Newly Opened Microbreweries Offer Beer Lovers Hopping Selections

Long-brewing plans have come to a frothy head with the launching of two new pubs in Orange County, and a third opening is planned within days. A fourth venture is up and running but hopes you’ll do most of your openings at home.

Many dishes at the Pilsner Room, which opened Monday at McCormick & Schmick in Irvine, are made with beer; crawfish risotto ($9.25) is flavored with brown ale, Peruvian corn and potato stew ($4.95) with Pilsner. The microbrewery aspect of the joint venture with Oregon microbrewery management group Willamette Valley Inc. is called Orange County Brewing Co.

According to brewmaster Richard Wong, the first keg of--what else?--Orange Ale will not be ready before late January; honey and blond ales are also on their way. In the meantime, they’re serving a dozen other microbrewed beers on tap and another eight in bottles. Open Monday through Friday, 11:30 a.m. to 1 a.m.; Saturday, 5 p.m. to 1 a.m, and Sunday 5 to 11 p.m.

Ocean Avenue Brewery, which opened Friday, offers Laguna Beach Blonde, Honey Wheat Ale and Bird Rock Red. The Italian menu includes prosciutto panini (sandwich) with red sauce, Emmentaler cheese and plum tomatoes on focaccia ($7.25) and pappardelle pasta with prosciutto, pine nuts, sage and apples ($9).

Open Sunday through Wednesday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., and Thursday through Saturday till 1 a.m.

Ocean Avenue’s director of restaurant operations, Michael Poates, acknowledged that promotional materials for nearby Laguna Beach Brewing Co., slated to open Monday, have touted it as the city’s first brewery. But “they’re not the first,” he crowed.

Laguna Beach Brewing Co. is “not to be confused with the Ocean Avenue Brewery,” countered LBBC brewmaster Alex Puchner. The new brewhouse is in the Heisler Building, above the Jolly Roger; its copper cooking vessels and two-story stainless steel fermenting tanks provide an aesthetic focus. LBBC also offers Laguna Beach Blonde as well as Greeters Pale Ale, Salt Kriek and Thousand Steps Stout. The menu includes pizzas, pastas and Cajun “Lambaaa” (spice-coated baby lamb chops, $4.95).

Open Sunday through Thursday, 11:30 a.m. to midnight, and Friday and Saturday till 2 a.m.

Sign up for microbrew-of-the-month club Malt of the Earth, and for about $20 a month you’ll receive a dozen 12-ounce beers or six 22-ounce beers from among 450 U.S. microbreweries, plus a newsletter.

Laguna Beach Brewing Co., 422 S. Coast Highway, Laguna Beach. (714) 499-2337.

Malt of the Earth, 17 Hammond, Suite 412, Irvine. (714) 586-1333 or (800) 625-8238.

Ocean Avenue Brewery, 237 Ocean Ave., Laguna Beach. (714) 497-3381.

Pilsner Room, 2000 S. Main St., Irvine. (714) 756-0505.