beer – Echo Park Now

Beer Gelato? Echo Park’s Musical Beer Crawl on Tuesday

One benefit of celebrating LA Beer Week 2012 is doing it in your own neighborhood! (No one has to be a DD when you get to walk there.) This year’s annual Echo Park Musical Beer Crawl takes place on Tuesday, September 25, 2012 all along Sunset Boulevard and beyond.

The event combines some tasty craft beers with some ear-tickling music around Echo Park. All you have to do is get a “passport” (think of it like your Musical Crawl coupon) to take advantage of some great discounts and give-aways. Also, you have to be 21, and it’s recommended that you carry some cash for those cash-only venues, as well as for the Hot Dog Lady the meat-eaters will likely visit at the end of the night.

El Prado will have special brews on tap, while Pazzo Gelato is serving up “beer-infused frozen treats” like Golden Road’s Hudson Rye Imperial Porter, Hefeweizen and Wolf Among Weeds. Other participating venues include Backside, iam8bit, Lot 1, Mohawk Bend, Masa, Taix Sunset Beer, Two Boots, and more. There are also (gasp!) non-Echo Park venues like Golden Road, Eagle Rock Brewery, Gobi Mongolian BBQ and Los Globos. Click here for the full list of venues and events.

Be sure to follow us on Twitter as we explore Echo Park’s beer and music events on Tuesday night!

September 20, 2012/30 Comments/by Kelly

Announcements, Art & Music, Eat & Shop

Cinco de Mayo celebrations in Echo Park and beyond

Tomorrow is Cinco de Mayo, time to celebrate Mexican culture and heritage with some beers and margaritas! There are a ton of great spots you can walk to in Echo Park, here’s the low-down:

Echo Park Merchant Association’s Cinco de Mayo Event

There will be beverages, tasty snacks, music, and a raffle to benefit The Wall Las Memorias Project. The raffle prizes will include a gift certificate from The Warehouse LA and a terrarium from The Classroom LA.

Saturday, May 5 from 11:00 am – 5:00 pm
The Warehouse is located at 1197 West Sunset Blvd. in Echo Park

Mayberry Elementary School Fiesta

This family-friendly event celebrates with a Fiesta. Mayberry Magicians, Live Mariachi, folklore dancers, Mayberry student dance performances, Glee Club, and more. Booths, prizes, obstacle course jumper, Sumo Suits, Fac epainting, and other great activities will keep the kids going! All day game wristbands are $15 (proceeds benefit programs at the school). And of course, Cinco de Mayo appropriate refreshments.

Saturday, May 5 from 11:00 am – 4:00 pm
Located at 2414 Mayberry Street in Echo Park

Barragan’s

This is definitely a go-to spot for a lot of locals and non-locals – cheap margaritas are the name of the game and they’ve also got something special for the Cinco de Mayo holiday. Just make sure to arrive early, snag your spot on the patio (usually open after 7:00 pm), and order a bucket of Coronas for a discounted price.

Barragan’s is located at 1538 West Sunset Boulevard

El Compadre

They don’t usually have any specials going on for Cinco de Mayo, but the Echo Park location has the BEST margaritas and a fabulous mariachi band to keep you in the mood. Valet parking is available in the back, and sports on the television.

El Compadre is located at 1449 West Sunset Boulevard

Beyond Echo Park:

The Pub at Golden Road Brewery in Atwater Village: Cinco de Moustache

Cinco de Moustache is a “poquito” celebration of the holiday with food specials and two taps (one at 11 am, one at 5 pm) of the limited release “El Hefe Añjeo” – a hefeweizen aged in añejo tequila barrels (say what?!). Food specials include $2 tacos (carne asada, pollo, and vegetarian), vegan & non-vegan tostadas, and ceviche.

Saturday, May 5 at 11:00 am
Golden Road Brewery is located at 5410 San Fernando Rd West in Atwater Village

La Cuevita grand opening in Highland Park

The Little Cave is now reformed into a tequila/mescal bar called La Cuevita, opening up this weekend. $2 tecate, free tacos starting at 9:00 pm, and of course their selection of agave spirits and specialty cocktails. Enjoy your libations on one of the two patios at the new bar.

Friday May 4 and Saturday May 6 at 7:00 pm
La Cuevita is located at 5922 N Figueroa Street in Highland Park

The Biggest Margarita at Big Bar in Los Feliz

The mother of all margaritas are on Los Feliz this weekend: A 957.44 ounce margarita will certainly match your Cinco de Mayo expectations; that’s bigger than my head! Served all day on Saturday for $10 a piece (that can’t be premium tequila in there) and enter your chance to win tickets to a Dodgers vs. Giants game.

Big Bar is located at 1929 Hillhurst Avenue in Los Feliz

Just make sure if you do go out and drink some adult beverages, have a designated driver, or take the BUS! The LAPD does have plans for some DUI checkpoints around Los Angeles this weekend.

