Do It. L.A. Beer Float Showdown at LA Beer Week.

Well as a great follow-up to Leslie's latest post -- it's LA Beer Week (but isn't it always?). Actually, that's a misnomer, considering the event is set to last two weeks, and takes place in Los Angeles and Orange County. But either way, it's set to be a celebration.

As expected, there'll be a slew of fun festivities revolving around drinking the brew, but one particular highlight will surely be the L.A. Beer Float Showdown. Is there anything more fun than a beer float? Then take into account that you'll be pairing up the best in brewmasters -- from the Tustin Brewery, Firestone Walker, Beechwood BBQ, Eagle Rock Brewery and more -- with some fun chefs, like Thi Tran and Nguyen Tran of Starry Kitchen, Top Chef alums Ilan Hall and CJ Jacobsen, and Laurent Quenioux, and you've definitely got a showdown. What kind of crazy concoctions will they come up with? Gotta show up to find out.

The L.A. Beer Float Showdown takes place this Saturday, Oct. 15 from 1pm-4pm at Eagle Rock Brewery, located at 3056 Roswell St. in Eagle Rock. Tickets at $35. And click here for more info on the rest of LA Beer Week.

-- Chau Tu

Drink It. Fall beers.

Cheers to fall beers!

While Oktoberfest festivities are coming to an end, liquor stores and supermarkets are well-stocked with Oktoberfest and Pumpkin brews. Sam Adams, a master of seasonal varieties, makes a truly delicious Harvest Pumpkin Ale. Other BEAT favorites include Buffalo Bill's Pumpkin Ale, Blue Moon Harvest Moon Pumpkin Ale, and Shipyard Brewing Co.'s Pumpkinhead Ale.

More pumpkin.

-- Leslie Anne Wiggins

Photo credit: Samuel Adams

Drink It. Ritual Roasters coffee.

After being for the most part a drip coffee drinker throughout all my coffee-drinking years (twelve and counting), this summer I've gotten into using a French press. And my most recent bag of beans from San Francisco's Ritual Roasters couldn't be tastier.

The flavor description words bourbon, vanilla, and chocolate made my choice of the Monte Rey Pradera from El Salvador an easy one, and there's also the all-important "Roasted On" date stamp. Even though I bought my coffee north of the border, at Montreal's fantastic Cafe Myriade, the coffee had been roasted just days before my purchase.

I enjoy a steamy Grande cup of Starbucks' Pike Place roast as much as the next girl (ok, maybe a little more), but at a time when there's so much exploring to be done in the world of coffee (different brewing methods, beans, roasting styles), why not?

Info: ritualroasters.com, bodum.com for French presses

-- Leslie Anne Wiggins

Photo credit: the BEAT

Drink It. National Iced Tea Day.

Get refreshed with iced tea today, National Iced Tea day!

Our favorites:

Honest Tea

Tazo "Zen" iced green tea

Homemade Southern sweet tea

Bottoms up!

-- Leslie Anne Wiggins

Photo credit: Southern Living

Drink It. Beverly Hills Juice Club.

My favorite fresh juice in town is from the Beverly Hills Juice Club. It's L.A.'s oldest juice bar (est. 1975), and is still running strong.

The unassuming little shop on Beverly Boulevard not far from the Beverly Center has a broad menu of delicious raw organic pressed fruit juice combinations--apple mint, apple mint coconut, cinnamon apple, apple lemon ginger, etc. My go-to is the orange coconut, but you really cannot go wrong even if you blindly pick one. They also have vegan shakes, and sell a vegan alternative ice cream, Banana Manna, by the pint.

Juices are pressed fresh daily.

A couple things to note--cash only, and closed Sundays.

8382 Beverly Blvd. in Los Angeles. Info: beverlyhillsjuice.com, (323) 655-8300

-- Leslie Anne Wiggins

Photo credit: beverlyhillsjuice.com

Drink It. Sidecar [Thirsty Thursdays!].

The sidecar was one of the first retro/classic cocktails I got into. I quickly learned that if a bartender doesn't immediately know what you're asking for, they won't make a good one. But, they are in fact very simple once you have the right ingredients.

This recipe is very similar to my martini-style margarita recipe, but with some lemon added to the fresh lime juice (Meyer lemons when available) and brandy (Calvados apple brandy is delicious here--but regular brandy/Cognac, like Hennessy or Courvoisier, works too) rather than tequila.

