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Looks like the next chapter for former Golden Road and current Mohawk Bend and Tony’s Darts Away owner Tony Yanow will be craft beer brewpub space in the Valley.
The latest intel is that Yanow is considering a spot way out in Sherman Oaks on Ventura Boulevard. It is projected as a brewpub. Restaurant focused with a small brewery.
For sure, there will be IPA’s on the menu. Past that things get hazy like the NE.
Beer events usually involve beer geeks. Not a bad thing. But sometimes casting a wider net of beer drinkers can yield more interesting conclusions. The 1st Beer Talk with the theme of IPA was just such an event.
For example, have noted IPA lover Tony Yanow of Golden Road talking about his take on the history of the IPA style to a crowd that included a home brewer, beer bloggers and a person who has never been to Mohawk Bend and you end up hearing new viewpoints on an oft discussed and oft drunk beer style along with generous samples to compare and contrast.
Tidbits that I picked up:
Tony is a big fan of the Kernel Brewery in London. I tried to put a bug in his ear about a transatlantic collaboration. Maybe that can happen.
A 4% beer with 80 IBU’s would be more of a palate wrecker than Palate Wrecker.
Deadheads were big Sierra Nevada fans and as they followed the band they brought the beer with them around the country. Possibly getting the US accustomed to hoppy beers.
Anything over 100 IBU’s is really theoretical. You just can’t utilize that much alpha acid.
To me the best aspect was getting to try Blind Pig next to Sierra Nevada Pale ale or the Pliny the Elder next to Wolf Among Weeds because it does really show the differences off and can lead to a greater appreciation for a beer that may get passed up. Plus to see the faces of people who either haven’t had the beer before is really cool. Toss in a little blind tasting where I ranked Wolf slightly higher than Pliny along with a couple others is fun too.
And the $20 price tag is a steal in an era of $50+ events out there.
I ain’t gonna lie. I am an omnivore. I do hate enough foods (looking at you beets and parsnips) that I can’t cordon off one whole section of the food pyramid. Not to mention that I do love me a good hamburger and pepperoni pizza. But I am also open minded enough to try new things (minus mushrooms, hate those fungal bastards) and I won’t sneer at someone who chooses to go their own way. And the triumvirate behind the 5th edition of the Los Angeles Vegan Beer & Food Festival Tony’s Darts Away, The Roxy and Quarry Girl also seem to be on the same wavelength.
As Nic Adler of The Roxy puts it, “Going to festivals is about two key elements – enjoying things you love and discovering new ones. That’s what LA Vegan Beer & Food Festival is.”
Here is the initial beer line-up: Golden Road Brewing, El Segundo, North Coast, Stone Brewing, Modern Times, Ballast Point, Smog City, Automatic, Sierra Nevada, Firestone Walker and many more.
The Ticket 411 for the event of May 17th
“Tickets for the 21 and over event are $50 for general admission (includes unlimited beer tasting), $80 for VIP (early noon entry, exclusive and unlimited beer tasting and access to VIP lounge) and $30 for non-drinking admission. Tickets can be purchased on Ticketfly, here and day of pending availability. Located at 8950 W. Sunset Blvd near The Roxy Theater, doors open for general admission at 1 p.m.”
Some great news for people who want to get driven to three of L.A.’s better craft beer spots….
LA Beer Hop has partnered with Mohawk Bend, Tony’s Darts Away and The Pub at Golden Road Brewing to launch a new shuttle route, ferrying hop-heads to some of LA’s best beer bars.
Every Wednesday in November, from 7pm to midnight hitch a ride for $5. Hop on and off as you please and enjoy perks like select beers for $4, complimentary snacks, and even some surprise swag! The first shuttle will depart from Mohawk Bend at 7pm.
Wednesday, November 7th is the inaugural hop, just RSVP for that run by calling Mohawk Bend at 213.483.2337 or at dana@mohawk.la by Wednesday, 10/31.
If you want to reserve seats for any of the Wednesday hops after that then RSVPs go to contact@labeerhop.com, or interested parties can reserve by calling Hal at LA Beer Hop: 323.928.2113.
