The L.A. Beer Float Showdown returns for LA Beer Week, and this year, five top chefs are collaborating with five top California breweries to develop imaginative beer floats. Every attendee is a judge, voting on “flavor,” “originality” and “presentation,” and the winning team not only gets glory, they also walk away with $500.

The five teams:

chef Ilan Hall of The Gorbals and “Top Chef” + Tustin Brewery brewmaster and Smog City Brewing Co. brewer/owner Jonathan Porter

chef CJ Jacobson of The Yard and “Top Chef” + Firestone Walker rep Jace Milstead

chef Laurent Quenioux of Vertical Wine Bistro and LQ@SK + Beachwood BBQ and Brewing brewmaster Julian Shrago and co-owner Gabe Gordon

chefs Andre Guerrero + Jan Purdy of The Oinkster and Maximiliano + Eagle Rock Brewery brewmaster Jeremy Raub

chef Thi Tran and Nguyen Tran of Starry Kitchen + Ladyface Ale Companie brewmaster Dave Griffiths and owner Cyrena Nouzille

The event is on October 15 at Eagle Rock Brewery from 1 p.m. – 4 p.m., rain or shine, and General Admission Tickets cost $35 per person, including tax. VIP tickets are available through Thrillist for $45, which tacks on an early session that lasts from 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m and involves all-you-care-to-eat Filipino-style roast pig, lumpia and pancit from Neri’s Curbside Cravings, temporarily bottomless glasses of Revolution, Manifesto and Solidarity from Eagle Rock Brewery, and a chance to hang with the chefs and brewery participants from 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

After 1 p.m., Neri’s will stick around to sell their old school and new school Filipino food, and Eagle Rock Brewery is selling beer.

25% of event proceeds will go to Share Our Strength, which is a charitable organization working to eliminate childhood hunger.

*Attendees must be 21 or over.

*Parking is limited on Roswell Street, and since the event is taking over the Eagle Rock Brewery parking lot, your best bet is to park a block away on Fletcher Drive, east of San Fernando Road. Click Here For a Map.

Thanks to valuable support from Clay Harding and 38 Degrees Ale House & Grill.

Related Posts

1. 
   Andre Guerrero, Jan Purdy and Eagle Rock Brewery win L.A. Beer Float Showdown 3
2. 
   L.A. Beer Float Showdown Returns for L.A. Beer Week
3. 
   7 Top Selling Beers from Southern California Breweries
4. 
   Boneyard Bistro Wins L.A. Beer Float Showdown II
5. 
   It’s Walter Manzke vs. Zach Pollack & Steve Samson in the inaugural Food GPS Lamb Showdown

1. yolanda evans, September 19, 2011:

   if i’m not in nyc, i’m so there

2. Caroline on Crack, September 19, 2011:

   This sounds epic!

3. Stan, September 19, 2011:

   Can we put money down on who wins?!

4. ChocoMeat, September 19, 2011:

   Keeps getting better and better!!!

5. e*starLA, September 19, 2011:

   Amaze balls of ice cream and lots of other things in beer.

6. eddie rico, September 19, 2011:

   I am excited about food and beer. I love both and I go out of my way to find the best. However I am a vegetarian. That sometimes clashes with many beer and food pairing events. Will this event have veggie options?

7. Joshua Lurie, September 19, 2011:

   Eddie,

   Great question. The chefs and breweries have creative freedom, so I’m not sure yet how many floats will be vegetarian, but based on the previous two years, it’s a good bet you’ll be in luck. I did make sure Neri’s Curbside Cravings will have one vegetarian option. I hope to see you at Eagle Rock Brewery on October 15. Thanks for writing.

8. Joshua Lurie, September 19, 2011:

   e*starLA,

   I’m with you on the “ice cream” and “beer” part. Those will definitely be in effect in every glass. What I’m interested to see is the “lots of other things.” These are some creative people, so I don’t expect too many of them to limit floats to two ingredients.

9. mattatouille, September 23, 2011:

   Epic! I’m so there

10. Linda Wang, October 13, 2011:

    Sounds like a fun event! A few questions:
    1. Will regular tickets be available at the door?
    2. When will the floats be ready? I don’t think I can stay past 3pm.

11. Joshua Lurie, October 13, 2011:

    Linda,

    Tickets should be available at the door, but it depends on the number of tickets sold in advance. Also, floats will be ready beginning at 1 p.m. I hope you can make it.

12. Ladyface Ale Companie, October 14, 2011:

    Working on garnishes & secret ninja beer float moves. See you all tomorrow!

13. Joshua Lurie, October 14, 2011:

    Good move on the garnishes. Presentation counts again this year. See you at Eagle Rock Brewery!

This entry is filed under Special Features.