Here I sit at my computer, wondering what I should write about. That can only mean one thing …
Yes, it’s time for my customary Larry King USA Today column imitation, in which I rapid-fire a bunch of beer-related things on my mind. (Unfamiliar with Larry King’s column? Look it up. I remember many ellipses, which I promise I won’t imitate.) This allows me to touch on topics about which I couldn’t write a whole column.
We’ll start locally by saying that not much has changed. Las Palmas Brewing is still at the tippy-top of the list, and I wish I could visit more often. If you haven’t gone, and you like beer (or a great natural wine selection in bottles), just go. Rey Romero and Sam Gill, the owners, are cool, and I look forward to the next time I can make it there.
I can’t say the same about Luchador Brewing Company, I’m afraid. The beer there is still a mess, which is an absolute shame, because their taproom is cool, and the food is good. I’ve been waiting to see if Luchador could get it together before commenting, but they just haven’t. I know nothing about their main location in Chino Hills, but I certainly wouldn’t go out of my way to try the beer there based on the Cathedral City location.
Not much else has changed with the rest of the breweries here. The desert continues to be a disappointing place to find really good locally crafted beer—and for beer bars in general. The fact that so many world-class breweries exist within a 120-mile radius makes this bitter pill easier to swallow—but it also proves that people could make great beer here; it’s not magic. It does take unwaveringly high standards for the beer itself, as well as knowledge (and humility when you don’t have said knowledge) and a commitment by the ownership to stick to those high standards.
On a more positive note, Orange County breweries seem to be continually stepping up to the plate and making great beer. I’ve talked about a few this year, and yet others have emerged—like Unsung Brewing and Villains Brewing, the latter of which took over Modern Times’ old spot in Anaheim and won a bronze medal at the Great American Beer Festival this past autumn. I have not yet tried either of these breweries, but I have heard very good things from trusted sources.
Green Cheek Brewing is still blowing me away time and time again, and the brewery has three locations in OC to visit. Bottle Logic is as good as ever—maybe better, honestly. I’ve had some incredible lagers there of late to go with the insane barrel-aged adjunct stouts they do.
Across the street from Bottle Logic is an interesting little store called Windsor Homebrew Supply. I recommend it to homebrewers, of course, but I also would suggest you pop in if you just love craft beer in general. They have a great can and bottle selection to go, as well as a killer tap selection, much in the style of Bottlecraft’s locations in San Diego. Brewery X is not far away, and their beer is professional. That may seem like a strange way of complimenting a brewery, but it’s a big compliment, because it means everything they release is really well done—including German lager styles, stouts, IPAs of all stripes and even a Cactus Cooler seltzer that I enjoyed. They’re just killing it.
The Firestone Walker Invitational Beer Fest is coming. Yes, it’s after Memorial Day, but with tickets that are notoriously difficult to get, I suggest you look out for them when they go on sale in February.
I couldn’t end this Orange County section without mentioning Beachwood Brewing, which brews out of Huntington Beach and therefore has officially become an Orange Country brewery. Head brewer Julian Shrago and company really know what they’re doing, and they are dispensing incredible beers at their many locations all over OC and Long Beach.
Finally, I want to mention some festivals coming up. The Ensenada Beer Fest is coming up on March 17-18. I wrote about this after going in September 2021, the first year it came back after the lockdowns, and I was very impressed by a number of things. Now it’s back in its normal place on the calendar, and between the beer, food and music, you’re guaranteed to have a good time.
I won’t be going this year, though, because I’m using the time I have to return to the twice-yearly LA Beer Fest at LA Center Studios, on April 6. I wrote about my first visit, and there are a few reasons I’m going back. The main one is my friends are choosing to go as well—but the festival is solid. It is organized very well, with lots of breweries that I might not get a chance to check out normally. If Trumer Pils is there again, I will probably hang out there for too long once more.
The Firestone Walker Invitational Beer Fest is coming. Yes, it’s after Memorial Day, but with tickets that are notoriously difficult to get, I suggest you look out for them when they go on sale in February. This also means shoring up a place to stay in or around Paso Robles that weekend. This is the single greatest beer event I attend every year, and I’ve written about it so many times that I’m certain my editor is sick of it. Surely I can’t write about it again this year …
I’m looking forward to seeing what emerges in craft beer this year—and I hope to see some progress here in the desert as well.
