Ten Obvious Reasons to Support L.A.’s Eagle Rock Brewery

As posted this week on their blog, Eagle Rock Brewery (ERB) has to go back to city hall for a public hearing in order to continue serving beer. We learned about how hard it was to open a brewery in Los Angeles when we interviewed founders Jeremy and Steve Raub a year ago. It’s a little upsetting to learn they have to go back to for a hearing again, but with the support of patrons and locals we’re hoping this will be as painless as possible. Here’s how you can help them, and ten reasons why you should!

Update 7/14/11: The hearing went well! Here’s a wrap up including a short video from Patch.com and one from the LATimes.com

1. Show up to the public hearing on Tuesday, July 12 at 2 PM: Los Angeles City Hall, 200 North Spring Street, Room 1020, Los Angeles, CA 90012. Case #ZA-2008-3392-CUB-PA1
2. Write: Office of Zoning Administration, 200 North Spring Street, Room 763, Los Angeles, CA 90012 Mention Case #ZA-2008-3392-CUB-PA1
3. Call: Zoning Administration Office (213) 978-1318. Mention Case #ZA-2008-3392-CUB-PA1
4. Fax: Zoning Administration Office (213) 978-1334. Mention Case # ZA2008-3392-CUB-PA1 (thanks @musimutis)
5. Send a representative (sporting ERB clothing) to the public hearing to speak on the behalf of you and your friends, as suggested by FoodGPS
6. Spread the word about the need for support using your social media power, also suggested by FoodGPS

They work with and hire local homebrewers.
Not only are the two most recent hires at Eagle Rock Brewery local homebrewers, many of their great recipes are often inspired by, assisted by, or created by local homebrewers. The brewery was founded by father and son team Jeremy and Steve Raub, who told us the story of how Steve’s homebrew lead to opening ERB. That was only when Jeremy was still a kid. PIctured above: Erick Garcia and Drew Beechum, two local hombrewers who help out at ERB, enjoy beer at the Southern California Homebrewer’s Festival in Ojai, CA.

They support fellow brewers and are a model operation for amateurs hoping to go pro.
When Eagle Rock Brewery hosted The Celebrator’s L.A. Beer Week event “So You Want to Open a Brewery …” panel, their taproom was fully packed with people eager to find out how they could be like ERB. The event included local brewers Cyrena Nouzille from Ladyface Ale House in Agoura Hills, Brian Mercer and Nick Brown from Brouwerij West of Palos Verdes (pictured above), Joel Elliot from Strand Brewing Co. in Torrance, Brian Lethcoe from Nibble Bit Tabby Brewery in downtown Los Angeles, and representation from newly opened Beachwood BBQ and Brewing in Long Beach as well as soon to be opened Ohana Brewing Co. The fully house was a surprise to those in attendance, a sure sign that ERB is a fine example that others look to follow.

As the first brewer to open a brewery in over 60 years in the city of Los Angeles, Jeremy Raub has been a resource for amateur and professional brewers alike, continually providing sage guidance and advice despite his busy schedule. When Nibble Bit Tabby opened, you can guess who featured them on a guest tap to celebrate the opening night.

They support authors, chefs, restaurants and food trucks
Whether it’s a custom blended beer made with Sriracha (pictured above at the release party and signing of The Sriracha Cookbook) or a beer dinner at Culver City’s City Tavern, Eagle Rock Brewery has worked with talented cooks, authors, food trucks and friends to help them create memorable beer and food experiences. Famed food trucks including The Grilled Cheese Truck and Grill ‘Em All are frequent visitors to their brewery on Fridays and Saturdays. We’ve even dropped in on TV shows taping these trucks at the brewery.

They actively participate in local events and festivals
We’ll never forget when L.A.’s beer mavens came together under Eagle Rock Brewery’s roof to help brew Unity, a California Common, created just for L.A. Beer Week. ERB’s staff can be found at many beer festivals in California, but they do other kinds of fests too. They’ve supported their local community in Taste of the Eastside, Barnsdall Art Park’s movie nights, and recently have been manning taps at the new pop-up craft beer garden, ColLAboration (pictured above). They’ve generously spread their beer across countless festivals since they’ve opened, including new fests that are just getting their feet off the ground.

They educate patrons through classes, forums, and demonstrations.
Every third Wednesday of the month, Eagle Rock Brewery provides a new kind of ladies’ night. The Women’s Beer Forum (pictured above) teaches women about different beer styles during each class, through tasting, discussion and Q & A with Ting Su, wife of founder and brewer Jeremy Raub. It’s not about sissy lady-beers though. Ting has experience in the restaurant industry and is notorious for her finely tuned palate and endless knowledge off all things food and beverage. The beers sampled range from fruit and flower inspired to Bieres de Champagne and IPA’s.

Homebrew clubs like Yeastside Brewers frequent the brewery as a venue for meetings, demos and group brew events. The Beer Education series has covered topics like water use in homebrew, recipe formulation and a two part series on hops. Their upcoming homebrew demo/pilot brew will allow patrons to participate in making a brew for ten bucks, which includes lunch and a pint, too. The beer will go on tap in the tap room once completed.

