Solarc Brewing

Chilling with a gruit beer at Solarc Brewing, I realized you can actually can consider aluminum foil wallpaper an aesthetic - in Glassell Park, California

After a pretty strange morning, I was eager to meeting with Rosemary for our pre planned trip to Solarc Brewing in Glassell Park. I wanted to go to a place with weird beers and a unique vibe – and she happily played along and obliged.

I first learned about Solarc Brewing during dinner with Matt at F&Bar in Atwater Village. Matt and I made a list of interesting places that we heard discussed. As Angel, our bartender / server of the evening, suggested Solarc, I took note. I’d never heard of gruit. But, I was going to an oral investigation to discover if I liked it or not.

Arriving, I took everything in. I wanted to find a unique beer place – and that’s exactly what I got.nAluminum foil on the walls, and all.

After exchanging hellos, Rosemary offered a sip of her FULL SUN IPA (Lemon Verbena, Citra, Cascade) This beer was described as “Summertime sequoia camping. Mossy logs. Dangling feet and spring water.  Grapefuit pich and Zotz fizzy candy IPA vibes.”

And – honestly – that’s what it tasted like. Easy drinking, hoppy and something you could enjoy outside when you wanted to try a unique brew.

Walking up to the tap bar, I tried the Wavy Wines’ 2023 SUNSHINE on tap before trying and settling on the GARDEN BED (gruit ale w/ chamomile and hibiscus).

Described as “Remember finding a fun sized twizzler in your drawer? Meadowy, fresh cut flowers, vernal” – and that’s – again – exactly how it was.

I wanted the weird beers, we got the weird beers.

We split a bag of the TEMPURA SEAWEED puff chips and just – chilled.

Not a bad star to an afternoon in Glassell Park that later included cocktails at The Grant and dinner at Dunsmoor Bar.

 

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