Category Archives: Beer

21st Amendment to Obama: Yes, We Can

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Brew Free or Die - 21st Amendment IPA

21st Amendment, a great brewpub and restaurant in San Francisco, recently announced they are expanding production.  They are joining the ranks of craft brew superstars Oskar Blues and Surly Brewing by putting great craft beer into cans.  Normally only available at the pub, 21st Amendment is now receiving wider distribution, available throughout California at BevMo, and soon making their way into supermarkets in the Bay Area, Sacramento, Tahoe, and Alaska (what, no LA love?).

Their two beers are Brew Free Or Die IPA, and Hell or High Watermelon Wheat, both of which are quite tasty.

Right now on their website, there’s a note up that congratulates President Elect Barack Obama with a tasty little slice of double entendre:

Yes, We Can

Find out more about 21st Amendment at 21st-amendment.com

OKTOBERFEST this Saturday at Verdugo

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JUST ANNOUNCED

This Saturday, September 13th, Verdugo Bar is hosting their 1st annual Oktoberfest.  In addition to their usual biergarten, they will also be converting their parking lot for the afternoon to make way for all the festivities.

Come on out to Glassell Park for beer, brats, music, and even a few competitions like stein holding, boot racing, beer pong, and more.  Tickets are 20 dollars at the door, and that covers you for 3 beers.  Food and more beer will be available for purchase.  Most German beers don’t go too high on the alcohol content, so there will be room for 4, 5, 6- as long as you’re not boot racing!

Pre-sale tickets are available for $15 dollars.  Call the bar at 323-257-3408 with your credit card handy to pay.

Dirndls and leidenhosen are strongly encouraged (by me).

Oktoberfest 2008 at Verdugo Bar

Visit the Verdugo Bar website for more details.

Things Are Looking Good for Stone

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Stone Needs a New Building

12 years in business and no signs of slowing down.  Just three years ago they moved into their new building, and already, they are outgrowing it.

Along with a lolcatted picture of their current location, their newsletter also had this to say:

Do you know of a friend’s second cousin with a father-in-law who knows a guy who has a building really close to our brewery that he hasn’t put on the market, but might consider selling to us in exchange for a lifetime’s supply of Stone?*

Continue reading →

New Beer Site: California Beerzine

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Perhaps you’ve noticed, “Hmm, there hasn’t been too much going on on the ol’ Hair of the Dog Blog. I wonder what happened to Dave?”

Well, I’ve been busy with another project, consulting and helping to build the fantastic new California Beerzine, which just launched last week.California Beerzine First Issue

This site is a great resource for anyone who lives in California, and even for those out-of-staters who are planning a trip to the west coast. There is a California Beer Events page for keeping up with beer tastings and festivals across the state, a California Beer Blog Aggregator for quick digestion of all your favorite Golden State beer blogs, and even a job engine for finding beer-related jobs in California.

But probably the most exciting feature of California Beerzine are the California Beer Forums, a venue for California beer enthusiasts to connect and share local beer info.

Behind the project is an old friend of mine from my Santa Barbara days, Ed Westin. Ed is a great guy with a love of all things hoppy, and I wish him the best with his awesome new site.

In launching the beerzine, Ed is bringing together great beer bloggers from across the state, and giving them a platform to promote their writing and to elevate public awareness of all the fantastic beers that are being made in California. In the first issue, I’d say so far he’s done a pretty successful job.

So far, there are some great articles up, my favorite being Blessed Are the Beer Dorks by Jay Hinman of Hedonist Beer Jive. Jess, the Thirsty Hopster, contributed a great piece about converting your friends into craft brew drinkers, and Steve Sage of Summer of Beers wrote up a piece on his recent trip to the Russian River brewpub.

Head on over and check out the brand new California Beerzine, and tell them Dave sent you. Bookmark them, subscribe, and check back frequently!

Real Ale in LA: Firestone Firkin Friday at the Daily Pint

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Firestone Walker Brewery

Tomorrow! Friday the 11th of April!

