ISM Brewing

The Craft Beer Guy Recap of 2024

ISM Brewing Grand Opening

As 2024 draws to a close (it’s New Years Eve) it is time for me to write my recap of the craft beer scene, at least from my perspective. As I get older, and my grandchildren do the same, I missed several events due to health issues or the grandkids performing in a play or something. But enough of that, what did I see and do this past year?

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

ISM Brewing Grand Opening Photos

These photos were taken Thursday, January 11, at ISM Brewing Company in Long Beach, where Long Beach’s newest brewpub celebrated their grand opening. The very well attended event featured their ribbon cutting, food and drink specials, live music provided by Laura Wiley and lots of delicious ISM brews.

Like a typical ribbon cutting, ISM Brewing was welcomed by representatives of the state, county, City of Long Beach, the Chamber of Commerce and various neighborhood business groups, all of whom seemed to be quite excited to have ISM Brewing move into the neighborhood. Continue reading

The Craft Beer Guy Recap of 2023

Well, it is December 27 which means I am running out of time, and this recap of 2023 is not going to write itself. I frequently go into this task with the attitude of “what did I do this year”?, and while that remains true today, I cannot help but look back at this year and think of all the things I did not do this year. I think the combination of old age and a definite change in the craft beer world are both contributing equally. I guess we will see what 2024 brings us; in the meantime, here is my recap of 2023, beginning with the last hours of 2022.

Farewell to King Harbor Brewing

December 2022

King Harbor Brewing Company closed all three of their locations at the end of 2022, but they definitely signed off with a bang. Project Barley took over the waterfront location, a sandwich shop took over the Riviera Village location, and TrustedGut Brewing took over the brewery on 182nd Street. Continue reading

ISM Brewing Soft Open Begins

These photos were taken Wednesday, November 29 at ISM Brewing, the newest brewpub in Long Beach, day two of the ISM Brewing Soft Open.

First things first, ISM Brewing is pronounced iz-uhm, not eye-ess-em, and the letters are actually the initials of the owner/brewer, Ian S. McCall.

Secondly, ISM Brewing has taken over the former location of Beachwood Brewing’s brewpub on 3rd Street, which is where Ian cut his teeth in the craft beer world. Continue reading

Subscribe To Our Newsletter
Archives