These photos were taken Sunday afternoon at the El Segundo Brewing Company tasting room, where they held their annual El Segundo Christmas Parade After-Party. The event featured food from Saulitos BBQ, music by The Stocking Stuffers, the release of new beers (their 2022 Old Jetty Barrel Aged Barleywine and their Horus Aged Ales BOB 2.5 Barrel Aged Barleywine), as well as their “Christmas Break” Baltic Porter with ginger we brewed in collaboration with HopSaint Brewing, which was available on tap and “Poked.” They also had photo ops with Mrs. Claus, lots of donuts, and a return visit by our old friend, Bernie Wire.
So, because of the weather I did not make it to the actual parade, but made it to the after-party with my friends Phil and Deborah. While the parade is always entertaining, we were really there for the beer (poked and on draught) as well as an opportunity to see Bernie before he headed back to Minnesota. Continue reading
As the year draws to a close, it is time to think back on what 2017 has brought to the craft beer world; more specifically what has happened in the Craft Beer Guy world. As 2016 came to a pretty crappy end for me, I did not do one last year; for that reason, I will begin with the end of 2016 as it segued into 2017.
My coverage of 2016 ended pretty much the way 2017 started, with the opening of Smog City Brewing Company’s satellite tasting room, Smog City – SteelCraft in the Bixby Knolls area of Long Beach. They opened the location at the end of December; by the middle of January they had applied for, and were granted the ability to sell growlers and bottles to go.
Later in January the inaugural L.A. Beer and Food Festival was presented by the Los Angeles County Brewers Guild. The sold-out event featured close to 50 member breweries of the LA Brewers Guild as well as 15 local food vendors. This year the L.A. Beer and Food Festival will be held Saturday, January 27. Buy your tickets now, before it sells out.
Just a bit of trivia; while there were about 50 LA County Brewers Guild members in January of 2017, today there are almost 70! Continue reading