Our Beer philosophy and the brews we serve
As Randy Mosher writes in Tasting Beer, “These are interesting times for beer. Pockets of true classic styles remain, but everywhere in Europe the classic styles struggle against the hundred-year flood of mass-market Pilsner. The big get bigger, blander, and more international. For the not-so-big, things are especially tough. Many classic old breweries have been gobbled up by large ones unappreciative of their charms, often with disastrous results. Fabled breweries close and their beloved beers change beyond recognition. But as the past fades, a new future for beer is taking shape. Small breweries are producing inspiring products full of character for a limited but highly appreciative clientele.”
That’s where we come in
We’re bringing back the “people’s drink” with a $5 draft list featuring some of the best craft beer available. We spend as much time choosing our beers as we do selecting the ingredients that go into our food. Our focus is on great tasting beers that complement the items on our menu. Our 15 draft beers will come in 16, 11, or 7 ounce pours depending on cost and alcohol content.
UPDATED 6/18/13
- Craftsman – 1903 Lager
- Craftsman – Persimmon Sour
- Alesmith – Summer Yulesmith IPA
- Ballast Point – Sea Monster
- Ritual – Hop-O-Matic
- Bear Republic – Racer Black IPA/ul>
- Valiant – Mighty Maximus Premium Bitter
- Lagunitas – Undercover Shutdown Ale
- Ballast Point – Reef Rye Brown
- Sierra Nevada – Southern Harvest IPA
- Telegraph – California Ale
- Stone – Espresso IRS
- North Coast – Class of ’88 Barleywine
- Bootlegger’s – Black Phoenix (nitro)
The Geniuses Who Make Our Beer
We’re working with a number of excellent breweries to bring you fantastic craft beers, some of which will be custom brewed just for The Playground.
BALLAST POINT
The featured brewery of our very first tap take-over. Ballast Point makes some of our favorite beers ever! Not to mention looking pretty good while doing it.
BEACHWOOD BBQ
Jarred’s craft beer journey began at a small barbecue and beer bar in Seal Beach. Things have come full circle as Gabe and Lena have opened up their first brewery in Long Beach with the help of brewer Julian. Now let the great beer flow!
THE BRUERY
We have the Bruery and their fantastic Belgian inspired beers to thank for bringing Jason and Jarred together. Not to mention all the great beers they’ve brewed!
FIRESTONE WALKER BREWING COMPANY
“Passion for the Pales” can’t fully describe the sheer awesomeness of Firestone Walker. From their Pale 31 to Parabola they can’t be beat.
NOBLE ALE WORKS
One of the rising stars in the beer biz is our friend Evan Price at Noble. He’s got one of the most adventuresome and inventive minds in the modern beer movement. We’ve usually got a few of his beers available on tap and we collaborated with him to make our first anniversary beer, Don’s Naughty Sauce, a barrel of which is aging for later release at the Playground.
SIERRA NEVADA BREWING COMPANY
After an extensive tour of Sierra Nevada’s brewing facility we made our plans and snuck back in to grab one of the thousands of bushels of whole hops they have in their cold box. We got caught, but they understood and handed us pale ale. Truly a bench mark for the style.
TAPS
With a focus on European ales and lagers, Taps has shown us the wonderful and diverse world of the lager.
