On April 16, Anat Baron premiered her craft beer documentary – “Beer Wars” – at UCLA’s Royce Hall. The event attracted beer luminaries like Stone Brewing Co. co-founder Greg Koch, Dogfish Head brewer Sam Calagione, Beer Advocate’s Todd Alstrom and Charlie Papazian – Brewers Association President and “cheerleader of the craft brewing industry.” The documentary illuminated some industry practices that were no-doubt common knowledge to those experts, but fairly informative to burgeoning beer lovers like myself. Better yet: the experts stuck around for a post-screening panel, moderated by Ben Stein, that delved somewhat deeper into the issues facing craft brewers. CLICK HERE to see what jumped out at me about the evening.

Now, back to your regularly scheduled L.A. BEER BLAST. The L.A. BEER BLAST is a weekly newsletter designed to let Food GPS readers know about what’s new at select L.A. bars and restaurants with great beer selections. Expect a new L.A. BEER BLAST every Thursday evening, in time for the weekend rush. SUBSCRIBE to Food GPS and you’ll receive the L.A. BEER BLAST by e-mail.

BLUE PALMS BREWHOUSE
6124 Hollywood Boulevard
Hollywood
323 464 2337

On April 29 at 6:30 PM, Brian Lenzo is hosting The Bruery at Blue Palms Brewhouse, allowing guests to meet brewer Patrick Rue and taste the Placentia brewery’s complete list.

NEW ON TAP

• • Abandon Ship – Smoke Lager – Rauchbier (5.2% ABV)
  • Hair of the Dog FRED – American Barleywine (10% ABV)
  • Blue Palms Hefe – Bavarian Hefeweizen
  • Stone Pale Ale – American Pale Ale (5.4% ABV)
  • Green Flash Imperial IPA – American Double (9% ABV)
  • Trois Pistoles – Belgian Strong Dark Ale (9% ABV)
  • Einhorn Spezial Pilsner – German Pilsener (5% ABV)
  • Hemp Ale (in honor of Earth Day) – Herbed/Spiced Beer (5.7% ABV)

  NEW ON CASK
  Stone Arrogant Bastard w/Chinook

  CORKBAR
  403 West 12th Street, Downtown, 213 746 0050

  Sierra Nevada Summer Fest (replacing the regular Sierra Nevada).

  DAILY PINT
  2310 Pico Boulevard, Santa Monica, 310 450 7631

  NEW ON TAP

• Bear Republic Racer 5
• Einhorn Spezial Pilsner
• Dale Bros. Dude of York
• NOW ON CASK
• Stone IPA with Amarillo and Chinook Hops
• Arrogant Bastard with American Oak

THE GOLDEN STATE
426 North Fairfax Avenue, Fairfax, 323 782 8331

What’s new on tap at The Golden State? Here’s last night’s report from co-owner Jason Bernstein:

“A keg of the Port Hot Rocks Lager. Allagash Curieux is coming back. I’m crossing my fingers on Ommegang Rouge, but that’s a highly allocated [sour] beer. Another possibility: AleSmith Old Numbskull Barleywine.”

JOHNNY’S BAR
5006 York Boulevard, Highland Park, 323 551 6959

NEW ON TAP

Young’s Double Chocolate Stout

According to co-owner Zac Crandell, “Pours standard dark, with nice head. Strong chocolate smell, malt also in there. Taste is very good, with chocolate absolutely dominating the palette; probably the strongest chocolate taste I’ve had in a chocolate stout. Eminently silky smooth and creamy, absolutely fantastic to drink. Low ABV makes for good repeat consumption over the course of an evening.”

LUCKY BALDWIN’S
17 South Raymond Avenue, Pasadena, 626 795 0652

Lucky Baldwin’s Barleywine Festival and is going strong until April 26, with a couple dozen new offerings, including high-alcohol beers, stouts and 8 years of Sierra Nevada Bigfoot (2001 -2008). Other options: Bear Republic Hop Rod Rye, Buffalo Stout, Lost Coast Old Ale, Speakeasy Big Daddy Barleywine and AleSmith Horny Devil.

LUCKY BALDWIN’S DELIRIUM CAFE
21 Kersting Court, Sierra Madre, 626 355 1140

NEW ON TAP

NAJA’S PLACE
154 International Boardwalk, Redondo Beach, 310-376-9951

Last night, The Golden State co-owner Jason Bernstein mentioned Naja’s, saying it’s one of the best beer bars in L.A. Today, David Stickel over at Beer Geek LA tipped me off about Naja’s IPA Festival, which started yesterday. Here’s the full line-up:

1. Bear Republic Apex IPA
2. Stone Cali-Belgique IPA
3. Russian River Pliny the Younger
4. Russian River Pliny the Elder
5. Firestone Union Jack
6. Port Brewing Hop 15
7. Sierra Nevada Chico Harvest IPA
8. Dogfish Head 90 Minute IPA
9. Victory Hop Wallop
10. Avery Maharaja 2009
11. Avery Maharaja 2008
12. Avery Maharaja 2007
13. Rogue XS I2PA
14. Stone Brewing 11th Anniversary
15. Mission IPA
16. Bear Republic Racer X
17. Speakeasy Double Daddy DIPA
18. Rubicon IPA
19. Bear Republic Racer 5 IPA
20. Stone IPA
21. Green Flash West Coast IPA
22. Mammoth IPA
23. Lagunitas IPA
24. ReaperAle Sleighor DIPA
25. Drake’s IPA
26. Moylan’s Moylander DIPA
27. Coronado Idiot IPA
28. Alaskan IPA
29. Angel City Belgian IPA
30. Bootlegger’s Rye IPA
31. Marin IPA (cask)
32. Coronado Islander IPA
33. Ballast Point Sculpin IPA
34. Deschutes Hop Henge Experimental IPA

VERDUGO BAR
3408 Verdugo Road, Glassell Park, 323 257 3408

Verdugo co-owner Ryan Sweeney weighed in after I hit SEND on tonight’s newsletter with a full-scale update. Here’s what’s new at his Glassell Park beer lounge. On deck: Dogfish Head and Old Rasputin X (only four kegs ever)!

NEW ON TAP

ON DECK

NEW BOTTLES