Ryan Sweeney—of the backyard beer brigade at Verdugo Bar in Glassell Park—ventured west to partner up with Adolfo Suaya (Boho) for their less-than-a-month old, neighborhood inspired, craft beer boîte, The Surly Goat. After curating the new bar’s 27 draft program as one of L.A.’s first Ciceron (a sommelier of beer), Ryan takes a minute to share his personal take on the city’s best BBQ, bars and post-pubescent boozery.
This last year, Belgians have had their run in the sun, what’s next for the craft beer trend?
We’ll see a move away from the heavy double and triple IPA’s and Belgians toward more simplistic flavors. For instance, the opening pour from LA’s new Eagle Rock Brewery was a like 3.9% Black Mild.
What about the future for beer at the Surly Goat?
It’s all going to be very local. The Eagle Rock Brewery actually customized a beer for us, The EagleGoat Bock. It has a nice simple flavor. Nothing outrageous.
So the Bock Beer is the new thing?
Who knows? I would love to see it have a comeback.
Ok, so obviously you’re a beer guy, but where is your favorite place to get a cocktail?
The Tiki-Ti. A good Polynesian drink is hard to come by. Plus, I love the vibe and the attitude, there’s no pretension.
Speaking of pretension, how do you feel about the mixology craze at spirit based bars like 7 Grand? Brandon, my partner, tells me that mixology started back during the prohibition when they could only get gutter liquor. So my thought is, now that we have access to good liquor, why mix? 7 Grand is great, though I don’t really agree with mixing single-malt whisky.
7/11, what do you pull first?
Guinness. It’s my schlepping beer.
What did you drink as a kid? Don’t tell me soda pop, your mom isn’t reading this.
Well fortunately my Dad was a craft beer guy even when craft beer wasn’t very prevalent. I remember sneaking Sam Adams, Sierra Nevada, Pilsner Urquell, all that stuff.
And your summertime BBQ brew?
Negra Modelo, but that’s as low as I go.
Some people might say that the Surly Goat, being a craft beer bar, is a bit of a mancave. What’s your go-to ‘I’m hangin’ with the boys tonight’ place in L.A.?
The Red Lion. I mean it’s a German dive bar, come on. Also, their staff is actually pretty knowledgeable. Either that or I go nerd out at liquor stores like Vendome in Toluca Lake.
Whose got a better beer selection than you?
Beachwood BBQ down in Seal Beach. Great BBQ. Sometimes I steal beers from them.
The Surly Goat, 7929 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood. 323.650.GOAT or surlygoat.com.
