The L.A. BEER BLAST is designed to let Food GPS readers know what’s new at select L.A. bars and restaurants with great beer selections. You’ll also discover beer-related events in the area and learn about industry leaders. Expect a new L.A. BEER BLAST every Thursday evening, in time for the weekend rush. Look in the left sidebar, SUBSCRIBE to Food GPS and you’ll receive the L.A. BEER BLAST by e-mail.

Master sommelier Elizabeth Schweitzer decapitated a bottle of champagne with a saber, reenacting a pre-battle ritual that dates to the days of Napoleon. This dramatic gesture signaled the start of “Men are from Malt, Woman are from Vinos”, a March 28 fundraiser for College of the Canyons Culinary Arts Program that pitted Beer vs. Wine in a democratic six-course duel. Every guest got a beer and wine pairing with each course, along with a vote. Beer got off to a slow start, but ended up dominating wine. CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE

The gateway to Sequoia National Forest is a more likely locale for whitewater rafting, kayaking or mountain biking. However, Kyle Smith had other ideas. He grew up in a small town outside of Sacramento called Lincoln and moved south in 1992 to fight fires with the Forest Service. In 2006, he partnered with Rebecca Giddens and Eric Giddens on Kern River Brewing, becoming brewmaster of Kernville’s first brewpub. CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE

Brew & You columnist Sean Inman will occasionally profile the hard working folks behind these great craft beer lists over the course of the rest of the year. Today, Inman travels to Main Street in Santa Monica to Library Alehouse to learn a little about Library Alehouse Sustainability Manager Tom Kelley. CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE

BEACHWOOD BBQ
131 Main Street, Seal Beach, 562 493 4500

New draught options at Gabriel Gordon’s noted Seal Beach beer bar include New Belgium Ranger IPA, Port Brewing Mongo, Dogfish Head Burton Baton, Kern River Just Outstanding IPA, BrewDog 5 A.M. Saint, Ballast Point Victory at Sea and Lagunitas Wilco Tango Foxtrot. Track changes to Gordon’s 24-tap blackboard menu via HOP CAM.

BLUE PALMS BREWHOUSE
6124 Hollywood Boulevard, Hollywood, 323 464 2337

According to Blue Palms proprietor Brian Lenzo, the tap list now includes Lagunitas Wilco Tango Foxtrot, an Imperial brown ale; Ballast Point Abandon Ship, a Rauchbier; Lost Abbey Carnevale, a saison; The Bruery Saison de Lente, a Lent-friendly saison; Stone Old Guardian 2010 barleywine; and Eagle Rock Equinox, a young sour ale.

BoHo
6372 West Sunset Boulevard, Hollywood, 323 465 8500

Verdugo Bar co-owner Ryan Sweeney handles the beer list at BoHo, new beers include Rogue Double Mocha Porter, Sierra Nevada 30th Anniversary and Kasteel Cuvee du Chateau.

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

Phil McGovern’s Santa Monica bar now features Speakeasy Double Daddy IPA, Mission Shipwreck Shipyard IPA, Shipyard XXXX IPA, Wexford’s Irish Cream Ale and Firestone Union Jack IPA. On cask, you’ll find Stone Ruination with Amarillo and centennial hops and Stone Arrogant Bastard with Chinook hops.

THE FIFTH AMENDMENT ALEHOUSE
129 Broadway, Santa Monica, 310 386 1428

According to co-owner Dan Petrovich, “We have a pretty awesome lineup right now and are doing non stop promotions, 2 for 1, $5 pours, etc., throughout the summer. New on tap: Victory at Sea, New Belgium Dark Heather Saison. Speakeasy Scarface Stout, Lagunitas Cappuccino Stout, Bear Republic Scotch Ale, Eagle Rock Libertine, Ballast Point Ginger IPA, New Belgium Ranger IPA, New Belgium Mighty Arrow, Affligem Blond, 5th Hefeweizen, Union Jack, Port Mongo, Port Shark Attack Double Red and North Coast Rare Old Stock.”

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

According to The Golden State co-owner Jason Bernstein, “I think the only new beers since last week are Alesmith IPA, Drake’s Denogginizer (which is AWESOME) and Green Flash Le Freak. We also have a rare keg of 2009 Firestone Lil Opal that isn’t on the menu but all your Food GPSers can ask for it.”

