Well, it is that time of year again, when I recap my personal experiences of the prior year. Granted, this is about a week earlier than my typical recap and there are pretty good reasons for that; the first being that I really did not do much in 2025, with the second being that the likelihood of my hitting any last minute events are extremely slim.
To say that 2025 did not turn out as I might have hoped would definitely be an understatement. When I look back at my my recap of 2024 I guess I saw it coming, but I honestly did not think it would be so drastic, but here we are. So, here is what I was able to cover over the past year, however slim it may have been.
In February I attended the Friends and Family preview at HopSaint at the Ditch. I was not able to publish the photos until May because there seemed to be one roadblock after another when it came to them being able to open their doors to the public. Common sense eventually prevailed and The Ditch opened to the public, and the public welcomed them with open arms.
In March I was able to attend the Final Pour at Brouwerij West. As one might imagine, it was a bittersweet event. Of all the breweries in the South Bay it was hard to believe that they were closing because they always seemed to have more people lining up for beer than any of the other breweries, but I guess they had more expenses that the others. Oh well, they are missed, but I understand the venue has been taken over as a music venue, but I have not checked it out.
In April I did a project with Discover Torrance Visitors Bureau with a “Staycation” when I spent a few days visiting most of the Torrance breweries while staying at the Bluestem Hotel. If you have craft beer friends coming in from out of town it is probably a good article to refer them to. 
June found me at the HopSaint Brewing 10th Anniversary. It was a fun event that was shared between both the original brewpub and The Ditch.
That was the last event I photographed in 2025; to be honest, I haven’t used my camera since then.
There was a little growth in the craft beer world for our local breweries. Smog City opened a taproom/restaurant in Long Beach, Smog City Heights. I have yet to visit it, but I have heard nothing but good things about their food.
If you remember The Crac Brewery you might be happy to hear that the location is now occupied by Beer Thug Brewpub. I visited there a week or two ago and enjoyed the brews I tried. You might want to check them out if in the Carson area.
What to expect in 2026
So, I guess I owe you a little backstory. If you are among the many that have observed me taking photos, and/or drinking a beer, you may have noticed my tremors. I have essential tremors, which are hereditary and only get worse as time goes on. My tremors have gotten so bad that I have become very self-conscious about them. They have also gotten so bad that I can barely hold my camera, much less hold it steady, hence my absence from photographing beer events.
Other than meds, there are only a couple surgical treatments available, one of which I have watched my dad and a couple siblings utilize and it doesn’t really work, IMHO. I started the meds a few months ago and they helped a little, for a little while so now it is time to try with a neurosurgeon. I have an appointment in a few weeks when I will find out if I am a candidate for the surgical procedure … and can I afford it?
If I am a candidate and they are successful, you will probably start seeing me with my camera again; if not, then I guess my days as an event photographer will come to an end and I might look for someone to take over my website.
In closing, I hope you have a great 2026 and if you don’t mind, maybe cross your fingers for me. Cheers!
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