They create award winning beer, scoring the first gold medal at the Great American Beer Festival (GABF) for the city of Los Angeles.
It was love at first sip when we tried Red Velvet, an imperial red ale made from homebrewer Donny Hummel’s recipe. The beer was entered in GABF’s Pro-Am competition and we almost lost our pants when it was announced as the Gold Medal Winner in Devner, CO last year. The team was obviously thrilled, not just for themselves, but for the city of Los Angeles. Until last year, L.A. didn’t have a GABF gold medal (let alone any medal from the national competition) to call their own. ERB has furthered L.A.’s reputation as a home to quality craft beer, perpetuating educated consumers to spend time (and bucks) in Los Angeles.

They have great special events for new beer releases, holidays, and for good causes.
We’ve lost track of how many times Eagle Rock Brewery has been included in our Weekend, What Up!, our wrap-up of weekend events and things to do in Los Angeles. In addition to food truck visits Fridays and Saturdays, trivia nights, ongoing mini-beer fests and brewery tours on Sundays, the Eagle Rock Brewery team finds time to run Relay for Life and raise money for Japan‘s tsunami victims through their events. Session Beer Fest, Fade to Black (their Black IPA release party) and the Ugly Sweater Party we’re just a few of our favorite events in the last few months.

They come up with new, exciting (and very good) beers all the time.
The brewery always has something going on, and they’ve no shortage of creativity when it comes to new beers. It would be easy to keep churning out the same beer over and over, but they keep it fresh with beers like their Ginger Saison, Black i (a black IPA), Jubilee (a spiced old ale), Stimulus (an Intelligentsia coffee infused amber), Solidarity (a black mild) on nitro, the elusive Yearling (a Flander’s Red), Equinox (a young sour) and many more. They created spring infusions for City Tavern‘s beer dinner, which included Solidarity infused with vanilla, Equinox infused with loquat, Manifesto Witbier infused with fennel and Revolution XPA infused with thyme.

They are the only beer made in Los Angeles that is distributed by Stone Distributing
Stone Brewing Co. is like the great big brother that all the smaller, younger breweries want to grow up and be just like. They distribute beer to 36 states in the U.S. and they are growing like crazy. ERB distributed their own beer to their now 60+ So. Cal. accounts since they opened, but in January Stone Distributing picked them up. It’s a big hat-tip for a little guy to receive, and we want to see that relationship continue to grow.

They are team of hard-working, talented people who pioneered the brewing revival in Los Angeles and are loved by their patrons.
The patrons speak for themselves:

“I have testified as an expert on noise impacts and traffic impacts on behalf of other businesses, and as a customer of Eagle Rock Brewery I have found them to be a good neighbor, an asset to the city of Los Angeles and very concerned about doing good things for the city and it’s residents and, most importantly, their own neighbors.”
– Daniel Hackney, City of LA Environmental Supervisor II and former Sr. Environmental Policy Analyst for Mayor Villaraigosa and Mayor Hahn. Long Beach, CA.

“Jeremy Raub, father Steve and wife Ting have provided so much to the community, not only their beer – which is great – but also a welcoming gathering place for Angelenos. They’ve also created a forum for homebrewers, food trucks and educators to express themselves. The family’s also done it by the book and with the best of intentions. To see them meet continued resistance is discouraging, and, even worse, has the potential to scare off other upstanding businesspeople who have similar or complementary goals.”
– Joshua Lurie, FoodGPS Founder. Los Angeles, CA

“Eagle Rock Brewery demonstrates everything I love about the craft beer world – good folks making a good product and having a great time with their customers. ERB’s opening marks the first step in Los Angeles catching up with other West Coast cities and we couldn’t have had a better start than Jeremy, Steve and Ting.”
– Drew Beehum. Pasadena, CA

“Eagle Rock Brewery not only provides wonderful beer made by wonderful people, but also provides a rallying point for Los Angeles pride. Home-grown products are increasingly rare and Eagle Rock Brewery gives Angelenos something they can truly call their own.”
– Alex P. Davis, Assistant General Manager, Library Alehouse. Santa Monica, CA

“I would never have driven anywhere near Roswell Street without Eagle Rock Brewery (and I live right next door in Glendale).  The tap room and brewery truly acts as a magnet for people all across the southland.  I even met a guy who was there from Seattle.  He’s probably back home raving about the beer in Los Angeles.”
– Sean Inman – Beer Search Party. Glendale, CA

“As a new California brewery starting up, Jeremy, Steve and Ting of Eagle Rock Brewery have been enormously giving of their time and knowledge with us, proving that local craft beer really is about community, integrity, and bringing people together. Los Angeles would be foolhardy in the extreme to willfully lose the partnership with people of such patent generosity and obvious love for their craft, the people of our city, and the brewing fellowship.”
– Charlie Essers, Minister of Heresy, Heretic Brewing Company & Homebrewer. Los Angeles, CA

“Growing up in and around Eagle Rock, I know that the area in which ER Brewery is situated was not a very inviting part of the area.  Now there is a great business that is improving the area, contributing to the local economy, and providing a fun place for people from the neighborhood to get together.  They also make really, really good beer too.”
–  Daniel Kilbride, UCLA PhD. student, Eagle Rock High and Occidental College Alumni. Hollywood, CA

Related stories

• Eagle Rock Brewery Debuts First IPA
• L.A.-Based Eagle Rock Brewery Wins Gold at GABF Pro-Am with Red Velvet
• Eagle Rock Brewery is Expanding from Growlers to Bottles
• Jeremy Raub on Eagle Rock Brewery’s Jubilee Holiday Ale [VIDEO]
• Eagle Rock Brewery’s First Anniversary Party [PHOTOS]