No Time for Beer

With the re-launch of the L.A. Times Food section, I hoped that more beer coverage would be in the cards but a few months in and I have to say that not much has happened. There was a hype article on Three Chiefs that seemed more social media skewed to me, then there was a domestic beer power ranking. Power rankings being the listicle of 2019. Other than that. Not much at all. L.A. Beer Week coverage? For 2017, yeah. Perhaps there is a beer-centric edition coming. Maybe they will cover the California Craft Beer Summit. Right now, maybe is the key word.

And maybe they need to get their obviously talented artist to do a beer version of this….

Food Bowl (no beer)

As gladdened as I am that the Food Section of the L.A. Times is back, I opened the Food Bowl schedule with trepidation. Beer is not usually on the menu when it comes to this month long event. I found one beer dinner, with a Colorado brewery and a movie about tequila. Wine had a page of dedicated events and spirits were on practically every page. As they say in sports, “Wait until next year.”

Print

The newspaper and journalism scene in Los Angeles is a bit rosier now. The Times sits in new offices in El Segundo with a new owner and a brand new food writing staff as well as a new food stand-alone section coming this spring.

A new quarterly, The Land has sprung from the dumpster fire of the L.A. Weekly imbroglio and has released their initial issue filled with pieces about a Los Angeles that may be hidden from normal view.

And while there is no word on beer or wine and spirits as part of the domain for either, there is hope that the stories of beer can be woven into both. I would have loved one less rap article in The Land and would have heartily read more about little known beer culture instead.

Maybe there are plans for both to cover the issue because I believe as we grow (even in slower percentages) that there are stories to be told.

Late Edition

There have been beers brewed for colleges, MLS teams, comic-cons and much more. But this news is new to me….

A beer for a newspaper? Apparently so. Maybe since the L.A. Times is possibly on the move in 2018, they could get a ceremonial Times Building beer? Perhaps a hazy IPA called Obit.

Time(s) to Guide You

Those of you olde folks who get the actual, physical paper version of the L.A. Times will have seen the 4th of July Craft Beer Guide by John Verive.

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But if you are one of the young kids then you will probably need the interwebs link : HERE.

It is a great place to guide your forays in craft beer in and around L.A.

I hope it becomes a yearly tradition. If so, it will need two pages in 2016.

Inland Empire # 3 – Dale Brothers

Our final stop on our mini-tour of the Inland Empire prompted by this article in the L.A. Times is Dale Bros.. I have had their Pomona Queen beer as well as their Winter Haze seasonal but I would like to showcase some of their other beers in their stable.

Runway I.P.A.

“Runway I.P.A. is our first flight into the wild blue yonder of ales. While we thought that we may keep our feet firmly planted exclusively in the world of lagers we have been producing since 2003, over the years customers have been imploring us to brew a Dale Bros. version of an I.P.A. We are happy to say their wait is over. Runway I.P.A. takes off with four hop additions in the brew kettle, then brings it in for a landing with multiple dry hop additions. The flavor and aroma are courtesy of Summit, Galaxy and Cascade hops. Place your tray table in the upright and locked position — here we go!”

The Dude of York
Late Spring Seasonal
“The Dude of York is a very California take on a classic Yorkshire beer, brewed with English ingredients and fermented with our signature lager yeast. It has clean grain flavors, a floral nose from East Kent Golding and Fuggles hops, and a crisp finish. The result is a tasty medium bodied beer that will go well with your favorite foods — from Yorkshire pudding to pineapple pizza.”

Pacific Daylight
Summer Seasonal
Gold Medal, LA County Fair 2005, 2006 & 2007
Silver Medal, Great American Beer Festival 2010
“Pacific Daylight is a refeshing take on an English Summer Beer with a uniquely California character. While it is light in color, it has a full, yet crisp flavor that won’t weigh you down on a hot summer afternoon. Pacific Daylight is brewed with 100% organic grain — we just can’t call it an “organic beer” because our brewery isn’t certified organic by the people who certify that kind of stuff.”

I only occasionally see their beers in my neck of the woods usually at the Arroyo Whole Foods in Pasadena but hopefully more will be available in the future.

Inland Empire # 1 – Packing House


Recently the L.A Times ran an article about the expanding brewery scene east of me in the Inland Empire of California. I took that as my cue and for April, I will focus in on three breweries from that article. First up is the Packing House. You will recognize their origin story. Home brewer gets rave reviews of his beer. Encouraged to open a business. Finds partners and voila! Off and running.

Their year round annuals include…..

Heritage Citrus Pale Ale,Riley’s Irish Red, Sunburst Golden Ale, Blue Eyed Loon Blueberry Wheat, Cream Stout and Packinghouse IPA

Their seasonals include…..

Holiday Ale, Liberty Belgian, Wheeter Melon, Boysenberry Coffee Stout and ACB (Accidental Chick Beer)