Beers & Benders

Since March due to the coronavirus pandemic, local Long Beach businesses have been forced to adapt and seat outside dining. After nearly four months of regulated hibernation, numerous culinary streets have had a better idea. They’ve removed street parking, replacing the spots with barriers, both concrete and plastic, painted and unpainted. These new spaces have transformed over the last nine months into lively, exciting dining destinations, with customers strolling in masks, and servers in both masks and, often, plastic shields, with rubber gloves.

On Dec. 7, Mayor Robert Garcia announced a $5 million relief fund to support barber shops, nail salons and other personal care services, as well as independently owned gyms.  Long Beach City Council also approved a $5 million “resiliency fund” on Dec. 9 to assist restaurants, breweries and bars that have been impacted by COVID-19 health mandates.

With many businesses temporarily closed under the state’s stricter stay-at-home orders, businesses have been feeling the impact.

I am fucking fed up. 

What does the term “To Protect and to Serve” really even mean nowadays?

According to Mapping Police Violence, there were only 27 days in 2019 where police did not kill someone. 

When I was 14, I’ll never forget watching as Trayvon Martin’s life was mercifully wiped from him as his murderer was set free. 

Fast forward eight years later, things have gotten severely worse.

A birdwatcher named Christian Cooper, the slaying of jogging Ahmaud Arbery and the suffocation of non threatening George Floyd differ in details but all carry the same agenda: To degrade the black man’s background and portray him as the enemy. 

Since when does a forged check constitute death?

Last time I checked my moral compass, it doesn’t. 

Black people are three times more likely to killed by police than white people. 

And you know why? 

It’s simply because 99% of killings by police from 2013-2019 have not resulted in officers being charged with a crime.

Enough is enough. 

Black Lives Matter now more than anyone’s during this time. 

In a time where colored people can’t even go for a jog without being murdered by a racist pig, the fear is rampant. 

Had there not been video evidence of these heinous crimes, many far right leaning Americans on the right would have given the white aggressors the benefit of the doubt. 

And disgustingly some STILL have. 

Why do I get pulled over and the officer doesn’t even attempt to reach for his holster, but one of my childhood friends who is black is having to debate with the cops to lower his weapon just so he feels comfortable grabbing his wallet out the glove box?

A country that was founded by blacks and minorities is continually being abused by white fascists in power. 

 With our country’s rampant  history of racism — expressed in slavery, redemption, segregation and continuing white supremacy — it doesn’t feel right in my heart to join any political coalition that welcomes and features racists.

Donald Trump has simply ignored racism. We saw the true colors of his presidency after the demonstrations inCharlottesville, N.C., and Lansing, M.I.., as he rallied behind angry racists but has continually condemned BLM activists. 

Politics generally can either enable or inhibit racial hatred, by either pushing back against prejudice, or letting it continue to flourish. 

Does anyone seriously believe that Trump’s Justice Department is organized to aggressively pursue racial justice? 

So far, the president has unbewilderledly signaled indifference to inequality.

Y’all couldn’t help Flint, Mich. get clean water for years, but as soon as white businesses started to tank, the dollars came a rolling. 

Wake the fuck up. 

For the third week of Beers and Benders, I decided to go check out the Congregation Ale House in the downtown Long Beach Promenade.

Heres a quick map to get to the bar.

See you there!

Located off of 201 E Broadway, Long Beach, CA 90802, Congregation Ale House opened to the public in 2012 and presents a rustic gastropub with many craft beers and classic American eats to choose from. The restaurant was designed in style of a traverse monastery and the name stems from getting people to gather together for a common purpose: food and beer.

Walking in, the lighting was very low and tavern like. The restaurant was clean and taps of former keg handles could be seen lining the roofs of the place.

Tom, the bar manager of the last two months, was kind enough to inform me that the Ale House routinely stocks 32 different craft beers on tap. The tap variety includes dark ales, stouts, golden ale, double ale, German KÖLSCH, IPA’s and a gose. The Ale House commonly stocks imported German beers and local breweries that you won’t necessarily find at your typical sports bar.

