thrillist

It's hard not to emulate the movies, from Lucas-approved neon lightsabers to Wayne's World approved catchphrases (SCHHAA-WINGGG!) -- but what happens when the movies want to emulate you? Emulate those mo-fo's right back, b*tch: Bigfoot Lodge West.

Bigfoot's a newborn Culver City brother to the same-named Los Feliz log-cabin-themed bar, which was replicated on a soundstage for the film Yes Man; the wood from the set was then repurposed for the walls and the sides of the bar at the new Bigfoot -- if you're confused now, just wait 'til you've been drinking! The Culver spot's a much-larger 2000sqft (including a monstrous patio), befitted with outdoorsy Smithsonian-esque accoutrements including a 5'x8' antique taxidermied-bird diorama and a massive carved totem pole of a sasquatch w/ a raven perched on its head; booze (ordered up at a mid-room, square-shaped 360-degree bar made from two naturally-fallen Big Bear pines) is equally burly, with a focus on small-batch American bourbons including the 12-year-aged Van Winkle, a sweet single barrel from Rock Hill Farms, and a bottle from the now-defunct Willet, so rare there're only 24 bottles in existence (though, apparently, if you Willet, there's a way.) As far as brews go, Bigfoot West's concentrating on imports, with taps including Bottington's, Hoegaarten, and Bigfoot's own Amber Ale, and 20-or-so bottled options including an organic, herby brew from the German company Pinkas, Japan's white Hitachino Nest, and the French lager La Goudale, which's made from a recipe that dates back to the middle ages, and pairs well with middle-aged dates.

Though the new Bigfoot's forgoing its older sibling's karaoke nights in favor of background-music indie DJs, it'll hang on to their specialty cocktail list (the Toasted Marshmallow, a vanilla/butterscotch/Irish cream concoction topped w/ a flaming marshmallow) as well as add a couple new ones, including alcoholic sweet tea lemonade and booze-infused watermelon and creamsicle sno-cones -- which you can proudly drink in front of the woman you're trying to woo... and monkeys might fly out of your butt!

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Mention Thrillist and get 2-for-1 pints of their Amber Ale; the website's at BigfootLodge.com