El Segundo
Meltdown 2023 at El Segundo Brewing
These photos were taken Saturday evening at the El Segundo Brewing Company’s brewery and tasting room where they held their annual Meltdown can release, with the release of Power Plant Triple IPA, Nuclear Power Plant Quad IPA, and Radioactive Fallout (Hazy) IPA. Food was available from Lower Case Deli who had a popup set up.
When I left Burnin’ Daylight’s 4th Anniversary celebration, I headed home to drop off the beer I purchased, then I headed over to El Segundo Brewing to check out their Meltdown celebration, specifically Power Plant, and if I had the opportunity, Nuclear Power Plant. Continue reading
2022 Christmas Parade After-Party at El Segundo Brewing
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
Upshift and Surfridge Celebrate Three Years
These photos were taken Saturday, November 5, at Upshift Brewing Company and Surfridge Brewing Company, both of which are located in El Segundo and coincidentally, were both celebrating their third anniversaries. Both events featured food trucks and live music.
I started my day off at Upshift Brewing, for no particular reason (at the time) other than it was the only anniversary party I knew was happening. They had a ticketed VIP hour, but I showed up after that. There were a couple dozen people there when I arrived, but it did not take long for the inside and outside seating to begin filling up. Continue reading
El Segundo Brewing 11th Anniversary Photos
These photos were taken Saturday afternoon at El Segundo Brewing Company, in El Segundo, where they celebrated their 11th anniversary. The day featured an anniversary beer, a couple can releases, and the Something Good LA food truck. Coincidentally, it was also the ninth anniversary of the launch of CraftBeerGuy.com.
It was a pretty hot day at the beach, and the throngs that came to help celebrate El Segundo Brewing’s milestone took full advantage of any shady spot they could find. Continue reading
Hermosa Brewing Now Brewing in El Segundo
These photos were taken at Hermosa Brewing Company’s new production facility in El Segundo. They begin with photos from mid-March when the new 15bbl Portland Kettle Works brewhouse was moved in, and end with how it looks present day.
Back in February I wrote an article about Hermosa Brewing Company’s second anniversary. In it I mentioned that Hermosa Brewing had some “big news coming up” that I wasn’t at liberty to talk about. Almost a month to the day, Hermosa Brewing was bringing in their new brewhouse to El Segundo.
Hermosa Brewing is sharing the space at R6 Distillery formerly used by Rob Rubens Distilling & Brewing, followed by Three Chiefs Brewing; both of whom used Strand Brewing Company’s initial brewhouse. That brewhouse was obtained by Extralegal Brewing in Redondo Beach, and Hermosa Brewing installed their new Portland Kettle Works brewhouse. Continue reading
Upshift Brewing Company Grand Opening Photos
These photos were taken Saturday afternoon at one of El Segundo’s newest craft breweries, Upshift Brewing Company, where they held their official grand opening. Attendees had 10 Upshift brews to choose from, as well as two food trucks; Cheddr Wheel and Swami’s Sandwiches. For entertainment there was a raffle, live music provided by Green Hills Band, and there was a mini car show in the parking lot shared with the food trucks. Of course, there was Giant Jenga and cornhole for the competitive types.
The beers Upshift currently has on tap includes their Kolschwagen, Bench Seat Blonde, PRNDL Pale Ale, Track Sesh IPA, Wind Wing IPA, Big Block Brown, Off Camber Amber, Pole Position Pale Ale, Pit Stop Porter, and their newest, G.T. Oatmeal Stout. Continue reading
Surfridge Brewing: and Then There Were Four
These photos were taken Thursday afternoon, October 24, at Surfridge Brewing Company, El Segundo’s fourth craft brewery. Yes, you read that right, El Segundo now has four craft breweries, making El Segundo twice the craft beer destination it was a mere month ago.
Followers of the Craft Beer Guy Facebook page may recall that I put up a few photos from Surfridge Brewing at the end of July, but in all honesty, owners Steve and Jennifer Lieberman were still keeping things close to the vest and really only let me photograph their six 20bbl fermenters. When I first saw the tasting room that was really what I wanted to shoot. Continue reading
Upshift Brewing – El Segundo’s Newest Craft Brewery Opens
I remember the day well, July 19, the day I began to experience self doubt as to how in touch with the local craft beer scene I really was. I was enjoying a beer at Burnin’ Daylight when I received a text from Dave Holop of Brouwerij West asking me what I knew about three potential new breweries opening in El Segundo; like he said, I always seemed to be in the know for the latest brewery openings. I began to have my doubts.
I immediately started doing some research and reached out to the ones I could; the first to respond to me was Upshift Brewing. A week later I made my first visit to Upshift; the first six photos are from that visit. To be honest, they were so close to completion that we spoke about the possibility of Upshift being featured at my 5th Annual South Bay Tap Takeover. Within a couple weeks it became clear that this wasn’t going to happen, so I put them on the back burner and waited to hear from them regarding their opening date. Continue reading
L.A. Beer Week 11 Continues with Pizza and Beer
These photos were taken Wednesday evening at The Slice and Pint in El Segundo, where they held a pizza and craft beer pairing, Pizza & Beer – Things We Knead. The LA Beer Week 11 event featured pizza and beer pairings suggested by seven Certified and Advanced Cicerones and the head chef of The Slice and Pint.
The Cicerones participating included Tom Kelley of El Segundo Brewing Company and The Slice and Pint, Cindy and Hal Mooney of LA Beer Hop, Jace Milstead of Craft LA, Jonathan Porter of Smog City, Greg Bechtel of Simmzy’s Restaurants, and Blanca Quintero of Firestone Walker. The Slice and Pint’s Head Chef, Matt Ranney, also included his favorite pizza and beer pairing. While most of the pizzas were paired with beer from El Segundo Brewing Company, The Slice and Pint has several guest taps, three of which (Smog City, Oxbow Brewing Company, and Cellador Ales) were also included in the pairings. Continue reading
Photos from the El Segundo Brewing 8th Anniversary
These photos were taken Saturday afternoon at the El Segundo Brewing Company tasting room, where they celebrated eight years of brewing their hopcentric ales. The celebration was spread over three days with a bottle release on Friday, the anniversary party on Saturday, and a Michelada party on Sunday.
Attendees on Saturday had 20 El Segundo brews to choose from, including their anniversary beer, Ochos Locos DIPA on draught and a hazy cask version done with vanilla beans. In addition to the quality brews we have come to expect, Bartz Barbecue was there with their special offerings along with Churro Garage with their tasty desserts.
Entertainment was provided by Beer & Magic who delighted attendees with their close-up magic and slight-of-hand. I am not sure, but there may have been some wizardry involved as well. Kids that were too short to watch the magic entertained themselves with cornhole and Jenga. Continue reading