Tag: LA Beer Week

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#LABW8 – Belgium in Glendale

L.A. is large, if you haven’t noticed, and sometimes great beer events are held too far away for me to get to. Heck, trying to get to Hollywood from Burbank on a weekday to a 7pm event is stressful.

So when I heard that the famed brewmaster from Brasserie Dupont was going to be in town for L.A. Beer Week, I said a little prayer that the event would be in striking distance. It wasn’t. But then, luck smiled on me and my Eastside/Valley Beer Week plans. Olivier Dedeycker would be making a stop in my city at the Glendale Tap!

It was scheduled at 9pm but in beer time that means something else. I waited until after 10pm drinking the insanely good Deux Amis without nary a sign of the famed brewer or the other famed partner, Tomme Arthur.

Thankfully, earlier in the day. Tomato Pie was on the agenda as well as beers from Glendale’s Brewyard Beer Co.
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First up was the new Brewyard Perky DIPL coming in at 9.3% which makes it the biggest beer that the duo have concocted to date and it took quite a bit of work and first time making it jitters.  Initially I go watermelon notes but then there was quite a mineral laden bitterness that really followed.  Some beers don’t fit the style that they are talked of but this beer is a DIPL for sure.

To simultaneously ramp down and jolt up, I tasted the Sunday Morning Joe.  Which was grand. The light base of the beer really left room for the coffee to shine which it did.  More and more, I like coffee beers that aren’t laid on top of large, grand stouts.

Then onto the Tap where Deux Amis waited…
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…and the beer is just so good. The only review I need to convey is that if you see it on tap or in bottles, BUY IT! It has a Hefeweizen clove aroma but it is so smooth with an undertone of hops. Simple and complex at the same time. I amend my previous suggestion. Buy it. Also buy the dry hopped Saison and the “plain” Saison Dupont and invite friends over for a tasting.

I did mention it was good? Right?

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It’s Back….

…are you ready for #7?
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Here are my hints to make the next week+ better:

plenty of water
plenty of sleep
have Metro and Uber ready apps ready
plan ahead
don’t expect door tickets to be available
visit at least one brewery on a non-event night
bring a non-craft beer friend
social media it with #LABW7
buy a bottle of Unity 2015
enjoy the beer (no need to photograph each and every one)

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#LABW6 – But this is at the SAME time – Friday the 26th

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Only three days left!  By now you should have had a few memorable beers but if you haven’t, here is an event that just might add a best beer of 2014 to your list…

It will require some math and a trip to the Library Alehouse for Addition by Addition with Smog City beers. Teaser, “4 Core Smog City Beers along with 4 One-Off versions of those beers created through the addition of new ingredients.”

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Who Will Win this Year?

Last year, Angel City Brewery received 270+ ideas for their first ‘What Would You Brew?’ contest. The winner was one of my favorite beers and it was Mexican Cola inspired!

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This year’s winner will be selected in October 2014 and that lucky brewer will have:

A) “opportunity to spend a day in the brew house brewing alongside the Angel City team”

B) “have their beer featured during LA Beer Week 2015

C) receive a custom kegerator, complete with a case of pint glasses, tap handle and tin tacker sign. Ideas can be submitted here: . Entries will be accepted through September 30, 2014.

Emily Finch, and her Mexican Cola beer will make a return in a “rum barrel aged version” at the LA Beer Week Kick Off September 20th at Old Chinatown Plaza, as well as on tap at the Angel City Public House.

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LABG Running LABW

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This is big news for Los Angeles, so I will reprint the complete press release:

(I will add my two-cents worth of commentary on Thursday with my Brew& You post over on Food GPS.)

The Los Angeles County Brewers Guild (LABG) has taken the reins of organizing Los Angeles Beer Week to bring you the first-ever LABW hosted by breweries, for beer people. The change comes after LABW’s original committee chairs decided to pass the torch to the fast-growing Guild’s welcoming arms. LABG couldn’t be more thrilled to curate the 10-day event which will launch with a newly revitalized LA Brewers Beer Week Kick-off festival at a new location in Downtown LA on September 20th featuring an invitational-style roster of California breweries and the largest-ever showing of LA beer represented.

“The founders of LABW did a great job creating a structure around which the culture of craft beer was able to grow and flourish over the past five years,” LABG President Jeremy Raub said. “The LA Brewers Guild aims to continue building on that strong foundation, adding more interactive and educational components that will engage and energize the LA beer community.”

The LABG consists of over 20 LA breweries that are committed to craft, community, and culture. LA Beer Week will be entering its sixth year and will feature over 100 events around the greater Los Angeles area. This year’s event will be produced by the Guild’s Events Committee spearheaded by El Segundo Brewing’s Tom Kelley.

“The group of passionate advocates that have held the reins all these years has now entrusted them to the Guild, and we couldn’t be more excited,” said Kelley. “It’s a natural progression for LA Brewers to take over, and we are certainly up to the task of showcasing all the great beer being made in LA County.”

