Updated June 14, 2018 – Check out L.A. Beer Week in the South Bay, a page dedicated to the ever-loving expansion of craft beer into the marketplace, throats, and taps of the South Bay and beyond.
Rise and shine elbow benders, L.A. Beer Week round ten is coming to a bar, bottle shop, pub, lectern and brewery near you. The epic steam engine that has become the craft beer industry in L.A. and South Bay locales meet for a week, June 16 – 24. Presented by the Los Angeles County Brewers Guild, #LABW10 (official hash-tag) taps into summer with their 6/16LA Beer Week Kick-Off Festival on Saturday. Venue for kick-off event is Los Angeles Center Studios in Downtown L.A. Expect food trucks, at least 90 breweries, craft beer education and live music. General admission tickets are available at $50 per person.
L.A. Beer Week events in the South Bay peak during the middle of the week at Naja’s Place, the most eminent elbow bending spot on the seedy side of the King Harbor Marina, with the Battle the Guilds event on Thursday night June 21st. California brewer guilds from L.A., San Fancisco & San Diego and member breweries meet to pour specialty brew for the legal drinking public. You, the beer drinker, get to vote on what tastes best. All you need to do is pay for your pours. Winning brewer with the most votes takes home the Golden Keg.
L.A. Beer Week is in its 10th term as a not-for-profit craft beer event with ever increasing popularity driven by a cadre of volunteer supporters, the Los Angeles County Brewers Guild, and a DIY craft beer spirit that have built a platform to celebrate the local craft beer scene that is alive and thirsty in LA and around California.
In the spirit of a unified craft beer community, LABG members selected Los Angeles Ale Works, down the road in Hawthorne near SpaceX, to release the official beer of L.A. Beer Week, Unity. This year’s communal beer offering is a two-part can release portraying coastal interpretations of a hazy Northeast style IPA and clearer West Coast IPA. Unity will be available in both draft and cans in early July and will be featured at the L.A. Beer Week Kickoff Festival.
Bars, pubs, restaurants, bottle shops, and local breweries, will weave together special food pairing events, tap takeovers, some beer education, and tastes all in honor of L.A. Beer Week’s 10th round…
LA Beer Week Events in the South Bay
As we’ve done in the past, below you’ll find a list of South Bay venues and craft breweries that will be serving up something special for this year’s LABW 10. Check back every couple days as we’ll be adding events throughout LABW 10. If by chance you are in Eagle Rock, San Gabriel or happen to migrate outside the bubble (South Bay) be sure to scroll down the list of L.A. Beer Week events happening all week at L.A. Beer Week’s official events page.
6/16
LA Beer Week at BrewCo in Manhattan Beach
All Week 6//16 – 6/24
L.A. Beer Week is here and BrewCo is tapping 18 beers over the course of LA Beer week. Here’s a sample size list: Smog City Wow Pop! Pale, Beachwood Melrose IPA, El Segundo Brewing Cerveza Fresca: Guava NE Hazy IPA, King Harbor Brewing Casual Friday Session IPA, Mumford Extra Medium Extra Pale Ale, Knee Deep/Latitude 33 Latitude Adjustment IPA, State Brewing Sky Castles NE Hazy IPA. On Father’s Day Sunday, June 17 dads can select their first beer from special draft menu for $1.00 (124 Manhattan Beach Blvd, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266).
10th Annual LA Beer Week Kick off Festival
1:00 to 4:00 p.m.
The largest number of Los Angeles craft breweries set-up shop in Downtown LA for an all out, beer-terrific Kick Off festival that features at least 90 breweries to taste from, food and live music. $50 General admission ticket include a commemorative glass and unlimited tastings. Location: Los Angeles Center Studios. tickets
6/17
Hats Off Release Party at El Segundo Brewing Co.
Noon to 3:00 p.m.
A real firetruck marks a special release by ESBC who will be donating one dollar of every Hats Off IPA (8% ABV) bottle purchased to the Thomas Fire Relief. The beer serves as way to thank all the first responders who battled the Thomas Fire last year in and around Ventura. Brewed in collaboration with Ventura brewer Topa Topa, this is definitely a kid friendly event that celebrates craft beer and community. Event happens on site at ESBC, 140 Main St, El Segundo, CA 90245.
Dad’s Day Out at South Coast Botanic Garden
1:00 to 4:00 p.m.
Take Dad on an unforgettable adventure at the Garden as you hike through trails, design a memory box, and create burnt wood art. Then relax at the Craft Beer station to enjoy a cold brew from Smog City Brewing and play a game of corn hole. All Dads receive one complimentary beer. Drinks available for purchase on-site. This event is rain or shine. Kids Club is included with Garden admission or membership. Location: 26300 Crenshaw Blvd, Palos Verdes Peninsula, CA 90274
Father’s Day Carnival at Los Angeles Ale Works
Noon to 8:00 p.m.
Los Angeles Ale works throw dad a party complete with a balloon lady for the kids, beer slushies, a Menudo Mami Michelada Bar, and Bartz BBQ will be supplying the grub. Here”s a look at Bartz’s menu: Tomahawk steaks (pre-order via Eventbrite) | Bone-in rib eye steaks | Brisket | Pastrami beef ribs | Pork belly burnt ends | Pork ribs | Pulled pork | Mash potatoes and brisket gravy | Mac and cheese | Cream corn | BBQ beans | Cornbread | French fries | Fried pickles | Fried Twinkies | Fried Oreo’s Location: 12918 Cerise Ave, Hawthorne, CA 90250
Live Music & Food at Brouwerij West
3:00 PM to 7:30 p.m.
