Category Archives: Bars

It Was All Stouts at Stuffed Sandwich

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Stuffed Sandwich Exterior Sign

Dropped in at Stuffed Sandwich a couple weeks ago for lunch, and they had nothing but stouts on tap. Old Rasputin, Stone Russian Imperial, Bison Chocolate, Moylan’s Dry, Barney Flats, and Speedway (yum yum) were still flowing while I was there, but once they dry up, they’re gone (*update: they are on to Barleywines. See more below).

AleSmith Speedway Stout

The funny thing about Stuffed Sandwich, if you’ve never been there before, is that they only serve beer in paper cups. Sam doesn’t like foam on his beer, so you always get a full pour right up to the rim. But before you pick up your beer to take it to your table, Sam and Marlene always make you bend over and take a sip off the top, so when you pick up the paper cup, you don’t squeeze any beer over the side.

The first time I went, I thought it was a little silly, but this being my second visit, I guess there’s a little charm to it.

I went with a small cup of the Speedway and their French Dip sandwich and OH YES, it hit the spot. Last time I was in I had the pastrami and that was pretty money too.

Another great thing about Stuffed Sandwich is their To Go License.

Sam Samaniego behind the taps at Stuffed Sandwich

Sam has an amazing bottle selection, with tons of beers hiding in his cellar in back. If you know what you are looking for, and you get on his good side, you might just walk away with some real treasures. Continue reading →

Right Now at Father’s

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Have I not been to Father’s in a while? Cause now they have a whole slew of Russian Rivers: Damnation, Perdition, and Pliny the Elder.

Pliny the ElderPerdition

Rogue NationAlso making appearances this month are Craftsman’s Oktoberfest, and as part of the John’s Locker Stock program, Rogue’s Imperial Porter. This stuff is so special I don’t even have an appropriate graphic to use for it. There is only one keg and then it’s gone forever.

Stone XI anniversary aleAlso, I don’t know if they have any left, but about 2 weeks ago, Library Alehouse and Daily Pint both got 2 kegs of Stone’s 11th Anniversary Ale. This year it’s a black IPA that weighs in at around 9%. Oh, and did I mention it’s rated 91(!!) on BeerAdvocate?

Bombers can still be found at Wine Expo and Jerry’s Liquor.

Keep your eyes peeled and your throat parched for some new Stone releases hitting the taps at Library this coming week.

Fruit Beer Session: Belle Vue Kriek and Unibroue Ephemere

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This month’s Session is hosted by Toronto resident Greg Clow of Beer, Beats & Bites. In honour of our neighbours up nourth, I chose to write aboot a couple of fruit beers I tasted last month when I visited Vancoover.

Unibroue Éphemère

[Update: You can purchase this Unibroue glass online at Beer Geek Shop]

On my last night in town, my lovely friend Mauree took me to Stella’s on Commercial Drive, a tapas bar with a great selection of Belgian beers. We snagged a great table on their sidewalk patio and ordered a Leffe Belgian Pale and a glass of Belle Vue Kriek, both of which were on tap. I was enjoying the kriek more than Mauree was, so she ended up holding on to the Leffe most of the time.

RodenbachThe Kriek is a deep red color with not too much head on it. Sweet cherry aroma and a bit of a sour twang, which I just can’t get enough of. Just a few days earlier, my New Belgium buddy and I drank a bunch of Rodenbach at Brouwer’s in Seattle. It was then I figured out I need to try more sour beer.

The kitchen was about to close up, so we put in an order for a pound of Mussels Normande (Granny smith apples, mushrooms, bacon, shallots, apple brandy, cream).

We finished up our first round and decided to go for one of those corked Unibroue bottles. By the time our huge dish of mussels came out, we had decided on the Éphémère Framboise, which turned out to be a great pairing (although the apple Éphémère might have matched better).

Organic RaspberryThe beer definitely had that uniquely Unibroue carbonation to it, but thinner and a bit lighter than your Fin du Mondes or Maudites. Fresh raspberry smell that I was reminded of two days later when I was picking actual raspberries on Conner and Sarah’s farm. Not so sweet that you forget you’re drinking beer, but just fruity enough to compliment the apple-bacony goodness of our mussels. I think raspberry has got to be the best possible fruit to use in beer.

Way to go, Canada, for having Unibroue. And way to go, Vancouver, for your delicious seafood. I need to go back soon.

Stella’s Tap and Tapas Bar
1191 Commercial Drive
Vancouver, BC
604.254.BIER (2437)

Ye Olde King’s Head: Fancy a Banger in the Mouth?

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Oh right, I forgot, here in the States we call it a “sausage” in the mouth (actually, let’s just call it a sausage).

Ye Olde King’s Head

The King’s Head holds a special place in my heart. It’s only a block away from the Promenade, but once you enter the front door, you feel like you’ve been transported across the Atlantic. Seriously. Some afternoons I’ve wandered in for happy hour, and I’m the only one who’s not British. With the King’s Head Shoppe on the corner, the Tudor House across the street on 2nd, and Britannia down the way on 4th, it’s like a real life Wee Britain.

Pretty standard selection of English beer, and all the servers and bartenders have British accents. Most of the patrons, too. Boddington’s, Bass, Guinness, Harp, Fuller’s London Pride, Stella, Pyramid Hefeweizen, Newcastle, and a cider or two. Nothing too noteworthy besides the Fullers.

Darts really make this place worthwhile. They’ve got two boards, and it definitely has an arena feel to it. Great lighting and some deep divots in the floor behind the line. There’s also a glass case on the wall that has darts and dart accessories for sale (someday I will be one of those badasses that brings their own darts to the pub).

