Kam, if you want to truly get your Beer Geek on, you live near the geekiest of the geeks, the Maltose Falcons. When I was working as a brewer for BJ's Brewhouse in Burbank/Woodland Hills, we'd have a monthly beer appreciation night. Most people showed up to get their buzz on and have some fun, these motherfuckers showed up with notebooks and Plato tables trying to guess the recipe for each beer we presented. Google their name and show up to some of their events - you'll get annihilated and learn more about beer in a night than most people learn in their lives.
Plus they know all the best beer spots in So-Cal, like Lucky Baldwins, Pizza Port, and Stuffed Sandwich.