San Pedro based brewery, Brouwerij West, is slowly making the Port of Los Angles a tourist destination for craft beer fans around the South Bay and will showcase a long list of independent music and eats on Father’s Day June 17th during LABW 10. Local bands and food trucks accompany a special Non-Belgian beer release called Popfuji (German style unfiltered Pilsner). Bands include: ClasslessAct, OTTO, Alinea, XYZPDQ and DJ Paul E Wog. No cover charge, Brouwerij West is lcoated at 110 E 22nd St. in San Pedro.
Dad Party at Phantom Carriage Brewery
11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Phantom Carriage Brewery in Carson preps a Father’s Day Dad Party event for LABW 10 featuring a nod to their zip code with Carson Genuine Draft (in-house lager) on tap, classic Sci-Fi and horror flicks for dads eyes only and a vintage, smoked meatloaf to nosh on. All growler fills will be $10, except barrel-aged beers. No reservations required. Phantom Carriage Brewery is located at 18525 S. Main Street in Carson.
3rd Yacht Rock Costume Party at Naja’s
7:00 p.m.
Costumes, Yacht rock and craft beer meet up again for the third time during LABW 10 aboard Naja’s Place dockside along the International Boardwalk (Redondo Pier). Yacht like beers to be poured from breweries like Three Weavers and others. Costumes are highly encouraged.
6/18
Kick the Keg at City Tavern in Culver City
7:00 p.m.
Kind of a LA Beer Week tradition now that involves some friendly backyard competition where City Tavern invites various brewers to each bring a special keg(s). The first keg to go dry is crowned king or queen. The taps go live at 7 p.m. and City Tavern is located at 9739 Culver Blvd ; no ticket needed for this event.
So You Wanna Open A Brewery? Vol. 7
7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Join moderator Tomm Carroll, LA correspondent for The Celebrator Beer News and columnist / writer for Beer Paper LA, for this seventh annual LA Beer Week panel inside Common Space Brewery (Hawthorne). Brewers who have started brewing professionally in Los Angeles or who are in the process of opening breweries in and around Los Angeles discuss the challenges of getting craft beer to the public. Admission is free. Location: 3411 W El Segundo Blvd, Hawthorne, CA 90250
6/19
Brew with the Brewers at Zymurgy Brew Works
5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Special Los Angeles Beer Week Event at Zymurgy Brew Works & Tasting Room on Tuesday (6/19), Wednesday (6/20) or Thursday (6/21). Want to learn how craft beer is made? Interested about getting into home-brewing? Why is it called “craft” beer? Well, come to Zymurgy Brew Works during LA Beer Week and get answers to those questions and more….. while you brew with their brewers! You will actually take part in the brewing process. They’ll be brewing a variety of styles during the week, so come in and check us out and learn a thing or two about crafting your own beer. FREE and open to the public. Location: 22755 Hawthorne Blvd, Torrance, CA 90505
6/21
Battle of the Guilds at Naja’s Place
6:00 p.m.
Three California brewers guilds will join forces for one giant tap takeover at Naja’s Place Thursday, June 21st for the traditional Battle of the Guilds. This event is designed to showcase all that these organizations have to offer. Taste your way through a selection of Los Angeles County Brewers Guild, San Diego Brewers Guild, and San Francisco Brewers Guild breweries and cast your vote to see who will inherit the prized Golden Keg. Naja’s Place is located at 154 International Boardwalk on the Redondo Pier. No ticket needed for this event.
Summer Solstice Can Release at Los Angeles Ale Works
3:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.
To celebrate the Summer Solstice LA Ale Works is releasing Solar Kitten (11.0% ABV). Loaded with Simcoe, Ella and Loral hops, this triple IPA is big so be be prepared for this kitty to take you to a state of catatonia. Location: 12918 Cerise Ave, Hawthorne, CA 90250
6/22
Fiesta at El Segundo Brewing Co.
2:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
There’s tacos, Agua Frescas, Michelada and Cerveza, it’s a Fiesta. To celebrate the release of Cerveza Fresca Guava in 16oz cans, ESBC is hosting a taco cart. Macheen Tacos is going be in the house and they’ll be bringing the tacos you love. ESBC will be mixing beer cocktails as well. Location: 140 Main St, El Segundo, CA 90245
6/23
Mini Version of Rarest of the Rare at Smog City Brewing
noon to 10:00 p.m.
This year it’s a smaller version of Smog City’s Rarest of the Rare event. They will be serving and selling 3 new and exclusive bottle releases from their barrel production beers. Long time favorite Bourbon O.E. and two which have only been tapped for exclusive and limited previews: Saison de Miel (Oak fermented farmhouse ale with raw sage honey) & Type O Negative (White wine barrel-aged sour blonde with black currant, rosemary and juniper). Take a look at some of the beer offerings on LA Beer Week’s event listing to gauge what’s for sale and and to see what Smog City has been storing in their cellar. Smog City is located at 1901 Del Amo Blvd #B in Torrance.
(Page updated by Scott Hayes (scott@southbayevents,com) | Above images courtesy of Los Angles County Brewers Guild & supporting sponsors.)