Next week, September 20-30, marks the start of the 4th Annual LA Beer Week. Although LA is relatively “new” to the beer week scene, it is still one of the best beer weeks, in my opinion, that the country has to offer. But don’t take my word for it. Check out the epic line-up of events already on the schedule! And don’t forget to follow the LA Beer Week action on Twitter —
@LABeerWeek and the official hashtag: #LABW

LA BEER WEEK EVENT PREVIEW

Thursday, Sept 20

• Stone Total Town Takeover: Pasadena | Stone Brewing Co. previews its soon-to-open Stone Company Store – Pasadena location. Co-Founders Steve Wagner & Greg Koch will be on hand, sharing special beers and nibbles from Stone Catering, with live music. Tickets are $25; all proceeds will benefit a local charity. (7-9:30p) Other events with the Stone Brewing Co. team will also be taking place in Pasadena throughout the day. (Details)
• Fried Chicken, Craft Draft | Eva Restaurant offers Chef Mark Gold’s all-you-can-eat fried chicken and all-you-can-drink Beachwood BBQ & Brewing Foam Top Cream Ale for $39. RSVP via (323) 634-0700. (6-10p)
• Dogfish Head Craft Brewery Invades Little Tokyo | Far Bar will be pouring 12 of this famed Delaware brewery’s beers, including some very rare and hard-to-get selections. In addition, an extra special treat will be running through the “organoleptic hop transducer module”… better known to Dogfish Head fans as Randall the Enamel Animal. (6p)

Friday, Sept 21

• Poutine Paradise | No, it’s not a recipe or song from Cookin’ with Coolio… it’s five courses of gourmet poutines will be paired with five Schneider-Weisse beers, along with a special dessert pairing at P’tit Soleil Westwood. (Two seatings: 6:30p & 8:30p)

Saturday, Sept 22

• Walker’s Wild Ride | David Walker of Firestone Walker Brewing Co. will be hauling several rare sour beers around town in a vintage ‘55 Land Rover, with stops at Golden Road Brewing, Verdugo Bar, 38 Degrees Alehouse & Grill, Far Bar, and Blue Palms Brewhouse. (12:30p-??)
• Better Weather Fest | Golden Road Brewing will be celebrating their first year and their new brewery/restaurant expansions. Festival goers will be able to enjoy craft beers from a number of breweries, tour the new facilities, order eats from food trucks (Mandoline Grill, Crispy Waffle & Frite), all while relaxing to musical beats. (12-4p)
• Schneider Beer Brunch | Wurstküche hosts a tasty 5 course sausage and Schneider beer pairing, presented by a special guest from the brewery. Includes an Aventinus ice cream dessert course paired with Vintage 2008 Aventinus. (11a)
• OC Fest of Ales | The inaugural OC Fest of Ales kicks off in Anaheim with over 100 beers, VIP food pairings, music and a Beer Run 5K.

Sunday, Sept 23

• Brewer’s Brunch | Eagle Rock Brewery be opening up for brunch to chat with the owners and brewers. Resident Chef Jerry Su will be serving up some amazing brunch options as well. Entry is $15; includes two beers, food, and you get to keep the pint glass. (10a-1p)
• Berliner Brunch | Beachwood BBQ & Brewing (Long Beach) offers a special brunch menu along with several different varieties of Berliner Weisse on tap, served with or without house-made syrups. (11a-4p)
• Craft for Crap | Beer Belly wants you to educate your friend who somehow still drinks crap beers, despite the bounty of good we’re now surrounded with. Bring that friend, and one of the crap beers from their fridge and trade it up for a craft beer, at the low, low price of one cent.
• Beauty of the Barrel | The Victorian has partnered with Brew Something LA to help you enjoy both barrel-aged spirits and barrel-aged beers in one place at one time. Tickets are $40, and net proceeds go to benefit The Virginia Avenue Project. (4-8p)

Monday, Sept 24

• Ancient Ales Dinner | The Little Bear’s Chef Andre Guerrero has created a five-course meal to be paired with Dogfish Head Craft Brewery’s five “Ancient Ales.” The menu is insane. Tickets are $75; reservations can be made via (213) 622-8100. (7p)
• So You Want to Open a Brewery in LA…A Brewers Panel | Join moderator Tomm Carroll (from The Celebrator Beer News) at Rock & Brews as he talks with those brave few who have recently started brewing professionally in Los Angeles — or have plans to do so in the near future. They’ll discuss their experiences with starting a brewery and share their war stories. (7p)

