Best Homegrown Craft Beers in Los Angeles
The craft beer explosion has made an impression on many cities, and residents of Los Angeles are lucky enough to have a wide selection available almost anywhere. Bars are popping up in every neighborhood with purposefully chosen menus, and locally produced beers are always at the top of the list. From Downtown to the beach towns, there are breweries that offer specialty lagers and ales for the city's beer aficionados.
Eagle Rock Brewery opened its doors in 2009 with Jeremy Raub, his wife Ting Su, and Jeremy's father Steven at the helm. The trio maintained a tradition of producing small batches of artisanal beers with Solidarity Black Mild Ale, Manifesto Wit Bier, Revolution Extra Pale Ale and Populist IPA rounding out the list of offerings. The family-owned operation enjoys its ties to the community and local patrons, which is why they host trivia nights, women's beer forums, tours and food truck evenings throughout the months in addition to participating in events across the city.The next door tap room is available for casual tastings. The company encourages patrons to bring outside food or buy a snack from the many food trucks who park nearby.
Ladyface Alehouse & Brasserie proudly holds the position of being the Conejo Valley's first microbrewery. Its doors opened in 2009, and the beers have racked up several awards in the last few years. With 16 taps and a weekly rotating firkin cask, there are seven core offerings and seasonal varieties available at any time. Led by Cyrena Nouzille, General Manager and Home Brewer, and David Griffiths, Brew Master, Ladyface Alehouse & Brasserie will continue to host events, tours and tastings for lovers of food, wine and spirits and beer, including ladies beer social clubs, brewery tours, food pairings and tastings and appearances at festivals across the county. Ladyface Alehouse is an award-winning company with medals from the Los Angeles International Beer Competition for the last three years, including a Gold Medal for its Belgian-style Trébuchet in 2012.
Put out the firey heat of summer with one of Fireman's Brews three varieties-- The microbrewey was founded more than 10 years ago by two Los Angeles firemen, one of whom, Rob Nowaczyk, is stationed in West Hollywood. The three styles available for purchase flaunt charming monikers--the Blonde Pilsner Style lager, the Brunette German Doublebock and the Redhead Red Amber Ale. In addition to beer, Fireman's Brew produces coffee and flavored sodas for "on duty" consumption. With major distribution in Southern California retail stores, markets and bars, the company has grown rapidly over the years. In an effort to give back to its community, Fireman's Brew donates a portion of its earnings to the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF) and other local non-profits. If you want to get up close and personal to the men behind the beer, check out the upcoming Fireman's Brew Firefighter Auction at the House of Blues with all proceeds benefiting the Los Angeles Firemen's Relief Association.
Golden Road Brewing insists that craft beer is best in a can, and they hold the title of the city's first canned craft beer for that reason. Founders Tony Yanow and Meg Gill made the decision to go with aluminum to support their ideals about environmental sustainability, ease of transport and the protection of fresh taste. Golden Road Brewing's two flagship releases are Golden Road Hefeweizen and Point The Way IPA, along with custom IPAs and limited releases developed under the wise lead of Brewmaster Jon Carpenter and his brewing team. The Golden Road pub is next door to the brewery, and you can grab a bite along with a pint any day of the week.
In January 2012, Angel City Brewery announced its new ownership under Alan Newman of Alchemy & Science with Brewmaster Dieter Foerstner developing unique styles of brews. Angel City Brewery originally began in 1997 under its first round of leadership, but the recent takeover promises a renovation into something bigger and better. There will be new recipes and a new location in the historic John A. Roebling Building that will serve as a casual cafe, as well as a center for tours and tastings. The brewery is set to open its doors in the late fall. For now, it is still easy to find a few of Angel City's original and new beers at Downtown, Hollywood and Eastside bars, in addition to upcoming events and festivals.
