Tasty Places :: Dutch’s Brewhouse

I’m far from a hipster. I’m in my mid-40s. I buy clothes from Nordstrom Rack and Loft. I ride my bike to stay in shape, not to get to work. My preferences run rather mainstream. And while I do own a record player, I use it to spin albums from my youth, not ones I’ve spent $30 bucks on at Barnes & Noble. So I haven’t necessarily been turned on by Long Beach’s recent craft beer movement, a box that many a hipster might check if being assessed. Beer – craft, root, and otherwise – is not my usual choice. I’m more of a wino. A cocktail-ho. My flabby gut is 105% due to burritos, burgers, and cheese fries. Not beer. But, I admit that I feel pretty badass if and when I pull up a stool and order myself a brewsky[1]. When these opportunities present themselves, I usually whisper to the bartender, “Do you have any ciders on tap?” The bartender will smirk before suggesting to me a popular wheat. I sip it down quickly, before the chill wears off.

When the husband and I ventured out on an impromptu Sunday afternoon date, the quick plan (for me) was to stop at the local (also hipsterish) beer shop for a tasting, me loading up on the cider while my husband tried the IPAs and the dark stuff. “Do they have food?”

The beer shop, no. But the new bar next door – a craft brewery – served a nice selection of pizzas. So we entered the brewery, Dutch’s Brewhouse, and took a seat. I readied myself for the bartender smirk.

Studying the digital menu of beers, I had a mini fit of excitement when I found on it a sour beer. Sour beers aren’t quite as fruity as ciders, but still are mellow, bright and hoppy. Served tap cold, the two I drank had me feeling pretty good pretty easily. Just as fine was the pizza, the crust crispy thin with the ooziest of cheeses cradling mushrooms and sun-dried tomatoes. So with my slice and my brew, you could say I was feeling myself. (Not literally – that’s something the kids say).

Something unique about Dutch’s is their Do-It-Yourself brewing, a feature they’ll soon offer where those willing to try can create their own concoction. It ain’t cheap to do, but if the finished product ends up tasting like mud, you can always grab a few bottles from the beer shop next door.

What I liked best about Dutch’s Brewhouse is that it’s right here, in my hood. Hipster, I am not[2]. But this cocktail-ho is always down for nice place to take on good fixins, mainstream or not. Dutch’s Brewhouse is a wonderful place to land.

Dutch’s Brewhouse
4244 Atlantic in the LBC

[1] Did I do that right? Is it brewsky? That could be read as brew-sky, rhymes with why. So maybe more proper is brewski? But that just looks wrong. And I could be really off – brooskee, bruskey, brueskē? See – not a beer drinker.

[2] Does my adamant assertion that I’m not a hipster actually make me one?