Sometime between 6 and 7 o’clock, the Daily Pint in Santa Monica is tapping a firkin of unfiltered Firestone Double Barrel Ale.

That’s right, Real Ale in Santa Monica. A rep from Firestone is bringing by a temporary beer engine for this single keg, and once it kicks, it’s gone.

If there is enough enthusiasm from the beer community, maybe we can convince Phil to put in a permanent beer engine? Bring your friends, and be sure to explain to them what they are getting into. Some people have not yet been exposed to the joys of warm, flat beer. ;)

See you at the Pint.

Steel Reserve 211: The Pinnacle of Human Achievement in Beer

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Steel Reserve 211 Malt Liquor

Cracked the cap on the 750ml can and poured into my favorite frosted mug, it was a hot afternoon so I was glad I remembered to throw it in the freezer the night before. The beer poured out of the can a hazy straw color with minimal head and low carbonation. Before I lifted the glass to my lips to take that first blissful sip, the ding of the microwave reminded me my Jimmy Dean Chocolate Chip Pancakes & Sausage on a Stick was ready for consumption (well, maybe not quite ready. I always throw away the box before reading the “Let stand for 2 minutes before consuming. Product will be hot.”) Jimmy Dean Sausage and Pancakes on a stick

I set the glass down and walk back into the kitchen to retrieve my stick lunch. Failing to allow this culinary masterpiece a chance to cool down, my tongue is subjected to 2nd degree burns. As the skin cells burn off and slide down my throat, all I can think is, “Oh, this is what Wildbell’s post-Beer Ride cries of, ‘Painfully delicious!’ were all about.”

I return to my beverage to dowse the flames, and at a serving temperature of 33 degrees, Steel Reserve doesn’t disappoint. I am immediately greeted by malty cereal notes, with hints of battery acid and cat urine. Most traces of carbonation are gone, imparting a cask-like quality to the beer. The battery acid and cat urine undertones open up to a sharply metallic finish, presumably the Steel taste that gives this beer it’s name.

At $1.19 per can, Steel Reserve 211 is an uncommonly great deal. Intrigued by it’s mystique, I researched it’s MySpace page to find out more info. It was there I learned a lot about what Steel Reserve 211 is all about:

Making people have a good, making people have long lasting friendships, and short relationships. 211 is proud to make people lean to the left and has been lowering standards for many years now.

Steel Reserve is slow brewed in limited batches, using only the finest maleted barley & selected hops. We believe this to be among the very best beers in the world. Slow brewed in Fort Worth, TX for exceptionally smooth flavor.

Steel Reserve 211

An exceptional beer from an acceptable brewery. Available on college campuses nationwide and wherever Fine Beers are sold.

  • Appearance: 2/3
  • Aroma: 9/12
  • Palate: 4/5
  • Flavor: 18/20
  • Overall: 8/10

Rating: 4.1

Now On Tap: Stone Imperial Russian Stout 2008

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Stone Imperial Russian Stout 2007

It’s that time of the year again. Last week Stone released one of their most beloved seasonal beers, 2008′s Russian Imperial Stout. Buy a couple bottles if you’re lucky enough to find it, this is one of those beers that vanishes off the shelves pretty quickly. Part of the reason for this is because it is great for cellaring, so people tend to buy these beers as an investment in their collection, to be enjoyed years from now.

Stone Russian Imperial Stout

If you haven’t started a beer cellar yet, this is an excellent choice to get the ball rolling. But if you prefer instant gratification from your beer, there are 4 places here in LA that have this fabulous beer on tap: Library Alehouse, The Daily Pint, Lucky Devil’s, and BottleRock.

This is a beer that makes you glad to live in Southern California, since we get first dibs on it. It has a huge following all over the country, and is probably more appreciated in the Northwest than it is here. If you happen to be walking down the street in Portland, it’s not unlikely to see some guy watering his lawn while sporting his prized Stone Imperial Russian Stout T-shirt.Stone Brewing Imperial Russian Stout T-Shirt