Tag: L.A. Beer Week

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#LABW5 Pick of the Night – Monday 9/23

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Each morning throught L.A. Beer Week, I will give you my Pick of the Night.  The ONE event I think rises to the top of the list.  Some days that choice will be harder and there might be 1A and 1B’s (if I get wishy-washy).  I will endeavor to pick events you can just head out to.  But if tickets are required, I will mention it.  But expect crowds.  Craft beer and craft beer in L.A. is popular.

Brue d’état with The Bruery at The Glendale Tap

Monday September 23rd 2013 6:00 pm-12:00 am

d’eTap list includes 6 rare beers and then some:

  • Oude Tart
  • Bottleworks XII
  • Praecocia
  • Windowsill
  • Batch 1000: BRYEIAN
  • Loakal Red

Bottle pours & bottles to-go

  • Bottleworks XII
  • Beauregarde
  • Sour in the Rye on Kumquats
  • Mash & Grind
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#LABW5 Pick of the Night – Sunday 9/22

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Yes, this is the BIG DAY.  Opening Gala at Union Station.  But if you were not quick on the draw and did not get tickets, no worries.  Here is your pick for Sunday……

Pumpkin Beers/First Day of Fall at The Bottle Room

Sunday September 22nd 2013 12:00 pm-10:00 pm

Special Pumpkin Beer Flight
Paired with Chef Tony’s Japanese-Pumpkin Flatbread

If the food and tap list at The Bottle Room can’t console you missing the fun at Union Station then nothing can!

The follow it up with a visit to newcomer….

Uncle Henry’s Deli

in nearby-ish Downey

ALL WEEK EVENT
*while beers last*

* Cask Offerings
* Pint Nights
* Tap Take Overs

 

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#LABW5 Pick of the Night – Friday 9/20

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Each morning throught L.A. Beer Week, I will give you my Pick of the Night.  The ONE event I think rises to the top of the list.  Some days that choice will be harder and there might be 1A and 1B’s (if I get wishy-washy).  I will endeavor to pick events you can just head out to.  But if tickets are required, I will mention it.  But expect crowds.  Craft beer and craft beer in L.A. is popular.

Friday Night and I am ready for a float, a beer float at….

Peddler’s & Ales at Verdugo Bar

The Beer list of the Verdugo + Peddler’s hand crafted ice cream + the outdoor patio on a September Night = a fun time.

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L.A. Beer Week + L.A. Beer Bloggers + Angel City Brewing =

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Blogging about beer today is a bit like being thrown into the deep end of the pool.  So many beer choices and so many blogging platforms.  But how do you bring out the words into your head and translate that into a really great blog?

That is what will be talked about in the lovely Angel City space in downtown L.A. on the 21st.  The L.A. Beer Bloggers have gathered an eclectic group of panelists to chat about writing, beer and blogs.

Plus a new beer from Angel City!  RSVP right HERE!

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Food GPS Teaser – Pacific Plate

Tomorrow’s post over on Food GPS is cut right down the middle.  1/2 about the recently opened Pacific Plate Brewing and the second 1/2 about some of the events on tap for L.A. Beer Week.

This teaser does the same.

First up a review of the tap room at Pacific Plate.  As craft beer fans know, breweries tend to be tucked into industrial parks and other odd spots.  This locale is not different.  At the back of part of a bigger complex off of Myrtle in Monrovia, the space is fairly roomy for a start-up.  I have seen and been in smaller.  Nice amount of blue barrel tables to stand at and a couple of picnic benches as well.  The best seats are the ones at the cut out window that looks at the taps and gives a birds eye view of everyone that comes in. The big thing is that the people at the taps are very welcoming.  And the beer is good, but I leave that to tomorrow.

Second, here is an additional event to consider attending.  Then check my post tomorrow for others and decide which (or all) that you will not want to miss.

Beer vs Wine at at The Local Peasant

Monday September 23rd 2013 6:30 pm-10:00 pm

Purchase Tickets

5 course menu of our Chefs creation. Each contender ( One Beer Guru and One Wine Guru) are presented with the menu. Pairing begins and the challenge is to vote on which libation works best with each dish…Who will win… Beer or Wine?

 

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(Art + Beer) x L.A. Beer Week

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The 5th year of L.A. Beer Week starts simmering with this exhibit featuring the works of artists limited (or unlimited) by being asked to create a piece of art with the humble beer coaster.  We all know by now that craft beer pairs magically with food, now it is time to see how it translates into the world of art!  And keep on doodling on coasters.

