American Craft Beer Week isn’t over at Blue Palms Brewhouse

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One thousand signatures. That was the goal that Blue Palms Brewhouse owner Brian Lenzo set for his oversized copy of the Declaration of Beer Independence when American Craft Beer Week began on May 11. On Sunday night, as the week officially drew to a close, Lenzo (above) estimated that the document, which visited other L.A. area beer-centric bars and the Bruery’s first anniversary party during the week, had around 500 John Hancocks. If his copy carries even 500, that’s still 444 more signatories than the actual Hancock and Co. on Mr. Jefferson’s Declaration of 1776.

Blue Palms featured a different California craft brewery each night, from last Tuesday through Saturday. Each brewery brought several of its beers, including some rare ones. Many from the week remain on tap until they run out -- and some are already gone. ‘It’s been a nice pour for everything, for the most part,’ said Bix, Blue Palms’ one-name bartender. ‘The bigger ones are going to be here a lot longer than the smaller ones,’ he said, using ‘bigger’ and ‘smaller’ to refer to high and low alcohol content, respectively. ‘You can’t sit down and drink six Stone Ruinations,’ he said. Indeed, the 7.7% alcohol IPA was still available Sunday night. Moylans Hopsickle IPA, Stone Cali-Belgique, Marin Witty Monk and several of Saturday’s Firestone Walkers, however, were already gone or running very low. (At right, Sunday’s beer menu.)

Lenzo’s impression of how American Craft Beer Week went? ‘It came out awesome,’ he said. He was still celebrating Sunday night, pouring a few tastings for customers of such rare California brews as Firestone Walker’s 11th and 12th anniversary beers (which were used to soak the mesquite that Saturday’s prime rib dinners were cooked over), Port Brewing Older Viscosity and Russian River Consecration.

There’s still one more stop for Blue Palms’ copy of the Declaration before it will be framed and displayed in the restaurant: Tonight’s national launch party for Mutineer Magazine, a gourmet drinking periodical. That will be at the Falcon (7213 W. Sunset Blvd.) from 7 to 11 p.m. Admission is $60.

Blue Palms Brewhouse (6124 Hollywood Blvd.) is open 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. Tuesday to Saturday and 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Sunday. Closed Mondays. (323) 464-2337.

-- Blake Hennon

Photos by Blake Hennon / Los Angeles Times