By Sean Inman

We beer geeks can be creatures of habit. We find a bar that has the comfy chairs and the rotating tap list and the knowledgeable staff and we just keep going back. But I am here to keep you on the lookout for the new or re-done or re-invented places that you should check out, at least once.

The first stop on the itinerary is McG’s Irish Pub & Grill. You may look at the address and think, Chatsworth? Where is that and would it be worth the drive?

The answer is yes (but be prepared to wait in traffic, the 405 and/or 5 can be unforgiving). This Irish pub is a sister to the Santa Monica institution, the Daily Pint, and it shares the Pint’s proletariat vibe. This is not a brand new gastropub with brick walls and high ceilings. This is an old school bar that is metamorphosing into a beer bar.

McG’s beer is in the capable hands of David Stickel (aka Beer Geek LA). David is in the process of really growing the amount of taps. They currently are at 36 with a goal of 47 in the future. They have had Rubicon beers from Sacramento and recently have been pouring some fall seasonals. I enjoyed a lovely Paulaner Festbier there last week. It was orange/brown in color with a nice maltiness. It was almost a tad too sweet but as a fan of the Oktoberfest beers, this was a good example of the style. The staff is warm and friendly and willing to help you get the beer you would really enjoy.

To entice you further, they have house made potato chips that are getting raves. One of the many events scheduled for LA Beer week is a beer dinner here on October 22. Six courses and beers to match. Space is limited, so you may want to check out the menu on their website and reserve yourself a space.

The other stop is in Universal City. Please do not let the gaudy lights or crowds scare you away. Karl Strauss is the San Diego brewer that got passed by when Stone Brewing and Port and Green Flash caught the fancy of the beer buying masses. Now they are playing catch up with some interesting beers.

I had their Big Barrel Double IPA which utilized the Nelson Sauvin hops from New Zealand which impart a grape/wine flavor. It makes the IPA less bitter and much more floral. It is one of my favorite beers of the year. They also have Padre Porter, Imperial Amber Lager and an Oktoberfest seasonal (which was a too sweet and had a lingering cereal type flavor that needed to be balanced out.)

But I recommend trying Karl Strauss for their Thursday Cask nights. At 4 PM, they tap into a small batch of experimental beer. When I was there it was a Belgian golden ale made with lavender. It had a kick of alcohol with the smell of lavender. It may not work for some taste buds but it certainly was not boring.

Your homework is to take a chance and, whether you are at McG’s or Karl Strauss, order something off the beaten path. Try the less hoppy IPA or the German seasonal. You might find a new favorite beer.

Plus, your beer of the week is Kern River Brewing’s Just Outstanding IPA. Made with Simcoe and Amarillo hops. This beer pours a lovely dark orange with a nice foamy head. Floral and grapefruit notes make this a refreshing and not super bitter IPA. Would be perfect for the person who wants a different shade of India Pale Ale.

Find more of Sean Inman’s writing on his blog, Beer Search Party.

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1. Pingback: Brew & You on McG’s and Karl Strauss Match Web on October 15, 2009

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