Author: Michael Darling & Alice Bauer
Upon arriving at Eagle Rock Brewery, a nondescript warehouse in Glassell Park, we were forced to wonder, is this the right place? The address was correct, but the rough exterior lacked a sign. However, upon entering the building, we immediately knew this was the correct destination. The hip, hidden oasis, with highly furnished benches and modern, low-hanging lights was refreshingly casual, and the brewery offered a wide variety of delicious beers.
The Eagle Rock Brewery is a new business venture founded by the father-son team of Steve and Jeremey Raub, and has been open to the public for about a month. Additionally, it is the first brewery to open in Los Angeles in over 50 years. According to Jeremey Raub’s wife Ting Su, brewing has been a family affair for a while. “Jeremey and Steve have been home brewing for several years,” Su said.
After scouting for a location for the brewery and dealing with over a year’s worth of governmental red tape, the brewery began business. “It’s been two years in the making,” Su said.
The casual, relaxing atmosphere of the warehouse’s interior complemented the Brewery’s trendy embellishments. Here you can enjoy both Eagle Rock Brewery creations as well as the beers of other nearby microbreweries that are served on “guest taps.” You can even watch part of the brewing process through a large picture window off to the side of the tasting room.
The beers themselves are distinct and diverse, each offering something a bit different. One of the beers, aptly titled The Revolution, is American-style and has a light color, but a bitter taste of hops prevails. Additionally, The Libertine, Eagle Rock Brewery’s first seasonal ale, contains a wide melange of flavors. This sweeter brew has a slight tinge of caramel with hints of fruits, and is a perfect beer for the spring season.
Deviating from the fruity flavors that seem to be the underlying strength of the brewery’s beers, the Solidarity, designed for caffeine-lovers, has subtle notes of coffee flavor. Though the coloration is pitch black like a Guinness, this Cimmerian drink deceives with its light and palatable taste.
Although the other two of the five main beers – the Brew House Volunteers and Manifesto Eagle Rock Wit – were unavailable, we were lucky to catch the unveiling of the company’s newest brew, Equinox. This sour beer, though tart and tangy, was both light and refreshing, and tingled delightfully on the tongue. Since sour beers are exceptionally hard to brew, the fact that the brewery is able to provide the Equinox within its first year of business is impressive.
Although the brewery is a popular spot for great local beers, it doesn’t serve food to compliment the ale. Patrons are encouraged to bring their own snacks, but as a supplement, the brewery also arranges for local food trucks to come and sell food to its customers. From grilled cheese to Vietnamese, the brewery has been pairing up with some of L.A.’s finest food trucks to offer an eclectic range of accompaniments for its beers. The brewery arranges for popular trucks like the Grilled Cheese Truck, Buttermilk and Flying Pig to drop by during tasting room hours. Look out for beer floats at the brewery when the CoolHaus ice cream truck stops by for a visit on April 25.
Another unique aspect of the brewery is that it offers monthly brew sessions and educational classes to the public. An avid beer lover is able to discuss a beer’s flavor and composition with grace and confidence. With the brewery’s educational classes, simple beer enthusiasts have potential to become connoisseurs.
A place where the beer flows like wine is hard to find. So, why not give the Eagle Rock Brewery a visit? Not only will you be supporting a local business, you’ll also be drinking some damn fine beer.
The Eagle Rock Brewery is located at 3056 Roswell Street Los Angeles, CA 90065. The tasting room is open from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays and from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Sundays. Brewery tours are available on Sundays. For further information, go to http://eaglerockbrewery.ning.com/.
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