The Brew Review: Westwood Brewing Company

Hello everyone and welcome to The Brew Review. This is your one stop shop for what is going on in world of delicious beer in Los Angeles.

Today’s episode: The Westwood Brewing Company

The Westwood Brewing Company is a medium sized brew pub boasting an indoor bar/ restaurant as well as a large enclosed patio. Contrary to the name, this Westwood Company does not do any brewing of their own. Inside, the bar had the usual assortment of large TV’s, neon beer signs and random paraphernalia. There are plenty of tables to sit and eat, as well as room to sit at the counter, socialize and drink.

I arrived at the Brewing CO. at about 7:30 to watch Monday Night Football. The place was less than crowded, with a majority of the after-work patrons glued to the football broadcast. Other than the game, there wasn’t much going on at this bar, but after all, it was a Monday. I plan on returning on a Friday or Saturday to see what the difference is. Around 9:30-10 the scene picked up a bit, as a few college aged groups sauntered in, but the flow quickly died out by 11. If you are itching to mingle on a Monday, this isn’t the place. Happy hour runs from 11:30 am to 6 pm but only covers certain drinks. Otherwise a pint will run $5.50.

Now for the good part.

Westwood Brewing Company boasts 23 beers on regular tap plus a special of the month. Why they chose Budweiser Select for the month of September is beyond me. Some of the mainstream microbrews include Widmer Hefeweizen, Sam Adams and Fat Tire as well as potentially lesser known but equally delicious Firestone, Anchor Steam and Arrogant Bastard. I started off with a new one for me, the Bare Knuckle Stout. Basically, it was a slightly more flavorful Guinness with a thicker, foamy head. That being said, it was very drinkable. I followed the stout with a Long Hammer IPA. The IPA was moderately hoppy, with a bitter kick in the middle and a smooth and sweet finish. Following the IPA was a Russian River Damnation.

Beer of the Evening:

The Russian River Damnation was a new one for me. A Belgian Style Ale, this beer stood head and shoulders above the rest. The first sip could only be described as exciting, as carbonation danced on my tongue. True to the Belgian Style, the beer was sweet and strong, reminiscent of honey and delicate berries. The finish was smooth, unexpectedly wheat-y and pleasant. Definitely a must try, but for those not familiar with strong beer, be warned, it may be overwhelming.

Overall, the Westwood Brewing Company is a middle of the road bar. Everything, from the décor, to the beer selection, the food and the crowd was decent, but nothing special. If you are looking for a place to hang out with some friends, have a few drinks and maybe some food this place would do the job, but that's about it. The beer selection is respectable with more than enough quality to keep any beer enthusiast satisfied. However, if you are looking for something new and out of the ordinary, you need to keep looking.

photo by M Berru via Flickr