Speculation has been rife on the interwebs about the exact opening date for Tony Yanow’s Mohawk Bend in Echo Park. The time is almost upon us. In less vague terms, Sunday the 24th of July. CORRECTION-THAT DATE IS INCORRECT. I WILL UPDATE WITH OPENING DATE WHEN IT BECOMES AVAILABLE>
I along with a few others got to test drive Mohawk Bend on Tuesday night and here is what you need to be excited about….
…and there is a lot to acquaint yourself with. This is a large space. With an outdoor seating area. A large communal table in the middle. A vegan and non-vegan kitchen that you can watch in action while you eat. Or you can gaze upon the craft beer on the other side of the room. Or pick a booth in the front. You can try a different spot each time you visit.
…which includes 72 taps of beer. Two of which are cask. Primarily California brewed but each month a new “guest” brewery will be featured that may or may not be from the Golden State. If you like the beer list at Tony’s Darts Away, you will be quite happy here.
The crafted in California extends to the spirits and cocktails, Keith Taylor is bringing in a mother lode of artisinal spirits. Obviously, I gravitate towards beer but the bottles Taylor has procured are the equivalent of the great beer list. And though the Mildred Pierce cocktail was quite tasty, I would suggest trying these gems straight-up first.
….named for the movie house that was on this spot 26 years ago. It is a sunlit room with that great big fireplace and two large indoor trees where you can sit and enjoy the great food like the dungeness crab and roast corn rolls or maybe a little casserole with your craft beer. Oh and pizza too. Who could resist a pie named Pig Newton?
For all of you who patiently waited, your reward awaits you.
Check out these other rave reviews:
Drink Eat Travel
Quarry Girl
As if running a successful bar in Burbank wasn’t enough.
As if partnering on the ColLAboration events wasn’t enough.
As if opening a huge 65 tap bar wasn’t enough.
Well now Tony Yanow is really going big. And this will be huge for the LA craft beer community. Last night, I along with other craft beer writers got the sneak peak at the facility and more importantly the team behind Golden Road Brewing.
Jon Carpenter (brewmaster) is originally from San Diego but you may recognize him from the late lamented Brewmasters show because he was most recently at Dogfish Head.
Meg Gill (co-founder and Presidnet) comes from two brewing hot spots Boulder and Oskar Blue’s and San Francisco and Speakeasy Ales and Lagers. Combined with Tony they have taken over three distinctively colored buildings next to the train tracks in Atwater Village (on the dividing line of LA and Glendale).
There will be a pub in the yellow building. A barrel aging facility in the red and the blue building will hold the brewing operations.
The styles are yet to be determined. Too early in the development stage for that but don’t be surprised to see a hoppy California style brew. And it will be canned! The line has been purchased. Obviously with a barrel room their will be aged beers done but again too early to give definitive answers as to what kind though the word sour was bandied about.
If I can be corny for a moment, craft beer in LA looks golden right now.
As threatened, here are the reasons why you should be beer geeked about Tony Yanow and the newly opened Tony’s Darts Away (TDA)…
REASON # 1
The hospitality at TDA will be strong from day one. Why? Because Tony has been doing beer tastings for awhile. Thanks to his “problem” of collecting great beer, he has had to occasionally purge which leads to people “helping” him winnow the size back to manageable. By doing this, Tony has not only exposed Los Angeles to great beer, he has learned how to find the right beer for people. And that is a gift in a beer world that some people are just discovering. Hence the TDA motto of “Bringing the fine beer of California to the fine people of Los Angeles.”
REASON # 2
The magical word NITRO. Tony is originally from Canada which is not afraid of the nitro. And I have had my share growing up in Portland. But is has been conspicuous in it’s absence from the burgeoning Los Angeles scene. Not now. And it won’t be confined to just porters and stouts. Nitro La Merle anyone?
REASON # 3
The staff at TDA will be educated. Tony has traveled up and down the state of California to familiarize himself with what beer the state has to offer. The staff has been assigned reading, has tasted the beers and has even brewed! Plus Tony has two aces in Paige Reilly and Dave Watrous. Fun and smart beer people.