Boomtown Brewery will be celebrating their 8th annivesary and will be bringing out some rare beers. Might want to head to the Arts District to check it out.
Boom8
Barrel a Clef
Barleywines are always sneaking around the periphery. They pop up here and there but never in stout numbers but there is a new one in Downtown LA at Hi-Def Brewing…
…you will be singing alto after the rye and bourbon.
1st Visit – Native Son DTLA
I made a pre-Christmas trip Downtown to see what was up with the beers and the former Dankness Dojo now Native Son.
As I mentioned in a previous post, the former Modern Times Dankness Dojo hasn’t been really changed / updated all that much. So it was weird to walk in and have it be not a new vibe.
That said, here for the beer and on that front all seems good to start. There were multiple collaboration beers on tap with the L.A. likes of Mumford, Three Weavers, Common Space and even a Pizza Port DIPA collaboration.
I sampled two straight up Native Son beers and was more taken with the the cleverly named Sta-Pils. It had quite a punchy herbal flavor to it. Could have been a touch crisper but thatvis a minor quibble. The Circle Boy IPA was fine. Typical early days of a brewery type. Hoppy but not bright enough for me.
The bartender was very helpful and attentive without being up in your grill and he seemed to be at the ready to explain the Native Son beers and to help you find the right beer for you.
Good to have brewing back in the space and I hope the brewing keeps growing.
NS Not MT
Native Son Bar DTLA joined the family this month. It is now a trio with Santa Ana and Rancho Cucamonga already settled in the beer and cocktail mode. But the former Modern Times Dankness Dojo will be different because it will have house made beer.
The Head Brewer JP Boudwin comes from Modern Times and has worked this brewing equipment as assistant and then head brewer in the skinny location in DTLA.
To start there will be a Mexican Lager, a West Coast and a Hazy IPA for both sides of hop aisle as well as small batch and seasonal beers as well to complement the guest taps.
The interior seems to be just a toned down Modern Times. I understand the idea of paying homage to the previous tenant but MT is not MT now. Why tie yourself to the baggage of the past and the promise of the future version of Modern Times led by Maui Brewing. A complete overhaul with maybe an Easter Egg or two would have been a better choice.
A 1st Visit review will be coming on this blog.
‘Cado 22
One of the yearly fun events on the L.A. beer calendar is the Avocado Festival at Angel City Brewery.
Angel City goes all out for this event and the crowd does as well.
Overgrown
Boomtown Brewery has new Artist Series hoppy beer…
“Overgrowth Hazy DIPA is 8.2% brewed with American Mosaic & New Zealand Motueka hops. Aromas of Clementine, Papaya & Strawberries and jungle-like flavors of Apricot, Papaya & Mango.”
The artist is “Christina Chi is LA based working in animation production. Her art is influenced by playful chunky shapes and saturated colors, a love for silly creatures, brand mascots, old comic strips. Overgrowth was inspired by an innate desire to explore a world filled with little critters. “This is how I imagine a fantasy world would look like if I were four inches tall!”
Arts District Lodge
Arts District spot in massive Aliso complex that had a Mumford sign for a hot minute might instead get Arrow Lodge Brewing. I say might because too many times, I have seen a liquor application sign posted and nothing happening.
So file this under, hopeful waiting because having Arrow Lodge closer than Covina would be good. Though it is a tough call as to what is worse finding parking in the Arts District or driving the parking lot that is the 210 freeway.
Karl Strauss Back in the DTLA
The Downtown L.A. outpost of Karl Strauss has been dark during Covid but this month will re-open for business.
The heritage San Diego brewery has been ramping up collaborations in the last couple of years and it may be a good time re-experience their flagship Red Trolley ale too.
On the Dial
Oh how I remember AM radio. Static. Lots of it. Mumford Brewing has a new classic IPA.
I really like the light, gauzy colors and also that it is an “old-fashioned” IPA.
Done and Dusted
Well, not quite done and ready but there is another brewery coming to DTLA in the future. Skyduster Brewing was pointed out to me by Food GPS.
As further news arrives, I will keep you updated.