King Harbor Brewing Company
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
King Harbor Brewing Reunion at TrustedGut Brewing
These photos were taken Friday evening, December 22, at TrustedGut Brewing in Redondo Beach, where they held a combination reunion of King Harbor Brewing regulars and Ugly Sweater/Christmas party.
So, I guess it was sometime around Thanksgiving that I was at TrustedGut Brewing when my friends Juan and Claudia came in. As is my habit, I introduced them to Chris Garrett, the CEO and founder of TrustedGut. I am not really sure how the conversation turned to Christmas, but before I knew it, there was a party being planned and Claudia and I were tasked with creating a guest list with a maximum of 45 people in attendance (fire department capacity), which meant there was no way I could promote it on this site or via social media. What I discovered was just how many people leave town for Christmas; luckily, a few people come into town for Christmas too, thanks Chad. Continue reading
TrustedGut Brewing Soft Open Begins Today
These photos were primarily taken Thursday and Friday, October 5 and 6, at the new TrustedGut Brewing location in Redondo Beach, where I was given a sneak preview of the new TrustedGut. Since my post a couple days ago confused at least one person, TrustedGut has now officially taken over the old King Harbor Brewing Company location on 182nd Street.
For those unfamiliar with TrustedGut, they have been around for a couple years now, primarily known in the Long Beach area for their hard seltzers and kombucha. Word is that the Long Beach location will likely open in the next few months. In the meantime, beer will be produced and poured at their new Redondo Beach location. Continue reading
The End of an Era: King Harbor Brewing Closes
These photos were taken over the course of three days; Thursday evening at the King Harbor Brewery, Friday evening at the King Harbor Village Tap Room and the brewery, and Saturday afternoon and evening at the brewery, as all King Harbor Brewing Company locations closed effective Saturday, December 31.
4th of July 2013; I remember the day well. That morning, my girlfriend and I were doing our morning walk around The Galleria with the dogs when we were walking through the strip mall on 182nd Street and walked past a vacant spot that had a Notice of Intent to sell alcohol. Upon closer inspection I noticed that Coastline Brewing would be opening in that location; I was pretty stoked to hear that a brewery was opening within a 10 minute walk from my house. Two months later, to avoid a potential trademark dispute with a winery up north, Coastline Cellars, Coastline Brewing became King Harbor Brewing Company. Continue reading
The Craft Beer Guy Recap of 2022
Well, it is that time of year again, when I try to recollect everything that happened in the craft beer world this year that I participated in. This is typically the most difficult article of the year for me to write because I go into it thinking, “What the hell did I do this year anyway?” 
I know I went on my annual craft beer tour, I know I was able to put on the 8th Annual South Bay Tap Takeover, and I know there was at least one brewery closure in the South Bay. I used to end these recaps by predicting what I expect to happen in the following year, but the last two years have been really tough to predict. Unfortunately, there is a lot slated for 2023 that is not exactly positive, but I don’t make the news, I only report it. So, let’s look back at 2022, because I am sure I must have done something more that what I have already mentioned. Continue reading
8th Annual South Bay Tap Takeover Photos
These photos were taken Thursday, September 1, at Tortilla Cantina in Torrance, where they hosted my 8th Annual South Bay Tap Takeover. The event, meant to celebrate the South Bay’s vibrant craft beer scene featured 19 breweries from Torrance, Redondo Beach, Inglewood, Torrance, Carson, Lomita, Hawthorne, El Segundo, Gardena, and Lawndale.
The featured South Bay breweries included Smog City, HopSaint, Scholb, Hermosa Brewing, Yorkshire Square, King Harbor Brewing, Far Field Beer, Crac, Honest Abe, Eureka Brewing, Common Space, LA Ale Works, Tortugo Brewing, Three Weavers, Crowns & Hops, El Segundo Brewing, Upshift Brewing, Burnin’ Daylight, and Project Barley. Continue reading
8th Annual South Bay Tap Takeover Coming September 1
8th Annual South Bay Tap Takeover – September 1, 2022
I know I say it every year, but there is no way I ever anticipated this event celebrating the South Bay’s craft beer scene would still be going on all these years later, but here we are. I didn’t let a little thing like a change of ownership at the original venue, or a global pandemic with its accompanying shutdowns stop us from continuing what has become, dare I say, a tradition.
There is no question that COVID has caused a few changes over the last two years, but we will not let that stop us. The 8th Annual South Bay Tap Takeover will provided live music, Tortilla Cantina’s fabulous food, and of course, plenty of craft beer that was brewed in the South Bay. Continue reading
Photos of Claudia’s Birthday Party at King Harbor
These photos were taken Saturday afternoon at the King Harbor Brewing Company’s tasting room in Redondo Beach, where several dozen friends and family of Claudia, of Claudia and Juan fame, gathered to celebrate Claudia’s birthday.
Guests were treated to plenty of King Harbor Brewing’s tasty brews, wine, all you could eat tacos from El Chiapas Tacos, ballads, dancing, and birthday cake. It was pretty obvious that a fun time was had by all.
Happy birthday, Claudia; I hope you have a great year. Cheers! Continue reading
Farewell Izzy Can Exchange Photos
These photos were taken Sunday afternoon at King Harbor Brewing Company’s tasting room on 182nd Street, where a couple dozen Craft Beer Guy followers and fans of King Harbor’s own beertender/quiz master extraordinaire, Izzy, gathered for another of my Covid Can Exchanges and to wish farewell to Izzy whose last official day was Sunday.
As Izzy said, I guess people were happy to see him go as this was the largest turnout we have had in the 13 can exchanges we have had since I started doing them, with 23 participants, providing 46 4-paks to choose from. We did have two duplicate beers show up, but I planned for this possibility and brought an extra to swap out; we ended up with 45 different beers to choose from. While it did take a little longer to choose our beers, everyone I talked to seemed very pleased with their picks. Continue reading
The Craft Beer Guy Recap of 2021
2021 is about to tap out; I guess it was better than 2020, but was it really? It almost seems like 2020 was just to immerse us into our new normal, and 2021 was a test run to test scientific theories and our own personal abilities to deal with this crap.
Rest In Peace Jonas Neubauer – January 5, 2021
I know I did some stuff this year that I had not done since 2019, so I guess things are improving, it is probably my own personal comfort level that I have to work on. This was my first complete year without my dog or a girlfriend, which is probably resulting in my becoming more of a wallflower again. We shall see.
Did you ever see the movie Memento? Well, I am slightly better than Leonard (the star) at remembering stuff, so I use my camera and my websites so I do not have to cover my body in tattoos to recall the past year.
Anyway, here is the Craft Beer Guy recap of 2021; what the hell did I do over the last 12 months? Continue reading
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