HopSaint Brewing Company

hopsaint flight

Enjoying a flight of HopSaint brews

The Business & Beer networking group welcomed 2016 by paying their first visit to the recently opened HopSaint Brewing Company, the newest brewpub to open in Torrance. We had a pretty large group that seemed to rotate in and out which was probably a good thing since HopSaint is still in their “soft open” mode. While this was a first time visit for most of the attendees, many were previously familiar with the work of Head Brewer, Brian Brewer, from our Business & Beer gathering at The Brewery at Abigaile. The food was something that very few were familiar with and I think it was safe to say it was definitely a hit. Since the South Bay has so many breweries and brewpubs now we only get to visit each about once a year now, so if you missed our January gathering, do yourself a favor and stop by there on your own; don’t wait for the next time Business & Beer meets there.

The February gathering of Business & Beer will be held February 11 at The Dudes’ Brewing Company from 6:00 until 8:00 PM. If you have not been to The Dudes’ recently, you just haven’t been. I attended an event last week for a collaboration release they did with KLOS radio. The Dudes’ has a new Master Brewer and Head Brewer and I have to say that their Bohemian Hopsody may be the best beer that has ever come out of that brewery. They have a new sessionable black IPA that was quite tasty as well. I personally look forward to trying more of the new brews coming out of The Dudes’. As a side note, The Dudes’ will be hosting their Trivia Night on the same day. It begins at 8:00 PM which is when Business & beer ends so feel free to stick around and enjoy the fun while exercising your brain. If we have enough people stick around, perhaps we will have a Business & Beer team. Continue reading

Business & Beer ended 2015 with another visit to the Hermosa Beach brewpub, The Brewery at Abigaile. We had a nice little group join us and most attendees were able to try brews from Abigaile’s new brewer, Paul Papantonio for the first time. I have to say that personally, I have enjoyed what I have tried by Papantonio so far and I look forward to trying what he comes out with in 2016.

In 2015 we visited a total of seven different production brewery tasting rooms and one brewpub. Some of the breweries had significant changes in the past year, including El Segundo Brewing Company’s bigger and better tasting room and Strand Brewing Company moving to an entirely new location.

brewery at abigaile

To a great 2016

While most of the locations were only visited once in 2015, we should see the addition of up to three more tasting rooms and one brewpub in the Business & Beer rotation, meaning everyone except one will get one visit in 2016. In fact, we will begin 2016 at Torrance’s newest craft beer destination, HopSaint Brewing Company in Torrance on Thursday, January 14 from 6:00-8:00 PM. Continue reading