May 4, 2012/638 Comments/by Kelly

Announcements, Eat & Shop

Tonight: First beer tasting class at Sunset Beer Company

We know this is last minute, but this should be the first of many beer tasting classes at Sunset Beer Company in Echo Park. The “Kinda-Sorta Holiday Beer Class” will feature delicious beers such as the Gouden Carolus Noel, Alesmith Yulesmith, Avec Les Bons Voeux de la Brasserie Dupont, and Port Santa’s Little Helper, among others (all excellent holiday beers). There will also be cheese – yes, cheese!

This inaugural beer tasting class takes place tonight, Tuesday, November 29, 2011 from 7-9:00 pm, and will only cost you $35 per person or $60 per couple. Be sure to sign up now before seats run out!

Also coming soon to Sunset Beer: Beer of the Month clubs, brewery nights, food trucks, and local delivery!

Sunset Beer Holiday Beer Class
Tuesday, November 29, 2011 from 7-9:00 pm
RSVP to info@sunsetbeerco.com or (213) 481-233
Sunset Beer Co. is located at 1498 Sunset Boulevard, #3

November 29, 2011/164 Comments/by Kelly

Announcements, Nightlife

Yum! Harvest Beer Fest at Echo/Echoplex

We know what we’re doing this weekend!

The First Annual Harvest Beer Fest, sponsored in part by Spaceland Productions, along with Anderson Valley Brewing Co., El Prado and Malo Restaurant, will be held at the Echoplex and Echo this weekend – November 20! The fest boasts LA-based food trucks, entertainment and over 50 West Coast and national brews. Local favorite bands such as Vaud & the Villains, Shannon & the Clams, Blasting Company, and Last Round Down will provide live entertainment throughout the day, and ticket sale proceeds will benefit 826LA.

The Harvest Beer Fest is 21+ for entry; attendees must bring a valid ID for entry into the event.

General Admission: $30/person; includes unlimited sample sized pours. Food is available for purchase from food trucks at the event. Tickets are available for purchase on TicketWeb.

First Annual Harvest Beer Fest
Saturday November 20, 2010
12:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Echoplex and Echo
1154 Glendale Blvd

November 17, 2010/124 Comments/by Kelly

Eat & Shop

This Weekend: Vegan Beer Fest

This isn’t exactly in Echo Park, but our soon-to-be neighbor and vegan Tony Yanow (who is opening up Mohawk Brasserie restaurant in the old Ramona Theater here in Echo Park) has teamed up with vegan blogger Quarry Girl to hold the Vegan Beer Fest at the Roxy tomorrow, Saturday, November 6.

I have a lot of people asking me why beer isn’t vegan already, it’s just barley/wheat, hops, water and yeast right? Well this might be a good chance for you to taste some deeelicious vegan beers such as Duvel, New Belgium, and Anchor Brewing, amongst many more, and learn why some beers are vegan and some are not.

For instance, not all beers are vegan because some animal products can be used in the filtration process, such as charcoal (sometimes made from animal bone) or gelatin. So if you’re really curious or just like good beer, you should check it out – oh and there are unlimited pours of the beers.

Tickets are $35 for GA or $45 for VIP if you buy in advance. Day-of tickets are $45 and $55.

To buy tickets call 310-278-9457 or visit the Roxy Theater Box Office on Sunset. Or click here to purchase online via Ticketmaster (but expect to pay an online purchasing fee).

November 5, 2010/121 Comments/by Kelly

Eat & Shop

Brew Your Own Class at CitySip

CitySip is hosting a class slash tasting on home beer brewing on Saturday, May 15.

The cost of the class is $45, which gets you the home brewing lessons, beer trivia and tasting, and pizza.

It’s going down in the super secret employee parking lot behind CitySip LA. We’ll be brewing beer, tasting beer, talking about beer, and eating Two Boots pizza! Expect to taste about 6-8 commercial beers… and there might be some extras “not included in the price.”

We’ll be starting out with a pretty basic extract brew this time, so you’ll learn all you need to know to get started making your own!

The class takes place from 1:00 pm – 4:00pm, and they advise that you wear clothes that can get dirty or wet.

To make a reservation, call City Sip at (213) 483-9463 or email for your spot.

CitySip is located at 2150 W. Sunset Blvd, click here for the website.

April 28, 2010/191 Comments/by Kelly

Guest Blog, Lifestyle, Nightlife

El Prado

I stopped by El Prado last night to grab two rounds after work. I’ve been a long time fan of microbrews and Belgian-style ales and it’s such a treasure to have a bar so close to my house that serves these style of beers. I had the Allagash Tripple.

When I was there I noticed that the room was split, almost equally, into wine & beer drinkers. It’s just that type of place. Being a fan of mid-week bar time, this is a great night at El Prado. Tuesday night’s are also Record Club Night, which is hosted by Origami Vinyl. Details for the night can be found on Origami’s blogsite.

All and all, fun times.

El Prado is located at 1805 W. Sunset Boulevard, (213) 484-6079

March 24, 2010/642 Comments/by Dale