Brouwerij West Belgian Blond 5 bids LA farewell for the weekend

After packing for my red eye flight to Chi-town to visit Sarah and Andrea, David invites me to join his coworkers for a beer at Library Ale House. He's preselected a belgian sounding brewery that actually hails from Paso Robles. They have a cool tap handle that's easy to remember:

The aroma is light and floral and it goes down easily. A very smooth blond that's full bodied and slightly sweet. This would go really well with food, especially fish or pasta. THE ROCK rating.

Tiffany soon arrives and she orders the Straffe Hendrik Quadruple, which we had last Saturday. Couldn't believe that a Belgian Quad is actually on tap! Now I'm off to catch a red-eye to Chicago, so excited!

Taj Mahal Premium Lager sells out India's only Wonder of the World but for a good cause

I tend to stay away from Lagers on this beer quest, but you know the saying, when in India...

Karl and Laura have searched LA high and low for the finest Indian food and Jaipur is, as Beck says, where it's at. I've tasted the fruits of Jaipur and upon the completed meal, my rotund belly let me know it was AMAZING. The Chicken Tikki Marsala, Lamb Korma, and Tandoori Chicken was phenomenal. I know that David didn't like Indian food before Karl took him here but he's a changed man because of it. So if you're in LA, check this place out Jaipur. AND I finally discovered what the hell a Tandoori is, horay!

To cool off the spicyness, Karl and I utilizing his favorite Indian brew, the Taj Mahal Premium Lager. Apparently, Indians have beat America to the punch in the realm of whoring out national landmarks to sell beer. I never thought this day would come.

However, not to vilify ourselves, the quote of the night comes from Laura who exclaimed confidently in response to the shenanigans of Karl and I that, "We're all shady people." Touche miss.  She knows all too well.

The Mahal de Taj is pretty tasty. I would put it above any mass produced American Lager. It's crisp, creamy, and has a touch of fruit flavor. It pairs wonderfully with the native food. TRANSFORMERS rating.

Afterward, Library Alehouse had a special Belgian beer night where they were giving away glasses with the purchase of specific brews, including Kwak. David was practically frothing at the gash for a glass for whatever reason (he didn't know they looked like a novelty margarita glass you buy at a baseball game) so I met Tiffany and her friend Tyler who were holding down the fort at the Alehouse all night. Thanks to Tiff, David now has his Belgian Margarita Glass. Parrrrtayy.

Drake's 1500 Pale Ale closes out the work year at Library Alehouse

Tore out of work early Friday hoping to catch my first happy hour at Library, alas, it ended half an hour earlier than David and I had believed. Next time Library, next time. Your Chipotle Shrimp Quesadilla was still bomb.

Surprisingly they were out of my first two choices, various Christmas ales, but Drake's 1500 proved a worthy substitute. Medium bodied pale ale with a mouthfull bursting with hoppy bitterness. Pale ale with with a bite, an excellent beer to fuel a hopefully trouble-filled night celebrating the holiday break. TRANSFORMERS rating.

Anchor Steam Xmas Ale helps me read good and do other stuff good as well

Nick G, David and I caught up on our various escapades over a few $2 Dos Equis at La Cabana (their Thursday night special which might become a regular stop) before heading over to the Library Alehouse (which is actually next to the Library for Dyslexic's, or Yrarbil rof s'Cixelsy as it's known to it's constituents).

Derek Zoolander would totally support this library

This is a dark and moody Christmas Ale from Anchor Steam, a malted with strong notes of dark fruits and licorice thoughtfully laced with peppermint candy. This is a beer purposed to keep you warm during the holidays, so it couldn't hurt to you to pick up a sixer and enjoy with the family. TRANSFORMERS rating.

Hey Dogfish Head Theobrama, nice cleavage

Back at the Library for a Theobrama. Broke the usual rule and looked it up before deciding to go for it. Because I looked it up, I tool one sip and waited to see if the pepper would kick in after a min or two, and it DID.

At first it's sweet and smooth, really nice. An earthy, subtle bitterness follows but it's not exactly malty. Then in the back of my throat I can feel the peppery heat. Really light, completely unoffensive. Awesome how original this is.

Salma Hayek, easy call. While it might be offensive to say this to her face, I don't think she's as "Latin" as her attitude and image lead on. She's smooth and sweet first and once those characteristics have a chance to win you over, the heat drops in, just barely. This is an attractive beer. Also, boobs.

