Beer and Wine Specialist Leo Stanton

With over 20 years of experience in the business, Leo brought his passion for fine beer and wine to the Library Alehouse in 2001 and continues to delight guests with one of the best beer lists in Los Angeles.

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BEER 101: FAQS

Q: I don't really drink a lot of beer. What should I try?
A: A pilsner, Hefeweisen or an extra pale ale would all be good first beers to try.

Q: What kind of beers are the above?
A: A pilsner is a lager style of beer, originally made in Pilsen Czech. It's light, crisp and clean with a dry finish. A Hefeweisen is an unfiltered, ale style wheat beer originally from Germany. And extra pale ale has a little more body than the other two, but it's not too strong. It's a good introduction to an ale style beer.

Q: How many different styles can beer have?
A: Beer can have only two different styles: ale and lager. Ales are brewed at warmer temperatures, so they 'open up' and taste better when not served ice cold. Lagers are brewed much colder so they taste better when served ice cold. One exception may be Hefeweisen, which is an ale, but tastes great served ice cold.

Q: Is dark beer really strong?
A: Actually, some dark beers are very light. Guiness stout is only 4% alcohol by volume and is quite low in calories. Do not mistake this for the bottled Extra Stout, however, which is very strong. Some other stouts are also very strong, but it all depends on how long the grain is fermented when making the beer. Some Belgian ales are triple fermented and are very strong (about 10%-11% alcohol by volume), but are light in color.

Q: Should I put a lemon in my Hefeweisen?
A: Many people do. The Germans in Bavaria, where the great Hefeweisens came from, would not. Probably the best thing to do is to try the beer first without a lemon to determine whether or not you like the flavor as is. Some people believe the lemon flattens the head, and the German Hefeweisens already have some citrus flavor. It's really all a matter of taste. There are no rules.

Q: Isn't it better to drink wine when you want to compliment food?
A: You'd be surprised. Yes, wine is great for complimenting food, but so is beer. The Belgians actually cook with beer, and pair beer with each course of their meal. We cook with beer here at the Alehouse, too. It's used in our Jambalaya and our Fish and Chips batter. We would be more than happy to suggest a beer that would pair well with any of our food selections.

Q: Why do beers need to be poured with a head?
A: Whether a beer is poured from a bottle or a tap, aerating the beer 'opens up' both hops and flavor. It also tastes better to drink the beer through its head. Try it both ways (with head and without head) and see for yourself!

Q: How can I tell if the beer that I buy from a store is fresh?
A: A beer's three main enemies are time, heat and sunlight. You should never buy beer in clear bottles. Beer in green bottles is better, but beer in dark bottles is the best.

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