ANGEL CITY BREWERY

 A friend of mine who is a chef had done special work with Project Angel Food decided to do an Epicurean Safari with me starting with the newly renovated area of the arts district in downtown L.A. We were going to start with Wurstküche on 3rd Street, but decided on Angel City Brewery instead as the line was predictably long from the doors to the sidewalk at Wurstküche.

Initially, we didn’t know it was a brewery. We thought there may had been an exhibit taking place since there were a large amount of people heading over to what seemed to be an artist showcase from outside and a flea market in the parking lot. Upon entering, we saw it was filled with lively people from all walks of life, friendly bartenders, and live music playing in a corner of the open-spaced brewery. Only a small list of beers on the menu, but with the prices and flavors in them, it is worth coming down to find their location and enjoy what you order. I, for one, tried all of them…lol.

Angel’s flight consisted of 4.5 fl.oz. of:

• Eureka Wit- Traditional white ale brewed with coriander and orange peel. A smooth, thirst quenching flavor that is well suited for the summer weather we are beginning to have here in Southern California. With a slight sweetness, and palate cleansing effervescence, it was by far one of my favorites that they have on top at this moment. With 4.9% alcohol in this brew, you can definitely have a good time laughing it up with friends while filling up on a great local beer.
• Angeleno IPA- A great IPA that can also be enjoyed by those who don’t usually go for strong flavored beers. Strong notes of malt and hops come through with a bit of smoothness that flows nicely off the tongue.
• Gold Line Pilsner- Czech style pilsner that is not as strong and better suited for the American general audience. Great bodied feel at the start with a dry finish at the end.
• White Nite- A creamy stout, with strong notes of coffee, and cacao. This batch is nitrogenized giving it a thick head (the layer of foam that forms at the top of the beer when it is poured into a glass), that helps the aromas and flavors come through.
• Imperial Cherry- It has a soft flavor of cherries that doesn’t overpower the taste of a regular wheat ale. Insanely better than the imitation cherry-flavored wheat ale from a certain large-scale Boston brewery.

And finally, I tried the last beer on their list, a special limited release for Thursday night’s mystery cask..

• Porter Bella- Simply put, it’s ACB’s version of Ambrosia for the GODS! Has a thick head when poured, but doesn’t have a strong carbonation in the taste. A smooth, creamy feel from this batch that is cask conditioned. This one is even better than their White Nite selection, with strong flavors of coffee, toffee, and chocolate coming through on the palate.

Overall, Angel City Brewery is a GREAT place to try awesome beers that do change tap depending on the season and availability. Definitely worth going to relax, enjoy music, try great beers, eat delicious food from stands that change throughout the week, and pass time conversing with friends, while also making new ones.