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Photos from the 2nd Annual LB Sake Day
These photos were taken Saturday, October 5 at Rancho Los Cerritos Historical Site in Long Beach, where Craft Beer LB and Sake Secret collaborated to celebrate World Sake Day by hosting the Second Annual LB Sake Day. For those wondering, World Sake Day is actually held annually on October 1 and celebrates the start of the annual rice harvest and the beginning of sake production in Japan.
Saturday’s event featured literally gallons of sake, from numerous brewers and distributors, several food trucks and popups serving Japanese foods and snacks, Orion beer, and a traditional Japanese performing arts ensemble. It was another lovely day in Long Beach, and all the attendees and vendors seemed to be having a great time. Continue reading
The Slice and Pint Redondo Beach Now Open
These photos were taken Thursday evening at The Slice and Pint in Redondo Beach, where they held a Friends and Family night as a soft open for the new location which is preparing to open their doors for their grand opening as I type this out.
Back in July I confirmed the rumor that Pizza Coast Hiway would be closing and that El Segundo Brewing’s The Slice and Pint would be taking over the location. Well, the i’s have been dotted and the t’s crossed, and The Slice and Pint Redondo is now open. Continue reading
Five Point Five Brewing One Year Anniversary Photos
These photos were taken Saturday afternoon, August 10, at Five Point Five Brewing Company in El Segundo, where dozens of their fans gathered to celebrate Five Point Five’s One Year Anniversary. While I was there, the day included raffles, 10+ beers on tap, Micheladas, and hard seltzers; they also had smash burgers from Cuzzi Burger as well as their Pi LA pizzas. As I was leaving I noticed an obvious musician entering, so I am presuming they had music in the evening.
The reason I said there were 10+ beers instead of a more specific number is because their Proud Mary Irish Red came on nitro and CO2, and their anniversary beer, which apparently you had to ask about, was Proud Mary aged in whiskey barrels. I think this option was also available on nitro or CO2; I had the nitro version and it was quite nice. I did not know ahead of time that it was aged in whiskey barrels, but it was pretty obvious after the first sip. Continue reading
A Visit to Sage Brewing
These photos were taken Wednesday evening at Sage Regenerative Kitchen, home of Sage Brewing, in the Echo Park area of Los Angeles. It was my first visit to Sage Brewing, and coincidentally they were holding a 4th of July pre-party for people in the craft beer industry. To be honest, I was pretty much the outsider there as evidenced by fact that the first person that recognized me, John Garcia of Creature Comforts, asking me what the heck I was doing out there.
To be honest, it was a pretty legitimate question as finding me in Los Angeles on a Wednesday evening is probably as rare as finding a unicorn; but I am glad I made the drive. Continue reading
El Segundo Brewing Collaborates with Gelson’s Markets
These photos were taken Wednesday afternoon at Gelson’s Market, in Manhattan Beach, where my buddy Phil joined me at the Gelson’s Wine Bar to check out the beer collaboration they had done with El Segundo Brewing.
Last month it was announced that El Segundo Brewing Company had partnered with Gelson’s Markets on their first-ever beer collaboration – Gelson’s Summer Blonde Ale. Gelson’s reached out to me to see if I was interested in checking it out. I had a pretty busy June, but yesterday was free, so Phil and I headed out to Manhattan Beach. Continue reading
Welcome Enzo Craft Beer Can Exchange
These photos were taken Saturday afternoon at the Craft Beer Reclamation Center (AKA my house) where a couple dozen of us gathered to hold a craft beer can exchange to welcome Enzo (Nina and Jason’s new baby) to our craft beer family.
Nina and Jason joined our group a couple years ago when we held one of our exchanges at King Harbor Brewing. Nina came up and asked what it was we were doing, and before we knew it, she had disappeared over to Total Wine. When she returned she had four 4-paks with her and it was pretty obvious that this was something she understood and appreciated. Over the years we were there as they got engaged, married, and became new parents. Enzo was immediately welcomed to the group and he seemed to have a good time yesterday. Continue reading
Sugar Monkey Brewing Grand Opening Photos
These photos were taken Friday afternoon at the Sugar Monkey Social Club, in El Segundo, where they celebrated day one of the Sugar Monkey Brewing Grand Opening. In case you missed my article about their soft open, Sugar Monkey took over the old Upshift Brewing location.
I arrived shortly after they opened and they already had a pretty decent crowd forming, and ‘The Best Umbrella’ pizza, manned by Sugar Monkey’s head brewer, Jason Eich, was cranking out pizzas as fast as his pizza oven would allow. Continue reading
Trademark Brewing 5th Anniversary Photos
These photos were taken Saturday afternoon, June 1, when my friend Phil and I headed to Long Beach to attend Trademark Brewing’s 5th anniversary celebration. Sorry for the delay, but I had some out-of-town guests that I can only suggest have been a bad influence over the past few days; but that is what friends do, right?
I have only been to Trademark once before, and that was back in 2021, which means we were in the middle of our COVID lockdown and no one could go inside to drink. I was allowed to go in (since there was no one else in there) to grab some photos, but this was the first time I saw the location with consumers inside and the tap handles actually in use. Continue reading
Introducing Sugar Monkey Brewing
These photos were taken Wednesday afternoon at the new Sugar Monkey Brewing, at the Sugar Monkey Social Club, in El Segundo, where they opened their doors for day one of their soft open. For those wondering, yes, Sugar Monkey Brewing took over the old Upshift Brewing location.
For those paying close attention, yes, I did mention the Sugar Monkey Social Club; which I will do my best to explain. The back of Sugar Monkey Brewing has a nice tented area, with plenty of seating, and that section is the Sugar Monkey Social Club, with the taproom being Sugar Monkey Brewing. Continue reading
11th South Bay Beer & Wine Festival Photos
These photos were taken Sunday afternoon at Ernie Howlett Park, in Rolling Hills, where close to 1,000 people gathered for the 11th South Bay Beer & Wine Festival. Presented by the Rotary Clubs of Palos Verdes Peninsula, San Pedro and Southbay Sunrise (Torrance), all proceeds fund community outreach programs within the South Bay and Harbor cities of Los Angeles.
The event featured craft beer, wine, food and spirits (for VIP ticket holders) from 100 vendors, live music, a pretty upscale souvenir tasting glass, and free parking. Combine that with an outdoor venue that includes zero asphalt, just nice, cool, green grass. It really takes advantage of our local weather. When it all comes together it becomes pretty easy to see why I have called this one of the best craft beer festivals within 100 miles. Continue reading