blue palms 5th anniversary

Golden Road will be there. Ticket has already paid for itself.

 

I have heard great feedback about their anniversary festival in the past, but I cannot speak from personal experience as I've never been. I believe there have been tappings of out-of-area beers like KBS. I'd guess that the list is not posted yet because they don't know everything they will be getting yet, but I suspect we'll start seeing special kegs announced as brewers commit to sending beer to Blue Palms.

What makes you say the quality of the beer declined? I don't make it that way often, but seems like there is usually some decent stuff going on there.

 

The selections have declined since their buyer, who made all the cool out-of-market stuff happen, left to work elsewhere.

 

When did the change happen? I haven't been impressed with their tap list for quite a while now.

 

A little over a year ago I think.

 

After the "you can't drink the potable water from this massive jug of potable water because we want you to buy water bottles on this 100 degree day" debacle of last year, I am, without question, out for this year.

 

It seems to have happened since they closed down and reopened again.

 

As an owner who prides himself on furthering the craft beer industry and building my business with a standard of quality, I take these comments very seriously. We have always had a great tap list and we try to make sure we have something on tap that relates to all types of craft beer drinkers.

To be honest, some specialty beers are not available in the quantities they used to be due to the fact that there are so many more beer bars that have opened in the last few years. We are stoked that these other places exist because it builds the knowledge and love of craft beer, but that also means our distributors cannot give us every rare keg they recieve. We are sorry if you feel that this is a conscious effort on our part. Additionally, with so many new local breweries in the opening in the past few years, we ARE consciously trying to feature these start ups and help their businesses grow by promoting their core beers. That, to me, is what craft beer is all about and what our community is all about.

This year we have had several total tap takeovers and specialty events with Green Flash, Dogfish Head, Sierra Nevada, The Bruery and next month is Hanger 24. At each of these events, we feature core beers, specialty beers, and beers you cannot find outside of the brewery.

The 5th Anniversary tap list will be released slowly as we confirm beers, not to keep anyone in the dark or to hide anything. Many of the breweries do not give us the beers until a month, sometimes a week before the event and we are cautious to tell the public that we will have a beer that in not actually in our cellar. Every year there has been a large number of specialty beer .We our planning on having many East coast/Midwest brews this year and cannot wait to tell you about them… once we have them in house. As for some of the beers we HAVE right now:
Firestone Parabola 2012
Firestone Sucuba
Oskar Blues 2010 Ten Fidy
Deschutes Abyss,
Deschutes Black Butte 24
New Belgium 2012 Tart Lychee
Golden Road Buffalo Trace Barrel Aged Brown
Russian River Consecration
Russian River Sanctification
Supplication 8/12 and 12-12-12

As for the heat issue, last year was an especially hot year and we understand the frustration felt by all. This year we will have free cold water stations throughout the event, misters outside, and we are bringing in several extra A/C units to the restaurant to cool off the small space that overloads with the extra amount of people.

I personally have been in charge of the tap list from day one and I have always tried to make sure Blue Palms has some of the best craft beers on at all times. I truly appreciate everyone’s comments and concerns and I do take them to heart, especially here on the Beer Advocate community. If there is a beer you would like to see, just send me a line and I’ll do my best to personally contact the brewers to get it in.

Lastly, here is a partial list of what we had last year at the 4th Anniversary…
RR Supplication
RR Temptation
Avery Liliko’I Kepolo
LA Red Poppy
LA BB Angel Share
Bruery Cuir
Tart of Darkness
Oude Tart
BA Ten Fidy ~ Nitro
Parabola
Alpine Nelson
Firestone Lil Opal BA 3 years
Southern Tier Crème Brulee
DogFish 120
New Holland BA Dragons Milk
Southern Tier XXIPA
Founders Centennial IPA
Founders KBS
Big Sky Ivan the Terrible
Ballast Point Sour Wench
LadyFace Guillotine Justin Cab Sour
Beachwood Thrillseeker



We truly thank you for your support and we hope that we can continually bring you the best in craft beer. Cheers!!
Brian Lenzo

 

make up your mind Mark

 

Well, it kinda sounded like you were hating on Blue Palms at first... Then as soon as Brian Lenzo chimed in, you were 110% in support of Blue Palms. I'd rather see people happy and supportive, so I'm not going to knock you for this at all, but it did come off that way.

 

FWIW, on the Blue Palms Facebook page, there have already been photos of the following kegs posted:

Bell's Two Hearted Ale
Southern Tier Chokolat
Founder's Devil Dancer
Founder's Double Trouble.

 

Exactly...but you know how it goes, Douches be douchin' -- what else is new in the community...boohoo ..i have to pay 50 bucks ...and if there isn't some insane list, it will be a total rip off.

 

I went last year and was really torn on the event. The beer was great and it was flowing really well (except the inside bar). The food was really good too. The downside was the weather (not controllable, though it was crazy how it was hotter inside than outside), the limited table staff inside, and the lack of water. They ended up handing out water more efficiently later in the event once they realized they had some issues.

Doubt I will make it this year, mainly because my summer schedule is already fairly packed. Plus, it is a good distance for me to travel. Hopefully I will be able to go next year as I am sure they will continue to work out the kinks.

 

I've been a patron since Day 2 and I have been to all the anniversary parties (except one that i missed for reasons beyond my control).

They are the best beer events in LA. I have a good feeling about this year.

 

I don't recall that at all. I brought an empty water bottle with me and had no trouble filling it several times throughout the afternoon. Alas, it was to no avail...

 

Getting stoked for this. I've been a huge fan of BP since they opened, but no longer living in LA, plus having a small child at home, kept me from getting to any of the anniversary events before now. Can't wait! I hear there is going to be a lot of pork and tacos....