Follow Sean Inman to the best in craft beer
Smog City Brewing has never shied away from experimenting and at the end of the month, just before Halloween, they are bringing back Rarest of the Rare. Beers “ranging from pilsners and IPAs to the bells of the RoR ball, bourbon barrel-aged, sour and experimental beers.”
Just a day for tap room / non-distributed bangers.
Smog City is bringing back their Summer of Lagers Party on Saturday, July 26th at the brewery taproom from 12-10p with all three of our Summer of Lagers on tap: Hell Helles, Double Pilsner and Smog Czech.
I have expectations when it comes to Smog City Brewing and barrel-aged beers. They continue to set a high bar and their latest OE barleywine ages in Brandy barrels exceeds expectations.
The brandy just pours out of this. It must have been a super wet barrel. Near dessert levels this. Pours a dead black color. Lots of sugar to me with a growing abv heat from the over 12% barleywine. Getting some cake like notes here. Not that I am aficionado of fruit cake but this is redolent with that fullness. But mostly this is a brandy show and it is great.
HopSaint Brewing and their now two locations in Torrance will be celebrating double digits. On June 29 you can be there for the festivities and to sample their 10 year anniversary west coast IPA.
I posted earlier about Trademark Brewing opening an outpost in Torrance, further filling that suburb into the craft beer place to be, now here is what I found at The Enclave.
Trademark is tucked into a small corner of this mostly open air food hall that was hopping on a recent sunny Sunday, especially the coffee shop Nook which never has a line less than then people. There is lots of different seating areas and environments at the Enclave but one of the best is a stool at Trademark’s bar counter where you can do some serious people watching.
You can buy four-packs to go from their selection of beers or get a draft from the basic / popular choices that Trademark brews such as the Viking Blonde or A La Playa Mexican lager.
Now, a little closer on the calendar, Smog City is gearing up for a big bash this May because why not go big for the 14th right? Clear your schedule for a trip to Torrance and either enter the multiverse or the upside down.
For Angelenos needing a Triple IPA fix, Absolution Brewing in Torrance has a Wicked one for you in two days…
Long Beach’s Trademark Brewing is joining in on the 2nd location fun with a taproom in the very yellow, Enclave in Torrance.
This just adds to the large scene in that area which was already full day trip before.
Absolution, the Torrance based brewery will be celebrating double digits this year with a big 10th anniversary party. Might be a good time to re-acquaint yourself, if like me, you get stuck at Smog City and Monkish and have a hard time moving past.
The Torrance Beermuda Triangle is gaining another tenant as HopSaint Brewing Company will be expanding to a location HopSaint @ The Ditch. I would probably ditch that moniker to match up better with the delicious beers that HopSaint puts out.
I will follow up with news about when and where when opening is closer.