Tuesday, Sept 25

• Musical Beer Crawl | Local beer darling/social media pro Cambria Griffith hosts the 2nd Annual LA Beer Week Musical Beer Crawl. This event unites the numerous extra-fantastic beer, music and food venues all along Echo Park’s W. Sunset Blvd. for a night of real beer, live music, discounts, surprises and giveaways. Printable “passports” will be available for download at MusicalBeerCrawl.com beginning Tuesday, Sept 18.
• Beer University: Farmhouse Ales | Steingarten LA hosts homebrew guru Drew Beechum, who will give an amazing talk on saisons and other farmhouse ales, selecting some of his favorite examples of the style to drink, with specially tailored food and beer pairings. Five courses. RSVP via (310) 441-0441. (7p)

Wednesday, Sept 26

• Brewmaster’s Dinner | Kinetic Brewing Company hosts an epic eight-course beer pairing dinner at their brewery in Lancaster. Tickets are $65. (6p)

Thursday, Sept 27

• Suckling Pig Roast | King’s Row Gastropub roasts a whole hog that’s been marinated in Firestone Walker beer. 8+ Firestone Walker beers on tap. (6p)
• Big Crawl in Little Tokyo | Special beers and glassware giveaways at some of Little Tokyo’s best beer bars: Far Bar, The Escondite, The Lazy Ox Canteen, Spitz, Izakaya Fu-ga, Weiland Brewery, and Xlixe Pizzeria. (6p)
• Lucky Baldwins Exclusive Pub Tour | Shuttle buses take patrons around the Pasadena environs all night, looping between all three Lucky Baldwins locations. Tickets are $45. (6:30p-12a)

• Port Brewing / The Lost Abbey night | Join the crew from this famed North County San Diego brewery along with over 20 of their beers at The Surly Goat. (6p)

Friday, Sept 28

• The Oinkster 6th Anniversary | Six burger specials from the past six years, with a tap takeover featuring Eagle Rock Brewery.

Saturday, Sept 29

• FoodGPS LA Beer Float Showdown | FoodGPS.com’s Josh Lurie has assembled five teams of top L.A. chefs and local breweries to collaborate on creating the ultimate beer float at Golden Road Brewing. Come taste and vote for your favorite. Tickets are $35; VIP $45. A portion of the proceeds will benefit The Pablove Foundation. (2-5p)
• Boneyard Bistro Brunch | Six-course brunch menu, with beer cocktail and special release beer pairings from Deschutes Brewery, Firestone Walker Brewing Co., and Lagunitas Brewing Company. Tickets are $45. (2p)

Sunday, Sept 30

• LA Beer Week Festival | The signature closing festivities for LA Beer Week. Over 70 breweries will be in attendance at Union Station, pouring unlimited samples of their goodies alongside food trucks and local artisans on-site peddling their wares. Tickets are $50; net proceeds benefit The Spero Foundation, The LA Brewers Guild, and the Glassell Park Recreation Center. (12-4p)

There are also some special events taking place over the entirety of LA Beer Week (9/20-9/30), including:

• Savory Malibu will create a special three-course beer pairing menu featuring Smog City Brewing. RSVP via (310) 589-8997.
• City Tavern will be featuring a different barrel-aged beer pairing each day.
• Bar | Kitchen (at The O Hotel) will be making special craft beer cocktails.
• Lucky Baldwins 16th Anniversary Celebration will feature rare and vintage beers from Stone Brewing Co.

And even more taking place over the course of several days, including:

• Beachwood BBQ (Seal Beach) Farmhouse Ale Festival (9/20-9/23)
• Homebrewing demonstrations at Wurstküche Venice (9/20, 9/23, and 9/27)
• Sadie (Hollywood) will be creating special menu pairings and cocktails with beers from Lost Coast Brewery. RSVP via (323) 467-0200. (9/20-9/22 & 9/25-9/29)
• Tony’s Darts Away IPA Festival in Burbank (9/23-9/28)

Also super cool: LACraftBeerTours.com is offering shuttle bus service between breweries to help celebrate LA Beer Week. Email pat@lacraftbeertours.com to RSVP or for more info.

