AleSmith Brewing Company
Karl Strauss and AleSmith Debut Blink of an IPA Collaboration Beer
Karl Strauss & AleSmith Brewing Collaboration
Long-time friends and first-time collaborators, Karl Strauss and AleSmith are both known for experimenting with their small batch releases. Neither brewery had previously brewed with kveik yeast, which meant that Ryan Crisp (AleSmith’s Director of Brewery Operations & Head Brewer) and Matt Johnson (Brewmaster of Brewery Operations at Karl Strauss) were eager to jump in and experiment.
“Both Ryan and I wanted to brew a Kveik IPA. Hops are usually the star in an India Pale Ale, so it was a lot of fun to primarily focus on the yeast for this particular IPA. Kveik is really such a unique strain. We were amazed how well it fermented at higher temperatures– from 78°F to 98°F!” – Matt Johnson, Karl Strauss Brewmaster of Brewery Operations. Continue reading
Festival Obscura at Sunnyside Cemetery
These photos were taken Saturday afternoon at the inaugural, and hopefully the first of many, Festival Obscura at Sunnyside Cemetery in Long Beach, California. The event was a fundraiser for Sunnyside Cemetery; the second oldest cemetery in Long Beach and one of the oldest in California.
While the rest of the country was baking under a nationwide heat wave, the temperature in Long Beach was more like the mid to high-70s, with a cooling breeze that really felt nice; especially if you were in the shade.
While I did not count them, the sold-out event featured more than 40 craft breweries, wineries, and cider makers. In addition to the libations, there were at least 20 booths featuring macabre artists, historians, merchants, and at least one tarot card reader. There were also several food trucks, and live music provided by at least two bands that I noticed. Continue reading
Taking a San Diego Beercation with Travelocity
I have traveled to breweries up and down the state and ventured east as far as Indiana and Louisiana but even though it is only a couple hours away, I have not covered much in the San Diego area. With more than 100 breweries in San Diego County, I had visited a total of two; Alpine Beer Company in Alpine, and Stone Brewing’s Escondido location. The main reason for this is probably because a trip to San Diego for a beer tour would pretty much require an overnight stay and a convenient time just never came up. About a month ago I received an email asking if I would like to join Travelocity on an overnight beercation in San Diego; my convenient time had arrived. The fact that it was during San Diego Beer Week was just icing on the cake.
Our group consisted of a variety of foodies, travel influencers and two beer writers; we would be staying at the Pearl Hotel and visit AleSmith Brewing, Ballast Point, Mission Brewing and end with dinner at Stone’s Liberty Station location. We were transported around the different breweries by HotShots Brewery Tours. The reason for the invitation was that Travelocity has realized how big craft beer is around the country and that people are traveling specifically to try craft beer; so they created a beer tourism index. Everything we did can be booked via Travelocity. Continue reading
Inaugural Long Beach Craft Beer Festival Photos
These photos were taken at the inaugural Long Beach Craft Beer Festival which was held Saturday afternoon and put on by the Forty-Niner Shops at California State University Long Beach (CSULB). Proceeds from the event went to help support student education through the growth and development of the Hospitality Management program at CSULB.
When I first started thinking about what I would write about this event, I was going to say that for an inaugural event it was very well run; but the fact of the matter is that would not really be a fair assessment. This may have been their inaugural event but you would not know it if you had not been told beforehand. Someone had done their homework; it was run like they had been putting on craft beer festivals for years.
I could nitpick and complain about the plastic tasting “glassware”, or maybe suggest that the food options be spread out a little more equally; but other than that I am not sure what anyone could complain about. One thing is for sure, the beer options were outstanding. Continue reading
Photos from Laughs By Volume 4
These photos are from PINT Magazine’s Laughs By Volume 4, a comedy and craft beer event that was held Saturday evening at the Buena Park Community Center. The Laughs By Volume event featured unlimited craft beer tastings from about 30 different production breweries and laughs from four hilarious comedians.
Laughs By Volume 4 provided brews from such breweries as The Dudes’ Brewing, Stone Brewing, Absolution Brewing, Four Sons, Mission Brewery, Great Beer Co, Timeless Pints, Anaheim Brewery, Telegraph Brewing, Pizza Port Brewing, Julian Hard Cider, Tahoe Mountain Brewing, 21st Amendment, Victory Brewing, Oskar Blues, Alesmith, Brewery Ommegang, Boulevard Brewing, Maui Brewing, Double Mountain, and Sixpoint Brewery. The laughs were provided by comedians Cisco, Atsuko Okatsuka, Sammy Obeid, and Tommy Lucero and emceed by Chris JOnesy Jones. Continue reading
Laughs By Volume III this Saturday
Just a final reminder that this Saturday Laughs By Volume, the comedy show featuring unlimited pours of craft beer, will be held at from 4:00 to 7:00 PM at Honeypot LA, located at 212 W. 12th Street in Los Angeles.
