A Beer Haven

A food hall in SoCal without a brewery presence is probably not really a food hall.  But what if your food hall has two breweries?

Haven City in West Covina, wedged into an already busy big strip mall has recently opened and when I visited had a big crowd (even before a Dodger playoff game had started).  Lots of food vendors right next to a big grocery store and there were still spots like Amboy not ready yet.

On one end is Ogopogo Brewing which had a full slate of their beers including two Fest-ish beers in Drude Marzen and Nachtkrapp Schwarzbier as well as a collab Nectaron Pils with Arrow Lodge.  They are in a quiet corner that could probably use more seating but Drude was quite excellent.

Over on the other side is Burning Bridge Brewing which also does a small menu of tacos.  They had quite a line-up on tap including a Belgian Dubbel, a PSL beer and, what I was told is a quite popular rice lager. I went with a hefty Hazy DIPA, Swing of the Axe, another beertender recommendation.  

This City was full of people watching and also has a nice outdoor seating area as well.  I would say pick a spot for a beer, then wander and choose some food and then have a second beer.

From the Deep

I really love the mythical creatures, like the Ponaturi, that Ogopogo Brewing puts on their labels. And I also really love that they have seemed to have found a niche in dry hopped lagers. Bonus points to beer fans who have had a beer with the hop known as “the Bruce”.

OgoCIDERpogo

San Gabriel based Ogopogo Brewing is branching out, so to speak, into Dry Apple Cider. And try as I might, I cannot see any mythical monsters on the label. Perhaps I am not seeing the orchard for the trees. Hopefully this will be available for pick-up at the brewery soon so I can investigate the art more.