Daniel DrennonWhy go to LAX, get on a plane, and fly to Vegas for a pool party when you can drive to the Four Points by Sheraton LAX, park for free, and get your pool party on right here? Our weather's better — and so is the beer. Saturday, May 12, from noon to 5:00 p.m., thirteen of the best local and California breweries will attend this poolside beer festival, so leave Vegas to the tourists who prefer a 32-ounce Bud in a plastic souvenir cup.
El Segundo Brewing, which is so close to LAX that your beer may have been brewed that morning, will showcase both their Citra Pale Ale and their White Dog IPA. Another local favorite, Strand Brewing, will be there offering their 24th Street Pale, a beer we called the fifth best pale ale in California last year. Speaking of that list of the Top 10 California Pale Ales, Drake's Brewing will be there with “1500,” the number one pale ale, along with their stellar IPA.
The Bruery will also be in the house, uh, hotel, with their hoppy Loakal Red, a beer not usually available outside of Orange County. They will also offer Trade Winds Tripel, a perfect hot weather, poolside sipping beer. And on the topic of tripels, newcomer Monkish Brewing will submit their Feminist tripel spiced with hibiscus. The O.C.'s Bootlegger's Smokin' Joe and Old World Hef will be on tap.
Jonathan and Laurie Porter, owners of Smog City Brewing, live close enough to walk to the hotel. They will serve up their L.A. Saison as well as Little Bo Pils, a pilsner they are releasing for the first time this week. Eagle Rock Brewery's Jeremy Raub will be there with his Manifesto Belgian wit beer and his 2nd Anniversary special strong black ale, Deuce. The Great American Beer Festival award-winning TAPS will feature their Vienna Country Lager.
Golden Road's Get Up Offa That Brown (ale) is the perfect compliment to the BBQ lunch. Cismontane's Citizen (a California Common beer) and ABZ IPA are on the list. So is Hangar 24's double IPA if you need more hops. And last, but not least, the opening beer will be Sierra Nevada's hard-to-find Flip Side double IPA.
Tickets are available for purchase at Brewster's bar inside the hotel for $20 up to the day of the event, $24 at the door. You get a wristband, tasting glass, 12 three-ounce samples and free parking. Additional samples can be purchased at $2 each. At 2 p.m., Celebrator beer writer emeritus Tomm Carroll will host a panel with four of the brewers.
The festival is kid-friendly, rare for beer events, and they will be grilling at poolside. Barbeque plates are $12 and come with BBQ chicken, a grilled hot link, corn on the cob with smoked paprika butter, and old-fashioned potato salad. There will also be vegetarian and kids' plates. Or the full menu will be available at Brewster's bar just inside the hotel. There will be live Americana music — and board shorts and bikinis are the preferred attire.
The Pool at Four Points Hotel – LAX; Credit: Elizabeth Daniels
Advertising disclosure: We may receive compensation for some of the links in our stories. Thank you for supporting LA Weekly and our advertisers.