LADYFACE ALEHOUSE & BRASSERIE
29281 Agoura Road, Agoura Hills, 818 477 4566

According to Ladyface rep Robyn Britton, “Fritz and Ken’s Ale, the first of Sierra Nevada’s 30th Anniversary series, has arrived at Ladyface. Should be on by the weekend – we’ll let you know via Facebook and Twitter. The stout’s roasted and burnt malt notes and hearty nature make it an exceptional compliment to our Moules Frites (mussels & Belgian fries), as well as at home with most chocolate and cream based desserts like our Spiced Chocolate Souffle with handmade Vanilla Ice Cream.

Chesebro IPA is the firkin of the week. Anderson Valley Poleeko Gold, Alesmith Speedway Stout, Drake’s Stygian Witches, Speakeasy Scarface and more on tap. Ladyface IPA and Picture City Porter should be back on by Saturday. Hoppy Spring!”

LIBRARY ALEHOUSE
2911 Main Street, Santa Monica, 310 314 4855

According to sustainability manager Tom Kelley, “On Draft we have Blind Pig IPA once again, Dogfish Aprihop, Bruery Saison de Lente, and Alesmith Horny Devil coming up this weekend. We might even get to tapping our keg of Deschutes Jubel 2010.

But the real excitement is coming in bottles this weekend. Coming in we have two Mikkeller Single Hop IPA’s, Centenniel and Nelson, Liefman’s Kriek, and Gubna DIPA from Oskar Blues.

Next Wednesday (April 7) is our event with Strand brewing. Rich Marcello will be with us and pouring his 24th Street Pale Ale. Stop by from 4-7 to meet him and pick his brain about opening a brewery right here in Los Angeles.

All month we will be showcasing local and sustainable breweries in observance of Earth Month.”

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

Lucky Baldwin’s eastern outpost is now pouring Biere du Boucanier Dark and Bear Republic Racer 5 IPA. They’ve also got an IPA Festival that starts April 17.

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

According to Assistant GM Martin Svab, they’re doing a Meet the Brewer event on April 8 from 8 PM – 10 PM, featuring Urthel . “Wife and husband team of Hildegard (co-owner; head brewer) and Bas van Ostaden (co-owner; sales & marketing) will be on hand to answer any questions and discuss their great artisanal beers and brewery. We will have Urthel’s Hop It on draft as well as Hibernus Quentum 9 Tripel and Samaranth 12 Quadrium in bottles with special discount prices.”

Naja’s new beers on draft are Allagash Curieux, Brouwerij Bockor Jacobins Cuvee des Rouge, Skyscraper Bulldozer Honey Hefe, Sierra Nevada Bigfoot 2010, Avery IPA and He’brew Origin Pomegranate Ale.

From April 21-28, Naja’s is hosting their 2nd Annual IPA Festival, featuring 35+ breweries, 40+ IPAs, 2+ casks and “lots o’ hops.”

38 DEGREES ALEHOUSE
100 West Main Street, Alhambra, 626 282 2038

Here’s last night’s update from 38 Degrees co-owner Clay Harding, who oversees the beer program: “This week I’ve added on tap Nostradamus Belgian Brown, Port Hot Rocks Lager, Lagunitas Hairy Eyeball, Sierra Nevada Glisade Spring Bock, Mikeller Single Tomahawk Hop IPA, 90 Minute IPA and Russian River IPA.”

THE SURLY GOAT
7929 Santa Monica Boulevard, West Hollywood, 323 650 4628

According to last night’s talk with co-owner Ryan Sweeney, The Surly Goat is adding New Belgium Eric’s Ale, Kern River Citra (double IPA), Rogue John-John (Dead Guy Ale aged in Dead Guy whiskey barrels), Marin White Knuckle IPA and Sierra Nevada 30th Anniversary.

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

According to co-owner Ryan Sweeney, new kegs include Dogfish Head Aprihop, New Belgium Eric’s Ale, Rogue John-John (Dead Guy Ale aged in Dead Guy whiskey barrels) and Kasteel Cuvee du Chateau.

On Saturday, Verdugo Bar is hosting a Mobile Mash Up from 1 PM – 7 PM, with four food trucks sharing ingredients to make mash up dishes. Grill ‘Em All, Mandoline Grill, Frysmith and Lomo Arigato are parking in the Verdugo Bar parking lot. Grab food and take it to the patio.