Long Beach for one day

1) Monkish usually sells out of cans day-of. They will post on their website how many releases they plan for the week and will post an hour or two before (or right at) opening if they are releasing anything

2) As far as I know, but I could be wrong

3) This is just my humble opinion, but I don't think Noble and Bottle Logic's canned offerings are particularly worth seeking out, but if you like them, go for it

4) Definitely check out The Wine Country in Signal Hill. In OC, Mr K's

 

Most of this nails it. Most of Green Cheek’s to-go offerings are their WC IPA’s and Pils. The hazies sell out pretty quickly. Should also mention, going from LB to Monkish to OC on a Friday is likely a lot of time sitting in traffic, so plan accordingly.

 

First off, realize that several of these breweries you are mentioning are not exactly near each other or Long Beach - especially with traffic. Monkish is going to be 30-45 mins away, and Green Cheek would be 45-75 mins away (all depending on time of day). If your wife is willing to sit in a bunch of traffic then awesome, but might want to get that clarified prior to selecting breweries.

1) Monkish releases occur when they are ready. There is no set schedule to know if there will be a release that Friday.

2) Cans are usually available, however note that Green Cheek is going to be a 45-75 minute drive (+/- depending on time of day) on a Friday.

3) Beachwood is not really "in the area" of Green Cheek and Bottle Logic. Avoid Noble, and you'll have to see what BL has available at the time. Wouldn't suggest making BL a priority and instead just go to Green Cheek and Mr. K's.

4) If your wife does end up traveling towards Green Cheek, she can stop at Mr. K's and get everything you want to take back.

 

1-What @UnknownKoger said. Check their website to see how many can releases for that week. Updated every Monday. Lately Monks can releases have been 1 a week and usually on Friday’s. Check their IG post for last minute announcements. Don’t bother going before noon to line up. No need. But go 30 minutes after they post on IG. You should be able to park in their parking lot area.
2-You are in luck. GC #2 will be open next week sometime. So you’ll be able to drive the 405 to Costa Mesa to their new location. Save you time going to the OG location in Orange. They’ll have cans available. And food.
3-Go to Beachwood LB for bbq and beer. Cans to go also. Skip, jump and run away from Nobles. Waste of time and $$ (IMO). But if you must? Then go. And, I agree with @UnknownKoger on Bottle Logic. Enough said.
4-The Wine Country should have ASB cans. They have been getting their weekly releases since the later part of 2019. They will have other good cans/bottles stocked in the cooler. Pliny and Pig as well. If your looking for Moonraker cans then Mr K’s in Placentia is the place to hit. And they are close to the original Green Cheek. But if you go to their Costa Mesa location and do go to Mr K’s then I would Che I out Brewery X, Bottle Logic and the Bruery. All close to each other.
5-I would also look for Revision 4pks while your shopping for cans. They are all over OC & LA. Definitely at Wine Country and Mr K’s. If you haven’t heard Revision, they do hazy’s like crazy. Their west coast is pretty damn good too. But check the dates on the cans before purchasing. We are coming to the point of no return with over saturated cans here.
6-If your looking for places to eat in and around the Long Beach area, head over to the Hanger LBX next to Long Beach airport. They have a food court with Bottlecraft at the south end of the hanger. Lots of great food choices to go with some outstanding beer selections. You’ll find Alvarado, Moonraker, Revision along with local selections on tap.
7-Five and six were bonuses for you. You’ll thank me later.
Cheers.

edit......I forgot to add Friday traffic on the 405 is one of the worst in US. Between 1pm and 8pm expect it to be F’d up. Especially from LAX to the 710 frwy. So plan ahead.

 

I'm not a local, but have visited the Long Beach area several times. I'd recommend Brouwerij West in San Pedro and Riip in Huntington Beach as breweries worth a stop. BW will have cans to go; Riip has crowlers.

 

Beachwood and Ten Mile... enough said!

 

Brouwerij West cans are a great addition, but those are pretty easy to pickup without visiting the brewery. Remember to read the OP (sending his wife to grab cans).

 

I can read. The OP asked, "Besides Beachwood, are there any other recommended breweries in the area that offer cans to go?"

Brouwerij West had not been mentioned in any responses, and is a brewery I would recommend that offers cans to go. It seemed like a reasonable and accurate response to the question. Sorry if I stepped in somewhere I don't belong.

 

you didn't. If you take a minute to read other of frog's responses and posts, 99% are salty curmudgeon-speak. Don't take it personally, you're fine, it's just his schtick.

 

Trademark Brewing just opened in Long Beach a few months back and is making great stuff, Also a very nice space to hang out in. Great food truck rotation. They do crowlers for to-go.

 

He didn't ask where his wife could find a beer friendly food court near an airport, either.

