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Normally, I would be posting more of these anniversary notices each month but the pace is starting to pick up. Yes, I know I keep saying that. Trying to make wishes come true.
All prelude to say that Surfridge is turning two an will have a special tap room only beer. Remember those?
You do not get many collaborations between breweries from Montana and, well, most of the other 49 states so don’t sleep on this new release from Surfridge of El Segundo and Philipsburg Brewing Co. Plus, you get a riff on the amber ale in the bargain.
Surfridge Brewing In El Segundo is one of many breweries who lost an anniversary due to Covid. But if you hop on it, you can get a bottled celebration with a barrel-aged oatmeal stout. Get your online ordering on.
My pre-order Friday and pick-up Saturday routine went to El Segundo for a Surfridge Brewing Co. crowler sale. I went one IPA and one stout.
Outlaw Unicorn is objectively a great beer name and the beer had a couple of different levels to it. At first, it was a dense rye-ish IPA that was closer to British styled than West Coast, but as it warmed, there was a new flavor note in the form of orange pekoe tea. I found the latter to be the more enjoyable.
The Gnome had a nice vanilla / milk chocolate combo but for a stout was pretty light and watery. No fan of the pastry stout am I but this could have used less effervescence and more heft.
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There is no sign, except for a tiny “beer” arrow to indicate that Surfridge Brewing is open. October 11th was the official grand opening and I jumped in early on a Saturday to both check out the interior and to taste a beer.
Two things grabbed my attention. First were cool eco tap handles minus any logo that have a marble look to them. Quite different from the normal heavily branded practice. There is also a kid friendly clubhouse near the entrance. Splitting the difference by keeping kids out of the way from the bar and TV patrons.
There is also a patio with seating and off in the distance is the light blue El Segundo emblazoned water tower. Food trucks are accessible out through that patio and the whole place has plants everywhere. Reminding me of Homage Brewing in Pomona.
Currently there are 6 beers on tap, your basic starter brewery menu. IPA, Session IPA, Wit and Pale. The Pale was good. Mostly old school Cascade hop territory. A bit one note and not subtle but well done all the same. The Wit has peppercorns and grapefruit which should make for a new twist on the Belgian style.
Overall, the space is calming and large enough for groups to gather, I will have to check back on the beers to see how they evolve but this is a good start.
Looking at another brewery coming to El Segundo as Surfridge Brewing Company is in the works now.
According to their nascent Facebook page, “Surfridge is a 20-barrel production brewery in El Segundo, CA, named for a community by the sea turned Blue Butterfly Sanctuary.”
More news to follow.