DRAFT Magazine

Odell Shenanigans

Chris — Fri, 25 May 2012 23:44:21 +0000

Conceived on Odell’s pilot brewing system, Shenanigans is an extremely smooth oak-aged ale, packed with wood, fruit notes and a ton of funky Brettanomyces.

DRAFT quick tip: opening a Churchkey Pilsner

Chris — Fri, 18 May 2012 22:58:28 +0000

Surely, this isn’t the first time you’ve heard about the new Churchkey Pilsner, but there’s a pretty good chance drinking one will be the first time you’ve opened a flat top beer can with a church key opener. We cut right to the chase and show you how it’s done (it’s actually really simple). Keep an eye out for the beer across the Seattle and Portland, Ore. areas.

New Belgium Biere de Mars

Chris — Mon, 14 May 2012 23:55:41 +0000

We mentioned a few delicious biere de Mars in the most recent issue of DRAFT, but saved a third to taste with you. Check out our overview of New Belgium Biere de Mars for info on its flavor profile and a bit more about the historic farmhouse style.

DRAFT quick tip: Three lemony brews

Chris — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 21:41:56 +0000

The weather’s warming (heating) up, so we’re spotlighting three vibrant lemony brews to pair with the sunshine. Sip along as we crack open offerings from Brooklyn, Green Flash and Stoudts.

Don’t forget to tell us your favorite lemony brew in the comments.

Birra Amiata Contessa

Chris — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 22:59:35 +0000

This may be an Italian pale ale, but you’ll notice a wallop of familiar American hop notes when you crack open Contessa.

Craft beer in L.A.’s Echo Park

Johnson — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 08:00:34 +0000

The list of places to drink craft beer in Echo Park is growing faster than a horseshoe mustache on a bike messenger; even venerable dives have expanded their fundamentalist beer lists to include microbrews. Here’s a walking tour of the neighborhood’s newer additions, from east to west.

The Park: This small, seasonal bistro on the east end of Sunset offers three-course specials and a popular $5 burger night. There are just six bottles on the menu, but they’re eclectic, ranging from Scrimshaw Pilsner to Hitachino Nest Ginger Brew. 1400 Sunset Blvd., thepark1400sunset.com

Sunset Beer Co.: Sunset Beer, next door to a hair salon, has raised the bar for strip malls. This combo bottle shop/tasting room boasts a boggling craft beer selection and large, comfortable space for on-site pours. 1498 Sunset Blvd., Suite 3, 213.481.2337

Lot 1 Café: The corner of Sunset and Laveta Terrace is ground zero for the indie music/craft beer crowd. Lot 1 pours from a small, well-curated list; grab a Unibroue Blanche De Chambly and listen to the band bash it out in the performance space next door (the beer’s confined to the restaurant). 1533 W. Sunset Blvd., lot1cafe.com

Allston Yacht Club: There are no cleats to tie off your Chris-Craft outside this nice-for-the-neighborhood small plates restaurant, but there is Eagle Rock Revolution XPA and Craftsman Heavenly Hefe on tap, along with a solid bottle selection and an inventive cocktail menu. 1320 Echo Park Ave., allstonyachtclub.com

Red Hill: This long-in-the-making neo-American diner from Jason Michaud pays homage to Echo Park’s left-leaning history; its name’s a nod to the neighborhood’s Red Scare-era nickname. The new kid on the bloc pours from 10 taps that rotate craft classics to complement the farmers-market-sourced menu of veggie- and pasta-centric small plates. Come summer, the patio will fill with fellow travelers tippling away the long, hot afternoons. 1325 Echo Park Ave., redhillrestaurant.com

Masa of Echo Park: Masa serves up classic Chicago-style deep-dish pizzas and heady bistro fare. This always-packed restaurant and bakery was an early adopter of craft beer, serving Firestone Walker ales on tap since opening in 2004. 1800 W. Sunset Blvd., masaofechopark.com

El Prado: This Eastside craft pioneer is still going strong, and now has a boutique wine list to complement the beer, snacks and vinyl. 1805 W. Sunset Blvd., elpradobar.com

Mohawk Bend: Echo Park’s beer colossus towers over the scene like a benevolent, vegan-friendly Pasha. Wednesdays, belly up for a pound of mussels, fries and a pint for $15. 2141 W. Sunset Blvd., mohawk.la

City Sip: City Sip may be the neighborhood Temple of the Grape, but alongside the regular tastings, “wine edjumacation” classes and some fine charcuterie, the popular wine bar has a small but surprisingly good beer list, focusing on California taps and Belgian bottles. 2150 W. Sunset Blvd., citysipla.com

1642 Beer and Wine: Hidden in a deco building a bottle-toss south of Sunset’s hipster carnival, 1642 is a darkly sophisticated, crepuscular safe house. It’s also the only place in the neighborhood you can listen to live jazz while sipping a Maui CoCoNut Porter. 1642 W. Temple St., 213.989.6836

Update: A previous version of this article misstated the day of Mowhawk Bend’s mussel special; it is available on Wednesdays, not Tuesdays. It also mentioned a pizza special which has been discontinued.

DRAFT quick tip: smart phone apps

Chris — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 21:36:37 +0000

There are a ton of beer-related smart phone apps available, so we’ve spotlighted two essential (and free!) downloads for furthering your beer education: Pintley and the BJCP Style Guidelines.

DRAFT quick tip: three new IPA hybrids

Chris — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 21:46:29 +0000

If you don’t closely follow new beer releases, it can be a bit difficult navigating through all the new “IPAs” on the shelves: White, black, farmhouse, Baltic, and more. Here, we discuss three new IPA varieties, and what you should expect from them. For more, don’t miss our handy chart for deciphering the growing number of IPA variations.

BJ’s Jeremiah Red

Chris — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 22:38:10 +0000

If you’re still looking for more Irish-style beers to tip back on St. Patrick’s Day, don’t pass up on BJ’s Jeremiah Red. This beer’s toasted and toffee-sweet malts layer the tongue while a 7% ABV warms the chest.

Brewer Exclusive: Leinenkugel

Chris — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 19:55:21 +0000

Dick, Jake and C.J. Leinenkugel (representing the family’s 5th and 6th generation) swing by DRAFT’s office to talk about trends in beer, their favorite beer and food pairing, and new beers from their Big Eddy series.