October 23rd and 24th, 2010, Artisanal L.A. populated the Cooper Building in downtown Los Angeles with locally grown and produced food items. Bee people were there, brittle people were there - even a few tarts.
The beer people were a little late setting up their display on Sunday - beer people are like that, sometimes - but when they finally did show up, half the people in the penthouse space rushed the unadorned folding table. I call the image at left “The Free Beer’s Here,” because this is what the crush looked like when everyone tried to get next to a tap.
I was eager to try Eagle Rock Brewery’s suds, because I have yet to make it to the actual brewery despite invitations - even pleading - from friends. I’m sure Eagle Rock has quite an assortment of brews available at any one time, but they offered only two at this event. Here’s what they were pouring:
Solidarity, Black Mild Ale - A British style of ale, medium-bodied and with a low alcohol level - 3.9% abv - for easy drinking. It’s quite dark, much like a stout, but has neither the head nor heft of a stout. It seems a little thin, perhaps because I expected something a bit more robust considering the dark tint. That aside, it’s a flavorful drink. Rather complex on the nose and palate, the aromas and flavors of coffee and nuts abound.
Stimulus, Belgian Amber with Intelligentsia Coffee - Smelling of lemons and caramel, the coffee in this one is a delicious surprise feature. First of all, the color doesn’t tip its hand. It’s amber colored, with no unusual darkness to suggest a jolt of caffeine. Even the flavor profile, which reminds me more of a Heath bar, allows the coffee feature to take quite some time to come around. This one is a more full-bodied affair than Solidarity, with a much greater weight and clocking in at 7.75% abv.
The beer people were a little late setting up their display on Sunday - beer people are like that, sometimes - but when they finally did show up, half the people in the penthouse space rushed the unadorned folding table. I call the image at left “The Free Beer’s Here,” because this is what the crush looked like when everyone tried to get next to a tap.
I was eager to try Eagle Rock Brewery’s suds, because I have yet to make it to the actual brewery despite invitations - even pleading - from friends. I’m sure Eagle Rock has quite an assortment of brews available at any one time, but they offered only two at this event. Here’s what they were pouring:
Solidarity, Black Mild Ale - A British style of ale, medium-bodied and with a low alcohol level - 3.9% abv - for easy drinking. It’s quite dark, much like a stout, but has neither the head nor heft of a stout. It seems a little thin, perhaps because I expected something a bit more robust considering the dark tint. That aside, it’s a flavorful drink. Rather complex on the nose and palate, the aromas and flavors of coffee and nuts abound.
Stimulus, Belgian Amber with Intelligentsia Coffee - Smelling of lemons and caramel, the coffee in this one is a delicious surprise feature. First of all, the color doesn’t tip its hand. It’s amber colored, with no unusual darkness to suggest a jolt of caffeine. Even the flavor profile, which reminds me more of a Heath bar, allows the coffee feature to take quite some time to come around. This one is a more full-bodied affair than Solidarity, with a much greater weight and clocking in at 7.75% abv.
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