• Saturday, Sept 22
  • LA: Eagle Rock/Strand/El Segundo/Golden Road (11:30am & 5:15pm. Free.)
  • South Bay: El Segundo/Brewery at Abigaile/Monkish/Beachwood BBQ & Brewing (1-10pm; shuttle runs on a continuous loop. Tickets are $15.)
• Sunday, Sept 23 (11am. Free.)
  • LA to OC: Golden Road/Noble Ale Works/Old Orange/The Bruery
• Thursday, Sept 27 (5pm. Free.)
  • South Bay: El Segundo/Strand/Monkish/Select Beer Store
• Sunday, Sept 29 (1pm. Free.)
  • OC: Old Orange/Noble Ale Works/Bootlegger’s/The Bruery

Curious what goes on in the minds of your favorite beer bloggers? Well, The Beer Wench is and she has embarked upon a mission to interview as many beer bloggers that she can — from all over the world. Are you a beer blogger? Do you want to share your story? Send me an email!

INTRODUCING: WALKER DAVIS

AUTHOR OF: MILK IS FOR BABIES

Beer Blogger Interview

Full name: Walker Davis
Twitter handle: @milkisforbabies
Name of blog: Milk Is For Babies
Current location: Marina del Rey, CA

Background “Snapshot”

1. Where did you grow up?

Houston, Texas

2. What sports if any did you play growing up, through college and beyond?

High School, baseball year round. Post College, softball and bowling, which I love because I can drink beer during games and can play till I’m old.

3. How old were you when you had your first beer?

19

4. If you can recall, what is the story of your first beer? Where did you have it? What style and brand was it?

I was at college my freshman year and it was a Coors Light during a flip cup game at a Water Polo party. Needless to say those athletes drank me under the table and my night quickly de-escalated from there.

5. Where, if applicable, did you go to college? What did you study? What additional activities, organizations, sports did you partake in during college?

I went to Pepperdine University and graduated with a degree in International Business. I joined Sigma Chi fraternity. I studied abroad to Florence, Italy my sophomore year, went to 18 countries and it was one of the best years of my life. My traveling companion for many trips is my current roommate and the other half of beereveryday, David, who has become a silent partner on the blog but not the beer-a-day drinking. My true single regret, is that I wasn’t very aware of beer then because I would have pilgrimaged to so many places and become a sponge for knowledge. The only breweries I visited were Carlsberg in Copenhagen and Heineken in Amsterdam, both cool but very commercial.

Craft Beer Epiphany

Every craft beer enthusiast has at least one pinnacle craft beer experience that completely changes ones perspective on beer. I refer to this mind-blowing moment as a “craft beer epiphany.”

1. What was your first craft beer epiphany? Recall as many details about it as you can:

It was late at night in the dirty kitchen of my David’s old college apartment a month after we returned from Europe. He was far more knowledgeable about beer at the time. He had bought an Affligem Tripel and demanded that I try it. He poured the full bottle through a strainer to collect the sediment and I thought he was nuts. I remember thinking, what the hell is wrong with this beer?! I thought he was playing a trick on me and that he’d actually filled the bottle up with toxic sludge, which would turn me into a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle or something…But remember that moment in the film Garden State where Natalie Portman tells Zach Braff to listen to The Shins “New Slang” because it will ‘change his life?’ He turned out to be my Natalie Portman. Did I mention we’re two heterosexual males? Anywho, I thought with the Affligem Tripel I’d hit the motherload of all beers. Ah, I was so young and naïve once…

2. Have you have additional craft beer epiphanies since the first? Detail as many of them as you wish:

There are four that stick out in my mind –

1. We did a 14 day straight tasting of Stone beers in October, which was truly amazing. We included a three year vertical flight of Old Guardian Barley Wines and I was fascinated at the influence aging had in each beer’s complexity. I’m currently storing a 2008 OG in my beer closet.

2. Our first brewery trip was a surprise birthday getaway for David in November to The Bruery and by pure chance they had their last year’s Christmas Ale on draft, 2 Turtle Doves. Up until that point I’d never had such a startling rich beer. My love affair with The Bruery began in earnest after this. At my current purchasing rate of Bruery beers, there’s a decent chance I’m putting one of Patrick Rue’s kids through private school.