3 oz. Calvados apple brandy

1 oz. fresh lemon/lime juice

1 oz. orange liqueur (such as Cointreau or Patrón Citrónge)

Shake well with ice in a cocktail shaker, and serve straight-up in a chilled martini glass. Sidecars can also be served on the rocks in a lowball glass.

-- Leslie Anne Wiggins

Photo credit: the BEAT

Drink It. Big Bar at Alcove.

It was big news in Los Feliz when Big Bar at Alcove opened last fall. This past weekend was the first time I made it there, and it was so delicious, I'll definitely be back.

After a late dinner at Speranza, my boyfriend, our friend, and I were looking for a well-crafted cocktail. After considering Cole's Red Car Bar and The Hungry Cat, we thought of Big Bar and headed up Hillhurst.

The bar itself is actually quite small (about ten leather stools surrounding a light gray marble bar, and some small tables in the room as well), with attractive decor like vintage light fixtures and plenty of silver.

I started out with one of their specialty drinks, The New Brunswick: Famous Grouse Scotch, maple syrup, and lemon (pictured above). It reminded me slightly of a sidecar, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Everything on the menu sounded so good, when it came time for round two, I switched to the Bourbon Milk Punch, which disappeared in record time. I held off on ordering another, but it could have easily gone that way. It was crisp, cold, refreshing, and totally delicious, topped with freshly ground nutmeg.

Hank stuck with the citrusy margarita-like tequila-based option, The Lily. I had a sip and found it quite tart, but if you're not one for sweet concoctions, you'd love it.

Also good to know: the bartenders are happy to chat about what liquors/flavors you generally like, and create an off-the-menu mixed drink just for you.

-- Leslie Anne Wiggins

Photo credit: the BEAT

Drink It. Free green milkshakes at The Counter [Thirsty Thursdays!].

Happy St. Patrick's Day! If you're not indulging in the green beer tonight -- DDs, that means you! -- here's a special holiday treat you can still enjoy. The Counter, of the build-your-own-burger variety, is offering free green milkshakes to those who "like" them on Facebook. Otherwise, it'll be $3 each (and for those who are indulging, The Counter's green beers are also $3). Happy drinking, be safe out there!

Check out more info on The Counter by visiting their website.

-- Chau Tu

Drink It. Mountain Valley Spring Water.

I realize it sounds ridiculous to say that water is delicious--but this one is. I met an old friend for breakfast last week, and he had a mysterious green bottle tucked under his arm. I first thought it was a Sprite or 7 Up, which seemed strange, especially in the morning. When it came time to order drinks and I got a large coffee, he said he was all set ... with his water.

I had to ask, "What is this water you have?" The water--Mountain Valley Spring Water--turns out to be somewhat difficult to find in Los Angeles, and is mainly distributed through home delivery. It's from a highly protected natural spring source in Arkansas. I found 1 liter glass bottles at West Hollywood's Whole Foods, but they're certainly not convenient to carry around.

Not really wanting to believe the hype about how excellent the water was, I poured myself a room temperature glass yesterday afternoon. Ok, it really is that good.

It's similar to Fiji in that it has a pH over 7. Fiji is 7.5, Mountain Valley Spring Water is 7.8. Evian is also somewhere above 7. Arrowhead (which I most often drink because of the convenient and well-priced 6-packs of 16.9 oz. bottles) is neutral, at 7. Waters that I consider to not taste very good, such as Penta, Dasani, etc. are at 4.

Mountain Valley Spring Water is available in both glass and plastic bottles, which is nice because some people like to avoid drinking from plastic. Even their home water cooler bottles are glass.

It is a bit pricier than Arrowhead, a case of 24 16.9 oz. bottles is $22 for example. But, if better tasting water means drinking more water, the health benefit outweighs the cost in the end.

Info: mountainvalleyspring.com, (800) 499-9982

-- Leslie Anne Wiggins

Photo credit: the BEAT

Drink It. Sightglass Coffee.

Sometimes morning coffee at home is the simplest, most satisfying, and overall best way to start the week.

I recently bought a bag of classic Central American beans from San Francisco's Sightglass Coffee. It was roasted just days before it arrived in my mailbox, and the few cups I've enjoyed so far have been nothing short of delicious. I like to heat some milk in a ceramic mug first, then fill it up with steaming freshly brewed coffee.

