Mikkeller DTLA

 

 

 

large selection including guest taps and international brews.

 

 

 

 

Great place if you're looking to try some sours and wilds. My girlfriend tried the Sour IPA and wasn't the biggest fan - she brought it back and the manager immediately was tasting the tap to make sure everything was okay with the beer. The beer was fine! That's just what happens when you sour an IPA - not for everyone, but I went back, tried it and decided I would drink it. Their open vessel and spontaneous fermentation ales are fantastic - I would highly recommend them. One of the more eclectic places to try wild beers that you can find in all of LA. Ended up going here during some weird hours at night, and there weren't many people there, so it's hard to say what the vibe would be during busier hours. I'll be coming back sure enough.

 

 

LA is so weirdly decentralized--this was my fifth time visiting the city but only my first time ever venturing downtown. We headed to Mikkeller DTLA in the early afternoon on a hungover Sunday. Downtown traffic was surprisingly sparse, but the building isn't all that visibly labeled. The proper beer hall is attached to a Mikkeller-branded coffee shop (that also sells beer), and it's easy to mistakenly walk into one while looking for the other.

It's a very pretty and bright beerhall: high ceilings, tons of windows, lots of light. The decor is sparse and homey, like a Pier One set piece, and the walls are painted white. The seating is that weird LA thing where there's several very long tables, like some kind of gentrified cafeteria. It was nice when they weren't very busy, but I could see it getting crappy if the place was packed.

Overall, the vibe is more casual and less distinctive than other MIkkeller bars, but thankfully avoided the bland trappings of 90% of other bars and restaurants that have opened in the last several years. The vibe is sparse but inviting. (They were also playing the exact same Galaxie 500 Pandora station that was on at the Hermosillo the day before).

Mikkeller DTLA's most salient aspect is the beer prices. Good lord. LA beer bars aren't usually cheap, but this was on par with the bad-even-for-Scandinavia prices of their Reykjavik location. Expect to pay $8-11 for an 8 oz pour of beers that aren't particularly rare or strong or even good.

Which isn't to say the beers aren't good. They are, for the most part. But just not good enough to warrant such exorbitant prices. Even by the standards of a big city, even by the standards of 2018, these prices were unjustifiable.

The service was fine. The food kind of sucked. The beers are Mikkeller beers, which tend to be good when they're fresh (which they typically aren't when you buy them in stores). The selection was pretty vast, with probably about 30 house beers and 20 or so guest taps. Just, expect to pay. A lot.

 

 

Finally went today and asking why did I wait so long. Cool converted garage with 16 bar stools, communal tables, glass windows fronting Olympic Blvd for looking out of, wood ceilings and exposed metal/duct work. Over 60 taps served at various temperatures, dependent upon the beer style, plus a couple of hand pumps for cask ales. Arrived early for brunch and the service was spot on. Got the breakfast sando and it was superb. Prices a bit high, but some of beers you will not find many other places on tap or otherwise. Will most certainly return and on Monday & Tuesdays there are flights available. Only suggestion is I wish the flight option was everyday, yeah it takes time I get it, but with this many beers to choose from... they are very generous with samples however.

This DTLA Mikkeller is located on Olympic in a nice but non-descript building. It's near the Staples Center area, nearby lofts. Once you enter, it's a very nicely done interior. There's a bar towards the back and lots of tables and chairs.

The tap list was pretty nice. House and various guest beers. I tried their New England style IPA today. It was okay. It wasn't the Tree House type IPA I was hoping for.

My first server was kinda lost thus my sub-4 score for service. The person that actually took my order and brought me my beer was cool.

Very cool place.

I confess that I love what they're doing in San Diego. I've joined the Viking Club at the S.D. facility and could not be happier. San Diego place is great; beers are fantastic and the staff is second to none. However, lucky me in that I live in Los Angeles. The new facility is pouring the S.D. brews in a very large hip place on Olympic near Hill downtown L.A. The building itself is great. Well planned and well executed with lots and lots of tables, taps and staff. The staff, while new, is doing a bang up job and really cares. They are wonderful; really. No tasters yet which bums me out but they will let you sample pretty much what you want and they do it gladly. Candidly, I think the Mikkeller stuff being produced in California beats the M stuff in the bottles, but that's just my opinion. While parking is tough for L.A., there is a large public lot (a bit pricey) across the street. By the way, the food is great too. It opened last week and I"ve been twice already. Good place.