Smog City Begins Brewing in New Torrance Brewery

After five months of construction, Smog City Brewing announced this week that they have received all the final approvals from the City of Torrance to begin brewing operations at their new Torrance brewery.

"We are excited to officially join the South Bay's growing craft beer community and look forward to pouring our beers once again throughout the South Bay and Greater Los Angeles area," Smog City co-founder Laurie Porter wrote in an email to Patch.

Porter said that they brewery will begin brewing again this week and once they get things going, will announce a grand opening date for their in-brewery taproom and tasting room. 

Because of the construction, Smog City's beers have been a little more difficult to find in bars across Los Angeles. Now that brewing can begin, Porter said the beers will be easier to find.

For those eagerly anticipating the opening of Smog City's tasting room, Porter said she will provide updates through the brewery's Facebook page and official mailing list.

Here is a look at what else is happening with craft beer this week (April 11 - April 18) in the South Bay:

Beer Bars, Restaurants and Stores

Select Beer Store | Redondo Beach

Ommegang Night | Thursday, April 11 | 5 p.m.

Select Beer Store will be hosting Ommegang Night featuring the release of the Game of Thrones beer Iron Throne. This Belgian-style Blonde Ale has a malty sweetness, a touch of fruity spiciness, aroma of Noble Hops and notes of citrus. The store will also be pouring some other delicious beers from Ommegang for your enjoyment, including:

• Witte (Belgian-style Wit)
• BPA (Belgian-style Pale)
• 2012 release of Art of Darkness that has been aging for the past year.

Vella Mobile Wood-Fired Pizza will be on site serving up their fresh and flavorful pizzas.

Hot's Kitchen | Hermosa Beach

Ballast Point Beer Dinner | Wednesday, April 24 | 6-10 p.m.

Hot's Kitchen will host San Diego county's Ballast Point Brewing for a night of craft beer paired with Hot's Kitchen dishes. Ballast Point will bring along with them some of their more limited release beers including:

• Pescadero Pilsner
• Brother Levonian (Saison)
• Sculpin (Imperial IPA)
• Habanero Sculpin (Imperial IPA with Habanero Peppers)
• Homework Series #1 (Hoppy Red Ale)
• Victory At Sea (Imperial Porter)

Tickets for the dinner include a six-course meal paired with all six of Ballast Point's beers. Tickets are $55 and can be purchased on the event's webpage.

Sophie's Place | Redondo Beach

Current tap list at Sophie's Place as of April 11 includes:

• Firestone Walker Brewing Co. - Pivo Pils
• Oskar Blues Brewery - G'Knight Imperial Red
• Epic Brewing Company - Brainless on Raspberries 
• Epic Brewing - Wit Beer
• Unibroue - Trois Pistoles Belgian Dark Strong
• Stone Brewing Co. - Old Guardian Oak-Smoked Barley Wine
• Ballast Point Brewing & Spirits - West To East IPA (going super quick!)
• Almanac Beer Co - Barrel Noir Imperial Stout (Aged in Kentucky Bourbon oak barrels)

Breweries

Strand Brewing Co. | Torrance

Current beers on tap at the Torrance taproom include:

• 24th Street Pale Ale
• Atticus IPA
• Beach House Amber
• White Sand (Double IPA)
• Black Sand
• Black 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.

The Dudes' Brewing Company | Torrance

After celebrating its first launch events in the Beach Cities this month, The Dudes' Brewing will head to other venues across Los Angeles to bring their South Bay brewed beer to the masses.

Next week's Dudes' launch events will take place at:

• April 16 | 6 p.m. | SmithHouse | Santa Monica
  
  

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!