Apparently L.A. Only has Two Good Breweries

Discussion in 'Pacific' started by UnknownKoger, Sep 28, 2012.

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  1. Skuter

    Skuter Crusader (440) Jun 21, 2008 Montana
    Trader

    Another new brewery (and I know pretty far north in LA County) is Bravery Brewing (http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/29481) They had a pretty sizable investment to start and when I was there last they said they were starting a barrel program soon. Their current beers are pretty solid (Blackberry IPA and Coffee Stout were tasty) as well.

    R. Lee Ermey (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/R._Lee_Ermey) is also involved with the brewery and occasionally makes visits.
     
  2. beerdweeb

    beerdweeb Initiate (0) Nov 28, 2010 California

    I'm heading to the Greek tomorrow night for a show but gonna stick to some of the cool beer bars in the area. Tony Dart's Away, Mohawk Bend, and Surly Goat, probably.
     
  3. beerdweeb

    beerdweeb Initiate (0) Nov 28, 2010 California

    And Beachwood is the best brewery in LA! :sunglasses:

    We just put on Hop Jitsui IPA and it's some of Julian's best work yet. It'll probably make it out to most of our LA accounts but drinking at the source is always the most fun!
     
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  4. DrinkNoH2O

    DrinkNoH2O Initiate (0) Oct 17, 2009 California

    Haha, yeah, Irvine's finest. I'm actually in Aliso Viejo now so I have local gems such as Stadium Brewing Co. to look forward to.
     
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  5. vacax

    vacax Initiate (0) Jun 3, 2008 California

    I'm not sure how to put this gently, so I'll just be blunt. Throwing money at rapid expansion and putting out mediocre beer is not craft. They remind me of the 90s and all those investment brewpubs/microbreweries that flooded the scene and went bust and crashed the market. The product has to come first. You can guess who I'm talking about.
     
    kotayk, teamizm, UnknownKoger and 3 others like this.
  6. alwaysanswerb

    alwaysanswerb Initiate (0) Jun 28, 2010 California

    Real talk, vacax.
     
  7. Arbitrator

    Arbitrator Pooh-Bah (1,955) Nov 26, 2008 California
    Pooh-Bah Society Trader

    I think you're being a little harsh on The Bruery, but I agree with your overall sentiment.
     
  8. Sam_Frank

    Sam_Frank Initiate (0) Nov 29, 2012 California

    I think you'd find a lot of people who disagree. I think Eagle Rock Populist IPA is a severely underrated beer.

    Their brewery is nothing fancy for sure, but since when do breweries have to be fancy? I've visited plenty of tasting rooms (in San Diego) that are less put together. I think LA has a long way to go, but I think in the not so distant future we will be a player in the beer scene. For my money, Eagle Rock kicks Golden Road's ass in the actual beer department (Golden road does have a nice pub etc..)

    To answer that one dude's question about rivalry.. there is no rivalry. People in other cities spend time hating on LA while LA doesn't really have anything against other cities.
     
  9. Srsly

    Srsly Crusader (496) Mar 21, 2010 California

    Agreed, on all counts. And it feels like we've got a new brewery opening up every month lately.
     
  10. jtmartino

    jtmartino Initiate (0) Dec 11, 2010 California

    LOL.


    I'm glad there's not more beer in LA, because I'd rather not have an excuse to stop there.
     
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  11. Sam_Frank

    Sam_Frank Initiate (0) Nov 29, 2012 California

    Ah, I see you're from San Francisco. Thank you for helping prove my point
     
  12. AptosBeerDrinker

    AptosBeerDrinker Initiate (0) Aug 9, 2011 California

    Golden Road...I was down there this past weekend and I agree that their beers are relatively average but man that building is a cool place to kick back and have a beer. Food is really pretty good as well and I'm not vegan. I know the only point of this message board is to discuss/brag about finding the rarest of whales but I would go back.
     
    DrAwkward82 and UCLABrewN84 like this.
  13. MLucky

    MLucky Initiate (0) Jul 31, 2010 California

    I'd say there are some very obvious reasons why L.A. has not been a hotbed of craft brewing activity. Real estate prices are high. The water is bad. Anyone considering starting up brewery would quickly realize that locating in L.A. county would cause them to incur a lot of costs they wouldn't have if they went to Ventura County or North San Diego. So they didn't. Now, all that is changing, because craft beer is a "thing" and there are going to be people who realize that the L.A. market isn't saturated the way other areas in the state are, and they're going to be willing to take on those costs. Some of these new guys will be good, some not so good, like everywhere else.
     
  14. Arbitrator

    Arbitrator Pooh-Bah (1,955) Nov 26, 2008 California
    Pooh-Bah Society Trader

    I have nothing against LA; I was born there. But now, I simply think of it as the big traffic jam between me and Alpine.
     
  15. dcgunman

    dcgunman Pooh-Bah (2,608) Jul 1, 2009 California
    Pooh-Bah Society Trader

    Golden Road must have some connections (or $$'s) to become so big so fast. Not so big on their brews. But their brewery and tasting room is cool. They are all over the southland (ex. LAX, hosting the Bevmo beerfest, etc). I prefer Beachwood BBQ & Brewery, El Segundo and Strand over Golden any day of the week. I'm sure Gabe doesn't care if his Beachwood is not mentioned in this latest read. After all we all know the truth here. :grinning:
     
  16. dcgunman

    dcgunman Pooh-Bah (2,608) Jul 1, 2009 California
    Pooh-Bah Society Trader

    Just have to leave and get to Alpine when they open and hang for a bit, git yur beers in order and leave before the traffic starts up again.
     
  17. Alincider

    Alincider Initiate (0) Jan 29, 2013

    Does anyone know of a brew supply store near Lancaster? I have been searching the web and the nearest I can find is Santa Clarita. I'm finding it hard to believe that the Antelope Valley or Acton doesn't have one. Yes I know that this is not the main line of this thread.
     
  18. UCLABrewN84

    UCLABrewN84 Initiate (0) Mar 18, 2010 California

    What is the one in Santa Clarita called? I live there and I have never heard of any in the city.
     
  19. Alincider

    Alincider Initiate (0) Jan 29, 2013

    All Corked Up 26340 Diamond Pl, Santa Clarita, CA 91350, not sure what they sell as I have never been there but the site says "Beer Makers Equipment & Supplies"
     
  20. ggwheeler

    ggwheeler Initiate (0) Jan 8, 2011 California

    Strand kills it.

    Eagle Rock maims it. Then lets it go.

    Ohana is going to MURDER it. Find their beer. It's kick ass.

    Golden Road beer is terrible. Seriously.
     
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