Smog Collaborations

Smog City has (2) collaborations on shelves……

“We teamed up with the awesome people at The Bruery and the result is “Atomic Kangarue”: a dry-hopped sour ale brewed with 2 types of grape must and fermented with Brett.”

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….and on tap is “the North vs. South “California Love” Collaboration with 21st Amendment Brewery in San Francisco. This Imperial Red brewed with citrus and Pinot Noir grapes will be making a simultaneous return on September 9th (to celebrate the day California became a state!) at both our taproom and the 21 Amendment pub in San Francisco.”

Summit # 10 with the LA Beer Bloggers

2014 is off with a bang for the L.A. Beer Bloggers.  Last month we got a sneak peek at where Ohana Brewing will be setting up a taproom while also going a little behind the scenes of 38 Degrees and the Full Pint.

And this month, we tackle the topic of beer photography.  From the perspective of the great Bernie Wire, from a brewery owner standpoint and from a marketing rep view.  Should be interesting, plus it will be at Smog City which has a few good beers, to say the least.

If you write about beer, Instagram, Facebook or Tweet about it then come on down…..

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#LABW5 Pick of the Night – Saturday 9/28

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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.

Rarest of the Rare at Smog City Taproom

I cannot add anything that cannot be better said by this tap list:

Cask
2009 O.E.
2011 Callaborative Evil w/Vanilla Beans

Draft
Quercus Circus – 19 month sour barrel-aged belgian blonde
Tempest – 18 month barrel-aged sour red rye
Farmhouse Funk
Bourbon Collaborative Evil – 2011 Collaboration with Julian Shrago of Beachwood BBQ
Bourbon Red – 15 months in bourbon barrels
Bourbon O.E.- Bourbon barrel-aged Olde English
Bourbon Imperial Porter
Weird Beer- 5 Grain Saison with spices
Hive Five- LABW special ingredient beer! 5 different types of Honey at 5.5%abv
GrapeApe IPA- IPA made with 500lbs of flame grapes, pressed on site

Forage Around

SmogCityLogo Smog City has debuted a new small batch series by the name of the Forager Series.

The first beers came out this time last month and are “based on the hunt for natural ingredients found and foraged around LA, the Forager Series uses hand harvested fruits and herbs to create unique beers that put a spin on traditional styles.” I missed the first couple (see below) and since these beers are brewed in very small batches they are only available in their taproom in Torrance.

And you can be a part of the beer, “We look forward to expanding this series and further exploring what LA has to offer in terms of ingredients. In the future we plan to brew larger batches for the Forager Series so if you are interested in helping out we’re looking for you!

We’ll send out requests as the recipes develop via the newsletter and of course, if you have an overabundance of fruits, herbs, peppers or the like please email laurie@smogcitybrewing.com and we might just design a recipe around it!”

Fennel Of Love- 5%abv
Sunday we will be tapping our 80 Shilling Scotch Ale brewed with fennel flowers harvested by Porter from wild growing fennel in Playa Vista. These flowers are not to be confused with fennel seed or fennel pollen, the flowers impart a subtly sweet anise character into a lightly malted and fruity beer. The result is a subtle licorice and fruity aroma balanced by a smooth crisp and lightly malty beer ending in the perfect amount of roast character thanks to the midnight wheat for added balance.

King Kumquat- Saison with Kumquats (tbd)abv
In the works and soon to be released is our second in the Forager Series, King Kumquat. Laurie harvested 60lbs of kumquats from the Porter household kumquat tree thereby leaving Porter and the guys with an excellent excuse to buy an immersion blender. New Toy! They then added the whole pureed kumquats into one of our 50gal stainless steel barrels and topped it up with actively fermenting L.A. Saison. As it has yet to finish out, we will all have to wait and see how the beer will ultimately taste.

Whether you participate or not this is a cool idea and a good way to make creative beers.

FoodGPS Teaser – Smog City

Early in January as the concrete was drying at the in-progress Smog City brewery, I was treated to a tour of the facility by Porter and Laurie the hard working duo behind such beers as The Nothing and Sabre-Toothed Squirrel.

I will talk more about what I saw and what I heard but check out some photos here…..
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The “sign” that shows you that you have found Smog City
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Remember this photo when you are sitting in their taproom.

And check out the info for their event tonight at the Venice Ale House….
“Come join TapHunter at Venice Ale House as we celebrate our LA launch with 2 of LA’s most promising breweries, LadyFace Ale Companie and Smog City Brewing. No strangers to one another, brewmasters and co-founders Dave Griffiths of LadyFace and Porter of Smog City once worked together at BJ’s Brewery before parting ways to start their own breweries. Now TapHunter is reuniting this duo, that represents both the light and darkness of the LA craft beer scene. Join us for a night of fun:

– Meet the folks from TapHunter, LadyFace and Smog City
– ‘Craft Table’ for the ladies we provide the t-shirts, ribbon, scissors; you provide the creativity! prizes for the best customized shirt!
– $5 pours, door prizes, burger specials
– DJ provided for the children

First 100 RSVP’ers, show us your TapHunter App and TapHunter will buy your first pint!”

The Tripel + Smog City =


In one of my homework assignments over on FoodGPS, I implored people to sample some Smog City beers. Well, lo and behold, now you have a chance….

“To celebrate the culmination of American Craft Beer Week, Smog City Brewery and The Tripel are teaming up for a night of big brews and fantastic food. The evening kicks off with a cocktail beer hour, followed by a special four-course tasting menu created by Brooke Williamson and Nick Roberts. Each course will be paired with a limited edition Smog City beer, all on draft. This special evening on May 21st begins at 6:30 p.m., and seating is extremely limited! For those unable to make the ticketed event, The Tripel will offer the special menu à la carte along with the limited selection of Smog City beers from 9pm to close.
Selection of Hors Oeuvres”
The cost is $65.00

Little Bo Pils

Hot and Sour Cockle Soup with Saison Runnings,
Sweetened Egg Omelette, and Wood Ear Mushrooms
L.A. Saison

Black Bread with Rabbit Pâté and Pickled Icicle Radish
Sabre-Toothed Squirrel

Beet Pasta with Wild Boar Ragout and Porcini Mushroom
Oaked Penumbra Stout

House Made Box of Candies
Groundwork Coffee Porter