3. Hair of the Dog Adam Old Ale – the label says the beer tastes like chocolate, smoke, leather and figs. It actually freaking did. Amazing. Each time I have one it’s like I’m testing something from Willy Wonka’s Factory.

4. My first Rochefort 10 – need I say anymore? Its richness and complexity is mind-bottling.

Beer Blog Background

1. How long have you been writing your beer blog?

August 5th, 2010.

2. What inspired you to start writing your blog?

I was in a ‘life rut’ last summer (one of those, I don’t know what I’m doing with my life moods) and I took a spontaneous road trip to Arizona to visit my old college roommate and his wife. There I met a couple who were trying a different beer everyday – only they weren’t writing about it. I didn’t have a creative outlet at the time and desperately needed one. I quickly realized that doing something different each day and chronicling my experience might just be what I needed to jumpstart my life. And my roommate David loved beer. I returned home that Sunday, told him about my idea and he immediately agreed. That week I set up the website and Friday, August 5th we had our first beer, Allagash Tripel.

3. Why did you choose the name of your blog?

Growing up, my brother had the best Arnold Schwarzenegger impression and he gave me the “Pumping Iron” documentary for my birthday a few months before. At one point – I can’t remember if it’s during training or when he wins Mr. Olympia for the seven consecutive time – he says, “Milk is for babies. Real mean drink beer.” It was hilarious. When it came time to give bestow the blog a name, it was one of the first out of my mouth.

4. What are your personal goals for your blog? What do you hope to achieve with it?

At the beginning, the goals were simple: Drink a different beer every day before midnight and write about every beer. I perceived my role to be an explorer of sorts, because most my friends were like me when I first started – unaware of craft beer. So I wanted to write entries that were simple, entertaining and that would connect people to beer they probably wouldn’t have tried without having seen my blog.

My rating system might be my proudest device of the blog. It’s a beer rating system based on the films of Michael Bay films (equates to 1-7 stars). Michael Bay’s films, I love and hate at the same time. They’re so entertaining but they’re also so ridiculous. With a blog name that referenced pop culture, I thought this rating system fit the bill. The blog has been very controversy free except for the ranking system, which places Transformers above Armageddon. That draws a lot of ire, which is hilarious. People have really emotional reactions watching Armageddon and apparently not to robots. Pff, humans. But I stand my ground, as Armageddon being more illogical and crazier than Transformers – who brings a mini-gun to space? Come on!

5. What is one of the coolest things that happened to you as a result of being a beer blogger?

The support and the enthusiasm by friends and especially my family has been really special. What I especially think is cool, and it was unexpected, is how it defined me as a person. I went to a wedding for a family friend in Houston over Memorial Day weekend, someone I’ve known since I was 4. During the reception, she came up to me and thanked me for being an flying down and being an usher, and then promptly apologized for not serving ‘good enough’ beer. Like, really apologized. And I started laughing hysterically. At her own wedding she was apologizing to me? That was so absurd to me (and coming from her, very sweet). The same thing happened during a recent trip to Chicago; apparently friends get nervous when serving me beer. Beer has become forever intertwined with my identity and I love it. I’m in no way a beer snob, but I suppose the year has simply defined me as a man of fine taste. HA, jokes on them.

6. What are you top 3 favorite beer blogs/beer websites?

Excluding present company (Ms. Wench, who I follow regularly) –

• The Greatest Beers of All Time
• The Barley Blog
• Beers In Paradise (an LA local blog that works really hard to give us the latest and greatest tap updates from bars and beer event news)

Beer Talk

1. What are your top 3 favorite beer styles?

Imperial IPA, Barleywine, Old Ale. I love really bold, rich and complex beers that assault my tongue with flavor.

2. What are your top 3 favorite breweries?

The Bruery, Russian River, Stone Brewery

3. If you could work with or for any one brewery, which one would it be and why?

I would usually say The Bruery but they’re moving towards making a lot of Sour Ales and I just can’t fully get behind that. So my answer is Stone, because not only is their culture and passion amazing, but they’re expanding in incredible ways. Their continued desire to make collaboration beers embodies the ‘community’ theme of the craft world, and they plan on opening a brewery in Belgium soon. Marketing and selling American beers to European customers would be an incredible experience! Plus, since European beer has been so dominant throughout history, it would be like the reverse of the 60’s British Rock Invasion. Stone’s Gargoyles would just take Europe by storm.

