Evelyn Rosales

A typical Saturday at Beer Belly (while the patio was still under construction last month)

When beer bars and gastropubs started sprouting up en masse across Los Angeles a few years ago, not many could have predicted the rise of Beer Belly.

Hidden off of Western near the Titantic-themed Cafe Jack and a two-story Kentucky Fried Chicken, the tiny former noodle house -- which is brightly painted like a Giant Robot store -- was an unlikely place to host some of the city's best beer events.

More »

Erika Bolden

Flights for American Craft Beer Week

American Craft Beer Week is under way and picking up speed. The Brewers Association-- a nonprofit group recognized as the central foundation for craft beer in America -- designates a week in May to celebrate small and independent craft breweries. This year, May 13-19 serves as an opportunity to get to know your local brewers, attend tap takeovers and drink really good beer. If you need visual stimulus, see the Brewers Association ACBW video on the next page. (You're in good company if it makes you misty-eyed.)

For Los Angeles and around the country, the celebration culminates on Thursday night with an inaugural nationwide, synchronized toast at 5 p.m. PST. Because we Westerners are of heartier stock and require daytime drinking. Thursday is also the most concentrated day for beer events, so you're advised to start the weekend early.

Our list supplies highlights only. Your favorite local watering hole likely will have updates and specials listed through its social media of choice, and a complete list is at Craftbeer.com. Enjoy the upcoming events -- or commit yourself to our life's motto and live every week like it's Beer Week.

More »

Mohawk Bend

Hangar 24 IPA and North Coast Old 38

Breakfast in the Bend
The Echo Park beer pub is hosting a brunch to benefit Share Our Strength, with Golden Road brews at $4 and three $10 specials: chili-cheese baked omelettes, Bend breakfast burritos, and the namesake waffles with fresh berries. A dollar from each pint and $5 from each special sold will be donated to the nonprofit organization.
WHAT: Breakfast in the Bend
WHEN: Saturday, May 18, 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
WHERE: Mohawk Bend, 2141 W. Sunset Blvd., Echo Park; (213) 483-2337.

More »

Lydia Chain

Vegan Beer Fest

Meat and cheese-lovers were out of luck on the Sunset Strip this Saturday, as 40 animal-free breweries and 30 vegan food vendors took over an empty lot for the 4th annual L.A. Vegan Beer and Food Festival -- an event that is quickly proving itself to be one of the city's biggest and best for craft beer.

Despite a seemingly niche premise of welcoming only animal-free products, the sold-out festival was attended by more than just those who ascribe to the vegan lifestyle. Yes, there was a vegan rapper ("I went vegan, now what you sayin'? Educate yourself you might understand...") and lines of hungry hoards clamoring for Kind Kreme's dairy-free ice cream and Shojin's no-fish sushi, but the event brought out craft beer fans and curious Angelenos alike, who wandered the grounds exploring these two growing culinary trends.

More »

J Swann

The new Budweiser can.

When an oversized package from Budweiser appeared at the LA Weekly office last week, we were befuddled to discover that it contained just one single can of beer. But it wasn't just any old can of beer nestled neatly into a glossy gift box -- it was a limited edition, bow-tie-shaped can of Budweiser, which will only be available in an 8-pack in supermarkets and liquor stores beginning today.

An accompanying double-sided press release told us that "this can is incomparable, like nothing you've ever seen before," according to Anheuser-Busch vice president of innovation, Pat McGauley. What exactly is it about this stylish, bow-tie-shaped can that's so incomparable, we wondered. On a superficial level, it mimics the shape of Budweiser's triangular logo, but does it serve any sort of functional purpose that enhances its flavor, drinkability, or temperature?

More »

Sarah Bennett

Jeremy Raub, with beer

There's a common misconception that craft beers are exclusively high-alcohol beverages and that the world of microbrews only includes boldly flavored and anti-macro styles like IPAs and imperial stouts. But spend a whole evening washing down full servings of these big beers and you'll soon realize that in large quantities, they're more likely to have you drunk and puking than savoring the essence of each.

