Top 5 Craft Beer Bars for Beer Flights

By Caroline on Crack Thu., Aug. 25 2011 at 1:00 PM

dblstripe (via Flickr)

Craft beer bars can be a little intimidating to the uninitiated.

Thanks to the booming craft beer scene in Los Angeles and California recently dubbed the number-one beer state, chances are that lately you can't look at a beer list without feeling overwhelmed and scratching your head about 99 percent of brews you don't recognize. What is a coffee Belgian Blonde anyway? And will you even like barleywine?

Fortunately those fearful of committing to a pint of something they might end up hating will be grateful for the beer flight option that's popping up in many beer bars. With four or five 5-ounce tasters, you can now risk being adventurous. And even better, create your own specialized "beer fest." Will it be an IPA fest this time, a coffee-infused selection or, ooh, all Belgians?

Check out the top five beer-serious L.A. bars with the best selections for sampling after the jump.

Caroline on Crack

Beer Belly: Get in ma belleh!

5. Beer Belly in Koreatown is the smallest bar out of the five on the list and consequently has the fewest taps at 12 beers but with a seasoned staff further trained by Beer Chick Christina Perozzi, it's easy to gab with the beertender over which one you should try next in this intimate setting. Flights are $9 for four 4-ounce tasters, $8 during happy hour til 7pm.

Caroline on Crack

Simmzy's: Bartender's choice.

4. Simmzy's in Manhattan Beach is always packed with locals and tourists so if you're lucky enough to score a seat in a timely manner choose from their 24 beers on tap for your flight of four 4.5-ounce tasters ($12 Traditional flight and $19.50 Belgian).

Tony's Darts Away

Tony's Brews Away!

3. Tony's Darts Away makes things even easier for new beer fans by breaking up its 36-tap list into two easy-to-ponder categories of IPA and Non-IPA. A flight of four 4-ounce tasters is $8.

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Blue Palms Brewhouse

6124 Hollywood Blvd., Los Angeles, CA

Category: Music

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Beer Belly, beer flights, Blue Palms Brewhouse, Caroline on Crack, Christina Perozzi, craft beer, Library Alehouse

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My workday was cut short and while sitting at the light on Santa Monica Blvd and I think Beverly Glen, I noticed Smithhouse. The signage seemed new and since I love to experience anything new, in hopes of a great beer selection (I am currently learning about craft beer). So I look for places that have beer-flights... you know, a tray of 3-5oz glasses of different brews. Pulled in to "free valet" YEP! FREE!! walked in and saw a glowing wall of tap handles circled this large restaurant's bar and saw another wall. in total 120 taps. I sat at the bar, and asked for a recommendation. the bartender, I think named Adam, gave this amazing 1 minute rundown of beer families / styles and told be about their beer-flights. I ordered the "California Flght" consisting of Racer 5 IPA, Arrogant Bastard, He'brew Origin Pomegranate Ale, Anderson Valley Barney Flats Oatmeal Stout and Old Rasputin Russian Imperial Stout (sorry if the spellings are off). They were served on a wooden tray in 4-5oz mini beer mugs. AWESOME! The ambiance, the knowledge, the beer = amazing... it get's better. I decided to look over the food menu. Now starving, yet quenched, I dove into the Turkey & Gravy Burger. OMG. it was like I took a plate of Thanksgiving dinner and put it on a bun. The fries were crisp and seasoned perfectly. After an hour and making friends with a couple sitting at the bar next to me, I ordered the Eastside Flight... which had Sam Adams Octoberfest, Dogfish Head 90 Min IPA, Victory Golden Monkey, Allagash Black and Goose Island Matilda. Again, outstanding. Overall, the service = 99, Food = 95, beer knowledge and selection = 100, atmosphere = 95. So after reading this article I felt it necessary to give you my 2cents. and if you are within 10 miles of SmithHouse Tap & Grill, hit it up. one last thing.... I asked about the taps coming out of a few tables... Adam informed me that there are 4 or 5 booths that have built in dual tap beer taps. AMAZING. I am not one to rant and rave and plant a seed, but SmithHouse my choice for Beer Flights. (since I couldn't remember all the beer names, I honestly had to refer back to their website, so to not butcher their names. www.Smthhousela.com