I decided to settle on a Consummatum American style double IPA brewed by Congregation Ale House in Azusa, CA.. Sitting at 8.7 ABV, this IPA pours a clear, dark honey orange with a foamy head that settles to a partial film on top of the beer. Strong smells of citrus fruit, citrus zest, herbal hop, and onion and garlic hop aromas. The taste is much the same with citrus zest, grapefruit juice, and onion and garlic flavors on the finish. There is a medium amount of hop bitterness on the palate with each sip. For me, this tasted as if a Red Trolley by Karl Strauss was an IPA. This beer has a lower level of carbonation with a crisp mouthfeel. Overall, I really enjoyed this one in comparison to some of the other IPA’s I have tried in the past. It is a very good beer with a great mix of citrus and herbal hop qualities all around. 

My buddy Mitchell settled on a Pacific Ocean BlueGose, brewed by Libertine Brewing Company out of San Louis Obispo. Gose is a warm fermented beer that originated in Goslar, Germany. It is usually brewed with at least 50% of the grain bill being malted wheat. Dominant flavours in gose include a lemon sourness, a herbal characteristic, and a strong saltiness.

Coming in at a mild 5.0% ABV, this Gose carries a light, hazy body and evokes aromatic notes of an ocean breeze with hint of spice and vinegar. The taste begins salty and sour, eventually becoming sweeter in the middle that lasts to the end of the sip. I personally wasn’t a huge fan of it do to it’s sour nature but Mitch seemed to really enjoy it.

The space inside has indoor seating and an outdoor patio.Seating is available on mostly long tables, some tall and some short. The atmosphere is modern and very casual, even though there were men dressed in business attire. If beer isn’t your thing, Congregation Ale House stocks a full bar including a wine menu. The staff was friendly, informative, and knew their craft very well.

This would make a great spot to bring a group of friends and throw back a couple cold ones while enjoying some pub food as well.

My name is Jacob Powers and I have been practicing Journalism for over two years. I cover anything from sports to hard news, and anything in-between. I have published over 50 clips online or in print, was awarded 1st place in opinion writing at the JACC in Sacramento in 2019 and have freelanced with Thebolditalic, a publication located in the Bay Area. I am avid sports fanatic with a real soft spot for our national past time: baseball. I played the sport for nearly 15 years sand I am looking to post graduation practice media relations for a MLB organization. I work two jobs at In n out and Sprouts when I’m not at school or covering events

Hello all beer and food lovers alike. Over the course of the next month, I will be reviewing and trying different beers offered along 2nd street in Long Beach.

My first stop led me into a very quite, yet eloquent, restaurant and bar by the name of Nick’s on 2nd. Located on 4901 E Second St, Nick’s serves a classy, secluded experience for dinners and drinkers alike. Nick’s has four other locations around California, including in Laguna Beach, San Clemente, Manhattan Beach and Pasadena.

Upon entering, immediately it dawned on me and my buddy that this joint may be a little out of my league by the way everyone was dressed. Nonetheless, we had a ball. Men decorated in ironed suits and women dressed the nine filled the small restaurant exchanging in small talk. The atmosphere of the place was very lively, with lots of exchanges of playful laughter and bartenders loosely pouring drinks.

More than half of Nick’s drink menu includes a variety of wines including Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Carbernet Sauvignon, and other white wines. Ranging from $10 to $12 a glass, the prices are on par with the rest of the area considering the selection of premium wines they regularly stock. Nick’s caters well to it’s audience by pairing a menu of dishes that pare well with wine. Nearly everyone at the bar was sipping on a glass of grape goodness. The restaurant maintained a steady volume of banter that never got rowdy or excessively loud. Diners respect the atmosphere of the restaurant.

Now for my favorite part: the beer review. Nick’s carries 14 beers available to order, with four being on tap. The four taps consisted of GOLDEN ROAD – hefeweizen, draft, OGOPOGO – hazy ipa, draft, NORTH COAST – scrimshaw pilsner and NICK’S PALE ALE – draft . Me and my buddy settled on a OGOPOGO brewery signature hazy ipa. Crafted in San Gabriel, this heavy bodied at 6.9% ABV “Sharlie” Hazy IPA will have you feeling mellow and content. Consisting of Idaho 7, Mosiac and Citra hops, this Hazy went down a little slower than other IPA’s I’ve consumed in the past due to its thick, flavorful body. Each sip intensified in a hoppy, citrus manor that filled the palette pleasantly. The after taste I thought tasted similar to a early morning orange juice mimosa, very enjoyable.

Overall, the experience was a nice change in pace from some of the other typical bars I have encountered. If you are looking to grab a quiet, intimate drink with a friend or significant other, this is the perfect place for you.