LA/Orange County Area Must Stop Spots?

I've never been, but Beachwood BBQ in Long Beach seems to be the bees knees at the moment.

 

If you are hitting the Bruery, you will be within 5 miles of three other rock solid breweries ... Bootleggers (check out their KnuckleSandwich DIPA), Noble Aleworks and Valiant ... all highly recommended.

 

Def Beachwood BBQ, Stearns Liquor in Long Beach is a great bottle shop

 

Beachwood BBQ in Long Beach is a must.

 

All these, and Ramirez Liquor has a great selection (Pico Rivera and LA)

 

Hit up Jazz at El Cerrito Liquor in Corona or Damien at Liquormart in Whittier.

 

Check out the "HOP" cam on Beachwood BBQ's website. They almost always have Pliny on tap at the Seal Beach location. Stearns Liqour will post on facebook that day when they get a case in. Most places will have one bottle limit. Like AlexM says, hit up Bootleggers, the Bruery, Noble Ale Works and Valiant in that order and you wont go wrong. Just have a Designated Driver with you. Smog City Brewing Co is having a grand opening on May 18th. A new and up n coming LA brewery. Their tasting room is already open Fri & Sat. But make Beachwood BBQ & Brewing a 'must" stop for LA/OC's best brewery.

 

I popped my Beachwood cherry 2 weeks ago & came away very impressed. I'm cordially inviting them to open a location in San Diego anytime.

 

IMHO Beachwood is crafting the best IPA/DIPA on the west coast with an amazing variety. Fantastic QC and just really great people. No bull shit attitude. Just great beer and the best BBQ of them all. There are a few that could learn some lessons by their stellar business model.

Cheers,

 

Where are you staying?

 

Basically, the availability of Russian River, Alpine, and Kern River IPA's in bottles is just "timing." There are number of bottle shops that get them regularly, but they also usually sell out within a few hours after people find out through Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, etc.

The places near me that I get my share of Russian River, Alpine, Kern River stuff are Ramirez Liquor (both locations) and Liquor Mart (in Whittier). It seems most of my sources are on a ~10-day delivery cycle with RR.

Also, you may want to check out Sunset Beer Company just outside of Downtown LA. I went there for the first time last week, and it will become one of my regular places to shop. I really liked the place.

 

Hi-Time in Costa Mesa is a great bottle shop.

 

Hi Times in Costa is one of the best liquor stores that you will ever visit anywhere. I know that you are looking for beer (for which they have a great selection), but if you also like wine there is no equivalent anywhere else. Same with scotch, tequila, etc.

From Costa Mesa, you will be a lot closer to the original Beachwood in Seal Beach. My recommendation, given that you will be back again soon, is to go to the original Beachwood first and then venture out to the brewpub in Long Beach when you come back a month later. Both locations are worth visiting.

 

+1. Bootlegger's is a must stop if you are in OC. Knuckle is world class IMO.

If you want selection and good food, hit up Slaters 50/50 in Huntington Beach (81 taps) or Lake Forest (101 taps).

Tustin Brewing in Tustin is usuallly good, just check the beer board before you go because it can be hit or miss.

Hollingshead in Orange if you are a daytime person since they close so early.

The currently much maligned Bradley's Fine Wine's & Spirits in Tustin has Elder every week ... just watch his facebook, but usually comes in on Tuesday's & Thursday's. If you want to guarantee yourself a bottle, that's the place.

I live in Costa Mesa ... Hi Times is good for bottles (if you are going to find Alpine, it will be here) ... in Newport Beach, Bristol Farms gets Russian River and always has a good selection, though a bit pricey.

You will also be about 45 minutes from the Stone Company Store in either Pasadena or Oceanside (I recommend Oceanside) and they usually have good stuff. If you get lucky they may have a new Enjoy By release available while you are here.

 

From Costa Mesa, you could hit Newport Beach Brew Co and Crow Burger. And since you're in the area, there is a Yard House close by as well.

 

Call Mr Kegs in HB to see if they have Pliny in bottles. But only one bottle limit. Liquor Warehouse in HB gets pliny in once every two weeks or so. Call Thurs early afternoon to see if they got any in. Not sure now but LW used to be 3 bottle limit. Check with HiTimes in Costa Mesa for pliny also.

 

Second all of the above, with one caveat--it really can take a long time to get around L.A., even between parts of the O.C. Since you're coming back a few weeks later, I would really map it out and split your targets geographically. Also, if you are spanning a weekend, the drive to Alpine is definitely worth it. Two hours each way, which IMO is far better than spending that much time scavenging bottle shops. Check their Facebook page to see what they have in bottles and growler fills. Their food is awesome, too.