Golden Road Brew Pub Interior

This few months-old gem in Atwater Village not only signifies the continued evolution and uprising of the Los Angeles brewing scene, it’s a move towards the eco-friendly, gentrification of the beer can. Costing less energy and space than glass bottles in production and recycling as well as affording more protection from the elements for its beers, cans aren’t just used for casing PBR, anymore. Golden Road is out to educate LA beer geeks and dabblers, alike.

Twice-baked Potato at Golden Road Pub

The age of Golden Road Brewery also re-introduces sessionable beers to a scene that may have been bent on, or even obsessed with, high ABV beers just a few years back. They are also taking on IPAs by making them a custom by incorporating seasonal ingredients and making each brew truly local. Two go-to’s on those fronts: Their Golden Road Hefeweizen and Point The Way IPA.

Luckily, it’s not just a lone brewery Golden Road, helmed by Tony Yanow and Meg Gill, has up in Atwater Village, but a very cool pub offering each of their beers, 15 guest taps and a very chill, neighborhoody scene where, if you visited often enough, people will know your name. The food menu also has plenty of options for omnivores and vegans alike, so there’s something for everyone in your party.

By the taps...

And what better way to introduce your taste buds to Golden Road by dropping in on their collaborative Hangar 24 dinner? Their good friends from Redlands brought in 70 pounds of blood oranges from Hangar 24′s neighboring orchards thanks to their brewer Kevin Wright. Golden Road’s brewmaster, Jon Carpenter, spent the previous weeks developing a custom yeast for this very special brew, to create the end result: Valentin, a 6.5% ABV French Saison.

This one-of-a-kind beer dinner features dishes created by Golden Road’s Chef Adam Levoe, who worked closely with Jon and Kevin to craft each pairing. The five-course dinner will feature two beers from Hangar 24, two beers from Golden Road Brewing and our collaboration beer, Valentin.

Jonesin’ to see the whole menu? Look no further:

• First course, paired with Valentin

Local Halibut or vegan hearts of palm ceviche with ruby red grapefruit, blood oranges and avocado salad

• Second course, paired with Hangar 24′s Vinaceous

“Sushi” — Pan seared duck breast atop sweet potato hash browns with cherry reduction or vegan marinated portobello mushrooms atop crispy wild mushroom risotto with sweet soy reduction

• Third course, paired with GRB El Hefe Añejo

Pork shoulder braised in GRB Hefeweizen and fresh chilis or vegan pinenut “carnitas” shredded napa cabbage, pico de gallo and spicy “crème fraiche”

• Fourth course, paired with Hangar 24′s Alt-bier

Pan seared bistro steak with roasted sunchokes, caramelized onions, fried leeks and red wine reduction or vegan roasted brussel sprouts with roasted sunchokes, caramelized onions, fried leeks and red wine reduction

• Fifth course, paired with GRB Schwartz Stout

House made truffles and berries

This is one beer dinner not to miss out on! Viva Los Angeles beer!

Mmm. Pumpkin Beer. | Photo courtesy of NorthwestBeerguide on Flickr

LA Beer Week(s) may be over, but Halloween’s not – and neither is your thirst for beer, I hear. When is it, ever? Why not combine the two by making a stop at my favorite neighborhood pub, Blue Palms Brewhouse, tomorrow starting 2 PM?

You’ll get to quench your thirst and craving for pumpkin with these special brews:

• Dogfish Head Punkin’
• Midnight Sun TREAT
• The Bruery Barrel Aged Autumn Maple (bottle)
• The Bruery Autumn Maple
• 2010 Beer Valley Jackalope Imperial Pumpkin Porter
• Sam Adams Double Pumpkin
• Bootleggers Pumpkin Ale
• New Belgium Kick (Sour Pumpkin Cranberry Ale)
• Kern River Brewing Pumpkin AleShipyard Smashed Pumpkin

And the food menu will be embellished with these autumn goodies:

• Pumpkin Salad: Spiced Pumpkin, Lentils, & Goat Cheese
• Pumpkin Quesadilla: Pumpkin, Feta, & cilantro

Who needs to turn into a pumpkin at the end of the night when you can drink them at the duration, instead? See you at Pumpkin-palooza!

Oh, right: Happy Halloween, too!