4. Are you a homebrewer? If yes, what is the most unique and interesting beer recipes you’ve brewed as a homebrewer?

I’ve become a very avid homebrewer and have brewed 6 different beers in the last six months. My first beer was a Christmas Ale spiced with cloves and Tahitian Vanilla and it was called King Moonracer’s Revenge (KM was the king of the Misfit Toys in the Rudolph Christmas Story). My wildest recipe is I just bottled, a Sea Salt Caramel specialty ale that I designed to mimic the taste of caramel candy with sea salt on top. I want the sea salt to make the caramel flavor pop in your mouth. Un-carbonated, it’s very rich and is looking extremely promising.

5. Do you have any beer certifications (BJCP, Cicerone, Siebel, American Brewers Guild)?? If so, what are they?

Nope, but I’ve certainly looked into it.

6. What is your favorite beer and food pairing?

Thai Food and IPA’s. The Thai Spice gives way to the bitter hoppiness of the IPA, providing for a unique back and forth.

The Personal Side

1. What is your current day job?

Film and TV Development Assistant at a large production company.

2. If you could change your career at this very moment, without any restrictions on what you could do, what would you want to do and why?

I would do marketing for a beer company. I’m becoming more and more attracted to the marketing and advertising worlds and this year has lit my hair on fire for beer. The greatest character trait of the craft beer industry is the passion people have for their beer. It’s infectious and inspiring. Being a part of that would be special.

3. Are you married? Children?

Nooooooope. I’m 28 and still a long way off from either. Fermenting a beer a month and maintaining that temperature is responsibility enough for this guy.

4. Outside of beer and writing, what are some of your other hobbies?

1. I love building furniture and have built a bar, coffee table, media/dvd stack, winecork table. I plan on turning my patio table top into a giant chalkboard.
2. I also do Krav Maga, which Israeli form of martial arts. Helps tame beer’s caloric side effect.
3. Just drinking out of cups, being bitch.

Off The Beaten Path

1. If you were a style of beer, what style would be an why?

An ESB because they are drinkable pub beers that make easy company but can also be a bit nutty. Plus, you know, sometimes I smell like biscuits.

2. You were caught smuggling beer illegally, which has now been made punishable by death. Right before you are sent to the executioner, you are offered one last beer. What beer would you chose and why?

AleSmith Speedway Stout – it’s so rich and complex that I would not only still be savoring it as I was walking up the gallows, but its dankness would still be with me as I greeted sweet, sweet death. Plus it’s 12% so maybe I’d go out buzzed; isn’t that how we should all go?

3. If I contracted you to brew a beer (or design a beer recipe) called “The Beer Wench” — what style would you chose and what, if any, extra ingredients would you add?

I would use Bourbon Barrels and make a sweet Belgian Dark Strong Ale with a healthy salt dose. I’d also include salt because I know how the Wench feels about bacon and the combination of beer sweetness and savory bacon would simply be combustible.

4. If you could be a superhero, what would you want your superpowers to be?

Nostalgia Man, who has the ability to take people back to a certain time in their life which changed them for the better. Hopefully the experience would rejuvenate their current life.

5. What is one of the craziest things you have ever done and lived to tell the story?

When I studied abroad, someone who had lived in France the year before returned with horror stories and a hatred of the French. He told me when I visited Paris, to punch a French man – which I wasn’t about to do. But what I did instead, in a very classy move on my part, was urinate over 4 French landmarks; in between the 1st and 2nd observation deck of the Eiffel Tower, in the bottom of the Louvre where the foundations of a previous castle are, Disneyland Paris and in the Gardens of Versailles. One could say, that I dispensed my own personal brand of justice. My parents will be proud to hear that one.

6. What are your thoughts on bacon?

It’s good for you…and everyone should own a bacon air freshener.

SPECIAL THANKS TO WALKER FOR AN AWESOME INTERVIEW!!!

CHEERS!

