Follow Sean Inman to the best in craft beer
If you have been around since the Partridge in A Pear Tree dropped lo those many years ago, then you will have to scan your memory or check your tasting notes because 12 years worth of Bruery holiday ales is coming. Tomorrow you can buy a full set and on the 13th there will be a selection from the years at Naja’s Place. Who knows what other shoppes and bars have full ranges stashed away.
Here is a really early look at L.A. Beer Week events that you may want to add to your schedule for celebrating the week in Los Angeles beer…
1. Monday, June 18th @ Eagle Rock Brewery Public House
“Come one, come all to learn a bit about the beer world from our esteemed panel of brewers/brewery owners (Highland Park Brewery, Three Weavers, Societe Brewing and Eagle Rock Brewery)! The kicker? Each panelist will be presented with hot wings that get progressively hotter throughout the panel. Sayre Piotrkowski, Bay Area beer evangelist will be moderating this SUPER HOT and hilarious panel. Can they take the heat? Can YOU? If you aren’t scurred, you should come try the flight of hot wings plus beers designated by the panelists to quell the inferno in their mouths. Each of the hot wings will be prepared with special hot sauces prepared by Chef Jerry Su, so they’ll be both delicious and SPICY!”
2. Tuesday, June 19th @ Harajuku Taproom
“Harajuku Taproom is a taproom for Baird Beer from Shizuoka, JAPAN. We will be celebrating LA Beer Week with a wide selection of Japanese Craft Beer from Baird Beer, several guest taps including Coedo and Hitachino, and some Japan-themed local LA beers. 21 beers on tap, special flights, representatives from Coedo, pouring some samples of their beer offering, a presentation on Baird Beer, and a discussion of Japanese Craft Beer by Tomm Carroll, LA Correspondent for Celebrator Beer News, and regular writer for Beer Paper LA.”
3. Thursday, June 21st @ Naja’s Place
“Naja’s Place in Redondo Beach will once again host the Battle of the Guilds; a three-Guild tap takeover between Los Angeles, San Diego, and San Francisco. Come support the home team and help LA win back the highly-coveted Golden Keg!”
4. Saturday, June 23rd @ Three Weavers Brewing
“Join us at our brewery in Inglewood for the 1st Annual Brewmo Pseudo-Sumo Showdown, where brewers from all around will square off in a brew-tal battle for eternal glory and a chance to hold the world-renowned Brewmo Pseudo-Sumo Belt of the Beermasters. We’ll have our parking lot turned into a sumo wrestling arena where you can drink some beer while you watch your favorite brewers lay it all on the line as they strap themselves into giant sumo wrestling suits and fight! It will be TOTAL PSEUDO-SUMO MADNESS. Free admission for 21+ with valid ID; our doors open at High Noon.”
5. Sunday, June 24th
“Why not finish the week at Milkfarm for the grand finale? ‘Cause in case you didn’t know….BEER LOVES CHEESE and CHEESE REALLY LOVES BEER! We’ll kick-off the class with a welcome pour of this year’s Unity Beer hosted by LA Ale Works! Alyssa, Milkfarm Cheesemonger and Craft Beer Cellar’s Beer Queen, will then guide you through FIVE unique, LA-brewed beers paired with FIVE delicious American cheeses (and/or cheese-based yummies). This class is meant to highlight the importance of the current-day artisan, and how they affect their communities. You’ll also get an overview of the brewing process, as well as learn the differences between many of the major beer styles….oh and you’ll learn a thing or two about CHEESE of course!”
A night in Alahambra, sipping at the L.A. Beer Week version of Ultimate Flight Night thanks to 38 Degrees….
That photo shows only 1/2 of the plethora of flights you could have ordered last night. I chose to not go that route and tried the Eagle Rock Barrel Aged Equinox, Stone 15th Anniversary with espresso beans and The Bruery’s Birra Basta.
My beer buddy Richard stayed on program and got the Beachwood BBQ Brewing Flight. His favorite was the Thrill Seeker IPA. 
Jeremy Raub was in the house along with Kern River and Mitch Steele from Stone as well. Oh and FoodGPS Josh, Alex Villa, The Full Pint guys and Dan from L.A. Weekly too…
Who gave me the lowdown on the proper toast.
Thanks to Clay Harding and his flight crew for the evening!
“And so… It’s time for Naja’s Place to kick off our…
3rd Annual IPA Festival on Thursday, April 21st, 2011 for one week.
To mark our 30th Anniversary, this year we will feature somewhere in the neighborhood of 50 of the baddest, rarest, and resinous IPAs, DIPAs, and IIPAs on the West Coast (and a few beyond).”
After fighting traffic and horrible directions, I finally got to Naja’s Place in Redondo Beach for the very 1st time. Right on the boardwalk, looking out at the harbor, Naja’s is a total beach bum joint with a twist. Awesome list of beers.
I started with my first taste of Magic Hat beer. I had # 9 and it was absolutely delicious. A wheat and citrus mix that has great balance. Nice carbonation. I now need to try more of their line-up because now I am even more interested. Refreshing beer with every sip.
I made a complete 180 on the second beer as you can see from the above photo. Sierra Nevada’s Empire Strikes Black. This looked really good. Great espresso foam on top. Great roasty smell. As the wind came off the harbor, this warmed me up. Very smooth. Malt forward but not aggressive. Coffee notes throughout.