Brew & Brunch for Father's Day in the South Bay
Father's Day
Most dads are pretty simple and pervade the ever male stance of modesty. Dads tend to shy away from excess shopping or accessorizing and really don’t need many material items to justify their existence. A Lakers jersey, a putter, a nice bottle of wine, some gym socks, and maybe something tech related all make for passable Father’s Day gifts. The Kindle Fire can be scooped up on Amazon and the iPad mini is probably selling for over $300 in most Apple stores; both are extraordinary Father’s Day Gifts, but can put a lien on the wallet. Father’s Day is really a corporate induced Sunday that reminds us we need to spend some quality time with the Family, especially Dad. There’s nothing more communal than sharing a brew or treating Dad to a meal.
Breweries and dads are synonymous; it’s an ingenious marketing package that combines quality and a do-it-yourself flavor that all dads identify with. Luckily, breweries and craft beer have officially taken root in the South Bay thanks to Joe Elliot and Rick Marcello, owners of The Strand Brewing Company in Torrance, as well as others like El Segundo Brewing Company and Smog City Brewery (Torrance). The Story goes that Elliot and Marcello met each other while surfing 24th Street in Hermosa Beach, which ultimately became the moniker of their flagship beer, 24th Street Pale Ale. Their taproom opened its doors officially in early March 2012 and will be open this Sunday for some Father’s Day tasting from noon to 6 p.m. The Strand Taproom is located at 23520 Telo Avenue in Torrance.
Sample some hop forward beers with dad at El Segundo Brewery this Sunday from 2-7pm. In Redondo Beaches’ Riviera Village, a quaint but easily missed, growing business called Select Beer Store is selling craft beer from the bottle, can, and tap, domestics and imports.Smog City Brewery will be pouring for a Father's Day event at Select Beer Store in Redondo Beach starting at noon on Sunday.
The Select Beer Shop in Redondo Beaches' Riviera Village.
There’s another brewery in the South Bay that’s making a name for itself, or at least a second name. What once was The Union Cattle in Hermosa Beach is now a bit more refined and organic. The Abigaile is one of the few South Bay based restaurants that brews its suds on site and is the only restaurant/microbrewery around that has a punk rock wall lined with graffiti dedicated to some of the historical South Bay favorites like Black Flag. This Sunday Abigaile will feature a brunch menu starting around 11am that hosts some old school favorites like fried chicken & crunchy french toast and a cocktail menu with house infused whiskey and tequila. Their brewmaster is named Brian Brewer, seriously, and his spring seasonal beer called "Not a Wit" Belgian Wheat is currently on tap.
Take dad to BALEENkitchen for some scenic harbor views and self-serve Bloody Mary Bar. It is basically an all you can drink Bloody Mary Bar with every kind of appropriate garnish, spice, and sauce. Cost is $14 per person and the Bloody Mary Bar will be open from 7:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Think outside the box too, that means do a little planning ahead and buy dad tickets to the second Waves of Grain Beer Fest at Shade Hotel. The event won't happen until June 30th but the list of beers will clock out at over 40 brews and rumor is that there will be a pig roasting.
