Blessed by the beer goods, Brewhead Ted has some great local places to enjoy a good brew on staycation.
It’s a Wonderful Day in the NeighBEERhood!
by Brewhead Ted
This is the life! Sunshine, tacos, and beer, at one of my local favorites, Aro Latin.
Let me sing the praises of South Pasadena (and Pasadena proper), a city in which I’ve resided for nearly two decades. I truly love where I live; I’ve got a beautiful park just across the street, I have access to L.A. Metro’s light rail just a few blocks down the street, and as a bachelor whose culinary talents are lacking (which is to say, non-existent), I’m thankful to have some delicious food options just a block or two away.
I am also blessed by the beer gods, as I have some great local places to enjoy a good brew, with or without food to accompany it. Most of these places I can just roll to in my wheelchair, while others are just a short trip on the train. All easy enough, when I’m in the mood for a beer.
BBQ & Beer, a Match Made in Heaven…
The closest venue to me, and therefore perhaps the one I haunt the most, is Gus’s BBQ, a small restaurant chain with two other California locations in Claremont and Porter Ranch. The delicious fare alone is a huge draw for me. If you were to ask me what my favorite smell is, I might very well respond that it’s the scent of Gus’s wafting through the air, as I roll down the street.
But, in my humble opinion, great BBQ needs a great beer, to complement it. And Gus’s does not disappoint! There are plenty of IPAs on their tap list, but these days, I favor an amber ale, Smog City Brewing‘s Sabre-Toothed Squirrel. Sufficiently hoppy, balanced with caramel and malt flavors, I love sipping on this while enjoying some brisket, or just on its own at the bar in the back.
The bar at Gus’s is a perfect place to sip on a Sabre-Toothed Squirrel, while pondering “Why clone dinosaurs when we could clone one of these guys?”
Gus’s also has some favorites from Pasadena’s own Craftsman Brewing, on its tap list. Perhaps my favorite is their 1903 Lager, especially now in the heat of the summer. Gus’s also features Craftsman’s Heavenly Hefe, but I don’t care for it as much as the 1903.
Located at 808 Fair Oaks Ave., in South Pasadena, Gus’s – and its bar – is a great place to stop by for a beer (and, perhaps, some brisket), watch some sports, and strike up a conversation with a stranger or one of their friendly bartenders.
A Taste of France…and More Craftsman!
Making one’s way west, towards the LA Metro light rail tracks, one will come upon a South Pas gem: Nicole’s Market & Cafe, at 921 Meridian Ave. A favorite spot for locals, since 2001, Nicole’s serves up delicious sandwiches, soups, salads, and other delicious fare. On a nice day, tables along the sidewalk are filled with people enjoying their food, along with a glass of wine or beer.
Nicole’s is another place where I can get my Craftsman fix. I have, in the past, enjoyed 1903 Lager here, as well as Poppyfields Pale Ale, an English pale ale styled-beer. It’s got some nice malt to it, some subtle hops, and is not nearly as bitter as English pale ales often are.
Stroll through the beautiful, hoppy Poppyfields from Craftsman, while you dine on Nicole’s delicious fare…
More recently, though, I was introduced to Craftsman’s Old But New Altbier. A nice, malty beer, with some coffee, caramel and fruit notes, without being overly sweet, and with just a hint of bitterness. I find myself returning to my old favorites, when it comes Craftsman’s offerings around town, but I was pleasantly surprised to try something new from them, as well!
My glass of Craftsman Old But New modestly sits behind my ratatouille omelet. But don’t let its modesty fool you, it’s not just a great accompaniment to a meal, it’s a delicious treat all on its own.
One can get a great beer from Chimay or another brewery from far afield, while dining at Nicole’s – but for me, I’m more at home, enjoying a brew from right here at home. If I’m craving a beer to go along with that crêpe, I’ll always choose a Craftsman!
Where Everybody Knows Your Name…
A favorite weekend activity – sitting outside at Aro, with some sopes and a beer (in this case, a Figueroa Mountain Brewing Co. Agua Santa, masquerading as a brew from Baja Brewing Co.)
To be sure, I am pretty much a regular at both Gus’s and Nicole’s. But, as one of my servers aptly put it a while back, Aro Latin is ‘my place’ – my “Cheers,” if you will. It’s got a fun, lively atmosphere, where you will find young couples on dates, families, and folks like me, flying in solo for a few tacos and a pint.
The friendly staff always seem to know what I might be interested in, when I roll in through their door. Though I like to consider myself adventurous, I certainly have my favorite food items from their menu. By now, the staff knows that I am a big IPA fan, as well. In a habit that is not all too helpful for the purposes of this blog, I often find myself saying, “Gimme an IPA,” without inquiring as to what they might have on tap.
Thankfully, though, I have lately found myself a favorite on their tap menu, and it happens not to be an IPA. When I’m scarfing down Baja shrimp tacos, queso fundido, quesadillas, or something else from Aro’s menu, I prefer a beer that isn’t quite as heavy, as an IPA can be.
And, so it is that I’ve lately become a fan of Figueroa Mountain‘s Agua Santa Mexican Lager. Especially, but not only, in the summer months, it’s a light, refreshing beer to enjoy with food, or without. I now ask for it regularly, when visiting Aro…and am still getting some occasional confused looks from the staff, that I’m not getting an IPA.
Aro is a good five or six blocks (uphill) from my place, so it can be tough to get there, on a hot summer day… But knowing I’ll have a cold, refreshing beer in my hands shortly after I roll through their door, is motivation enough to make the trek!
Care for a Lager With Your Literature?
Books and beer…these are a few of my favorite things…
Making one’s way out of South Pasadena, into Pasadena proper, we come to a place that locals, including myself, have loved for many years: Vroman’s Bookstore, at 695 E. Colorado Blvd. I came here as a kid, and I still love coming here as an adult. For my entire family, it’s long been a favorite place to buy books, birthday and Christmas cards, or fun gift items such as t-shirts and tote bags.
So, naturally, I was absolutely thrilled when I learned that they were building a bar inside the bookstore! Sadly, the pandemic interfered with my plans to get there. Vroman’s 1894 opened in February 2020, and I missed an opportunity to get there before lockdown. But I made it there as soon as things started opening back up, and now it’s a favorite place for me to sit down and flip through the pages of my newest purchase.
The 1894’s drinks menu has several wine options, as well as some cleverly named, book-themed cocktails, such as Of Martini and Men. And I enjoy their beer menu; while not extensive, it’s got a few that have become favorite beers of mine, to sip on while I read. There are a couple beers on tap from Brams Brewing, in Monrovia, CA. In particular, I really love their light, refreshing French Pilsner. I’ve tried Brams’ Dubbel Trappist Style Belgian Ale as well, but I’ve found myself worrying about falling asleep in my book, as that beer clocks in at 7.9% ABV.
Aside from Brams, and appropriately for a bar inside a bookstore, the 1894’s beer selection includes two from a favorite brewery of mine, Paperback Brewing: Paperback’s Blonde Ale, and Satan Wears Pajamas, an American Red Ale. (That name alone would make the latter one of my favorites, but it helps that it’s also a great beer as well!)
So, in conclusion: Thank you, o mighty beer gods, for blessing me as you do, that I have such a hoppy bounty right here in my neighborhood! Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m gonna go make an offering to you at Gus’s bar…
Until next time, cheers!
-BrewHead Ted
Instagram: @tedc79ted79
Email: YippeeKiIPA@gmail.com