“Beer culture has changed dramatically since we opened in 1996,” said Peggy Simonian, co-owner of Lucky Baldwin’s. Since opening their doors twenty years ago, Lucky Baldwin;s has become a Belgian and craft beer destination and added rare beers to the Los Angeles drinking scene.
“Previously beer was something that was not spoken about but now [people] see how much variety there is..beer isn’t just one thing,” said Simonian.
Simonian explains that in 1996, the beer scene was relatively small and it was difficult to find distributors who sold American craft brews and Belgian beers. David Farnworth, former co-owner of Lucky Baldwin’s, remedied the situation by driving up and down the coast in search of beer. They soon had a hand curated selection that was unlike anything else at the time. They added beer fests and tap takeovers to help spread the word about beer and get people excited about drinking.
“We found something we’re very passionate about and brought it to the people,” she added.
They also explored the Belgian beer market and worked with distributors to bring these beers directly to their taps. While there is no one style of Belgian beer, Simonian feels that these beers tend to be more balanced in flavor than other types of beer. They have 64 beer on tap as well as bottled beers that range from IPA to iambics.
“That’s the beauty of beer – there’s one for everybody’s taste,” she said. “The variety is what gets people excited.”
Lucky Baldwin’s is known for their annual Belgian Beer Festival, IPA Festival and Oktoberfest. This year’s Oktoberfest starts on Saturday, October 8 and lasts until Sunday, October 23. Get your fill of German beers, Oktoberfest brews and special dishes like sauerkraut and bratwurst sausage. Taste the difference difference between a German Oktoberfest beer and an American Oktoberfest style beer and raise a glass to Oktoberfest.
Lucky Baldwins is located at 17 South Raymond Avenue visit www.luckybaldwins.com or call (626) 795-0652 for more details.
