A ray of good news came for Los Angeles beer fans as Hermosa Brewing announced on social media that their Torrance location is now operating.
This would be a good time to show some love to those brewing in the South Bay.
Hermosa, Torrance Style
Hermosa X3
Hermosa Brewing is adding a new brewery and taproom location in Torrance on Del Amo Boulevard. This is their third location and second outside their namesake beach starting point.
When I had their beer at the Beach, I was quite impressed. When I tasted it earlier this year at their El Segundo location, it had lost a little luster to my taste buds.
Maybe the new taproom will reclaim that lost ground.
HopSaint Canned
One L.A. brewery who didn’t jump straight to canning was HopSaint from Torrance. But now, I have started to see good beer shoppes start to carry five of their beers from Kolsch to Hazy.
APL BBQ @ SB
It is not often that I am jazzed about the food options at a brewery in Los Angeles. It is usually not about food quality either. It is mostly that I pick a weekend destination based on the beer. So I end up with whomever is there when I am.
All preamble to the exciting news that APL BBQ from noted chef Adam Perry Lang will be on hand each weekend at Strand Brewing in Torrance from Father’s Day weekend until September.
In the holy trinity of food that pairs with beer, pizza, tacos and BBQ would be my choices and to get the buzzworthy BBQ is an added inducement to head to Torrance.
Jubilee
Depending upon your love of royalty there will be a Platinum Jubilee Street Party at Yorkshire Square Brewery.
If you a fan of Liz, Chuck, Camilla and the gang then on June 4th you can celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee with live music, beer and food specials, a special wine list, and fun activities happening throughout the day! Free event!
– Special menu including Platinum Pudding – the dessert created by Fortnum and Mason especially for the Queen’s Jubilee.
– Beer specials including 8 cask ales and a Jubilee Ale with cans to go.
Smog Up to 11
No foolin’ Smog City is turning Eleven, so that needs to celebrated.
Head to their websites to snag your VIP tickets ahead of time.
Newly Distilled in Torrance
As is often the case with Strand Brewing, they tease a new venture in advance and then it gets a little lost before it comes to fruition.
I posted about their distilling a few months back and now, as you can see from the photo, whiskey and vodka under the Strand moniker has arrived.
Available at their taproom to go.
Smog #9
Smog City has rolled with the punches when it comes to their 9th Anniversary and have decided to go big and celebrate over multiple days! Below is the week plans per the brewery…
– The release of Kumquat Saison, our beer brewed in partnership with Food Forward The beer will be available in 4-pack cans for pick-up at all taproom locations, delivery, and shipping in California starting 5/14. $22/4-pack.
– Awesome Smog City anniversary party packs will be given out while supplies last with any purchase of a 4-pack of Kumquat Saison. That packs include: (2) Smog City cookies from Torrance Bakery, Smog City coloring pages, Smog City sticker, Coffee Porter compost, and a special anniversary card from Laurie and Porter! (1 per customer and while supplies last)
– A special Thursday night happy hour Zoom call hosted by Laurie & Porter call featuring Kumquat Saison, Food Forward, a beer cocktail making lesson, and lots of old photos! The call will be on 5/14 and starts at 6pm. Come join us for a good time and to learn about what makes Kumquat Saison such a special beer.
– Kumquat Saison Margarita beer cocktail kits for sale at the Torrance Brewery & Taproom + online for delivery
– 3941 Tamales onsite at the Torrance Brewery & Taproom Friday, 5/15 from 3pm – 8pm selling delicious pre-made food to go that complements the Kumquat Saison margs perfectly. You will be able to order food ahead of time online for quick pick-up or order onsite. Menu and ordering link coming soon!
– Anarchy Seafood onsite at the Torrance Brewery & Taproom Saturday from 2pm – 6pm selling her amazing seafood focused dishes to-go. We’ve missed this food so much! Menu coming soon!
Featured Review – Flying Cat IPA from Strand Brewing
The Curious and Fantastic Flying Cat pours a dark yellow, orange color. Wet mouthfeel up front but a firm kick of old school hop bitterness at the back from this Strand Brewing beer. But for an IPA labeled ad “brewed with Citra hops”, the citrus element is not really there. Way more earth and tree to my palate. With a touch of dried fruit note (pineapple). Don’t quite know why the cat has armpit hair and is flying to close to the sun.
Drnxmyth
I dabble in spirits. I know that I prefer Southern whiskey and gin above all, though I dabble in tequila and other drinks. Thanks to the L.A. Times Food Section, I found a Torrance based canned cocktail maker that delivers with the name of Drnxmyth. And they have bartenders creating some interesting spins on classic cocktails. The recipe makers get a cut too, which I think is great. So I ordered up a pair to be delivered and here is my verdict…
First up was the Margarita, at first I had a hard time twisting the bottom. You see, these drinks have two separate compartments. When you are ready to drink, you twist to mix the two together. Quite ingenious. The aroma was really nice and it tasted fancy. It had nuanced flavors and wasn’t just a tequila hit. The Gin drink was a little too out there for me. It tasted fine, it just wasn’t to my taste. I wished there had been more cucumber and mint notes. It just tasted a bit herbaceous to me.
They have a whiskey and a rum drink and I would not hesitate to try either. The 10 price point for what is essentially two cocktails is a steal.