God bless his wife, she must be a saint. I know better than to ask my wife to travel all over the LA area to track down beer for me if she were away on a business trip.

 

Does she have a sister?

 

I'm hitting the Long Beach area for two days in early March. I'm open to input, looking for the best West Coast IPAs, stouts or other top beers. I am not looking for Haze / NEIPAs.

Based on the input above, I am plotting the following:

Wednesday
RIIP Brewing (1-2 pours)
Bottle Shop TBD (looking for west coast IPAs, stouts, other great offerings)
Beachwood & perhaps one or two other breweries (Long Beach Beer Lap, Ten Mile Brewing & Trademark) within walking distance (Pours and BBQ and hotel within walking distance)

Thursday
Firestone Walker (1-2 pours)
Santa Anita Race Track
Brouwerij West or Monkish
Beachwood & perhaps one or two other breweries (Long Beach Beer Lap, Ten Mile Brewing & Trademark) within walking distance (Pours and BBQ and hotel within walking distance)

Friday
Hanger 24 (Redlands - during return drive to Las Vegas).

Would have considered Monkish if I knew there was a release on Friday, but want to clear the LA area by 1:30 the latest to not get stuck in a cluster on my return drive. Want to bring back some cans / bottles either from breweries or bottle shops. Any West Coast IPA recommendations would be appreciated (bottle shops and brewer). Nobody mentioned nearby Belmont brewing, anything good there?

Thanks in advance.

 

One note. If your not looking for hazy beers then I would skip Monks. Unless you want to try their Belgian Ales. They are 95% haze. Smog City would be an alternative for west coast.
Whats your plans in Vegas? Beer? Not really a whole of going on in Sin City for craft. A couple of places.......Beer Zombies. Small in size and taps, but makes up for some great selections. In Henderson you have World of Beers. Over 100 beers on tap and bottles/cans. Not far from WOB is Khoury's Fine Wine & Spirits. A very good tap selection and lots of local cans and out of states cans to go. Those would be my to go choices in Vegas.

 

I considered Monkish for their Belgians. I have family in Vegas, usually visit on weekends and hit National Parks / Breweries during the week. Never been to WOB, but highly recommend Khoury's and Beer Zombies. Hitting their beer event Saturday Feb 29th.

The brewery scene is also improving in Vegas. Next time in town, consider checking out Able Baker in the Arts District, they just opened and have several very good / great beers (Chris Kael Impaled my favorite). I also like Teneya Creek (Good/Very Good beers, great staff and guest tap list), Banger Brewing and Atomic Liquors Downtown, and Astronomy AleWorks and Lovelady in Henderson.

Also hitting Arizona earlier in the week, the two breweries are Wren House and SunUp.

Based on further reviews, I have updated my trip plan at this point:

Wednesday
Vegas to RIIP Brewing (1-2 pours)
Select Beer Store (Redondo Beach - Not open until 2PM).
Check-in to Hotel (TBD)
Walk to Beachwood Brewing & (1 or more: Long Beach Beer Lab, Ten Mile Brewing & Trademark)

Thursday
Firestone Walker (Ventura - Open 11 AM)
Santa Anita Race Track
Brouwerij West (1-2 pours)
Beachwood Brewing & (1 or more: Long Beach Beer Lab, Ten Mile Brewing & Trademark)

Friday
Hanger 24 (Redlands CA Open @ 11AM- during return drive to Las Vegas).

Select Beer and Hanger 24 based on proximity and hours, would be open to a different Friday brewery on the way to Vegas, Hanger 24 best I found well outside of LA. Want to hit Vegas around 5 PM.

 

Just a note: You may want to double check with Santa Anita before you head over there. The last few meets they have been cancelling a lot of their Thursday racing and just racing on Fridays thru Sundays.

 

Thanks for the heads up. They are listed live as of now, will check the day before to ensure racing is happening. Would go to Highland Park Brewing in Chinatown and cancel Firestone Walker (visited during a previous trip) and Santa Anita if this is the case. Have been to Del Mar (great track) and Los Alamitos, always wanted to hit SA.

Still doing research, appreciate all the feedback so far. Trying to solidify Arizona as well, Wren House and White Sox game the only certainties at this point.

 

Yeah Santa Anita is my favorite of the three tracks you mentioned. I was there for the Breeders Cup in Nov, and have been going to SA (and the old Hollywood Park and Del Mar and Los Alamitos as well) since my dad used to take me many years ago when I was a kid. If you're ever there on a Saturday I highly recommend taking the free Seabiscuit tour in the morning. You'll get a great behind the scenes tour, places the public normally does not have access to.

Whatever you end up doing on your visit to the area I wish you the best of times.