Other favorites for home brewing:

Dean & Deluca French Roast

Stumptown Coffee Roasters French Roast (their Hair Bender blend in a limited edition jar may be my next Stumptown purchase though)

illy Dark Roast

next up:

something from Blue Bottle Coffee Co. (either the Giant Steps blend, Guatemala - Zemoch, or Mexico - Chiapas)

-- Leslie Anne Wiggins

Photo credit: the BEAT

Drink It. National Margarita Day.

It's almost five o'clock, and today is National Margarita Day 2011.

A rundown of our favorites in town:

El Carmen (best blend)

Malo (and now Más Malo too)

Lares (their fruit flavors--like peach--are natural and delicious)

Las Perlas (happy hour 7-8pm Tuesday through Friday)

at home (with the right tools and ingredients)

-- Leslie Anne Wiggins

Photo credit: the BEAT

Drink It. Pisco Sour Day [Thirsty Thursdays!].

So apparently Feb. 5th is Pisco Sour Day in Peru. As if you needed an excuse. But here's another: Discover Pisco is giving away coupons for a complimentary Gran Sierpe pisco sour at participating L.A. restaurants Red Medicine, Big Bar at Alcove, Buffalo Club and Rivera. Enjoy! The pisco sour is basically considered the iconic cocktail for Peru and Chile, and pisco happens to be one of Lauren's favorites.

Get your coupon here!

-- Chau Tu

Do It. Learn how to make classic cocktails [Thirsty Thursdays!].

We Angelenos are surely spoiled by the fantastic cocktail options we have all over town. But sometimes, you can't always -- or don't want -- to go out and get that fancy drink. So why not learn how to make one yourself -- and be taught by one of L.A.'s own master mixologists?

Liquor.com is offering a great deal on a mixology class this Sunday at The Varnish, the speakeasy hidden in the back of Cole's in downtown. And you'll be learning how to make drinks from the master himself, The Varnish's Eric Alperin. In two hours, he'll help you master all there is to know about cognac, including how to make a sidecar, Vieux Carré, Cognac Manhattan and an original Varnish recipe. It's $50 a pop for a person, but consider that you'll be tasting some really fine liquor, and that the ability to make your own drinks will be well worth it in no time.

As far as mixologists go, Alperin tops the list -- and not just in Los Angeles, but the world. Seriously, Alperin is up for the American Bartender of the Year award at this year's Tales of the Cocktail conference. And now he's sharing his secrets with you! If you can appreciate a good cognac, it's time to learn how to do it from one of the best.

"Master Cognac Cocktails" is taking place this Sunday, Jan. 30 from 6-8pm at The Varnish, located at 118 E. 6th St. in downtown (inside Cole's). Click here to buy tickets (time is running out!).

-- Chau Tu

Drink It. Mumm Napa Brut Rosé.

Even if you don't normally drink sparking wine or champagne, it's kind of the drink of the evening on New Year's Eve. This Mumm Napa Brut Rosé is a delicious and affordable sparking wine. It's usually $20-22, but today it's on sale at BevMo! for $15.99 with ClubBev membership.

It received a 90 point rating from Wine Spectator.

-- Leslie Anne Wiggins

Photo credit: mummnapa.com

Drink It. Library Alehouse Holiday Beer Fest.

We're all about seasonal beers here at the BEAT, and the Christmas season just happens to provide its own flavors of beers out to join the fun. It's not always so easy trying to find all the varieties, though, especially on a budget.

But that's where the Library Alehouse Holiday Beer Fest comes in. The Santa Monica restaurant is celebrating holiday ales by hosting this 2-week event where you can sample over 20 different seasonal ales on tap. Start the fest off with $10, which will get you your own tasting glass and your first beer. Then enjoy the rest of the two weeks with beers like Jolly Pumpkin Noel de Calabaza, Dogfish Head Chicory Stout, Sierra Nevada Celebration, and Anchor Brewing’s Merry Christmas Happy New Year Ale at $2.50-$5 a glass, plus 10% off all food. The beers will be rotating with 10 at a time, so be sure to check back to try them all!

Happy holidays and happy seasonal drinking! Remember to be safe out there.

The Library Alehouse Holiday Beer Fest takes place until Jan. 1 at Library Alehouse, located at 2911 Main St. in Santa Monica.