Further details regarding LA Beer Week’s main event and other LABG official events to follow.

Save the Dates:

September 20-28: LA Beer Week

September 20: LA Brewers Beer Week Kick-Off event

September 25: Meeting of the Guilds (LA/SF/SD) at Mohawk Bend

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#LABW5 Pick of the Night – Saturday 9/21

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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.

For the first Saturday of L.A. Beer Week, head downtown and meet some beer bloggers (like me!) at Angel City……

What: LABB Summit #7 – “Covering Craft Beer Like a Pro” Panel w/ Special ACB Keg Tapping
*First ever LA Beer Blogger LA Beer Week Event!

Special Guests:
– Whitson Gordon – Editor in Chief of Lifehacker.com
– Tomm Carroll – LA corespondent for The Celebrator, Pacific Gravity,
– Sarah Bennett – Writer for LA Weekly, OC Weekly, and Beer Paper LA

Moderator:
– John Verive – Beer of Tomorrow, LA Times Daily Dish

Angel City Special Tapping: Ale Brewed with Chrysanthemum Tea

Festivities: 1pm – 4pm
Panel to commence @ 2:00pm

 

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Event Review – Better Weather Festival


Since I was off stewarding at the Pacific Brewers Cup, I could not make it to the Better Weather Festival put on by the fine folks at Golden Road. But I did have a man on the inside, Rich Rosen from Cap’ns Bier Blog filed this report…..

“My Fellow American; [it is an election year after all!]. This past Saturday, Sept. 22, 2012 was the Better Weather Festival @ Golden Road Brewing. The event started at high noon. Upon entry, one received a festival glass, 5 drink tickets, one ticket for a baseball cap and one ticket for a goodie bag.

Along with the fine food that the Golden Road Pub has to offer, a couple of food trucks were on hand. Parked strategically between the places where beer is brewed and where the brewers were dispensing their biers. Picnic tables were set up for one to sit and eat comfortably.

A good sample of the L.A. Craft Beer Breweries was present. A few craft brews from outside of L.A. were on hand. Dogfish Head, The Bruery and Hangar 24 served up some of there fine drafts.

Yes the temperature was well into the 90’s. It was after all Glendale, Ca. on the first day of autumn. Shade was in abundant supply where the beers were being poured. One could grab a pint and take a seat in a covered area easily.

Favorites included Bitches Brew from Dogfish Head, 4th Anniversary Dopplesticke from Hangar 24 close 2nd.

Also had Humulus and Autumn Maple from The Bruery and a Pumpkin beer from Taps.

Busiest Booth? I would say the Tour of the Golden Road Brewery was the busiest.

The festival was well run. No long lines existed. The exception was at the first half-hour at the entry. It was a good event for L.A. Beer Week!!”

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FoodGPS Teaser – Fourth time’s a Charm


Tomorrow on FoodGPS, I will be giving you the top picks of where to go and what to drink as L.A. Beer Week unspools. Here is the initial info blast to prep you before then….

“LA Beer Week makes its triumphant return a little early this year! Now its fourth iteration, this epic celebration of local beer culture will take place throughout Los Angeles & Orange Counties (and their respective environs) from September 20-30, rather than in October as in years past.

LA Beer Week aims to present a large number of events all around town, with focused tastings, educational seminars, and beer pairing dinners that will please craft beer aficionados and neophytes alike. These resplendent activities will culminate with the signature LA Beer Week Festival on September 30, from 12-4pm at the historic Union Station. $50 pre-sale tickets for the flagship festival are available now, which entitle attendees to unlimited 4oz. tasters of beer from over 70 of the world’s most respected craft and artisan breweries, including some rare and special releases. Gourmet food trucks and local artisans will also be on site to peddle their tasty treats.”

And here is the list of LABW Brewers that are participating in the Prickly Pear collaboration project:
• Eagle Rock Brewery
– Berliner-Rye with Red and Green Prickly Pear Fruit
– Available throughout LABW activities & at Union Station
• Golden Road
– Honey Blonde with Cactus Honey and Mesquite-Smoked Prickly Pear Fruit and Pads
– Available throughout LABW activities & at Union Station
• Cismontane
– Hefeweizen with Hand-Pressed Prickly Pear Juice
– Available throughout LABW activities & at Union Station
• Ladyface Ale Companie
– Prickly Pear-Infused IPA
– 1-2 kegs available at Union Station event only
• Beachwood BBQ & Brewing
– Belgian Golden Strong
• Smog City Brewing
– Prickly Pear-Infused Saison
– 1-2 kegs available at Union Station event only
• Monkish Brewing
– Belgian Dark Wheat with Prickly Pear
– Not sure of quantity
• El Segundo
– Not sure of style or quantity to be brewed
• Hangar 24
– Not sure of style or quantity to be brewed
• Kinetic Brewing
– Not sure of style or quantity to be brewed