THE BREWSPAPER / WEST COASTER READERS POLL RESULTS: BEST IPA AND BEST LAGER

EAST COUNTY BEER SCENE SOARS

Editor’s note.  Eight-year-old West Coaster craft beer monthly magazine and daily website ran an online poll for two months on its website. After crunching the numbers, the San Diego based beer news outlet did its best to determine why readers voted the way they did. For the next few weeks, PillartoPost will share snapshots from West Coaster’s 2017 Best in Beer reader’s poll.

Best IPA: Alpine HFS

The abbreviation stands for “Holy *ucking *hit”, which is an understandable reaction upon tasting this outstanding example of a local IPA. From Alpine’s head brewer Shawn McIlhenney, this is “the beer that named itself,” he continues: “We got exactly what we wanted out of the beer: huge hop aroma, light body, and immense drinkability.” Winner of a 2016 bronze medal at the Great American Beer Festival in the American-style strong pale ale category, we recommend hunting this tasty hop treat down and trying it for yourself to see why it’s our reader’s choice for the Best IPA in the land of 1000 IPAs.

Best Lager: Normcore by Burning Beard

You can’t hide in a Pilsner. Any off-flavors or flaws will be revealed in the style’s subtle profile; it’s a tough beer to make. Burning Beard knocked it out of the park with Normcore Pils, which wouldn’t be out of place on a tap-in Plzeň. The East County beer scene really started to come together when the ‘Beard came around and started producing such quality brews as this. 

For free issue of March 2018 West Coaster craft beer magazine click here.

MARCH BEER EVENTS IN SAN DIEGO

Via WestCoastersd.com

March | Beer to the Rescue Fundraisers: As part of a year-long campaign benefiting locals living with lupus, Gordon Biersch will hold a release party for a Mexican lager brewed with Thr3e Punk Ales Brewing, complete with a taco bar, live band and piñatas on June 1. On March 28, Pariah Brewing will release This Is New IPA, and on March 29, North Park Beer Co. will tap a specialty cask, with portions of proceeds from both beers going to the Lupus Foundation of Southern California. | Various Locations, All Events Start at 5 p.m.

March 2 | Crowler Awareness Day: Gone are the days when the only conveyance vessel for draft beer was a glass jug requiring constant sterilization. Compact, disposable and often quite attractive, crowlers have changed the industry and, for the first edition of this made-up annual holiday, brewery tasting rooms offering these modern marvels will offer them at discounted rates. | Participating Breweries: Amplified Ale Works (Pacific Beach, Miramar), Bay City Brewing (Point Loma), Coronado Brewing (Bay Park), Council Brewing (Kearny Mesa), Eppig Brewing (North Park, Point Loma), Intergalactic Brewing (Miramar), Mikkeller Brewing San Diego (Miramar), North Park Beer Co. (North Park), Resident Brewing (Downtown), Thunderhawk Alements (Miramar)

March 4 | Renaissance: Epic tap lists and next-level ale-and-lager free-for-alls are nothing new for Churchill’s Pub, but this venerable North County beer bastion sets aside one day each year to really go all out. Tons of rare beers, including some brewed just for the occasion, will be on tap, and bottles of whale pod leader Churchill’s Finest Hour imperial stout will be for sale. | Churchill’s Pub & Grille, 887 W. San Marcos Boulevard, San Marcos, 11 a.m

March 10 | SD Homebrew Festival & Competition: The richness of San Diego’s commercial beer and brewing scene is a result of the county’s vibrant, thriving and always-evolving homebrew culture, something celebrated via more than 35 homebrewed beers at this festival devoted to the recreational—yet very serious—pursuit of the beer-making sciences. | The Observatory, 2891 University Avenue, North Park, 12 p.m

March 31 | Second Anniversary: El Cajon’s Burning Beard Brewing opened its back lot and a can of celebratory whoop-ass for its first anniversary last year, and this year they’re aiming to outdo themselves. Expect multiple beer stations stocked with a wide variety of liquid stein fodder, a raffle, take-home stein and three bands (including The Creepy Creeps) rocking out live. | Burning Beard Brewing, 785 Vernon Way, El Cajon, 1 p.m

FOODIE ALERT / FORK LAUDERDALE

GEOFFREY ZAKARIAN’S FOODIE GUIDE TO FORT LAUDERDALE

British Airways inflight magazine, The Club meets with the Iron Chef Geoffrey Zakarian who opened his latest venture, Point Royal and Counter Point in Fort Lauderdale this year to find out where he likes to wine and dine when he’s in Fork Lauderdale.

Chef Zakarian

GUEST BLOG / Interview by Rachel Truman, The Club Magazine.

Q. Breakfast spot worth getting up early for?

A. I always wake up very early and my first stop whenever I’m in Fort Lauderdale is Counter Point for my first double espresso of the day. As far as I’m concerned, our expert baristas are impossible to beat. If I’m in the mood, I’ll have a house-baked pastry. I’d also highly recommend the breakfast wraps, Cuban sandwiches, and glazed donuts, which are just incredible.

Q. Weekend brunch worth battling the crowds for?

A. I really enjoy walking around buzzy Bal Harbour at the weekend for a little shopping and brunch. I’ll often stop at French bistro Le Zoo for a bite to eat such as the French onion soup, the fantastic seafood tower and order a bottle of chilled rosé to share.

Q. Best lunch spot for taking care of business?

A. Kaluz is an upbeat and sophisticated place to close the deal. They have wonderfully creative salads and sandwiches, as well as delicious flatbreads. Take a seat outside by the waterfront and watch the boats come and go as you talk business.

Impressive ambiance at Rhythm & Vine

Q. Local independent that deserves to stay in business?

A. Rhythm & Vine is close to downtown Fort Lauderdale and has great music and a fantastic ambiance. It gets pretty crowded though, and there’s often a line to get in during peak hours.

Point Royal in nearby Hollywood, FL

Q. Where to impress on a date?

A. I’d have to say Point Royal. Start with some fun cocktails at the bar, move on to the raw bar for some amazingly fresh seafood – we have west and east coast oysters, little-neck clams, Key West shrimp cocktail, Alaskan king crab, Maine lobster, Florida stone-crab claws – then go on to enjoy dinner in the gorgeous, Florida-inspired space. It feels local but at the same time transports you somewhere else.

Q. Hip hangouts where children are welcome

A. The pool area at The Diplomat Beach Resort is great for families. Parents can have a few cocktails while the kids enjoy the pool and ice creams from Candy & Cones.

Q. Dining experience worth leaving town for

A. I’ve always wanted to go to Little Palm Island in the Florida Keys. The food is meant to be sensational, as is the setting. Hopefully I’ll make it there soon (after hurricane repair). Otherwise I just love going to Cafe Martorano’s, and highly recommend the veal chop.

Cafe Martorano

Q. Foodie souvenir of the area to take home

A. It’s not edible, but the best foodie souvenir to take home is a ‘Yo Cuz!’ hat from my favorite Italian joint and Fort Lauderdale institution, Café Martorano. People go for the fun ambiance, but I go for the well-executed food. And yes, I have one of those hats.

Q. Reliable place for a pre-dinner drink

A. Upscale YOLO is the perfect spot for cocktails and bar snacks. I always order an ice-cold gin martini.  YOLO: You Only Live Once.

Note: Geoffrey Zakarian is executive chef at Point Royal and Counter Point at The Diplomat Beach Resort. To find out more about his other restaurants visit geoffreyzakarian.com

Thank you.

This article first appeared in a British Airways Summer 2017 edition of The Club magazine.  BA kindly shares its articles with responsible bloggers.

-->