Review by Keith Block

Boomtown Brewery started brewing in 2014 and officially launched its taproom adjacent to its brewery and event space in 2017. Highlights of the cavernous 17,000-square-foot space include oversized chairs and couches that create a perfect flow and comfort, and a David Bowie and Roxy Music tribute murals featured on the spacious outside patio.

Interior of Boomtown; photo by Keith Block; courtesy of ETG

To mark the start of summer, the brewery put together a food, music, and beer festival – BOOMFEST which took place last Saturday June 4^th from 3pm til late night. I was lucky enough to spend several hours with an old friend drinking great beers, having some excellent eats, talking about old, current, and future times, and listening to some cool local bands.

The Food
The event featured the following food vendors: Breakfast Dreams, Gochugang BBQ, Philly Jays Steaks, Mexish Tacos, EastSide Cheesecakes

I tried Philly Jays Steaks and the sandwich was simply amazing – I would say the best cheesesteak I have ever had, and I went to Philly last summer and tried the OGs! Because I am on a strict diet, I also split a piece of strawberry cheesecake from EastSide Cheesecakes, and I believe my eyes teared up after the first bite – wow just, incredible – I can’t wait to try their other flavors!

Cheesesteak from Philly Jays Steaks; photo courtesy of Philly Jays Steaks

The pop-up bakery specializes in artisan cheesecakes made with handmade cultured buttermilk cream cheese. Considering the quality that is Boomtown, I am sure the other food vendors were also top notch.

The Music
The event showcased a full line up of local bands: Mr Max, Paradise Vultures, Matamoska, Sweet Gloom, Sorry Kyle, Gnarwhal Jrz, Raised on TV, Tiny Stills, The Bots.

I saw sets by the Sweet Gloom and Sorry Kyle, and it was fun seeing young earnest homegrown bands giving it their all. Sweet Gloom is a new punk band that came together in 2021 and they have a new single “2015 Kia Optima” that is a catchy, no-frills, indie-punk ripper. Sorry Kyle is another new band from LA – the Emo/Pop-Punk band is fronted by Zach Villa from Rebel and a Basketcase and signed to Speaker Cat Records.

Sorry Kyle band; photo courtesy of Sorry Kyle

The Beer
At Boomtown, it’s all about the beer, and at any given time Boomtown has about 16 old world, unfiltered, gravity fed, full flavored beers with integrity on offer–unfiltered and unpasteurized Belgians, IPAs, Stouts, Saisons, Wheats and more. For BOOMFEST, there were 20+ beers on draft plus newly released barrel aged beers: 2019 Barrel Age Aliso in Heaven Hill barrels, 9.6%, 2021 Barrel Aged Imperial Stout in Woodford Reserve barrels, 10.2%, 2020 Barrel Aged Imperial Saison in Côtes du Rhône red wine barrels, 9.4%, 2018 Barrel Aged Magic Napper in Elijah Craig barrels, 8.9%. 

I am a big fan of the regular Magic Napper which is a Scottish Age – but the barrel aged one was off the charts perfectly augmenting the ale’s soft marmalade notes with Elijah Craig’s signature warm spice and subtle smoke flavors – pure genius!

I also had a couple of flights where I tried the following beers: Bad Hombre – Mexican Style Lager-4.8%, The Young & the Reckless – New Zealand Pale-5.8%, Casual Sipper – Extra Special Bitter-4.8%, Brett Michaels Blonde – Blonde Sour-5.2%, Vista Hermosa – West Coast IPA-7.0%, Skank-n-Flex – Hazy IPA-7.0%, Snaggletooth Kitty – Peach and Apricot Fruit Ale-5.6%, Limelight – Northwest IPA-7.0%.

Beer Flight; photo by Keith Block; courtesy of ETG

All the beers were good, but my favorites were the Brett Michaels Blonde, the Vista Hermosa, and the Limelight. As an IPA fan, I hadn’t tried a Northwest IPA – but, found it a bit different than my favorite West Coast IPAs. Limelight was hazy and aromatic with an assertive bitterness while Vista Hermosa was lighter in body and brighter with a huge emphasis on aromatic hops.

As a Dodgers fan, I am also a big fan of their Chavez Ravine – a 6.5% Hazy IPA that pours golden but bleeds Dodger blue! Also, don’t miss your chance to pick up some cans to go – Boomtown always has an appetizing offering of cans and look out for the Artist Series – an ongoing initiative where Boomtown partners with an artist from a local network and collaborates on can art design displaying that artist’s respective style.

Overall, it was a damn good Saturday night, and I can’t wait to head back to this awesome, inviting spot that thrives on community and of course – beer! Boomtown has plans to provide good times throughout the summer and beyond! Sign up for the brewery’s newsletter or follow them on social media.

Boomtown Brewery is located at 700 Jackson St, Los Angeles, CA 90012. Open seven days a week – current operating hours: Monday- Wednesday 5-10:00pm; Thursday 5-11:00pm; Friday 3-1:00am; Saturday 12:00pm-1:00pm; Sunday 12-9:00pm; https://www.boomtownbrew.com