-- Chau Tu

Drink It. Hot chocolate with peppermint schnapps [Thirsty Thursdays!].

Sure we had a heatwave earlier this week, but there's no doubt it's about to get chilly again. A good excuse to get your throat warm with some alcohol, right?

Here's my favorite -- and super easy -- drink for the season: hot chocolate with peppermint schnapps. It's about as easy as you can get:

Ingredients:
Milk
Hot chocolate mix/chocolate syrup
Peppermint schnapps

Heat up milk in a mug or over a stovetop. Mix hot chocolate mix in. Pour in approximately one shot of peppermint schnapps (more or less according to taste). And enjoy!

For extra festiveness, top off with some whipped cream and a sprinkle of cinnamon, or add in a peppermint candy cane as a stirrer.

-- Chau Tu

Drink Out. The Edison's Midnight Mission Toy Drive [Thirsty Thursdays!].

As we come upon this holiday season, it's definitely a great time to get together with friends for a good drink. But we also can't forget those who are in need, especially in this season.

Enjoy that drink without guilt by participating in the Edison's Midnight Mission Toy Drive. Ongoing until December 28 (and with no apparent limits, so go crazy!), bring in a new, unwrapped toy and receive a complimentary Edison cocktail. And considering their fancier drinks do go for about $13 or more, I'd say it's a pretty fair tradeoff money-wise. Plus, you'll be getting a fantastic hand-crafted drink -- one of the best found in L.A. for sure. I'd opt for the Absinthe '75 (a great speakeasy twist on the French '75) or the Brass Flower.

And speaking of the Edison, the underground lounge will also be celebrating Repeal Day -- this Sunday, Dec. 5th -- in full-on style, naturally. Think lots of absinthe and gin. Look out for other Repeal Day celebrations going on all over the city; definitely not a day to miss out for a great, cheap/free cocktail!

The Edison is located at 108 W. 2nd St. in downtown.

And please remember to drink safely, as always.

-- Chau Tu

Photo credit: Citysearch

Drink Out. Golden State [Thirsty Thursdays!].

When Golden State first opened, they were definitely trying to ride the L.A. burger-hype wave. And while those burgers -- and all the other food on the menu, from the fries to sandwiches to potato salad to the Scoops ice cream! -- are absolutely delectable and fresh-tasting, I've come to realize that what the restaurant really needs to be known for is its booze.

Golden State has, from the start, always championed craft beers, and that doesn't just mean they offer the seasonal ale from Blue Moon. The blackboard menu of tap choices is always changing, and offer really fun varieties from all over. And if you don't know what you want, the owners will be more than happy to guide you with their expertise. But really, with each of the beers specifically picked out, you can't go wrong.

And if you're feeling adventurous, go all-out with a beer float, coupling Old Rasputin with one of the Scoops flavors on hand. Great food, beer and dessert -- what more could you ask for?

Golden State is located at 426 N. Fairfax Ave. in Mid-City.

-- Chau Tu

Photo credit: LA Weekly

Drink In. Brew your own beer in a pumpkin [Thirsty Thursdays!].

All right, so the title is a little misleading, so I'll be upfront: yes, you can brew your own beer in a pumpkin. But you won't be drinking it this weekend at your Halloween party. Or even possibly this fall. Apparently, brewing beer takes a long time.

But it's still a fascinating process, as you can see by this video by the Working Class Foodies at Salon.com. And hey, with the right ingredients and supplies -- and a lot of patience -- brewing a legitimate pumpkin beer in your home might actually be worth it. Have a look for yourself.

In the meantime, you may as well enjoy these fall beers, just a supermarket and a bottle opener away.

-- Chau Tu

Drink It. Arrowhead Sparkling Water [Thirsty Thursday!].

Doesn't it just look so refreshing? You know sometimes when you're really thirsty, but you're dying for a Diet Coke rather than a glass of water? Well here's a healthy compromise.

I think everyone tries to 'drink more water', but it's easy to forget to drink a whole lot, especially with some many delicious drink options available. I've recently gotten back into an old favorite of mine, Arrowhead sparkling water, in the lime flavor. It's tasty, 100% natural, and calorie free. The ingredients are simply: mountain spring water, natural flavors, and CO2. Arrowhead is a great water in general, as it's true spring water that's very reasonably priced.

Arrowhead water is widely available throughout Southern California.

-- Leslie Anne Wiggins

Photo credit: the BEAT