LA Beer Week Recap

The main event of LA Beer Week was a beer festival at historic Union Station on Sunday, October 23.  The fest allowed us to introduce ourselves to the community, showcase some beers (brewed by our Head Brewer Chip Baker) and obtain feedback.  Thank you for all the positive comments!

Our table was consistently crowded – especially after word got out about our sour beers.  Attendees who requested a sour beer had a choice of “mild” or “intense” or both.  The “intense” sour also became known as “secret sour” in part because we were pouring it from a picnic faucet under the table rather than the jockey box (the jockey box only had two faucets).  We had a number of comments about it being the best beer of the fest.  Attendees also liked Chip’s beard.

After the fest we had some time to relax, eat a great meal catered by Spring Street Smokehouse, and enjoy some beer too!

A big thank you to the organizers for allowing us to participate.  We enjoyed ourselves and met some great people.  We look forward to returning next year!

 

Beer Label Preview

Since we gave you a peek at our first tap handle as it is in the process of manufacture (and we are in the midst of LA Beer Week!) we thought we might also share with you an advance look at our proposed first beer label.  This design is not yet final.  Also, we still need to obtain a COLA (Certificate of Label Approval) from TTB before we can legally use the label on bottles.

This beer is a Black IPA inspired by the most notorious unsolved murder in the history of the City of Los Angeles – that of Elizabeth Short at age 22 in 1947.  Her black purse and one black pump were found adjacent to our brewery.  Once an aspiring actress…Black Dahlia will soon be a fresh face in beer.

A big thank you to local artist and graphic designer Glenn Sawada for designing the label!

This will be the first in a series of handcrafted beers (all in 22 oz. bottles) we’re calling our “black label collection”.

We’re also planning a second series of select handcrafted beers aged in barrels (these in 750 ml bottles) we’re calling our “brewers gallery collection”.  Brewers’ liquid art in the bottle will be paired with visual art on the label (featuring the work of a phenomenal and accomplished artist from Southern California).  Intensely rich flavors and intensely rich vibrant colors to savor and contemplate!  More about this later.

Progress Report

After our “electrical plan” required to meet State of California building efficiency standards (Title 24) was approved we were able to move forward with initial electrical inspection at the premises (passed) and then proceed to putting up drywall.  Drywall inspection passed and we are currently prepping for paint.  We have also started moving brewing equipment into position.

The plumbing inspector required us to have the water meter upgraded to a larger size.  Thankfully, our line from the water meter to the building was already properly sized so our expense was limited to the cost of replacing the water meter.

 

 

 

Tap Handle

Prototype of our tap handle arrived by UPS.  Here’s a look at the original drawing and the actual tap handle.

We’ll probably lighten up the color of the hops a bit, but otherwise we’re very happy with the end result.  Here’s a look at what it looks like in the mix with other tap handles.

Definitely different – like our brewery.  Now we just need to complete construction!

Keeping It Green

Over the past week we’ve spent considerable time working on an electrical plan check required to meet State of California building energy efficiency standards (Title 24).  We’re pleased to report our electrical plan was approved today and we’re able to move forward with construction.  Inspections have been scheduled.

In a prior entry we commented on a hopper we obtained to collect spent grain from brewing operations.  The spent grain will be used as livestock feed or compost.  In planning the brewery we’ve tried to make choices whenever possible that are environmentally friendly and sustainable, and that minimize our water and electrical usage.

Here are some of the other ways we will be working to stay “green”:

–energy efficient light fixtures controlled by timers and motion sensors

– natural lighting (skylight boxes)

– use of clean-burning natural gas

– recycling cleaning chemicals

–recycling paper, plastics and metals

–lavatory faucets that turn off automatically

– flexfuel delivery van

–packaging (stainless steel kegs and glass bottles) that are recyclable

As an urban brewery (with an “island attitude” of course!) located in the heart of Los Angeles we are close to the premium restaurants, bars and taverns which will carry our products.  In not having to transport our products far from the source we can minimize our carbon footprint.

In the future we hope to add solar panels for heating water and electric power generation.

But hops are still our favorite kind of green!

LA Beer Week

We’re officially in as a participating brewery for LA Beer Week – a 14 day celebration of beer culture which culminates in a fantastic event at Union Station on Sunday, October 23.  We’ll be there and hope you can join us!  Check out the link below for more information…

Roadblock

Just when everything seemed to moving along at a fast click at last we hit a roadblock – city inspector’s “Correction Notice” requires an Electrical Plan Check (code language: “Electrical Plan Check required for state mandated energy compliance”.)  Wish we had been informed about this when we had our building plans (including an electrical drawing) approved and pulled our electrical permit.  At the moment we don’t understand exactly what the city/state “mandate” is (energy saving devices?) but we can’t proceed until we meet this requirement.  (Of course, we can’t open and hire any employees during this time as well!)  Local brewers (Eagle Rock Brewery, Nibble Bit Tabby and Blue House Ales) have been very helpful with referrals to electrical engineers.  Thanks guys!  If there is one thing a brewer can count on it is a fellow brewer!

Tap Handle Preview

While construction proceeds we’ve also been working in other areas to prepare for eventual distribution of our beers to select local restaurants, premium bars and ale houses.  One of the items we’ll need will be distinctive tap handles.  We’re striving to create awesome handles that will stand out from the rest – same as we intend for our beers!  Here’s a preview of what our first handle will look like.

First, the artist’s conception…

And the actual sculpture for the mold…

The urethane handles will be handpainted.  We’ll post a picture of  a completed handle soon.

Framing Completed

Completed framing today and called for inspection.  Here’s a look…

And a pic of our hallway…

We also started plumbing in our Noritz commercial tankless water heater.

It feels great to be making real progress at last!

ABC Approval and Update

Received notice today (letter dated August 23) that the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) has tentatively approved our application for license as a Small Beer Manufacturer (microbrewery)!  The actual license will issue when construction has been completed and the premises have a final inspection.  (We already have brewery approval at the federal level.)

This has been a very busy week and it seems the pace is quickening.

We passed inspections on plumbing and on our trench drains earlier this week.  We then backfilled, compacted the soil and prepared for concrete.  Concrete was poured yesterday and is now curing.

Next week we start framing!