction . Here are the details for it…..

March 29, 2012September 12, 2018

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.