When most people think of craft beer centers, they don’t usually think of Los Angeles. The likes of San Francisco, Denver, San Diego, and Boston usually come up in conversation for the City of Angels. That is, unless you live in the greater Los Angeles area.
Breweries like Beachwood, Smog City, Monkfish, Eagle Rock, Highland Park, El Segundo, Craftsman and Angel City Brewery are doing amazing things in the coastal California city. “There is something truly unique about the craft beer scene in Los Angeles that just feels different from your typical beer towns like San Diego and Portland,” says Melissa Corbin, Marketing and Events Specialist at Angel City Brewery.
Also: Red, White, and Brewed | Samuel Adams Goes Nitro
“With microbreweries and brewpubs suddenly popping up all over, the sense of community here just feels stronger, more united, more inclusive.” She says that the brewers in Los Angeles take their sense of community very seriously. They aren’t in the business of trying to top each other. They know that everything they do to promote craft brewing in the area helps their fellow brewers. “We see each other as colleagues, not competition.”
Moreover, brewing in the heart of downtown Los Angeles, they are introducing craft beer to cultures that have never had access to it before. “In a way, the craft beer scene here in LA is still on the brink of discovery, and it’s an amazing time to be a part of the industry.”
In recent years, Brew Master Jon Carpenter and his fellow brewers have seen a massive increase in the amount of craft beer drinkers in the area. “The craft beer consumer base continues to grow and will continue to do so as the industry itself expands,” says Corbin.
The same can be said for craft beer bars in Los Angeles. “The availability of these establishments will continue to grow as breweries continue to claim their stake in LA. More often than not, there are craft beer bars in millennial-saturated neighborhoods throughout Los Angeles.”
For many years, Los Angeles was uncharted territory for craft beer. While California cities like San Francisco and San Diego were making great strides in craft brewing, LA brewers were having more trouble gaining traction. “Considering its size and melting pot of diversity, that’s a huge miss,” says Corbin. “LA is a great place to brew beer because we are able to not only take ownership of the community here, and really drive the scene, but (as mentioned) we are able to introduce craft beer to all different walks of life, people of different cultures and backgrounds, drinkers that have never had access to a local brewery.”
That aside, crafting a solid beer scene here has transformed the social landscape of areas throughout the greater Los Angeles area. “Slowly, but surely, LA will be known for something more than glitz and glamor. The craft beer industry is changing the conversation about LA.”
In 2012 Angel City Brewery opened in the John A. Roebling Building in LA’s Downtown Arts District. “The vision behind the start of Angel City Brewery was, and remains, to give the great city of LA a great brewery,” says Corbin. She believes the world need to know that there is much more to Los Angeles than Hollywood. “Angel City Brewery embodies that by calling the Los Angeles Arts District home.” She adds, “Angel City’s Public House and brews take inspiration from the people in the neighborhood such as artists, musicians, hustlers, and craftspeople that create the unique Downtown LA culture.”
“Roll down the window, put down the top. Crank up the Beach Boys, baby. Don’t let the music stop. We’re gonna ride it till we just can’t ride it no more. From the South Bay to the Valley. From the West Side to the East Side. Everybody’s very happy. Cause the sun is shining all the time. Looks like another perfect day. I love L.A.” Those are the lyrics to the song “I Love LA” by the great Randy Newman. At least in the 80s, it was the unofficial anthem of the City of Angels.
It’s also the perfect name for a beer. Angel City Brewery is paying tribute to the famous song by calling their newest offering I love LAger. I doubt there is another beer that embodies the city more than this.
“With Angel City LAger, we wanted to create a perfect beverage to relax with anytime, striking that delicate balance between its full malty body with a light honey sweetness, and a subtle citrus bite with a refreshing, crisp finish,” says Carpenter. “This beer is clean and bright in flavor and won’t weigh you down.”
LAger is made with a combination of 2-Row, Honey Malt, and Carapils malts. The hop presence comes from Cascade and Centennial hops. It’s a very palatable 25 IBUs and at 4.8% ABV, it’s a session beer. You shouldn’t feel bad about throwing back a few of these bad boys when you’re paying tribute to LA.
You aren’t likely to find a beer to better represents the City of Angels. “LAger is a love letter to LA, a unique city that enjoys a fast passed go-getter attitude but balances said attitude with a passion for leisure,” says Corbin. “LAger is created for those moments when LA puts its feet up and takes a moment to appreciate a good beer and a quiet moment.”
On top of the aforementioned LAger, Angel City also makes a handful of other beers, including Angel City IPA and Angel City Pilsner. “Our two most popular beers can be found on tap and in bottles from San Diego all the way up the coast to San Francisco,” says Corbin. “While LA is late in the craft beer game compared to cities like San Diego, Angel City is now making headway onto the palate of those who previously overlooked ordering a Los Angeles craft brew.”
