Naja’s Place
Bernie Wire Visits the South Bay
These photos were taken Friday afternoon at The Slice and Pint (in El Segundo), El Segundo Brewing Company, and Naja’s Place in Redondo Beach as I joined, the loved by all, Bernie Wire in his return tour of a few of his favorite haunts. For those not in the know, Bernie was a photographer of craft beer events, and breweries, a couple years before I started doing it on purpose. Bernie was always a fan favorite (he’s a lot nicer than me), but he moved to Minnesota a few years ago, so if you are new to the LA craft beer scene you may not know him, otherwise, I am sure you will recognize him in the photos if you don’t know him personally.
Several of his friends and fans started the afternoon at The Slice and Pint where we enjoyed fresh beer as well as multiple items from the Slice and Pint menu; including, salad, chicken wings, meatballs, pizza and more. The Slice and Pint will satisfy most of your culinary desires if you are in the neighborhood. Continue reading
Naja’s Place 13th Annual IPA Festival Photos
These photos were taken Wednesday afternoon at Naja’s Place in Redondo Beach, where they held day one of Naja’s 13th annual IPA Festival. The seven day long event, as the name suggests, showcases IPAs from all over California, with a couple taps pouring IPAs from such faraway lands as Oregon.
Three of the seven days are themed, with Wednesday being “Locals Only”, Thursday being “Collaboration Day” and Saturday being “Pizza Port Brewing Invades Day.” 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
Holiday Sweaters Against Humanity Party at Naja’s Place
These photos were taken Wednesday evening at Naja’s Place on the International Boardwalk in Redondo Beach, where they held their Holiday Sweaters Against Humanity Party. The event featured an Ugly Sweater Contest, movies, three rare beer flights, and a few Christmas sweets.
There were three flights made available, including a Firestone Flight, a Goose Island Flight made up of various BCBS variants, and a Sour Flight consisting of sours from Three Weavers, Great Notion, New Belgium, Almanac, and Barrelworks. Continue reading
12th Annual IPA Festival at Naja’s Place Photos
These photos were taken Thursday afternoon at Naja’s Place, on the International Boardwalk, where day one of their 12th Annual IPA Festival was held. As usual, the event featured IPAs of every type, from Sessions to Quads.
The weather was a typical, slightly cool, May Gray day, which may have accounted for the slow start to the event, but my Instagram and Facebook feeds seemed to indicate that as working stiffs got off work, Naja’s seemed to get a little more crowded.
Thursday was the kickoff event, with today (Friday) being their Locals Collaborations day, and Saturday being Pizza Port day which will feature a special IPA brewed for Naja’s Place. The event runs through the 25th. Continue reading
11th Annual L.A. Beer Week Begins June 15
Don’t miss the LA Beer Week Kickoff Festival
The Brewers Kickoff Festival is definitely the event you want to attend as it will feature 90 independent craft breweries showcasing more than 250 unique beers, local food vendors, and live music. VIP ticket holders get in at noon, with General Admission beginning an hour later. There is no guarantee tickets will be available at the door, so buy your tickets today on Eventbrite Continue reading
Najas Place 10th Annual IPA Festival Photos
These photos were taken Wednesday afternoon at Naja’s Place in Redondo Beach, where they are holding their 10th annual IPA Festival. The annual event started Wednesday afternoon and will run through May 23, with over 80 IPAs to be served over the course of the week.
If you have never attended Naja’s IPA Festival, it works like this. Naja’s pretty much turns 80 taps from a variety of beers to just IPAs; Session, West Coast, New England, Hazy, Black, Doubles, and Triples. Attendees pay $15 for their first pour, which comes in a commemorative mug, and you get a commemorative bottle opener. From that point on, you just bring back your mug and you can refill it for $6.00, $7.00, or $8.00. Take the mug home and return any day of the festival to get it filled for those prices. Continue reading
Photos from Day One of Naja’s 9th Annual IPA Festival
Late Wednesday morning, I jumped in a Lyft and headed towards the International Boardwalk at King Harbor in Redondo Beach for day one of Naja’s Place 9th Annual IPA Festival.
In the past, the event started at 2:00 or 3:00 PM, and there would be a pretty decent line of people waiting to get in; this year, Naja’s is opening at 11:30 AM and when I arrived at 11:31 there was only four or five people waiting, so that was nice.
Another change this year is the printed beer menu. In the past they have printed one menu for the entire event, so you had to hope the beer you heart was set on was available that day. This year the menu only listed the beers that were available that day; additional menus will be printed daily as some beers tap out and are replaced. Continue reading
2nd Annual Jeff Sanders Memorial Homebrew Competition
These photos were taken at the 2nd Annual Jeff Sanders Memorial Homebrew Competition which was held Saturday at the Robert Gennaria Memorial Odd Fellows Hall in Redondo Beach. The event was put on by the Strand Brewers Club and was sponsored by South Bay Brewing Supply, King Harbor Brewing Company, Naja’s Place, Smog City Brewing Company, and Strand Brewing Company.
There were 47 entries judged, all of which were limited the Jeff’s favorite styles, which meant there were lots of barleywines, English-style ales, porters and such.
As of this writing, the winners had not been announced, so check the Strand Brewers Club website or Facebook page over the next few days for the announcement. Cheers! Continue reading
8th Annual IPA Festival at Najas Place
It is that time of year again; Naja’s Place in Redondo Beach began their week-long 8th Annual IPA Festival on Wednesday afternoon. The event will feature well over 100 IPAs from around the country.
We headed there early Wednesday afternoon as this was not my first rodeo, and Naja’s fills up fast every year as hopheads descend upon the International Boardwalk at the Redondo Beach Pier.
Each day of the event will feature a special IPA; Wednesday’s was Russian River’s Pliny the Elder. Thursday will feature Dogfish Head’s 120 Minute IPA; Friday will have El Segundo Brewing’s Hop Plunge and their anniversary beer El Segundo El Cinco Del Segundo. Saturday will be Pizza Port day featuring more than 20 of their specialty IPAs. Sunday will feature Knee Deep’s Simtra Triple IPA, with Monday’s featured brew being Russian River’s Blind Pig and Tuesday will have Pliny the Elder again. Continue reading
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