If you are in the market for a less popular style, then the newest offering from Smog City might be up your alley.
Leche Oscura is a milk stout which the brewery newsletter describes as the “perfect transitional beer for the seasons.” I concur with that. It will fill you up but not warm you up. That touch of sweetness blends right into fall.
Pour it Yourself
I made my first visit to Cosmic Brewery in Torrance. Within shouting distance of Smog City and Monkish. And I came away with mixed feelings about their self-pour system.
I can see both benefits and issues with it. My main issue is that many Americans are not cool. Which leads to many Americans who frequent breweries may not be cool. Which leads to, do I want an uncool person doing the pouring? I was the only visitor one Sunday and I sat myself near the owner and employees as they worked and I did overhear that the taps had to really be wiped down inferring that people are not cool (IE cleanly).
From a customer standpoint, it’s great. Pour an ounce, taste it. If it is not to your liking, then you are not out serious money and the brewery gets paid for the effort. Win-win.
I can list other technical issues such as forgetting your card, someone running up a tab on a lost card and how do you monitor consumption without a bartender. All valid questions but not what bugged me.
I think the system can be tweaked to allow for both human interaction and the speed and beer size wanted. Have a table side iPad that will enable ordering (much like the system that the wonderful 38 Degrees utilizes) so that the millenials can get their electronic on while also keeping the customer to employee conversation.
Why? I came away from Cosmic Ales (Brewery) thinking that the beers were OK, Hellhound Chocolate Brown is still their best offering, but that the two employees who helped me were really nice and navigated me correctly so that I didn’t make any rookie mistakes. I played dumb (yeah, I know, not a stretch) and they came through.
I guess the fact that Cosmic separates the pouring area from the seating area is what bothers me. I would love to see the pouring area be CENTRAL to the room. That way, the idiots would be monitored by not only employees but by the crowd as well. (See something, say something). But also on a more positive note, those having trouble could be helped by not only employees but by the crowd as well.
Early days still for the brewery, and maybe my humble suggestion will make for a different set-up.
Cosmic Brewing open in Torrance
Over the last weekend in July and the first in August, Cosmic Brewery finally opened its doors for a soft opening of their Torrance taproom.
And it comes with a serve yourself system too!
There will be a full review when I can find some spare time to drive to the South Bay and re-acquaint myself to the beers that haven’t been readily available for awhile now.
Yorkshire Squares in Torrance
Thankfully the latest brewery that I have heard about on the way won’t be in Torrance. It will be in “old” Torrance. Yorkshire Square Brewery will be focusing exclusively on the English-style cask-conditioned beer. Plus they will have food too!
The venture is headed by Gary Croft, a former Leeds, England native. They have also recently nabbed Andy Black as the head brewer. Black, you will recall, started the casks rolling at MacLeod’s before a brief stint at El Segundo.
More news as it comes in. Look for a later this year opening.
1st Visit – Scholb Premium Ales
I e-mail corresponded with Scholb Premium Ales which you can read over on Food GPS. Now I actually visited. (After a side trip to Smog City and before a short jaunt to King Harbor)
Scholb is in the same complex as Absolution Brewing but at the latter I was unimpressed whereas Scholb is off to a good, strong start. The Columbia Street Pale Ale was bright and fruity and better than most in this crowded category. My second favorite was the Cherry Wood Smoked Brown which at first seemed thin but filled in nicely with a different smoke note that I found pleasing. Dad’s IPA was a strong third. My only clinker was the Bat Ray Red IPA. It seemed a little dimmer compared to the other hoppy offerings.
It’s s nice big space. Big logo on the wall and super cool taster trays made out of plastic piping. There are Wisconsin ties to the four part ownership group and maybe they can bring a Midwestern beer or three into the line-up for the out-of-state expats. As it stands, it is worth a visit to try the new kid in Torrance.
Another Cellar of Craft Beer
L.A. is now the proud home to two locations of the growing chain of craft beer shoppes, Craft Beer Cellar. I am a frequent visitor to the Eagle Rock location with its lovely patio to enjoy one of the 8 beers they have on tap before I head off with to-go bottles and cans in hand.
Now the Crossroads Shopping Center in Torrance (‘natch) will house franchisee # 2 and they will be throwing a grand opening on April 23rd. The only downside being that they won’t be pouring beer as of yet. Just to-go to start which will put them at a disadvantage compared to Select Beer. But if they can stock up on Torrance beer, they could become a hub for that huge brewing community.
Scholb adds to Torrance count
The speed of craft beer growth leaves me behind the curve many a time. At first, I thought I was not paying enough attention but now I know that is not the case. I could spend hours combing the interwebs instead of watching Flash and Arrow and still miss events, beer releases or even the opening of a new brewery.
Which is where we come to the point of this post, catching up with a new brewery in the mecca that is Torrance. Scholb’s Premium Ales. I have sent interview questions out to the wife-husband x two group that will appear in Food GPS later this month.
So this is more of an announcement that their taproom is open with beers such as….
Columbia Street Pale – Honey Rye Pale Ale
Not Lyin’ Rye – Rye IPA
Bat Ray Red – Red IPA (RIPA)
Dark Void – Imperial Stout
Endless Kisses – Rye Saison
…on tap.
If you have visited their brewery and/or tasted their beers, let me know what you think. I have put them on the “visit” list and will report back what I find.
First Visit – Hopsaint
I had my first visit to HopSaint over the weekend and I came away impressed by the beer and by the price of the food.
There were three beers on tap as they ramp up from soft opening to full and regular hours. I loathe the Bubble Butt blonde name but the beer itself is really good. Crisp and clean with a lovely grain taste to it. Most blonde ales are boring but this one is not. The Eleven-Eight is a lovely not quite a barleywine ale that again has a great crisp quality and loads of malt character. At this point, I thought that I was due a clinker. Any new brewery and many established ones have growing recipe pains.
But the Cacophony IPA was the best of the bunch. A light hued brew that packed a clear bitter punch with loads of fruit tinged hop character. I really liked it and would have gotten more but I was off to test a nearby oceanside tasting room…
The food was all on the high-side price wise but looked quality. I am not wowed by salads but the ingredients for each looked great and I will try the tri-tip sandwich on the next visit.
I would plan a visit to Torrance (or is this Redondo Beach?) to check out the beers before the secret is out.
Cosmic Lands in Torrance
Cosmic Ales drifted off the craft beer radar. Without a hone base and relying on contract brewing left customers without a reliable path to their beer. That has now changed….
Here is the website announcement:
“1 block west of Western and just south of Del Amo blvd. It’s the perfect location for us nestled in between Smog City, Monkish and the Dudes. What better company to be in!
We’ve already begun the renovations so stay tuned for a lively tasting room with many more great beers from our new Cosmic brew house”
Cosmic will need to up their game to attract people used to visiting the fabulous duo of Monkish and Smog City.
Torrance is Blessed
I did not know that Torrance was so beer religious. First Monkish and now a tidbit of more news on the the summer expected HopSaint.
At the kettles will be Brian Brewer who recently helmed The Brewery at Abigaile’s operation. Now he will be creating beers to pair with the smokehouse BBQ restaurant that will be the other half of HopSaint.
The Torrance brew crawl will soon need to be a full weekend.
