Last week Business and Beer returned to the 1321 Downtown Taproom Bistro (The Taproom), a gastropub located in Old Torrance. This was our second time visiting The Taproom and it was the third week that we have been promoting our weekly network events via our new group with Meetup.com. We started using Meetup as a means of growing our group, and it seems to be helping a little. We have had a few additional visitors as a direct result of Meetup and at least one of them seems to be becoming a regular attendee. I did have one Meetup visitor express surprise at how many people were in attendance since our Meetup page only showed a few RSVPs, and we had close to 20 people with us. It was a really nice group and everyone seemed to enjoy the fact that we had so many new faces join us.
Meetup meets Business & Beer at 1321 Downtown Taproom Bistro
This Thursday, March 28, Business & Beer and our Meetup group will return to El Segundo Brewing Company, a great microbrewery located in El Segundo, CA. As this is a microbrewery, they do not sell food; however, you are allowed to bring outside food in. We usually have some kind of snack like peanuts or pizza, but that is hit or miss. If food is important, there are locations close that will deliver. We are really hoping the Meetup members continue to join us, the more the merrier and all that. 
Remember, we created Business & Beer to help you; as such, we need you to help us grow. If you know someone that works in the South Bay that might benefit from free business leads, invite them to any of our events. The schedule is constantly updated so you can plan at least a month in advance. If you belong to Meetup, please consider joining our Meetup group and RSVP there so other Meetup members will notice that they are not alone. Like and share us on Facebook; every little bit helps. We are growing and I see people developing relationships and doing business at these events; come join us and see how we can help you succeed.
All the photos from our Meetup at The Taproom can be found on GotBaddog.com.
Please join us for Business & Beer a small business networking event which will be held at Alpine Inn on May 16, 2013 at 6 PM. Alpine Inn is located at 833 West Torrance Blvd Torrance, California. Please RSVP by commenting below that you will be there or let us know on our Business N Beer Facebook page .
Join us at Alpine Inn at 6 PM on May 16, 2013
Please join us for Business & Beer a small business networking event which will be held at The Brewery at Abigaile on May 9, 2013 at 6 PM. The Brewery at Abigaile is located at 1301 Manhattan Avenue, Hermosa Beach, California. Please RSVP by commenting below that you will be there.
Join us at The Brewery at Abigaile at 6 PM on May 9, 2013
Last week the Business and Beer networking group returned to the Hermosa Beach gastropub; The Rockefeller. This was the second week that we utilized Meetup.com and it is becoming apparent that this is giving us some additional reach. We normally arrive at our meeting location about a half hour ahead of time so we can get set up and maybe eat before everyone arrives. When we got to The Rockefeller this time there were already five or six people waiting for us! It was going to be a good turnout.
The Rockefeller gastropub, Hermosa Beach
As it turned out, this initial group was the result of a Business & Beer members Phil and Deborah meeting one person and talking about our networking group. That one conversation resulted in five new attendees. In addition, Meetup did provide three new attendees, so combined with the regulars that showed up we had a large group with a majority of the attendees being first timers. They seemed to have a good time so I suspect they will return. That is how we grow; if you know someone that might find value in networking with our group, please invite them. You do not need special permission and we do not need notice ahead of time; just show up.
A nice Business & Beer group at The Rockefeller
This week, March 14, Business & Beer will return to 1321 Downtown Taproom Bistro in downtown Torrance. 1321 Taproom has redesigned their food menu and is improving their beer program, so we are happy to add them to our rotation. For those that have yet to try any brews from the South Bay’s latest microbrewery, The Dudes’ Brewing Company, I have reason to believe they will have a few taps available there. I hope you can join us. All the photos from our gathering at The Rockefeller can be found on GotBaddog.com.
Business & Beer returned to the Alpine Inn at Alpine Village in Torrance last Thursday, and considering it started to rain shortly before we were scheduled to meet, we had a pretty good turnout. The Alpine Inn is a German themed restaurant that was included in the Business & Beer rotation due to the wide selection of American craft beers they pour in addition to the German and Czech brews that are found there. Over the prior weekend we decided to give Meetup a try, so we set up a page with them and thought that would be that. As it turned out, there was an approval process so they did not really put the word out about Business & Beer until late Tuesday; even so, we had two new visitors as a result, so that is a good thing.
Alpine Inn beers on tap
This Thursday, March 14 we will be returning to The Rockefeller in Hermosa Beach. If you have never been to The Rockefeller, it is a very nice gastropub in Hermosa Beach, on Pier Avenue. As it is Hermosa Beach, you may need to search for parking, but it will be worth it. They have about 25 craft beers on tap and have a quality food menu, with many specials available when we are there. In addition to the regular Business & Beer attendees, the last I looked we had close to 10 RSVP’s from Meetup; so we have the potential for a pretty large group. I hope you can join us.
Business & Beer joins Meetup
In the way of announcements, we have a couple. This week, our friends at Sophie’s Place are dedicating their eight taps to four of the South Bay’s own brewers; Strand Brewing, Monkish Brewing, El Segundo Brewing and Smog City. The taps will be dedicated as South Bay Beer Week at Sophie’s Place and runs through Saturday.
Sunday, March 17 is St. Patrick’s Day and Saint Rocke in Hermosa Beach will host the 1st Annual Froth Awards, The Easy Reader Beer Experience and Gastropub Challenge. The Froth Awards will feature the best of the South Bay’s microbreweries, brewpubs and gastropubs who will put together five food and craft beer pairings. The microbreweries participating include, Strand Brewing Company, Monkish Brewing, Smog City, El Segundo Brewing Company and the Brewery at Abigaile. Food will be provided by The Rockefeller, Hudson House, Hot’s Kitchen, Simmzy’s and others. This sounds like it will be a great time. Tickets at $29 at the door, or you can purchase them online on the Saint Rocke website. If you buy your tickets online, please be aware there is $6.95 in fees per ticket if you purchase your tickets online (there are no fees if you purchase your tickets at the door), however, they have released a promo code “Frothy” to take $5.00 off each ticket. You will apply this at checkout; look at the top right under Sub Total for the Promo code link. The doors open at noon and the pairings begin at 1:00 PM. You can find more details on GotBaddog.com.
