These photos were taken Friday afternoon at Common Space Brewery and Los Angeles Ale Works, where the two Hawthorne based production breweries teamed up to hold a block party as a part of the Los Angeles Beer Week 2023 festivities. Both locations had food, music, and games to accompany their plethora of craft beer.

I started off at Common Space where I met up with the guy that keeps more of the South Bay’s beer cold than any other single individual, my friend Phil and his wife Deborah.

While we were there, food was made available by Uncle Al’s BBQ, Long Beach Tacos, and Sad Girl Creamery to go along with the more than 20 craft beers pouring from their taps. I have to say, for being early Friday afternoon they had a pretty healthy number of customers.

After an hour and a half we walked across the street to Los Angeles Ale Works for part two of the block party.

I guess it should be expected that it seemed a little more crowded at LA Ale Works when we got there because it was a lot closer to “getting off time” by the time we arrived.

While we were there I saw food offered by Smoked & Salted BBQ, Shappy’s Pretzels, and Fatty Mo’s Ice Cream. Live rock and roll music was provided by the BackTracks Band. Like Common Space, LA Ale Works had more than 20 brews, slushies, hard seltzers and Micheladas available for consumption. It really was a fun event … for the most part.

So yeah, being the guy I am (was anyway) next to the beer, puppies in attendance are probably my favorite thing about going to breweries. Anyone that has seen me has probably noticed that I like to make friends with the pups. I always ask first, and I am pretty good about treading a dog’s body language.

Sadly, as I was asking a young lady about her dog, I also put my hand out towards the dog to let her smell me. Apparently I smelled delicious because as I did that the dog decided to see if I tasted as good as I smelled. She got me good.

In fairness to the dog’s owner she said something just as the dog bit me. Now, I do not blame the dog, but I do blame the owner.

If you do not trust your dog around people, DO NOT bring your dog to an environment where this is going to be a concern. Even today, as I was getting more bandages and ointment at the store, the cashier asked what happened and used the excuse to suggest this is why dogs should not have been allowed. I do not agree, but I think Friday was an example of how irresponsible some dog owners can be, and it sucks.

Anyway, that brought my attendance to LA Beer Week events to a screeching halt. I had planned on photographing several more events over the weekend but the injury and time spent in the urgent care clinic kind of eliminated any “party attitude” I may have had. I am just glad it was me and not some kids that got bit.

Other than the bite, it was a fun time. Congratulations to Common Space and LA Ale Works on putting on a happening event. Cheers!

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