It was a little over three months ago that I first heard about 38 Degrees Ale House and Grill; after all, they are all the way out in Alhambra and I am in the South Bay so there was not a lot of reasons that I had to be aware of them. On one particular evening I happened to be at a beer event in Hermosa Beach and someone I was talking to received a text telling him that there was going to be a Pliny the Younger release party at 38 Degrees in Alhambra. I had heard a lot of rumors by that point, so I called 38 Degrees to confirm the rumor and after talking to co-owner Clay Harding it was decided that I would come out and cover their event.

To be honest, I was not really sure what to expect; I certainly was not expecting what I found there. Looking past the 400 people standing in line to get in, one guy for more than three hours by the time I got there, I was pretty impressed. 38 Degrees Ale House and Grill is huge; it must seat more than 200 people. They offer 38 beers on tap or cask and I do not recall seeing any Budweiser or Miller there. In fact, I was a little disappointed that I had ridden my bike out there because there was a lot to choose from and a designated driver would have been nice. I did not eat, but it seems like everyone around me did. I asked a couple people about the food and they all spoke highly of it. When I left, I knew I would have to return to spend a little more time.

That time has come; on Saturday June 8, 38 Degrees will be holding their 4th Anniversary Celebration beginning at 1:00 PM to “celebrate four years of serving Los Angeles with some of the most delicious and unique craft beers and entrees.” There is no cost of admission; just pay for what you eat or drink. Speaking of drink, 38 Degrees 38 Degrees will be breaking out some very special archived beers; barrel aged beers, sour ales as well as fresh local ales. Their list includes:

Alesmith Barrel Aged Speedway

Allagash Odyssey Oak Aged Dark Wheat

Ballast Point Barrel Aged Indra Kunindra

Ballast Point Coedo East to West IPA (Fresh batch brewed in San Diego)

Beachwood Hop Ninja

Craftsman Ursa Minor

Dogfish Head Immort Ale

Eagle Rock Tart Noir

Eagle Rock Templeton Rye Barrel Aged Threes Anniversary Ale

Firestone Walker XVI Anniversary

Firestone Walker Sucaba

Great Divide Chocolate Oak Aged Yeti

Hebrew Funky Jewbelation

High Water Old & In the Way 2011

Ironfire Coffee Stout Aged in Rye Whiskey Barrels

Ironfire Merlot Barrel Aged Dead on Arrival DIPA dry hopped in barrel

Kern River Just Outstanding

Logsdon Oak Aged Seizon Bretta

Lost Abbey Brandy Barrel Aged Santa’s Helper

Lost Abbey Deliverance

Lost Abbey Older Viscosity

Lost Coast Bourbon Barrel Aged Imperial 8 Ball 2012

Nectar Black Xantus

New Belgium La Folie 2012

Noble Ale Works Naughty Sauce

North Coast Old Rasputin XV

Russian River Consecration

Russian River Pliny the Elder

Russian River Sanctification

Stone 15th Anniversary Aged In Scotch Barrels

The Bruery Melange #8

The Bruery/Beachwood Mrs. Stoutfire

If you enjoy craft beer you can see this is an outstanding lineup. If you have a way to get to Alhambra on June 8, I suggest dropping by 38 Degrees for their 4th birthday party, it sounds like it will be a great time. You can make reservations on their website or you can call them at 626-282-2038. Be sure to smile if you see my camera pointing in your general direction. You can see all the photos from the Pliny Release Party on GotBaddog.com