Nonetheless, St Patrick’s Day has always been one of my favorite holidays of all time to celebrate. Although my family has little-to-no known Irish heritage, my parents have always actively observed St. Patrick’s Day as if they were, in fact, Irish.

My mother had an “Irish Catholic” upbringing and attended Boston College (errr enough said). My parents got married in Boston and, to this day, it is one of their favorite destination cities.

If you do not know anything about Boston, know this: they LOVE St. Patrick’s Day. Most of it has to do with the HUGE population of Irish descendants in the area (and well, the state). My parents must have learned a lot while living in Boston because I have memories of my parents throwing the most EPIC St. Patrick’s Day parties when we lived in NY.

Anyways, moral of the story? I love St. Patrick’s Day. I love Irish music and I especially love Irish drinking songs. In fact, my family and I have taken road trips where all we did was listen to Irish drinking songs. And the funny part is how we all know the words!

So now you must be thinking, if I love St. Patrick’s Day so much, WHERE, WHAT and HOW will I be celebrating it this year? Well, let me tell you! The Wench is going to … wait for it, wait for it.

HOLLYWOOD!

WHO? WHAT? WHERE? WHEN? WHY?

Hollywood Gets Lucky at the LA St. Patty’s Fest on March 14, 2010

(Hollywood, CA) LA St. Patrick’s Day Festival presented by PINK’S Hot Dogs and Tullemore Dew Irish Whiskey, invites you for a fun-filled day of Irish food, drinks, and live entertainment Sunday, March 14. Presented by event will take place at the Taglyan Complex, 1201 N. Vine St., Hollywood, from 2:00 – 7:00 pm.

Each ticket will grant an all-inclusive interaction with an assortment of breweries, wineries, spirits, great food and dessert.

The event will feature, the world-renowned Claddagh Dance Company, The LA Police Emerald Society, and Drevon the Leprechaun. Plus a live karaoke band, Steel Rod will be on hand to back up attendees as they step up to become a lead singer of own band.

Remember to dress in your most dapper or most casual green clothing, as this is a certified “Green” event, by the State of California. The event promises to bring attendees together, bonding over beer pong, flip cup, or the green champagne, compliments of Barefoot Wine & Bubbly.

The first 150 attendees will receive a complimentary ticket to a Los Angeles Clippers game, courtesy of owners Mr. & Mrs. Donald Sterling.

Tickets are available in advance for $100 per person, at www.stpattysfest.com or at any Vendome Wine and Sprits locations throughout Los Angeles and Orange County. Proceeds of the event will go to The Children’s Tumor Foundation and The Irish Center.

LA St. Patty’s Fest is produced by Barcelona Enterprises, a Los Angeles based events and marketing company.

For more information about the LA St. Patty’s Fest 2010, call (213) 915-8003 or visit the website at www.stpattysfest.com.

The event is sponsored by Feckin Irish Whiskey, Asahi Beer, Barefoot Wine & Bubbly, Marani Premium Vodka Spirit, Beer Wars, Karl Strauss Brewing Co., Firestone Walker, Buckbean Brewing Co., New Belgium Brewing Co., Pig n’ Whistle, Stone Brewing Co., Cabot, Edison, Sweet Leaf Iced Teas, Teteo, RND, Ballast Point Brewing Co., Angel Tequila, Blue Angel, ARGCA, Pacifico Sur Tutunjian, Moonshot, Talin Cellars, See’s Candies, Eternal Artesian Water, Ventura Limoncello Company, BreakAwaySpirits.Com, Kröl Vodka, Pyramid Breweries, Lagunitas Brewing Company, Everybody’s Nuts! Pistachios, Nakhon Beer, Fireman’s Brew, Weihenstephan, Birra Morettia, Fischer, Affligem, North Coast Brewing Co., Green Flash Brewing Co., Glee Gum, Knott’s Berry Farm, Cascadian Farm Organic, Lärabar, Boar’s Head, American Cinematheque, Shamrock Empire Inc.,Tazo, IZZE Sparkling Juice, Granola Garden, Irish Thug, The Irish Center of Southern California, Charity Lives, Don Longo, and Organic Nation. Media sponsors are 100.3 FM The Sound, Los Angeles Circles, IRFT, and Mutineer.

Hope to see you there!

Cheers!