These photos were taken April 1st and 2nd during my Spring Break staycation, when I stayed at the Bluestem Hotel and paid visits to the Madrona Marsh, Monkish Brewing, Smog City Brewing, Hermosa Brewing, Red Car Brewery, The Brews Hall, HopSaint Brewing, Absolution Brewing, Scholb Premium Ales, and Project Barley Square. This article is sponsored by Discover Torrance.
Numerous friends have asked, “You are retired, isn’t every day a staycation for you?” Well, maybe kinda, but sometimes one can be unhoused without being homeless. Sometimes, things can be too toxic to stay home; like if your home is being fumigated. While I have lived here longer than many of my readers have been alive, the reality is that when friends come into town I don’t help much when it comes to answering questions about what is the best deal as far as the 20+ hotels available in the City of Torrance. I decided I would reach out to the Discover Torrance Visitors Bureau to find out where the best deals were. That is when Debbie Hays, the Sales/Community Representative for Discover Torrance, stepped in and introduced me to the Bluestem Hotel. Continue reading
These photos were taken in the Beermuda Triangle area of Torrance, on almost a weekly basis, beginning in June 2023 and continuing until February 13, 2025, of the newest soon to be open taproom in Torrance; HopSaint at the Ditch.
Nestled along the shores of the scenic Torrance River on Del Amo Brewlevard, HopSaint’s newest taproom is almost ready to begin welcoming their fans to HopSaint at the Ditch; and when I say “almost ready” I mean probably within the next few weeks. Continue reading
The first two photos were taken March 4, 2015, with the balance being taken Sunday afternoon at the Final Pour for Brouwerij West, in San Pedro, as Sunday was the last day they will be open. This is a loss not only to the South Bay’s craft beer scene, but to San Pedro in general. Judging by the turnout Sunday and people I spoke to, Brouwerij West will be sorely missed.
But one must remember that before the San Pedro location, there was Brouwerij West, so I would not be too surprised if their brews are showing up on the shelves of your favorite bottle shop at some point in the future. Continue reading
January
Yeah, 2024 brought us our first local South Bay brewery closure, this time being Strand Brewing Company. This news was part of a broader reflection on the changes in the craft beer industry as discussed in the 2023 recap. The year would see more closures before it ended. Continue reading
Dust Bowl IPA features a carefully selected blend of hops, including Mosaic, Nelson Sauvin, Simcoe, and Strata, which deliver bright citrus, passion fruit, and berry notes. The result is a smooth bitterness complemented by a vibrant, hop-forward aroma that gives this IPA its signature freshness. The beer pours a golden hue, embodying the essence of a true West Coast IPA with its inviting appearance and distinctive character. Continue reading
These photos were taken Saturday afternoon and evening, when my friend Joe, aka Dastardly Brews, and I ventured out to Inglewood to attend Three Weavers Brewing 10th anniversary celebration. Before the day ended we had worked our way over to Tortugo Brewing for their annual Mahalo Days Luau celebration and ended up at Cellador Ales in Torrance, where they were celebrating their 8th anniversary. Continue reading
The new design features a brighter orange colorway paired with familiar graphics that embody the beer’s bold, tropical character. The enhanced packaging is designed to stand out on shelves, drawing attention to Tomorrow’s Clear in the competitive Tropical IPA category. Continue reading
These photos were taken Tuesday, October 29 at Bale Breaker Brewing and The Outskirts Brewing Company in Yakima, Washington. While I may suggest that I hit the Pacific Northwest at this time of year for all the fresh hopped brews available, ever since 2018 the real reason is that I want to visit Bale Breaker Brewing.
Bale Breaker Brewing is one of my two “destination breweries” which is a brewery that if I am within 200 miles of it, come hell or high water (or pissed off girlfriend), I am going to do my best to get there. For those wondering, the first brewery that made the cut as a destination brewery for me was 3 Floyds Brewing in Munster, Indiana. Continue reading
These photos were taken Friday, October 25 at Oregon City Brewing Company and Arch Bridge Taphouse in Oregon City; and Sunday, October 27 at Belmont Station and Great Notion Brewing Company in Portland.
So yeah, Thursday morning I left Novato for the 10 hour drive to Oregon City. Would flying be easier, perhaps even cheaper? Perhaps, but you cannot bring as much beer on a flight as I was planning on bringing back home. Continue reading
These photos were taken Wednesday, October 23 at Moylan’s Brewing Company in Novato, and Saturday, November 2 at Fieldwork Brewing Company in Corte Madera; which were the first and last locations I visited on my Craft Beer Tour 2024.
So yeah, it is that time of year again; that time being fresh hop season, which is my favorite time to visit the Pacific Northwest. While I was definitely out seeking fresh hop beers, I was spending more time hunting down fresh Citra hops for the simple reason that I have become dependent on the Citra hop more than you can imagine. Those that know know; I am still deciding how much of that story I want to reveal, but we shall see how it goes. Continue reading
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