Tag: Torrance

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FoodGPS Teaser – Smog City

Early in January as the concrete was drying at the in-progress Smog City brewery, I was treated to a tour of the facility by Porter and Laurie the hard working duo behind such beers as The Nothing and Sabre-Toothed Squirrel.

I will talk more about what I saw and what I heard but check out some photos here…..
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The “sign” that shows you that you have found Smog City
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Remember this photo when you are sitting in their taproom.

And check out the info for their event tonight at the Venice Ale House….
“Come join TapHunter at Venice Ale House as we celebrate our LA launch with 2 of LA’s most promising breweries, LadyFace Ale Companie and Smog City Brewing. No strangers to one another, brewmasters and co-founders Dave Griffiths of LadyFace and Porter of Smog City once worked together at BJ’s Brewery before parting ways to start their own breweries. Now TapHunter is reuniting this duo, that represents both the light and darkness of the LA craft beer scene. Join us for a night of fun:

– Meet the folks from TapHunter, LadyFace and Smog City
– ‘Craft Table’ for the ladies we provide the t-shirts, ribbon, scissors; you provide the creativity! prizes for the best customized shirt!
– $5 pours, door prizes, burger specials
– DJ provided for the children

First 100 RSVP’ers, show us your TapHunter App and TapHunter will buy your first pint!”

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Monkish Brewing


On the last day of March, I visited the newly opened L.A. brewery by the name of Monkish that has opened in Torrance. (And I squeezed in a visit to Strand and their new tasting room too)

These photos are the teaser for the main article on Monkish that will arrive tomorrow over on FoodGPS.

Henry Nguyen with a flight of Monkish Belgian ales. Oblate, Crux and Rosa’s Hips.

The brewing operations and a saint too!

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Strand Tasting Room Opening Party

I haven’t mentioned Strand Brewing in awhile. Very remiss of me. But now I have an excellent reason. April 14th and 15th will be the opening shindig for the new tasting room next to their brewery.

If, like me, you haven’t had a Strand beer in awhile. This will be the perfect opportunity to reacquaint yourself with the delights of the Atticus IPA or, my personal favorite, the Beach House amber. Both of which I had while checking out the new space and both are as good as ever which isn’t surprising with their exacting quality standards.

And like at the new Monkish tasting room (which is also a must stop location nearby), the atmosphere is very convivial and laid back. Easy to sit and stay and enjoy.

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Let’s REALLY Tour – Strand Brewing

Foreword
Usually my tours are of the electronic variety, I wish I could tour breweries and write about them for a living but that is not the case (yet!). But today is different. An actual visit, with photographic proof.

I have met the fine people (Rich and Joel) behind the Strand Brewing enterprise at a few events over the last few months. And two days ago, I got to visit the brewery!

The iconic Strand logo on the door to the brewhouse
How about a hoppy IPA?
The beer bubbling away
Tap Handles that are made by the brewer!
A keg ready for the road

There is no one successful model in creating a brewery. But there is one constant. Caring about the quality of the beer first. Yes, the branding is important. Yes, the customers are important. And I learned a lot from talking to Rich about his views on those topics. But I could tell that the beer really comes first at Strand. They want a product that is up to their expectations and it is why Rich is especially proud of his re-order rate (100%).

I can assure you that Strand will be talked up even more this year as more people taste the Beach House, Atticus and 24 Street.