Behold, the session beer: an umbrella term for low-alcohol, easy-drinking brews that can be consumed in multiples over the course of a drinking session without leaving you running to hug the ivory throne. It's a term that originated in Europe -- where beer is less a means to a drunk end than, well, a social experience -- and has been lovingly adopted by the American craft beer scene to refer to any beer that helps you to actually remain present for the entire session.

Eagle Rock Brewery co-owner Jeremy Raub says that session beers take way more guts to make since imperfections can't hide behind heavy smoked chocolate malt or a 10% alcohol content. That's part of why he invented Session Fest three years ago as a way to educate people to these often overlooked small beers.

More »

LAVBF

The Vegan Beer Festival this Saturday, May 4, from 1-5 p.m., is set to delight buzz-seaking meat-abstainers of Southern California for the fourth year. By popular demand the venue for the beer and food celebration was recently upgraded to the lot across from The Roxy Theatre, nearly doubling the capacity for this year's meatless merrymaking.

Co-hosts Tony's Darts Away, The Roxy and L.A. vegan blogger Quarry Girl have corralled local beer from Golden Road, Monkish, El Segundo, Cismontane, Noble Ale Works, TAPS, and Bootlegger's along with California staples Sierra Nevada, Anchor, and Lagunitas and many, many more. Ticket holders will receive a tasting glass for unlimited samples from the 40+ breweries, access to over 30 vegan food vendors, and live music from a number of bands toting vegan-friendly names.

Most people react with surprise upon hearing that beer isn't always vegan and that there is an entire festival devoted to those that are animal-free.

More »

Lydia Chain

the taproom

Since we last checked in with Smog City Brewing just a few short weeks ago, the newest Torrance beer makers have already filled up all of the fermenting tanks with fresh batches, submitted label approval for their new keg rings and opened the roll-up door to customers during its first ever soft-opening weekend a few days ago.

Though the eight beers that have already been brewed in the new facility (including the gold medal-winning Groundworks Coffee Porter) will not be available until the official grand opening party on May 18, co-owners Laurie and Jonathan Porter dug into their reserves for beers to pour during the limited taproom hours that will be in place the next three weekends.

"People ask us if we're afraid to open a brewery, but we're not afraid -- we've been doing this for a year," co-owner Laurie Porter says of how her husband started making and distributing beers under the Smog City brand while still Brewmaster at Tustin Brewing Company in Orange County. "We're only afraid that we haven't gotten our beer out to the people yet!"

More »

Sarah Bennett

For many bars, happy hour means rock-bottom prices for stiff well drinks that could peel paint off the walls. But plastic-bottle vodka isn't for everyone. Besides, any two-for-one deal on Kentucky Gentleman is likely to leave you stuck calling a cab. Instead, take advantage of beer-focused happy hours, where you can maintain your legal driving limit while still having a few. And don't settle for the fizzy yellow stuff. If you're going to drink discounted beer with discounted food, it might as well be quality discounted beer, right? Right.

We scoured this burgeoning craft beer city for the best places to visit during those magical early-evening hours. Behold, our five favorite spots where tasty microbrews are poured at PBR prices.

More »

Courtesy Firestone Walker

Jeffers Richardson at Barrelworks

There are two compelling reasons why you should head to Atwater Village tonight, Thurs. at 7:00 p.m. To have unlimited access to Jeffers Richardson, Firestone Walker's "Barrelmeister" on one of the most exciting new barrel programs in craft beer. And to do your brainpicking at Golden Road's exclusive pub, Chloe.

Richardson has had a venerable career in the beer industry, graduating from the UC Davis brewmaster program while most of us were still building a pog collection and pretending we knew the lyrics to Nuthin' but a 'G' Thang. He originated the role of brewmaster at Firestone Walker in 1996 and later spent six years brewing at Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. From there Richardson moved into the olive oil industry before returning to FW last year to direct Barrelworks.

More »