Follow Sean Inman to the best in craft beer
I often chide, sometimes roughly – always rightly, the L.A. Times for a lack of beer coverage. But I will give credit where it is due and they have stepped up with this…..
Follow the link HERE to check out the list and see if you have visited them all.
You walk past the windows of La Bodega Brewing in Whittier, seeing the fermenters and other brewing equipment but then you enter and if you are slow like me, you might be confused, is it a butcher? Then you might not take the neon hint of what is the password or lack of entrance before being carefully led in by one of the many kind staff to the easy speakeasy behind the cooler door.
Inside is one of the swankiest environs for a brewery that I have been into. Blue lights, movie house ceilings, low light. Prohibition vibe.
And lagers. Mexican, dark, regular plus a blonde ale. The Mala Suerte was a solid start, the Pale Ale was dialed in. Bright and citrus. The Hazlitt Hazy was a little letdown from the first two. Creamy and hoppy but lacking a dominant flavor. Toma, the Double IPA was in between. Better than the hazy but dull compared to the pale. I wish I had gone for the three lagers and the pale for the taster tray.
Plus food that is steakhouse meets LA plus Fosselman’s ice cream makes this brewery more of a special night out
Poet Gardens, the home of the Whittier Brewing Co. won’t be the city’s only brewery for long as a 2nd brewery has gained approval from the Whittier Planning Commission.
The brewery is La Bodega, owned by Erik and Raul Tapia. They plan to operate a brewery, as well as a retail store to sell beer and wine alongside a restaurant in a former optometrist’s office.
Abraham Mercado, a friend of the owners will be the brewmaster and the hope is for a 2020 opening.
I like that more beer festivals are trending toward beer AND food festivals. With both on equal footing. Not beer festivals with a lonely food vendor in the corner or a food festival with a nod to craft beer in the form of a tap or two. The first ever Taps and Tapas festival in Whittier accomplished this balancing act with tempting food and beer.
First time festivals can be hit or miss. The concept may be great but the space may not be. Or any other unforeseen problems may derail a passion project. That being said, there is a lot to like about where Taps & Tapas started and where this idea can go. There was a strong selection of beer available. And it thankfully featured some new breweries as well.
I will focus on the beers that I had:
Ironfire Nu Hell IPL – I have only had a few of the beers from this brewery so it was nice to see both an old favorite and new tap on hand. I went for the lighter and new to me IPL that had a nice citrus taste but was first and foremost a lager. Nice and zippy.
Clown Shoes – 2014 Krunkle Sams – I probably shouldn’t have indulged in a high ABV barley wine in the heat but this was another winner. Caramel notes mixed with citrus. It wasn’t light but it didn’t overwhelm the palate either.
Polymath Premo Pilz had a lot of grain taste in the glass. Flaked corn being one addition. Polymath is one thirdof a co- op with Delicious Science and Seven Brothers Brewing in Riverside. Not a bad pils. Well done just not to my taste
Old School Gold Beer was the lowlight of the beers it was metallic with too much mineral taste. It poured a nice yellow color but this unforgiving style was not done quite right.
Ohana Pacific Blonde Wow, this was really nice. You can really tell the difference between a brewer that has honed in on a flavor. And Ohana has. This is nearly perfect for hot weather.
Alosta Brewing LOL Wit – Really lovely aroma. Big citrus notes here. Zippy. This was my fest favorite. It was a surprise too, since my first Alosta beers were a bit underwhelming to me. I want to go back now and try their new beers.
Twisted Manzanita – Imperial red. This red was solid but didn’t really sing. Technically fine just not hitting my taste buds.
Congregation Praise On Saison was really tasty and a good choice for a last beer. Good vanilla taste with just a touch of spice. One of the better beers to try to pair food with.
The only downside to the event and one that may or may not be easily rectified was the location. It was kinda weird to be in a community center gym drinking beer. The divided layout of upper and lower levels was not conducive to wandering. The heat only exacerbated that divide as people came inside to avoid the sun which only made the gym hotter. A bigger and indoor location would be the best improvement this event could make. I would have also added a pairing suggestion list somewhere to give people an idea of what to pair with what. The best advice I got was from the dessert caterer who paired a couple of nice items with my IPA.
Yes, this is the BIG DAY. Opening Gala at Union Station. But if you were not quick on the draw and did not get tickets, no worries. Here is your pick for Sunday……
Special Pumpkin Beer Flight
Paired with Chef Tony’s Japanese-Pumpkin Flatbread
If the food and tap list at The Bottle Room can’t console you missing the fun at Union Station then nothing can!
The follow it up with a visit to newcomer….
in nearby-ish Downey
ALL WEEK EVENT
*while beers last*
* Cask Offerings
* Pint Nights
* Tap Take Overs
With the 4th version of L.A. Beer Week nearing it’s climax, certain truths have become evident. Firestone-Walker is creative with their major event theme. Fifty/Fifty Brewing brings some great beer and the Bottle Room in Whittier will dazzle with their food and beer pairings.
Last night was Logsdon Farmhouse Ales night. With head brewer and yeast wrangler, Dave Logsdon in attendance all the way from Hood River, Oregon. And you had a great gamut of his beers to sample….
….to go along with different cheese plates that Tony Alcazar had whipped up for the occasion.
I had a sampler tray of four beers that may have been first poured through the lines and so they didn’t have the same bite and flavors that I remember from the bottled versions of the beer…
…but the hopped Saison was quite nice. Very mild and certainly not an American amped of saison style.
It was great to sit with Kevin and Scott from Artisan Ales who make sure we get the Logsdon beers down here as well as to talk to Dave and Tony. That’s the type of environment that makes a L.A. Beer Week event great….
….all layers of the industry out at the bar talking to the fans and showing off the beer.
You have two more opportunities to go all Logsdon durin the final days of L.A. Beer Week. Tonight at Sunset Beer Co. and Sunday at the Union Station festival. Don’t miss your chance to try a really great cherry beer….
All I can say is Excellent!! The Bottle Room in Whittier is great. I had the Rosemary Chicken pizza along with Telegraph White Ale and the Maredsous 10. Then followed it up with my 1st ever beer float!! Very good with caramel and nuts and Downtown brown ale. Highly recommended!
Every new beer enlightened place that opens is like an angel getting wings. The scene,Whittier, California. 24 beers on tap. Rogue Hazelnut in a float! It is on my list of places to check out soon. Plus the chef is super cool. It’s called the Bottle Room. Check it out for yourself.
http://www.thebottleroombar.com/