3rd Annual Halloween Hootenanny Photos

These photos were taken Saturday afternoon at the Museum of Latin American Art in Long Beach, where Obscura LB held their 3rd Annual Halloween Hootenanny craft beer festival. Obscura LB is an event production company created by LB Craft Beer and Festival Obscura. The event is a fundraiser, with a portion of the proceeds going to support the Museum of Latin American Art. The event featured numerous food trucks, vendors in their macabre marketplace, live music, DJs, and a magic show to go along with the 30+ breweries/wineries pouring delicious local craft beer, kombucha, and wine.

Besides the food, music, and libations, there were a few hundred attendees, many of whom dressed up in costume to get into the Halloween mood; as you can tell by the photos, many really went all-out with their costumes. Continue reading

Dust Bowl Brewing Introduces Porch Punch Imperial Fruit IPA

Turlock, California – Dust Bowl Brewing Co. introduces Porch Punch, an Imperial Fruit IPA that comes in at a bold 10.4% ABV and 35 IBUs. The latest addition to the company’s year-round portfolio is available in 16oz cans and draft, with plans underway for a 19.2oz addition to the Porch Punch lineup.

“We pride ourselves on our ability to brew huge IPAs that are drinkable as well as flavorful fruit beers,” shares Don Oliver, Brewmaster. “We combined these two beer types to target a style that has exploded in popularity, the Imperial Fruit IPA.”

Craft beer fans can find Porch Punch at their favorite Dust Bowl chain retailer, independent or on-premise retailer. Porch Punch rolled out in 16oz cans, but will soon be available in a 19.2oz option targeted to convenience stores. Continue reading

Bernie Wire Visits the South Bay

These photos were taken Friday afternoon at The Slice and Pint (in El Segundo), El Segundo Brewing Company, and Naja’s Place in Redondo Beach as I joined, the loved by all, Bernie Wire in his return tour of a few of his favorite haunts. For those not in the know, Bernie was a photographer of craft beer events, and breweries, a couple years before I started doing it on purpose. Bernie was always a fan favorite (he’s a lot nicer than me), but he moved to Minnesota a few years ago, so if you are new to the LA craft beer scene you may not know him, otherwise, I am sure you will recognize him in the photos if you don’t know him personally.

Several of his friends and fans started the afternoon at The Slice and Pint where we enjoyed fresh beer as well as multiple items from the Slice and Pint menu; including, salad, chicken wings, meatballs, pizza and more. The Slice and Pint will satisfy most of your culinary desires if you are in the neighborhood. Continue reading

Naja’s Place 13th Annual IPA Festival Photos

These photos were taken Wednesday afternoon at Naja’s Place in Redondo Beach, where they held day one of Naja’s 13th annual IPA Festival. The seven day long event, as the name suggests, showcases IPAs from all over California, with a couple taps pouring IPAs from such faraway lands as Oregon.

Three of the seven days are themed, with Wednesday being “Locals Only”, Thursday being “Collaboration Day” and Saturday being “Pizza Port Brewing Invades Day.” Continue reading

Photos from the TrustedGut Soft Open Preview

These photos were taken Saturday and Sunday at the new TrustedGut Brewing location in Redondo Beach, where they held what was described as their “soft open preview” which will officially begin on Tuesday.

Saturday and Sunday were primarily open so TrustedGut could get a grasp on how things would go as well as an opportunity to complete some of the finish work to get the taproom ready for the throngs that have been waiting for the former King Harbor Brewing location to reopen. This included figuring out NFL Sunday Ticket, which was definitely a welcome addition. Continue reading

TrustedGut Brewing Soft Open Begins Today

These photos were primarily taken Thursday and Friday, October 5 and 6, at the new TrustedGut Brewing location in Redondo Beach, where I was given a sneak preview of the new TrustedGut. Since my post a couple days ago confused at least one person, TrustedGut has now officially taken over the old King Harbor Brewing Company location on 182nd Street.

For those unfamiliar with TrustedGut, they have been around for a couple years now, primarily known in the Long Beach area for their hard seltzers and kombucha. Word is that the Long Beach location will likely open in the next few months. In the meantime, beer will be produced and poured at their new Redondo Beach location. Continue reading

Photos of LB Sake Day 2023

These photos were taken Saturday, September 30 at Rancho Los Cerritos Historical Site in Long Beach, where Craft Beer LB and Sake Secret collaborated to celebrate World Sake Day by hosting the First Annual LB Sake Day.

The inaugural event featured literally dozens of different sakes, several Japanese food options, and a little Japanese beer. It was really just missing sushi to make it a perfect event. Continue reading

Creature Comforts LA Soft Open Photos

These photos were taken Friday afternoon at Creature Comforts new Los Angeles location, located close to the Garment District area of L.A. Friday was day three of their soft open, which will last about a month.

For those unfamiliar, Creature Comforts is an Athens, Georgia based brewery. Because of weird laws in Georgia, they decided it made more sense to open a location in California than another in Georgia; so I guess we win.

To be honest, I had planned on going Wednesday, but they didn’t open until 4:00 and I cut it too close and hit the freeway just as rush hour started. My GPS estimated arrival time just kept climbing and I wasn’t making any progress so I made the call to wait until Friday or Saturday when they opened at noon.

I had been invited to join some people at Monkish at noon, and I had a feeling my buddy Joe “Dastardly Brews” Jupiter would be joining us, and I knew Joe was looking for something special for his 100th brewery, so I figured I would invite him along. It didn’t take too much convincing; so we finished our brews and headed to Creature Comforts. Continue reading

7th Annual Craft Beer LB Fest Photos

These photos were taken Saturday, September 16 at the Rancho Los Cerritos Historical Site in Long Beach, where Craft Beer LB held their 7th Annual Craft Beer LB Fest. The event featured plenty of craft beer from more than a dozen local breweries, sake, live music, and food for the approximate 1,000 attendees. It was a fun event that even the weather cooperated with.

I had to mention the weather because in the past I have mentioned how great the weather was, and frequently joke with festival organizer Dennis Trilles about how he seems to have a connection with the weather gods as no matter how sucky the weather might be prior to the event, it always seems to be nice on the day of the event. When I walked out of my house yesterday I could see that there must have been rain overnight. Having to utilize my windshield wipers on the way down to Long Beach I was beginning to wonder if I should have brought a windbreaker or not. While it was misting a little early on, the rain went away and the marine layer left everything comfortable in just a t-shirt. Continue reading

Photos from Chad’s Going Away Can Exchange

These photos were taken Saturday evening at the Craft Beer Reclamation Center, aka my house, where a couple dozen people gathered to say farewell to Chad Hazen (Bald Chad, Sofee Chad) with another craft beer can exchange. Chad has accepted a job with Boston Beer Company, so he is moving to Boston. I figured a can exchange would be a suitable way to send him off.

Of the close to 20 can exchanges I have put on since the Covid lockdown, this was definitely the largest turnout we have had, and I am sure Chad felt the love. In addition to the 40 four-packs that were involved in the can exchange, people brought literal gallons of beer, sake, and mead to share with attendees. Continue reading

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