Smog City Named Top L.A. Brewery to Watch

The South Bay's own Smog City Brewing was recently named the top Los Angeles Breweries to watch in 2013 by L.A. Weekly.

The brewery, which is currently building its new facility in Torrance, has already won national recognition in its first year of operation by winning a gold medal at the Great American Beer Festival (think of it as the Pulitzer for beers) for its Groundwork Coffee Porter.

As L.A. Weekly put it, Smog City Brewing "could very well be L.A.'s new signature brewery."

According to owners Laurie and Porter, the new brewing facility and tap room in Torrance is expected to open sometime in the second quarter of 2013. For now, many of Smog City's beers can be found throughout the South Bay and Los Angeles at local bars and restaurants.

Here is a look at what else is happening on the craft beer scene in the South Bay:

Beer Bars, Restaurants and Stores

Adam's Fine Wine & Liquor | Redondo Beach

Adam's will be receiving beers from San Francisco's Almanac Beer Co. this week which marks the first time the brewery has distributed to Southern California.

Other new beer arrivals this week at Adam's include:

• Sierra Nevada Big Foot (Barleywine)
• Lagunitas Brewing Lagunitas Sucks (Double IPA)
• Drie Fonteinen Oude Geuze

One bottle of Sam Adams Utopia is still available for $199.

The Rockefeller | Hermosa Beach

The Rockefeller will be hosting beer School and beer tasting with Stone Brewing on Jan 21 starting at 6 p.m. Guests will have an opportunity to meet the brewer as well. Tasters of Stone's beer will go for $3; $12 for a whole flight. Keep the glass!

Sophie's Place | Redondo Beach

Current tap list (as of Jan. 9):

• Smog City Brewing The Nothing (Imperial Chocolate Stout)
• Unita Brewing HooDoo Kolsch
• Unibroue Trois Pistoles (Belgian Dark Ale)
• Ayinger Brau-Weiss (Hefewiezen)
• Firestone Walker Pivo Pilsner
• Firestone Walker DBA
• Great Divide Hercules (Double IPA)
• Deschutes Chain Breaker White IPA

Naja's Place | Redondo Beach

Ballast Point Tap Takeover | Thursday, Jan. 10 | 8 p.m.

Naja's will host San Diego County's Ballast Point Brewing tonight (Thursday) with a Tap Takeover and Pint Night.

Naja's said there will be 18 Ballast Point beers on tap for the event including a barrel aged version of their Tongue Buckler imperial red ale.

Breweries

Strand Brewing Co. | Torrance

Strand Brewing will host two pint nights this week in the South Bay:

Tuesday, Jan. 15 | 6-8 p.m. | Brewco, Manhattan Beach
Strand Brewing's Rich will be on hand to pour and talk about Strand beers. The first 50 pints poured will get to keep the Strand branded pint glass.

Beer lineup includes:

• 24th Street Pale Ale
• Beach House Amber
• Atticus IPA
• Bagheera 3rd Anniversary Ale
• Black Sand Double IPA

Wednesday, Jan. 16 | 6 p.m. - close | Hot's Kitchen, Hermosa Beach
Seven Strand beers will be poured and a special Chicken Tikka Taco will be paired with the Bagheera 3rd Anniversary Ale. The first 50 customers will get to keep the Strand pint glass.

Beer linup includes:

• 24th Street Pale Ale
• Beach House Amber
• Atticus IPA
• Bagheera 3rd Anniversary Ale
• Black Sand Double IPA
• Black IPA
• Batch 100 Stout

Current beers on tap at the tasting room include:

• Beach House Amber (Amber Ale)
• 24th Street Pale Ale
• Atticus (IPA)
• Black IPA
• Bagheera-East India Pale Ale (3rd Anniversary Ale featuring a blend of curry, cumin, cinnamon, cloves, toasted coconut and tamarind).
• Black Sand (Double IPA)

Tap room hours this week for beer tasting and growler fills are:

Thursday: 4-9 p.m.
Friday: 4-9 p.m.
Saturday: Noon-8 p.m.
Sunday: Noon-6 p.m.

Smog City Brewing | Torrance

Sunday, Jan. 13 | 12:30-7 p.m. | Whole Foods El Segundo
Smog City will help Whole Foods in El Segundo celebrate the expansion of their beer bar to 26 taps. Smog City representatives will be on hand to talk beer along with other local breweries.

Monday, Jan. 14 | 6-10 p.m. | Venice Ale House, Venice Beach
Along with Ladyface Brewing Co. and Venice Ale House Smog City will help celebrate the launch of Tap Hunter L.A. by pouring four of their beers at Venice Ale House. Each brewery will also collaborate to produce a "Tan and Black" mix of two of their beers.

Smog City also continues construction on its new brewing facility in Torrance. Last week, workers poured the concrete floors of the brewery which now allows for brewing equipment to be set up.

El Segundo Brewing | El Segundo 

Tap room hours for beer tasting and growler fills are:

Wednesday: 5-9 p.m.
Thursday: 5-9 p.m.
Friday: 5-9 p.m.
Saturday: 2-9 p.m.
Sunday: 2-7 p.m.

Monkish Brewing Co. | Torrance

Tap room hours this week for beer tasting and growler fills are:

Thursday: 4-9 p.m.
Friday: 4-9 p.m.
Saturday: 3-8 p.m.
Sunday: 1-6 p.m.

Editor's Note: Only establishments that have submitted updates are included in this column. If you own a beer bar, brewery, beer store or beer-centric restaurant in the South Bay of Los Angeles and would like to include your establishment's updates in this column, please send editor John Schreiber an email at John.Schreiber@Patch.com. This column relies on the updates from local business owners to keep it running—please contribute!