Tag: Tortugo Brewing

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Re-Visit Tortugo Brewing

I attempt to balance visiting breweries so that I do not go to far in between visits but I fell down on the job with Tortugo Brewing out in Inglewood.

But on a sultry fall Saturday, I went back to the the distinctive orange building to try a couple of their beers. The beertender on duty was particularly helpful and in good spirits which was a good sign.

I started with a Red Ale, Baltra. I have a weak spot for this beer probably due to Double Mountain’s Killer Red. This beer tasted more like a hoppy brown ale to me. Softer and chocolate tinged where I expected sharper and spicier. The second beer was the Galapagos Triple IPA which was really good. Bright fruit forward aroma. And the ABV of 11% was not out there boldly proclaiming itself.

Then another turn with a taster of their Mai Tai inspired IPA, which tasted more old and caramel then any of the three fruits referenced on the menu board.

Now, I just need to visit more frequently.

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CB25

Do you remember your first coffee beer? Did you know that 25 years ago the now long gone Westwood Brewing Co paired with City Bean Roasters to make CB1? Now City Bean has teamed with Tortugo Brewing Company for CB25 coffee IPA.

·       Hops: Mosaic and Galaxy

·       Coffees: Ethiopia Bedhatu and Sumatra Kerici cold brewed

Here is a little more info on the City Bean / Tortugo relationship, “This is the third beer collaboration for Tortugo and City Bean, the first two being Tortugo Nog, a white coffee stout on nitro.”

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1st Visit – Tortugo Brewing


Just off Florence and over the coming Metro tracks is the hard-to-miss building that houses Tortugo Brewing. One of the newest additions to the L.A. brewery tally.

The build-out has given the space a chill, beach cabana feel. There is an even divide of shaded seating and in the sun seating arranged around the L shaped bar. This is a great game hangout or lazy Sunday stop too. When the new stadium comes online, this may well become a tailgator stop for crowlers.

There were five beers (plus michelada) on tap from brewer/delivery driver/tortoise wrangler Joe Kovach. My favorite of the group was the Cristobal Lager that was simple, clear and crisp. On the other end of the spectrum, the Porter could have used a bit of burly-ness or chocolate malt to add to it. The pale and IPA were both solid starts with my nod going to the Pale. The Witbier was nice in the summer heat as well.

They have tanks set up to do more wild things though a hefe will be brewed up before then but the large space looks to have the room to add both tanks and barrels whichever styles get pursued. And though the bright orange and blue was a bit strong on the eyes, Kovach has certainly created an un-missable spot.