The event will feature six comedians, Martin Montana, Daniel Storrow, Jeff Capri, Lance Paullin, Melissa Shoshahi, and Chad Shapiro. In addition to the comedy there will be at least 40 craft beers to sample from such breweries as The Dudes’, Stone Brewing, Absolution Brewing, Four Sons, Mission Brewery, El Segundo Brewing, Great Beer Co, Smog City, Refuge Brewery, Timeless Pints, Anaheim Brewery, Telegraph Brewing, Pizza Port Brewing, Julian Hard Cider, Tahoe Mountain Brewing, 21st Amendment, The Lost Abbey, Bear Republic, Victory Brewing, Oskar Blues, Ska Brewing, Alesmith, Brewery Ommegang, Boulevard Brewing, Maui Brewing, Double Mountain, Brouwerij Wolf, and Sixpoint Brewery.
Tickets for Laughs By Volume III are $30.00 at the door or $25.00 if you purchase them online here. I have a discount code for you; use Promo Code CBG23 to save 10%. Included in the price of admission you get a souvenir PINT glass, unlimited pours and a gift bag containing coupons, products and special offers from their participating sponsors valued at more than $300. Continue reading
Laughs By Volume III Updated Brewery Info
On April 23, PINT Magazine will hold their third in a continuing series of comedy shows that feature six comedians and unlimited pours of craft beer; all for less than you would pay to get in the door of any comedy club in Los Angeles, and no drink minimums! Laughs By Volume is returning April 23 to Honeypot LA for Laughs By Volume III.
Craft beer & comedy at one low price – Laughs By Volume
Since my last article, they have modified the breweries being featured; the beers being poured will come from The Dudes’, Stone Brewing, Absolution Brewing, Four Sons, Mission Brewery, El Segundo Brewing, Great Beer Co, Smog City, Refuge Brewery, Timeless Pints, Anaheim Brewery, Telegraph Brewing, Pizza Port Brewing, Julian Hard Cider, Tahoe Mountain Brewing, 21st Amendment, The Lost Abbey, Bear Republic, Victory Brewing, Oskar Blues, Ska Brewing, Alesmith, Brewery Ommegang, Boulevard Brewing, Maui Brewing, Double Mountain, Brouwerij Wolf, and Sixpoint Brewery. With a maximum of 150 tickets being available, you can see that there will be plenty for everyone and they never have lines. Continue reading
Laughs By Volume III – April 23: Laughter & Beer
6 Comedians and Craft Beer at Laughs By Volume III
As I have explained before, Laughs By Volume is essentially a comedy show featuring six comedians and unlimited pours of craft beer from about 25 breweries. The breweries on tap for Laughs By Volume III include The Dudes’ Brewing, Stone Brewing, Absolution Brewing, Four Sons Brewing, Mission Brewery, El Segundo Brewing, Great Beer Co., Smog City, Refuge Brewery, Timeless Pints, Anaheim Brewery, Three Weavers, Eagle Rock Brewing, Telegraph Brewing, Tahoe Mountain Brewing, 21st Amendment Brewery, The Lost Abbey, AleSmith Brewing, Brewery Ommegang, Boulevard Brewing, Anthem Cider, Maui Brewing, Avery Brewing, Double Mountain Brewery, Brouwerij Wolf, and Sixpoint Brewery. If history has taught me anything, this list will be modified in the next month so you might want to follow the Laughs By Volume Facebook page for updates. Continue reading
Photos from Laughs By Volume II
On Sunday afternoon, PINT Magazine held their second in a series of comedy shows featuring craft beer, Laughs By Volume; this time held at Honeypot LA. One thing that was readily apparent to anyone that may have attended the inaugural Laughs By Volume is that practice makes perfect. While there may have been a couple issues that resulted in Laughs By Volume II getting a late start, it was like a well oiled machine when compared to the first one.
We had a pretty nice turnout considering only about 100 tickets were to be sold; I would venture to say that we had pretty close to that many in attendance, if not a few more. I took some time to chat with a few of the attendees, all of which were first time attendees, and everyone seemed to really enjoy everything about the event. There was plenty of beer, really funny comedians and virtually no lines; except maybe for the bathrooms.
The breweries featured included Sixpoint Brewery, The Lost Abbey, Anthem Cider, Brouwerij Wolf, Double Mountain Brewery, Tahoe Mountain Brewing Co., Anaheim Brewery, The Great Beer Co., Mission Brewery, Four Sons Brewing Co., Stone Brewing, Eagle Rock Brewery, Maui Brewing Co., Alesmith Brewing Co., 21st Amendment Brewery, Telegraph Brewing Co., Smog City Brewing, Absolution Brewing, Avery Brewing, The Dudes’ Brewing, Refuge Brewery, Timeless Pints, Boulevard Brewing, Brewery Ommegang, Three Weavers and El Segundo Brewing. Continue reading
Laughs By Volume: Do you enoy comedy & craft beer?
Laughs By Volume – Comedy and Craft Beer
If your idea of a beer festival is something like BAM Fest, Taste of Brews or the Firestone Invitational, Laughs By Volume may not be the event for you. Yes, it will be cheaper; and there will only be 100 people there so there won’t be any lines. It is inside so weather is not an issue and there is plenty of seating; but there may not be as many beer varieties available. The upcoming Laughs By Volume II will feature about 36 or 37 beers from 25 breweries. Here is the list as of the moment. Continue reading
You must be logged in to post a comment.