LA Beer Week: Dogfish Head Theobroma

So I dragged David back to the Library Ale House hoping to find redemption, which tonight might be spelled THEOBROMA. Dogfish, don't fail me now! (you almost never do)

Hello gorgeous, you may look blonde but you taste like chocolate. I like you.

So this is one of their specialty beers and I don't believe is widely distributed, so it might be hard to find. This is the description from Dogfish, it's a little wild:

Theobroma, or "food of the gods," is brewed with Aztec cocoa powder and cocoa nibs from Askinosie Chocolate, honey, ancho chilies, and annatto. The recipe is based on chemical analysis of pottery fragments found in Honduras, which scientists claim is the earliest known alcoholic chocolate drink.

Fortunately Library is awesome and has it on keg this week. To me this is a very remarkable beer. It pours a golden hue like a belgian and is briefly sweet upfront, but then it follows with a subtle spice and ends with chocolate crashing the party. It's a golden beer that tastes like chocolate. I'm in Heaven. If Theobroma was the President, I'd be chanting "4 MORE YEARS." President Theobroma. Has a ring to it. Adding points to awesomeness, the meaning of Theobroma is similar to a frequented phrase I use, 'nectar of the gods.' I can tell, this beer and I will be lifelong friends. Hopefully I can find it soon!

Watcha gonna do, whatcha gonna do when Theorboma comes for you. BAD BOYS rating.

LA Beer Week: Russian River Consecration Doesn't Inspire Conservation

Blahhhhhh. SOUR.  

Consecration is what's known as an American Wild Ale, which are a family of beers that are introduced to "wild" yeast or bacteria, This introduction may occur from oak barrels that have been previously inoculated, pitched into the beer, or gained from various "sour mash" techniques. This isn't a normal beer family, it's more like The Addams Family.

As part of LA Beer Week, this fellow debuted on tap tonight at the Library Alehouse. I'd never heard of it but it received glowing reviews so I dragged David here with high hopes, only to re-confirm how much I dislike sour beers. It's actually well rounded but malty and so sour. Not enjoyable. PEARL HARBOR rating.

*However, Sara P loves this beer and will drink it up like a milkshake, so to each their own. If the wasn't here I'd be really skeptical of the beer advocate A rating.

Russian River Consecration, oui? Non.

Met up with Barry from the MH for a beer at Library, Walker is headed over as well. Thought I'd go for the Consecration even though a couple at the bar warned me about it. I figured that if I could make it through the Grande Dame, I can make it through anything.
WHOA. It's basically trying to compete with Grande Dame. It washes your entire tongue with vinegar, citric acid and foul red wine. Its really hard to get this down. Barry says, "I wouldn't use anything as kind as vinegar. Stomach acid perhaps?"
Barry made the terrific suggestion to pair this this with Gérard Depardieu. "He's just a bit foul, isn't he?" Agreed.

Weihenstephaner Vitus in honor of Jay

At the Library Alehouse for Jay's penultimate night in LA. Jay - you are cool, we will miss you. Excellent beer list here, but I quickly suggested an old standby - Weihenstephaner Vitus. Booyah. Good value being that it's 7.5% alc, so Base, Walker and I made moves. It's light but strong, sweet but light on your stomach. The not quite fruity, Belgian-style sugar character is my favorite part.

This beer is L'Anderson, minus the fact that it's brewed by the oldest brewery in Germany, which doesn't bear any similiarity to the Lander.

Weihenstephaner Vitus, Where Have You Been?

We went to Library Ale House to celebrate Jay's soon-to-be-departing presence and encountered a beast of a beer (and glass, which I hope to collect many of someday). Introducing, the Weihenstephaner Vitus.

This beer goes up to 11

I say introducing because I've haven't seen it in bars before (maybe I'm blind), though it should be because this beer is fantastic. It's a strong wheat beer, which basically translates to a hefeweizen that has a higher than normal alcohol content, hence the 'strong.' It is full bodied and has an excellent flavor profile. There are hints of banana and actually tastes sweeter than most hefes. This beer I wanted more and more of. Thankfully, my inhibitions were on sabbatical and I made the most of a delicious night.

Though I didn't know ye before, I'm glad I do now because this is one of the BAD BOYS.