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-by Brewhead Ted<\/p>\n
I had wanted to visit Cerveceria Del Pueblo<\/a>, in Pasadena, for some time. I finally got there recently, on a beautiful February day, and it was an adventure to remember.<\/p>\n I set out that afternoon, eager to celebrate having finished my taxes. (I suppose I was in an especially celebratory mood, as I usually<\/strong> procrastinate until about April 14 or thereabouts.). With a smile and with taste buds primed to sample some delicious brews, I rolled up to the Metro station, for the train ride from South Pasadena into Pasadena proper. <\/p>\n Upon nearing the station, I saw a huge crane looming over the station. My mood darkened slightly upon seeing this, as worry set in that my beer quest might be cut short. But as I got closer, I saw that the trains seemed to be running, and soon enough, the train heading to Pasadena arrived, and I boarded \u2013 with no small amount of relief. I was on my way, and it would be smooth sailing from here on out! (Or would it\u2026? More on that later, dear reader.)<\/p>\n I arrived at the Del Mar station, and made my way along the familiar streets, eagerly looking between the Map app on my phone and the buildings around me to find the brewery. Finally, that moving (and occasionally errant) blue dot on my screen arrived at the red flag denoting my destination, and I was ready to drink!<\/p>\n It took me a while to browse the tap list for my first selection, and I mentally stored up the names of some beers that I might not necessarily try that day, but that I\u2019d have to try later \u2013 such as the Isla Stout. The warm weather on the day of my visit meant, to me, that it wasn\u2019t a \u201cstout day.\u201d (Fingers crossed that I\u2019ll be able to go back to Del Pueblo on such a day, before summer comes roaring in\u2026.) For my first pint, I settled on Lumina Winter Ale. This was a much more fitting way to enjoy the season, I thought. And I was intrigued by the flavor \u2013 Lumina is brewed with star anise and panela, a raw sugar from Colombia, which happens to be the owner, Martin Quinones\u2019, homeland.<\/p>\n While there was plenty of seating inside, I wanted to enjoy my beer at one of the many picnic tables set outside in their beer garden, since it was such a beautiful day. The standard configuration of a picnic table \u2013 with those darned crossed legs supporting it, often with a horizontal bar connecting the legs \u2013 are always difficult for me to sit at in my wheelchair, as I can\u2019t get the front of my chair under the table, and thus get myself sufficiently close to my beer. Paraplegic beer blogger problems, amiright?<\/strong> But I was determined to make it work, as I was eager to get to sipping my pint of Lumina.<\/p>\n But the staff at Del Pueblo were way ahead of me! They asked if I wanted to sit at a table they had for folks in wheelchairs. It had four straight legs, no damn horizontal bars, with lots of room for me to scooch my chair under the tabletop. I\u2019m normally not one to make a fuss, but hell, if I\u2019m gonna enjoy my beer, I thought, I might was well enjoy it in comfort! And so, the table was lugged outside and set down, and I got to tasting my beer. <\/p>\n Yes \u2013 on to the beer!<\/strong> <\/p>\n I was concerned, given the addition of star anise and panela, that I might be overpowered by a cloying sweetness, but the flavor profile of Lumina was, to my relief, distinct yet subtle. It turned out to be a light, refreshing brew, perfect for a sunny winter day. In fact, Cervecer\u00eda del Pueblo \u201cspecializes in refreshing, easy-drinking lagers and light-bodied ales brewed with locally sourced South American herbs, sweets, and grains,\u201d according to Melissa Mora Hidalgo, writing for L.A. Taco<\/strong><\/a>. This beer adventure was off to a great start, and surely it would end that way\u2026 (Or would it\u2026? Read on, dear reader!)<\/p>\n I sat with my pint of Lumina for a while, savoring every sip, while trying to decide what my second pint would be. Finally, with a tinge of sadness, I took my last sip of Lumina, and rolled back inside to order another pint.<\/p>\n I had a couple beers in mind for this second pint, but I was torn. So I got a couple samples \u2013 one of Yerbatera Pale Ale, and one of Yuza Blonde. I enjoyed both, but I was sold on the Yuza. Somewhat surprisingly, I have to say, as I am normally not a blonde ale fan at all.<\/strong> I find it refreshing in warmer weather, sure, but most of the blonde ales I have had have been decidedly \u201cmeh,\u201d as far as their flavor profile goes.<\/p>\n But Yuza Blonde? With this beer, \u201cMeh\u201d became \u201cWowza!\u201d The addition of yuzu gave it a welcome boost. This beer was, again, a lovely one to have on a sunny day: Refreshing, light, but with some wonderfully tangy citrus. At this point, I was 2 for 2, and I knew for a fact that I would be making a return visit, for that Isla Stout, or perhaps another beer with a surprising new flavor profile to enjoy.<\/p>\n Eventually, I finished my Yuza, and made my way out of the brewery, thanking the staff, and assuring them that I would be back soon. Upon my exit, I noticed a food truck parked out front, and I made another mental note, to pair something to eat with my beer, when I next visited the brewery.<\/p>\n I made my way back to the Metro station with a smile and with my taste buds thoroughly satisfied. Life was good. I\u2019d had a nigh perfect afternoon; my return mailed off to Uncle Sam, and two delicious beers consumed under the sunshine. And just as it happened on my way to the brewery, a train arrived shortly after I got to the platform, and I was on may way, thinking pleasant thoughts of the wonderful day I\u2019d had, and-<\/p>\n L.A. Metro Announcement<\/em><\/cite><\/p><\/blockquote>\n Wh-wh-wh-what<\/em>??? We had only progressed one stop, and we had one more to go before I was home! My buzz, such as it was, was seriously killed. What the heck was I gonna do? Call family or friends to pick me up? Call an Uber? Go back to Del Pueblo to wait things out??? The latter seemed like the most appealing option, but after some back-and-forth with myself, I decided I\u2019d done enough \u201cresearch\u201d for this post. I sighed to myself, and decided that, on such a beautiful day, I might as well get some exercise, and work off that Lumina and Yuza. <\/p>\n And so it was, that I rolled my chair, powered by beer, all the way home. It was, by my calculations, just over a mile or so. Not bad at all. Did my resentment towards my local transportation system make it seem longer? Perhaps. (Okay, yeah, it totally did<\/em>.) But I found, after all, that this unfortunate little twist to my day had not<\/strong> killed that buzz all the way, and I soon arrived home. A little more sweaty and out of breath than I\u2019d anticipated, sure, but I was still on a high after my successful first visit to Cerveceria Del Pueblo.<\/p>\n I can\u2019t wait to return, to get another taste of Lumina or Yuza, or to try something new and different, with a tasty snack to enjoy with my beer. And hopefully, next time, there will be a smooth ride home\u2026provided by Metro, not my arms!<\/em><\/p>\n Until next time, cheers!<\/p>\n -Brewhead TedBlue Dot, Red Flag<\/h2>\n
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Room for Scooching and \u2026 on to the beer!<\/em><\/h2>\n
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Yuza that Yuzu that you do so well\u2026<\/h2>\n
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Powered by Beer \u2026 all the way home<\/em><\/h2>\n
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This is our last stop. <\/strong>
Everyone must exit the train.>>><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/socalcraftbeerblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/image.png?w=120\")
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Instagram<\/em>: @<\/span>tedc79<\/a>
Email<\/em>: YippeeKiIPA@gmail.com<\/p>\n
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