The music is decent, but I can’t stand these confangled touch-screen jukeboxes. Look at me! I’m connected to the internet! And for a dollar more, I can play the song that you actually want to hear! Weak. What happened to the old style jukes that had entire albums to choose from?

Wednesday night they’ve got a Pub Quiz, which I’ve never actually been there for, but pub quizzes are awesome, so it’s worth mentioning.

FA CupIf you’re a fan of football, The King’s Head is probably already your home away from home. This Saturday (tomorrow! May 19th!) you can head over to watch Chelsea take on Manchester U for this year’s FA Cup Final. The game starts at 3pm London time, so what is that, 7am here? Get there early to grab a table. Lord knows all the expats will be there.

King’s Head is also a restaurant, so don’t be afraid to order up some food. They’ve got incredible samosas, highly recommended (I don’t know any other non-Indian food restaurants that even have samosas on the menu). Also very tasty are the chicken satay, the popcorn shrimp, and (of course) the fish and chips, the best on the Westside.

When you leave, head over the Ye Olde King’s Head Shoppe to pick up some awesome British stuff for your pantry; Heinz Baked Beans, Vegemite, crisps, Crunchie bars, and Kinder Eggs. You can also pick up some bottles of Wychwood (Hobgoblin is most prevalent), Black Sheep Ale, and maybe even a Riggwelter.

Pub to the Right

YE OLDE KING’S HEAD
116 Santa Monica Blvd
Santa Monica, CA 90401
(310)451-1402

Weiland Brewery Restaurant

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Weiland Brewery RestaurantA few weeks ago, my neighbor Brad and I went downtown for some French Dips at Philippe’s. It’s right by Union Station, and it’s been around forever. They claim to have invented the French Dip, which seems a bit dubious, but it tastes so good that I’m not going to argue (the bleu cheese is a highly recommended addition).

After gorging ourselves on sandwiches and potato salad, we griped about how we hardly have any reasons to go downtown. Dodger Stadium, Staples Center, MOMA, and the occasional balloon of black-tar heroin are the only reasons I ever have to make the journey.

But not any more.

Weiland’s is fan-freakin-tastic. I just wish it was a little closer to home. Nine beers on tap, and around 40 bottles. Happy Hour is from 3 – 7, and then again from 10 to closing, where draft beers are only $2.50 (!!). One of the taps was dedicated to an Irish stout, Murphy’s I think. Then they had 3 house beers represented, an Amber, a Honey Blonde, and an IPA.

I was in the mood for an amber, but I was torn between two of the other selections on tap: Craftsman Cabernale and Allagash White. Lucky for me and Brad, we were the only people sitting at the bar, so Ryan the bartender indulged us and poured us samples of both (when we first arrived, we asked if they did samples, and were answered with an emphatic “no”).

In addition to their taps, they have close to 40 bottles on hand; 3 Chimays, 2 Allagashes, Ommegang Hennipen and Three Philosophers, Young Double Chocolate Stout, Moretti La Rossa, McEwans, The Reverend, Humboldt Hemp Ale, Fischer Amber, Flying Horse, Chambly, Tsingtao, and Singha, to name a few.

Top that off with an awesome jukebox that had about 40 credits sitting in it, and we have a great reason to come downtown.

WEILAND BREWERY
400 E 1st Street
Los Angeles 90012
213-680-2881

Sonny McLean’s: You Better Believe They’ve Got Sam Adams

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Sonny McLean’sMarch Madness is over, and baseball season is upon us. And what goes best with baseball, besides peanuts and crackerjacks? You guessed it: Beer. There are tons of crappy sports bars all over LA that serve their purpose, but wouldn’t you rather go somewhere exotic for the afternoon? How about Boston! (Yankee fans, you can go to Yankee Doodle, because you are not welcome here)

The interior is almost entirely dark wood, with a two rows of beat up bar stools and tons of crap on the walls. Beer mirrors, autographed sports memorabilia, inflatable Sam Adam’s bottles, California license plates that commemorate the Red Sox, old toboggans. They’ve got everything.

Sonny McLean’s may not have all the fancy-pants beer that Father’s Office and the Otheroom keep on tap, but what they lack in obscurity, they make up for in selection. Sonny’s has plenty of crowd-pleasers on tap, about 25 in total. Boddington’s, Guinness, Pilsner Urquell, Stella, Bass, Harp, Blue Moon, Sam Adams, Redhook IPA and ESB, Newcastle and Smithwick’s to name a few. Interestingly enough, they have Anderson Valley’s Boont Amber Ale on tap. It seems strange that this is their only beer whose brand is not widely saturated. Why Boont?

There are many reasons (besides beer reasons) to go to Sonny McLean’s :

  1. Darts
  2. Air Hockey
  3. Pool
  4. A ton of TVs
  5. Decent Jukebox
  6. 2 Golden Tee machines
  7. Basketball arcade game

If that hasn’t sold you, they also have terrific food. Their turkey avocado sandwich is delicious. Their fries are winners too. I have not tried their burgers, but have witnessed my friends enjoying them.

Expect to pay between $4.75 and $6 for a pint. A bit pricey, but hey, this is Santa Monica, you’re used to it.

SONNY MCLEAN’S
2615 Wilshire Boulevard
Santa Monica, CA 90403
310-449-1811

Father’s Office: 54 Years of Euphemistic Glory

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Father’s Office“No sweetheart, your father won’t be joining us for dinner tonight, he’s working late at the… office.” -Suburban Housewife, circa 1965

Next time you go to Father’s Office, stroll right up to the bar and order a pitcher of Natural Light. Other patrons will be amazed by your exquisite taste in beer, and you’ll probably get a few high fives. Alternate Cool Move: Order some of their fries a la ‘cart’, and demand ketchup. You’ll be the life of the party! Continue reading →