LA Beer Week 8 Kickoff – Recap and Pictures

We would like to introduce our newest team mate, Javi Gonzalez.  We met Javi last month, as he invited Danny on his podcast, The Slur. They immediately hit it off and decided to bring Javi on board.

With schools across the country shutting their doors, (Except for the poor bastards going to summer school) longer days and the record setting temperatures, the thirsty masses that inhabit the city and county of Los Angeles have something to celebrate. Usually hot days mean the stench of burgers being burnt, old friends and lots of beer, craft or not. But on the day of June 18th, 2016, with the sun shining its rays relentlessly on the downtown site of the 8th Annual LA Beerweek kick-off festival, temperatures flared for a different reason. A reason that made 3,000 parched craft beer lovers from various backgrounds descend upon the lot featuring 80 plus local and guest breweries, each with their own representation of various styles transcending cultural boundaries and gave those in attendance something that overall encompasses the American way, a choice.

I must admit, as I walked around and strolled by the seemingly endless line of tents bursting at the seams with recognizable names and new faces, I was concerned whether I’d be able to get out of this alive with a working liver, but after a hearty breakfast, I knew my stomach would hang. One of the tents I was looking forward to visiting was the Arts District brewing tent, releasing a new double IPA called Crazy Gideon. A nice, dank and tasty Hop Forward IPA, perfect to distract one from the barrage of UV Rays raining down. Excitement began to really pick up when the first wave of craft beer junkies arrived and split in all different directions trying to get their hands on exclusive pours littered throughout the grounds. Orange County was represented well with Noble Ale Works pouring their damn fine IPA called Dank You For Being a Friend complete with artwork parodying the famous show The Golden Girls and Bottle Logic Brewing “secretly” pouring VIP attendees the very robust vanilla stout Fundamental Observation. Powerhouse Firestone Brewing made a strong appearance featuring solid brews like Luponic Distortion IPA and their DBA (Double Barrel Ale).

Not to be outdone, the Los Angeles Brewers guild with executive Director Frances Lopez, spared no expense in bringing the big guns to the party. Another big appearance by El Segundo Brewing Company pouring hop forward beers like the famous Broken Skull IPA and the tasty Mayberry. Peter Mumford of Mumford Brewing knocked another one out of the park with the Mindclouder, a juicy North East style Double IPA, which I followed with something a little different. As I stumbled through, looking for the next watering hole to intrude, I stumble onto a gorgeous black hearse, complete with a coffin inside. This can only be the work of the nefarious Phantom Carriage brewery out of Torrance. I received a dark, nutty concoction with coffee and various spicy notes that really made this Dark Farmhouse Ale give me a perfect pick me up. As the day began to wind down and the lists of available pours started to disappear, I knew my time in heaven was soon coming to a close. I decide to cap off the day with the much hyped, with very good reason by the way, Highland Park Brewery. I tried their IPA called Bonkers , the award winning beer with simcoe hops front and center, an amazing brew to cap off an even better day filled with great people, a few laughs, a massive stack of coasters and of course, great beer. This is no fad or fluke, the people have spoken and they want another beer.