Tag: Van Nuys

Posted on

Reno My Brewery

Anheuser-Busch announced a new $16 million investment in its Los Angeles ( Van Nuys ) brewery with the main takeaways being:

·      Expansion of packaging capabilities for the company’s “beyond beer” brands like Cutwater and NUTRL, including variety packaging

·      Increased production capacity for 25-ounce cans to meet increasing consumer demand

·      Facility upgrades to enhance water conservation and reduce boiler emissions

Anheuser-Busch has been in the Valley since 1954 and is one of more than 120 facilities across the country.

I am down for the third item of water saving but am a bit confused by the first two.  Are there not enough variety packs from Bud? Or its ethanol options?  And 25 ounce cans?  I thought the 19.2 ounce stovepipes were the package du jour.

I also noticed nothing about buying better hops or local malts or making better beer.

Posted on

MacLeod at Ten

After the trials and tribulations of the last 4+ years, MacLeod Ales has hung on and has reached the double digit milestone of 10 years.  That achievement alone should push you to a trip to Van Nuys to have a pint, maybe even a cask ale. 

Screenshot
Posted on

Taxed

Yes, I agree. An 80 Shilling ale should come from a hand pump at your local. But I would rejoinder that I think it is better to have this particular style of ale out and accessible more.

Which is why I am glad that MacLeod’s has canned their Kings Taxes for the first time.

Posted on

MacLeod Made it to 9

MacLeod Ales, despite being declared nearly dead last year, has risen up and now has reached the 9 year mark.  That is probably an even better reason than just reaching year 9 so pick a location ( OG Van Nuys or Highland Park) and get a proper English pint and raise it in the air.

Posted on

R.I.P. – MacLeod Ale Brewing Company

There were some troubling signs from MacLeod Ale Brewing Company in recent days but today the hammer came down as they announced the closure of both the original Van Nuys brewing operation and the just recently opened satellite pizza and bar in Highland Park.

The reasons cited for the closures:

1] We’re over budget in several categories
2] We have too much debt due to expansion
3] Sudden crash of sales [down 15% in Oct, 21% in November! Bad timing!]
4] Our 2nd location opened too late and is underperforming.

You have to be a risk taker to brew beer commercially and you also need angel investors to backstop when good bets go wrong. Hopefully a new chapter can emerge from the brewery and it employees.

Posted on

LABW13 – Cellador Friends Festival

I actually went to a beer festival! The first one since 2019! Cellador Ales hosted the kick-off event for the 2022 L.A. Beer Week and here is my rundown…

Before I start with my best beers though, I want to say that I love the fact that Cellador has embraced magnum pours. They had a whole “magnum island” booth plus bottles were being walked around the festival alley.

On to the beers, this was not a sour only event as in years past, but there were sours aplenty. Rare Barrel had Space Jellies with Strata hops, Craftsman had some barreled Flors and many others had bottle or can pours at the ready.

That said, some of my favorites on the day were from North Park who brought their historically named DIPA’s …

Probably a notch above was the Green Cheek version of Timbo Pils which was bright and hoppy and refreshing on a hot day.

Another stand-out was Craftsman Brewing, OG in L.A. bringing their famous 1903 Lager as well as three barrel-aged ales including 3rd and 4th Flor. I tasted 3rd which used Sherry yeast and was different from every other taster I had.

I like the set-up lots of colorful branded pop-up tents in a row with food at one end and wine and cider inside. I was hoping for more seating and shade options. It was telling that the slim strip of shade near the building quickly became a hang out spot.

I will need to get my festival legs back. I was like a kid in a candy store who hadn’t had sugar in a bit but was also was too wary of crowds. But, my pacing and technique will improve as I get back in the swing of things.

Thanks to Kevin and Fran for setting up a great return to festival action in Los Angeles.

Posted on

Nuys Pizza

Now you can have some Italian pizza with your English-styled beers from MacLeod Ales. I am liking that breweries are expanding into food. It is the next step in the L.A. craft beer evolution.

Posted on

MacLeod Day – Last Call

I have written, in the past, of my disdain of the yoga and the comedy and the trivia that seem to happen in every taproom, so when I saw this on Facebook, I was thankful that something new and different was being attempted.

I also appreciate that the creativity is being tied into the brewery and the beer too. Sort of a mystery podcast version of Cheers.

Posted on

2 Reel

I have only tasted beers from Reel Brewing once. They were sub-par and since I have not seen them around either on draft or on store shelves, they were out of sight and mind.

But recent Instagram activity, shows that they are building out in Van Nuys near MacLeod and are also planning a location in my Glendale.

Hopefully, the beers have improved over time. I will keep you posted as to further news.

Posted on

Pizza and Casks


Coming soon, when you are at MacLeod’s for a pint of the cask, you will be able to slide over to a window and get some pizza to go with it.

The next door kitchen will be overseen by chef Bruce Hall (who is also heading up the upcoming 2nd location Ale and Pie Emporium). The window will have slices and salads. Then it is up to us to determine which pizza pairs best with which beer.