Strand Brewing Company

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

Please join us for Business & Beer a small business networking event which will be held at Strand Brewing Co. on December 12, 2013 at 6 PM. Strand Brewing Co. is located at 23520 Telo Ave # 2, Torrance, California. Please RSVP by commenting below that you will be there.

Logo for Strand Brewing Co

Join us at Strand Brewing Co at 6 PM on December 12, 2013

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 at Strand Brewing Co

Doing business and making friends at Strand Brewing Company

This week marks the one year anniversary of when Tanya and I launched the business networking group, Business & Beer. We started Business & Beer with multiple intents; those being primarily as a way to provide small business owners an opportunity for more informal networking events, as a way to help promote local businesses and to display how our company, Synergy DTI, Inc, could create a networking group from nothing, then develop it via social media, with the end goal of generating additional business for us. There is no question that we accomplished our goals; members of our group did generate additional business between them and others learned the value of networking. Additionally, we brought exposure and business to the establishments that hosted our events.

In the past year we had 47 Business & Beer gatherings at 12 different microbreweries, brewpubs and gastropubs with groups as large as 25 and as small as 4-5; with the last few gatherings being smaller than normal. While we acknowledge that sometimes smaller is better, we have come to the conclusion that trying to have these meetings on a weekly basis is too much for most people to participate in. Currently, five of the locations we visit brew beer onsite and there is another opening within the next two or three months. We have decided that we will meet once a month and we are going to limit our gatherings to microbreweries and brewpubs; in other words, only where they actually brew their own beer. With the growth we will be seeing in the South Bay, this means we will visit our host brewers a maximum of twice a year. It is our hope that with the new format of once a month we can build our numbers back up to double-digits. We have notified and thanked all the gastropubs of our new format and we really appreciate their hospitality; we also encourage you to remember them when looking for a dining experience that includes a great craft beer selection. Continue reading

Please join us for Business & Beer a small business networking event which will be held at Strand Brewing Co. on July 11, 2013 at 6 PM. Strand Brewing Co. is located at 23520 Telo Ave # 2, Torrance, California. Please RSVP by commenting below that you will be there.

Logo for Strand Brewing Co

Join us at Strand Brewing Co at 6 PM on July 11, 2013