Torrance’s Smog City brewery opens Steelcraft tasting room in Long Beach

steelcraft(Photo courtesy Smog City Brewing).

After months of delays, the shipping container shopping center — hence the name Steelcraft — that will include a tasting room by innovative Torrance brewery Smog City is finally cranking up operations.

Smog, known for its experimental ale lineup, has introduced a pale ale only available at the new Bixby Knolls tasting room and its Del Amo Boulevard bewery dubbed Oh Jupiter, so watch out for that when available.

Downtown Los Angeles brewery Mumford Brewing to release Unpresidential IPA Saturday in cans just in time for Election Day

unpresidential

With an unprecedented Presidential campaign in many regards drawing to what many voters see a merciful ending this Tuesday, downtown Los Angeles brewery Mumford Brewing will release for the first time in cans Saturday a craft beer with a name many Americans might appreciate: Unpresidential IPA.

Via Mumford:

For the 5th iteration of this hazy, juicy IPA, we used heaps of Amarillo, Citra and Galaxy hops to create a beer with a big fruit aroma and well defined stone fruit flavors on the palate. Enjoy a can as we count down the days to Election Day 2016 (and you’ll probably want to have one after it’s over).

A four-pack of cans is $17 and the limit is one per person. The brewery opens at 11 a.m.

Inland Empire Beer Week kicks off Saturday with Summer Send Off beer festival

ie-craft-beer-weekThe inaugural Inland Empire Beer Week begins kicks off Saturday (September 17) with the Inland Empire Brewers Guild Summer Send Off beer festival.

The event is set for 1 to 4 p.m. at the Riverside Municipal Airport, 6741 Gemende Drive. About 20 Inland Empire breweries are expected to pour at the event, along with more than a dozen breweries and cideries from beyond the region.

Tickets — available now online — are $35 (plus a $2.52 service fee) for general admission and $45 (plus a $3.07 fee) for VIP, which grants admission at noon. Tickets include a keepsake glass, unlimited beer tasting, live music and access to food trucks. However, you might be able to score $5 off those prices with the promo code IEBG2016. Designated drivers get in for $20 (plus $1.69 service fee).

Continue reading “Inland Empire Beer Week kicks off Saturday with Summer Send Off beer festival” »

4th Annual Brewer’s Chili Cookoff set for Saturday at Select Beer Store in Redondo Beach

cookoff

While the event itself begins at noon, tasting begins at 4 p.m. at Select Beer Store, 1613 S. Pacific Coast Highway.

From the press release:

Brewers and owners from local breweries will serve their own special batch of chili, while guests will sample each one and vote for their favorite.

This year’s participating breweries: King Harbor Brewing Co., of Redondo Beach, Brouwerji West of San Pedro, Phantom Carriage Brewery of Carson, Arts District Brewing of Los Angeles, Three Weavers Brewing of Inglewood, El Segundo Brewing Co., and Torrance’s HopSaint Brewing Co., Strand Brewing and Smog City.

Beers from each of the represented breweries will be served on draft and the area behind the fenced off to set up a “beer/chili garden” for the anticipated overflow crowd.

All proceeds from the chili cook-off benefit Providence TrinityCare Hospice in Torrance.

I’m not exactly a chili expert, but HopSaint’s chili is incredible, so the competition had better bring their game.

Ballast Point Tasting Room and Kitchen opened today in Long Beach

ballastA view of Long Beach Harbor greets guests at the new Ballast Point Tasting Room and Kitchen that opened Friday in time for the long holiday weekend. (Photo by Staff Photographer Stephen Carr).

Read the Long Beach Press-Telegram story here.

A photo gallery is here.

Claremont Village Craft Beer Walk takes place on Saturday

Claremont Village Craft Beer Walk 2016The Claremont Village Craft Beer Walk (formerly known as the Claremont Blues and Brews) has traditionally been a great way to experience beers from local breweries before they open, and this year is no exception.

Among the yet-to-open breweries participating in this year’s event are Rowdy’s Brewing Company (coming soon to Rancho Cucamonga) and Strum Brewing Company (coming soon to Ontario).

Continue reading “Claremont Village Craft Beer Walk takes place on Saturday” »

Eighth Annual LA Beer Week returns June 18 with biggest kickoff event ever

LABeerweek16

beerweekwire(Photo by Bernie Wire courtesy of the LA Brewers Guild)

A record 86 breweries — 46 from LA County — are expected to serve tastes of more than 200 craft brews at LA Center Studios June 18 for the kickoff LA Beer Week event.

“The event will also feature food vendors including fan-favorites The Oinkster and BrewWings, popular pub games, Snap Yourself! photo booth, and live music which includes a special performance from the L.A. Brewers All-Star Band comprised of some of the city’s multi-talented brewers,” said Frances M. Lopez, ececutive director of the LA County Brewers Guild.

“L.A.’s craft brewing community has been getting some national buzz this year with big wins at the World Beer Cup and L.A. & San Diego International Beer Competitions,” she added. “LA Beer Week is our grassroots, DIY way of celebrating our region’s beer culture with a week worth of quality craft beer events all across the county.”

For more information on both the kickoff and other events throughout the week, click here.