Brews News: Beers for the End of the World

If you are a believer in the Mayan calendar, then tomorrow may just be your last day to enjoy the nectar of the gods (aka beer). So while you are praying to the gods for mercy as the world starts crumbling apart, why not do so with a good beer in your hand?

With the end of days in mind, here are some end of the world-appropriate beers for your last drink:

Lost Abbey | Mayan Apocalypse (Judgement Day)
This Belgian-style Quad ale is available year round from Los Abbey but has been specially renamed for 12/21/12. According to the brewery's own description, this beer "is the result of lots of fermentables from malt, raisins and dextrose. There is a very large warming effect from the elevated alcohol levels which ensure your soul will be saved come Judgement day."

Stone | Enjoy by 12/21/12 (Imperial/Double IPA)
Not only is this beer one of the best tasting double IPA's in America, it is also set to expire the day the world ends. This fresh IPA has received 100 points out of 100 on RateBeer.com and 95 points on BeerAdvocate.com. As it is a highly sought after beer, bottles may be hard to find.

Unibroue | La Fin du Monde (Tripel-style Golden Ale)
Translating literally to "The End of the World," this staple beer of Canadian brewer Unibroue is an obvious choice for, well, the end of the world. According to the brewers, this beer is "mildly yeasty with a complex palate of malt, fruit and spice notes followed by a smooth, dry finish." This beer is widely available at most grocery stores and liquor stores.

Heretic Brewing Company | Worry (Belgian-style Golden Ale)
Worried about the end of the world? Why not drink a beer named for worrying? This golden ale is aged in chardonnay barrels to give it a chardonnay wine characteristic to add to its flavors of apples, pears and oranges.

Avery Brewing Company | Salvation (Golden Ale)
Looking for salvation before the world ends? Look no further than this Belgian-style golden ale. Avery describes this beer as such: "Luscious apricot and peach aromas are delicately interwoven with spicy suggestions of nutmeg and cinnamon in this heavenly soft, champagne-like elixir."

Shock Top | End of the World Midnight Wheat
Although Shock Top is technically not a craft beer (It is brewed by beer giant AB-InBev), the name is too good to pass up for an end of days beer list. This dark wheat beer is brewed with a midnight wheat and chilies to add a touch of heat to the beer. As this is a mass distributed beer brand, bottles should be readily available at most outlets.

If for some reason, the world does continue to turn after Friday, here is what you can look forward to on the craft beer scene in the South Bay:

Beer Bars, Restaurants and Stores

Select Beer Store | Redondo Beach

Select beer will host an end of days celebration with two end of the world appropriate beers on tap including:

• Lost Abbey | Mayan Apocalypse Judgement Day
• Unibroue | La Fin du Monde

Current beers on tap (as of Dec. 20):

• North Coast Scrimshaw Pilsner
• Triple Voodoo Witopia (Belgian Wit With Ginger)
• Port Brewing Wipeout IPA
• Smog City LA Saison
• The Bruery 5 Golden Rings (Spiced Belgian Strong Ale)
• Monkish False Prophet (Dray Hopped Belgian Amber)
• Kostritzer (Schwarzbier)
• Stone 12.12.12 (Belgian Strong Dark)
• Ballast Point Victory at Sea (Imperial Porter with Vanilla)
• The Bruery Mischief (Hoppy Belgian Golden Strong)
• Avery Old Jubilation (Old Ale)
• The Bruery Smoking Wood (Smoked Imperial Porter)

Adam's Fine Wine & Liquor | Redondo Beach

New bottles of beer this week at Adam's include:

• Lost Abbey | Mayan Apocalypse
  (Perfect to sip on for the end of days)
• Hangar 24 | Winter Warmer
  (Gold medal winner at this year's World Beer Cup)
• Jolly Pumpkin | Noel de Calabaza
  (Winter Ale/Belgian Strong Dark Ale)
• Fantome | Boo
  (Belgian Saison -- Very limited release)

The Rockefeller | Hermosa Beach

The Rockefeller will be offering an "end of the world" beer tasting flight this week which will include the following beers:

• Oskar Blues | G'Knight (Imperial Red Ale)
• La Trappe (Tripel)
• Delirium | Noel (Belgian Strong Dark Ale)
• The Bruery | 5 Golden Rings (Belgian Strong Pale Ale)

Hot's Kitchen | Hermosa Beach

Hot's Kitchen now posts its up to date tap list on Taphunter, a free phone application that displays beer lists for bars and restaurants.

This week, Hot's has two new beers on tap including:

• Figeroa Mountain | 2nd Anniversary (Grand Cru)
• Telegraph Brewing | Winter Ale

Sophie's Place | Redondo Beach

Starting this week, Sophie's will offer up these festive holiday beers for its holiday celebration lineup:

• Anderson Valley | Winter Solstice (Winter Warmer) 
• St. Bernardus | Christmas Ale (Belgian Dark Strong) 
• Affligem | Noël (Belgian Dark Strong)
• Port Brewing | Santa's Little Helper (Russian Imperial Stout) 
• Shmaltz Brewing | He'Brew Jewbilation Sweet 16 Anniversary Ale (American Strong Ale)

Breweries

Monkish Brewing Co. | Torrance

Just in time for the Christmas holiday, Monkish Brewing has released their Christmas beer known as "Magnificat."

The Belgian-style Christmas ale is described by Monkish as a "spiced Christmas beer" and utilizes clover honey, sweet and orange peels, coriander seed, nutmeg and cinnamon in the brewing process.

Tap room hours this week for beer tasting and growler fills are:

Thursday: 4-9 p.m.
Friday: 4-9 p.m.
Saturday: 3-8 p.m.
Sunday: 1-6 p.m.

El Segundo Brewing | El Segundo 

El Segundo will release its newest beer – Stanard Crude Imperial Stout – at its tasting room on Friday, Dec. 21 starting at 5 p.m.

Other beers on tap will include:

• Cask of Vanilla Stout ($3 pints for the night)
• 3 month old Two 5 Left Double IPA
• Hyperion's Double Stout
• Blue House Citra Pale
• Blue House IPA
• White Dog IPA

Tap room hours for beer tasting and growler fills are:

Wednesday: 5-9 p.m.
Thursday: 5-9 p.m.
Friday: 5-9 p.m.
Saturday: 2-9 p.m.
Sunday: 2-7 p.m.

Strand Brewing Co. | Torrance

Current beers on tap at the tasting room include:

• Beach House Amber (Amber Ale)
• 24th Street Pale Ale
• Black IPA
• Bagheera-East India Pale Ale (3rd Anniversary Ale featuring a blend of curry, cumin, cinnamon, cloves, toasted coconut and tamarind).
• Black Sand (Double IPA)

Tap room hours this week for beer tasting and growler fills are:

Thursday: 4-9 p.m.
Friday: 4-9 p.m.
Saturday: Noon-8 p.m.
Sunday: Noon-6 p.m.

Editor's Note: Only establishments that have submitted updates are included in this column. If you own a beer bar, brewery, beer store or beer-centric restaurant in the South Bay of Los Angeles and would like to include your establishment's updates in this column, please send editor John Schreiber an email at John.Schreiber@Patch.com. This column relies on the updates from local business owners to keep it running—please contribute!