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In the Tap Lines for September 2013

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August was a busy beer month.  But September is electric.  It is the silly season where you see brewers and beer fans 3 or 4 times a week and it finishes with LA Beer Week!

~ e-visits to three breweries from Livermore, California such as Working Man Brewing, Brotherhood Brewing, Eight Bridges Brewing
~ video reviews samples two new beers from Raven in Baltimore, Maryland plus more beer reviews minus the videos
~ Heads-Up on Los Angeles Beer Events (including coverage of L.A. Beer Week events)
~ Three suggested beers to buy this month
~ I will tap the Firkin and give my no holds barred opinion on the craft beer world
~ … and Session # 79 will converge bloggers onto a single topic, this month “What the Hell has America done to Beer?”
~ plus many more posts about new beers, beer products and breweries

Here are two events to get your August started in the Los Angeles craft beer world:
1) September 3rd-8th – Sourfest at Beachwood BBQ (both locations!)
2) September 15th – Rock and Brews Local Beer Fest.

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Event Review – L.A. Beer Week Finale


Craft beer can draw a crowd. Despite some serious heat. Despite the Carmageddon sequel on the 405 freeway. And despite a triathalon blocking other routes, Union Station was packed with beer lovers who were shown a cornucopia of craft beer choices.

For the first time this year, I signed up in time for one of the three break-out sessions (indoors) that were on offer. But I did have time to sneak in a couple beers first. So I started with Smog City’s Citra Quercus and Bravery’s Allegiance IPA.

This was not the panel I was attending (though I hear it was great). I sat in on the Unity – Prickly Pear panel and sampled four of the prickly pear influenced beers from Eagle Rock, Monkish, Beachwood and Ladyface. It was a study in comparing where one ingredient would take a brewer. Two added it to existing beers to create a whole new breed and two created from the ground up. Or the Sueno up in Monkish’s case. My favorite of the group was the super Prickly Pear Chesebro IPA from Ladyface that was SUPER red and fruity before getting back to bitterness at the back.

This year, I decided that I was only going to have beers that I had not sipped before. And I still had plenty of options. I got my first taste of Ritual Brewing from Redlands, Ouroboros and the aforementioned, Bravery. And I tried new beers from Ohana (Saison Dubach), El Segundo (Rum/Oak Hyperion Stout) and Hangar 24 (a hybrid IPA a blend of two of their regular hop offerings) too.

The ratio of hit to miss was about even. Partially due to the heat and the fact that after seven or eight tasters the palate gets a little wonky. But that is what is great about beer festivals, you get to sample so many and find that gem of a beer. One like Bravery’s Pineapple Boo which had a kiss of pineapple then a nice wheat beer behind it.

Speaking of gems. My two favorites were from one booth. Smog City. Their Citra Quercus and Weird Beer (yes, that is the name) both rocked.


They were light with a complex swirl of spices and very refreshing. Each one made you stop and go what is in this. I even told complete strangers in line to get either one or both.

So the 4th annual L.A. Beer Week is complete. Due to BAM Fest in Santa Monica and the Great American Beer Festival coming soon, there will be no heavy critique on these pages about this year’s extravaganza. But I would like to hear your thoughts as to how to better improve the festival and the week as a whole for when the Week turns five.

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Event Review – FoodGPS Beer Float Showdown


I will state up front that I write a column for FoodGPS and I do the weekly Beer Blast (which you better subscribe to if you are in L.A.) so I am biased when it comes to the Beer Float Showdown.

Plus it was a brutally hot day in the valley so ice cream (and beer) were a welcome relief. There were (5) breweries paired off with (5) different chefs as is the now custom.

My favorite of the day (when I wasn’t volunteering) was the White Dog IPA with Simcoe sorbet from El Segundo Brewing. The beer was refreshing and hoppy. The ice cream had a nice bite to it and there was little fruit pearls in it too. Lovely. Plus it had a nice cookie floating in there too.

But there was a tie at the top of the leaderboard at days end. Reigning champ Eagle Rock with the Oinkster/Maximilliano was dead even with Strand Brewing and Short Order.

Team Eagle Rock concocted a Beer-imasu complete with Ladyfinger cookie.


Team Strand paired Ito-Weisse Berliner with a cherry ice cream for a cute red float that was simple but paired fruit against tartness.


If these photos don’t convince you that craft beer and craft ice cream go together then nothing will except for next year’s edition. Which you better attend.