These photos were taken April 1st and 2nd during my Spring Break staycation, when I stayed at the Bluestem Hotel and paid visits to the Madrona Marsh, Monkish Brewing, Smog City Brewing, Hermosa Brewing, Red Car Brewery, The Brews Hall, HopSaint Brewing, Absolution Brewing, Scholb Premium Ales, and Project Barley Square. This article is sponsored by Discover Torrance.
Numerous friends have asked, “You are retired, isn’t every day a staycation for you?” Well, maybe kinda, but sometimes one can be unhoused without being homeless. Sometimes, things can be too toxic to stay home; like if your home is being fumigated. While I have lived here longer than many of my readers have been alive, the reality is that when friends come into town I don’t help much when it comes to answering questions about what is the best deal as far as the 20+ hotels available in the City of Torrance. I decided I would reach out to the Discover Torrance Visitors Bureau to find out where the best deals were. That is when Debbie Hays, the Sales/Community Representative for Discover Torrance, stepped in and introduced me to the Bluestem Hotel. Continue reading
These photos were taken in the Beermuda Triangle area of Torrance, on almost a weekly basis, beginning in June 2023 and continuing until February 13, 2025, of the newest soon to be open taproom in Torrance; HopSaint at the Ditch.
Nestled along the shores of the scenic Torrance River on Del Amo Brewlevard, HopSaint’s newest taproom is almost ready to begin welcoming their fans to HopSaint at the Ditch; and when I say “almost ready” I mean probably within the next few weeks. Continue reading
These photos were taken Saturday afternoon and evening, when my friend Joe, aka Dastardly Brews, and I ventured out to Inglewood to attend Three Weavers Brewing 10th anniversary celebration. Before the day ended we had worked our way over to Tortugo Brewing for their annual Mahalo Days Luau celebration and ended up at Cellador Ales in Torrance, where they were celebrating their 8th anniversary. Continue reading
These photos were taken Tuesday, October 29 at Bale Breaker Brewing and The Outskirts Brewing Company in Yakima, Washington. While I may suggest that I hit the Pacific Northwest at this time of year for all the fresh hopped brews available, ever since 2018 the real reason is that I want to visit Bale Breaker Brewing.
Bale Breaker Brewing is one of my two “destination breweries” which is a brewery that if I am within 200 miles of it, come hell or high water (or pissed off girlfriend), I am going to do my best to get there. For those wondering, the first brewery that made the cut as a destination brewery for me was 3 Floyds Brewing in Munster, Indiana. Continue reading
These photos were taken Friday, October 25 at Oregon City Brewing Company and Arch Bridge Taphouse in Oregon City; and Sunday, October 27 at Belmont Station and Great Notion Brewing Company in Portland.
So yeah, Thursday morning I left Novato for the 10 hour drive to Oregon City. Would flying be easier, perhaps even cheaper? Perhaps, but you cannot bring as much beer on a flight as I was planning on bringing back home. Continue reading
These photos were taken Wednesday, October 23 at Moylan’s Brewing Company in Novato, and Saturday, November 2 at Fieldwork Brewing Company in Corte Madera; which were the first and last locations I visited on my Craft Beer Tour 2024.
So yeah, it is that time of year again; that time being fresh hop season, which is my favorite time to visit the Pacific Northwest. While I was definitely out seeking fresh hop beers, I was spending more time hunting down fresh Citra hops for the simple reason that I have become dependent on the Citra hop more than you can imagine. Those that know know; I am still deciding how much of that story I want to reveal, but we shall see how it goes. Continue reading
These photos were taken Saturday evening at Four Points by Sheraton at LAX, where about 150 members, along with their significant others, gathered to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Maltose Falcons Homebrew Club. Established in 1974, The Maltose Falcons are America’s oldest homebrew club.
The event featured a dinner, with Hors d’oeuvres and cake, a couple videos recalling The Falcons history, a panel discussing the days of lore, a silent auction, and live music provided by the Maltose Falcons Band. Oh, and beer. There was lots of beer. Continue reading
These photos were taken Saturday afternoon at the Museum of Latin American Art, in Long Beach, where Obscura LB and Craft Beer LB held their 4th Annual Halloween Hootenanny. The annual event featured craft breweries, cideries, wineries and kombucha makers, as well as a “Macabre Marketplace” featuring 15+ creepy arts & collectible vendors, numerous food trucks, and live entertainment.
Craft breweries in attendance included Altar Society, Ambitious Ales, Artisanal Imports, Beachwood Brewing, Beachwood Blendery, Cellador Ales, Common Space, Dutch’s Brewhouse, Everywhere Beer Co, HopSaint Brewing, ISM Brewing, Long Beach Beer Lab, Los Angeles Ale Works, Project Barley Brewing, Radiant Brewing, RIIP Beer, Smog City Brewing, Syncopated Brewing, and Tortugo Brewing. Continue reading
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
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