Another brewery has hung up an OPEN sign here in the Southland. LAB Brewing is brewing just down the street from Ladyface Ale Companie in Agoura Hills.

The first three brews out of brewmaster Roger Bott’s kettles are the Take Her Home Tripel, Big Ass Red – a West Coast Red ale – and Atom XPA. More styles are in the works or have debuted since I got the chance to speak with Roger before Thanksgiving, including a Kona coffee beer made with whole beans and a wit beer. Don’t worry hopheads, an IPA is in the works as well.

Roger, a homebrewer for 16 years, is the latest to make the leap into the professional ranks. Though he is still fitting the brewing around a regular job. But he seems to be used to multi-tasking. When his job posted him in nearby Holland, he helped out at a brewery in Belgium and even played a bit of football for them as well.

When you gain clearance to the LAB, you will find yourself with plenty of other beer-y options as well in addition the Double Helixed tap handles of house brews as well as some fine food options as well from a chef who is eager to work with craft beer as well as wine and spirits.

The LAB is located on a corner of an industrial park, but don’t be fooled. The interior is spacious with plenty of outdoor seating as well as a stage for live music. Or you can do like I did and sit next to the brewing equipment.

For the craft Beer of the Week, I recommend Lagunitas Sucks Holiday Ale. The Petaluma brewery has been bursting at the seams and they just couldn’t fit in the beloved Brown Shugga’ seasonal into the schedule to the outcry of many. To soften the blow they have released one of the best IPA’s that I have had this year. Soft and floral with big hits of grapefruit and mango and lemon. It is made with a medley of cereal grains like oats, rye and wheat along with the Citra and Simcoe hops. What doesn’t suck is that this beauty will be available into January.

Your Homework this week is to grab your colLAboration glass and head down to Golden Road Brewery in Atwater Village near the 5 and 134 this Saturday for a winter beer garden. You will be able to get your first taste of Golden Road “Brewer’s Choice” beers, Rye on the Palate: “A rich red rye ale, perfect for the holiday season” and Shwartz Stout: “A traditional dry Irish style nitro stout, that is smooth, rich and creamy.”

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