craft beers

BusinessNBeer set up

Ready for some Business & Beer

On November 14, 2013 the Business & Beer networking group returned to El Segundo Brewing Company for our monthly gathering. Since we have been meeting for 16 months now, we know that when Daylight Savings Time ends, people seem to stay home a little more than when the sun is out. We also have learned that there are locations that will have larger turnouts than others. Since El Segundo Brewing is the craft brewery that is the northernmost location we visit, we expect that the turnouts will be lower than what we might experience in Torrance. It seems that changing to a monthly format has definitely helped with our attendance levels since we had more than double the turnout we had the last time we visited there in June. I have said it before, and will say it again; the smaller gatherings are in some ways better than the big ones as everyone gets an opportunity to talk to anyone they want. It is through relationship building that business relationships are formed. We appreciate El Segundo Brewing for hosting the event and thank Brett and Travis for keeping our glasses filled. You can see all the photos from Business & Beer at El Segundo Brewing on CraftBeerGuy.com.

Our next Business & Beer will be held December 12, 2013 at Strand Brewing Company in Torrance. As I mentioned above, after 16 months we have a pretty good idea which locations are going to have the best turnouts and there is no doubt that Strand Brewing Company is always one of our top draws as far as attendance is concerned. Strand Brewing is located at 23520 Telo Avenue in Torrance. As it is a microbrewery they do not serve food but you are welcome to bring food with you. We sometimes have pizza available but it is not guaranteed, so if you are really hungry you might want to stop and grab a bite before coming. Be sure to bring business cards for our drawing and for giving out; I am sure we will have a nice turnout. Continue reading

Business & Beer at Monkish Brewing

Business & Beer at Monkish Brewing Company in Torrance

On Thursday October 10, Business & Beer held their monthly get-together at Monkish Brewing Company, a Torrance microbrewery that specializes in Belgian style ales. In addition to the 10+ varieties of ales available, Vella Pizza was there with their mobile brick oven to provide their special pizzas for those in attendance. Speaking of attendance, this group was one of the most diversified we have had since we first started Business & Beer. There was a healthy mix of old timers, occasional visitors and first timers. We even had representatives of two new breweries join us, Pac City Brewery from Pacoima and Absolution Brewing Company of Torrance. We will be including Absolution Brewing in our rotation in 2014; after they get set up and get a tasting room in place.

Business & Beer is an informal business networking group that meets on the second Thursday of every month at a different microbrewery or brewpub in the South Bay area. Unlike other business networking groups we have no dues or mandatory meetings. If networking is an important part of your job description and you enjoy craft beers, you should consider joining us. It is a very nice group of people and they want to meet you and learn more about what your business offers. Our next gathering will be November 14 at El Segundo Brewing Company in El Segundo. They have been doing a lot of brewing there lately and have several beers released since our last visit there including the addition of a lager and a saison to accompany the IPAs, stouts and DIPAs. If you have never come to El Segundo Brewing, you are in for a treat. You can find our entire schedule of upcoming events and sign up to our mailing list on the front page of BusinessNBeer.com. You can also Like us on Facebook to be kept abreast of upcoming gatherings and special events. You can find all the photos from our gathering at Monkish Brewing Company on CraftbeerGuy.com.

Business & Beer Attendees

Some of the attendees at Monkish Brewing Business & Beer

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Last Thursday, July 11, we began our new format at Business & Beer, changing from weekly networking events to once a month; holding our meetups on the second Thursday of each month. Last week we met at Strand Brewing Company in Torrance and if the turnout is any indicator of what the future holds, meeting once a month is definitely going to work. While the last few Business & Beer gatherings were rather dismal in attendance, last week we not only had several returnees that we have not seen in a while, but we had two new guests. It was good to see everyone introducing themselves to people they did not know; one of our first time guests told me she was impressed with how friendly and open everyone was sorry she had not learned of us sooner.

Our next Business & Beer is scheduled for August 8 at The Brewery at Abigaile; a brewpub located at 1301 Manhattan Ave, Hermosa Beach, CA 90254. Head Brewer, Brian Brewer, always has five wonderful beers going, ranging from blondes to porters. Business & Beer regulars know that I have a particular affinity for hoppy brews and Brian has definitely had some that I loved, but I recently visited Abigaile and it seems he is experimenting more with malts to give some real balance to the brews. In addition to great beers, they have some very good food.

The Brewery at Abigaile is the only brewpub on the Business & Beer schedule and there is a good reason for that. If you have been there, you know why; if you have not, you are in for a treat. As a note, since we are having fewer meetings there will be fewer newsletters going out, so if you want to stay current liking us on Facebook is one of the best methods. Continue reading

Business & Beer returned to Sophie’s Place last week. Sophie’s Place is a gastropub in the Riviera Village section of Redondo Beach with eight rotating taps and about 50 different craft beers available in bottles and cans. They have a very nice selection of hard to find options available. They also have a great food menu with their date salad and lamb burgers being a couple favorites. We had another small turnout for whatever reason, and since the Phantom Carriage “Muis” Release Celebration was being held over at Naja’s Place, we all headed over there. Unfortunately, there was a major power outage in that part of Redondo Beach so there was no power and no beer was being poured until after power was restored. I waited around and took some photos; they had a nice group there, but had to leave before power was eventually restored.

This week, June 27 we will be returning to the home of Belgian styled ales in Torrance, Monkish Brewing Company. Monkish Brewing is located at 20311 South Western Avenue in Torrance. If this is your first visit to Monkish, it is a microbrewery that currently has about 11 different ales currently on tap. From lagers to quads, if you enjoy Belgian style ales, you will enjoy Monkish Brewing Company. As they are a microbrewery, they do not serve food but you are more than welcome to bring food or order in. Their tasting room is in an industrial park on the west side of Western, just south of Del Amo (the driveway past the hamburger stand). Thursday will mark the end of our weekly meetups and the beginning of visiting brewpubs and microbreweries only. Since we will be meeting once a month only, the second Thursday of the month, this would be a good time to get on our mailing list or Like Us on Facebook to ensure you are kept in the loop for upcoming events. Continue reading

On June 13, Business & Beer returned to 1321 Downtown Taproom Bistro, a gastropub located in old Torrance. It was another smaller than expected/desired turnout, but there is a lot of things going on this time of year with graduations and some people traveling. Even though there were just a few of us, we had a good time and enjoyed conversing along with the food and craft beers. Thanks you to the staff of “The Taproom” for hosting our event.

Thursday June 20 we will bring Business & Beer back to Sophie’s Place, a gastropub located in the Riviera Village portion of Redondo Beach at 1708 S. Catalina. They have 8 craft beers on tap and about 50 available in cans or bottles. On top of that they have a very good food menu. We usually have a pretty nice turnout at Sophie’s and since this will be the last official Business & Beer there due to our change in formats please consider stopping by if for no other reason than to thank them for their support.

Since we are changing our format beginning in July, if you are not on our mailing list or following us on Facebook you should do one or the other as there will soon be no more weekly reminders; they will be monthly. Continue reading