Smog City Brewing Celebrates Grand Opening in the South Bay

After making a big splash on the Southern California craft beer scene in just two years of operation, Smog City Brewing will celebrate another big milestone Saturday as the brewery hosts the grand opening of its new brewing facility and tap room in Torrance.

Co-owners John and Laurie Porter – who spent four months building and installing the new facility – hope their move to the South Bay from their former home at Orange County's Tustin Brewing will help Smog City expand its reach and add to a growing craft beer scene in the South Bay.

With the brewery's move to Torrance, Smog City became the fourth brewery in just over three years to make Torrance its home and will join neighbors Strand Brewing Co., Monkish Brewing and The Dudes' Brewing Co.

"There are not too many cities where there are all the right things that come together," John said of Torrance. "It is super pro business and from a practical standpoint, there is industrial space that is not too expensive, but there is also residential and that fits for a brewery with a taproom."

The Porters both said that having so many breweries nearby not only helps the breweries themselves, but also better serves craft beer drinkers as they can visit multiple tap rooms in one day.

"That creates a beer destination for the rest of L.A... It is really difficult to get people to travel for one thing," Laurie said of the multiple craft breweries with taprooms in Torrance. "We can feed off of each other... There is a community and being that close, it is helpful.”

While Saturday's focus will be on the taproom, the Porters have spent the past month getting back on their brewing feet. Smog City stopped brewing at Tustin Brewing in February and because of that, the Porters have been focusing on getting their beer back into bars and into the hands of the eager public.

"Our short-term goal is to get people to the beer who have been asking it for who knows how long," John said. "Right now it is slim pickings... We are just kind of getting our feet under us."

Laurie said that Smog City's beers should begin popping up again in Los Angeles bars this month and once distribution is on track, John can start experimenting with and creating new beers.

"When I can stop and take a breath, I can start having more fun," John said.

As for the future of the brewery, the Porters both said they hope to create a brand image for themselves where people are always willing to try their product.

"What I have always told accounts is, I want people to come in and see our name and say ‘I like everything I have had from them,’” Laurie said “It has always been make sure the people that are drinking our beer are being rewarded with good beer and will then take chances on our others... We want to do some crazy stuff and we want to make beers that are a little off kilter.”

Currently, John is working on making a new Belgian-style blonde ale called Paper Air Plane in addition to some of his other beers including Little Bo Pils (Pilsner), Amarillo Gorilla (IPA) and the award-winning Groundwork Coffee Porter.

In addition, the Porters said that the new taproom will feature rare Smog City beers that the public cannot find anywhere else. During the soft opening weekends over the past three weeks, beers such as a bourbon barrel-aged red ale and a sour beer known as Quercus Circus have appeared on tap.

Saturday's grand opening event will also feature some unique beers including the Penumbra Stout and a beer simply titled "Weird Beer."

Grand Opening Details:

• Saturday, May 18 | Noon - 9 p.m.
• 1901 Del Amo Blvd Ste B, Torrance, CA 90501
• All beers $6 per pour or $2 per sampler

• Smog City XPA
• Groundwork Coffee Porter
• Sabre-Toothed Squirrel
• Penumbra Stout
• Amarilla Gorilla
• Weird Beer
• Quercus Circus
• Bourbon Red