Not the actual boulevard but Boulevard beer at the Verdugo who hosted a special tasting on Saturday directly after a similar soiree at Sunset Beer Co.
I have been absent from the Glassell Park bar for too long and with a bright sunny day on their back patio beckoning, I sipped on three different beers from the Midwest brewery making a new push into L.A.
I started with the Lemon Ginger Radler which was very refreshing. The ginger was hinted at in good balance. This was my favorite on the afternoon. Easy drinking is an understatement.
The Pop-Up Session IPA was fine. But in comparison to my gold standard of Easy Jack, it faltered. I want a certain brightness and crispness that I didn’t quite get from this one.
My other hop choice was the Heavy Lifting IPA. Like the Pop-Up, it was fine. Not the highest praise, but it didn’t lift itself out of the pack of IPA’s.
Now that L.A. is a destination for out of state breweries, which beers will make their mark? After this afternoon, my vote is for the Radler.