Long Beach for one day

IMO if you hit up shops on way in/way out I'd include:

• Mr. K's
• Windsor Homebrew & Supply (small but solid selection of items)
• Mr. Kegs in Huntington Beach (can visit before Riip)

 

I will add El Cerritos Liquor in Corona. If you coming from Hanger 24 to Long Beach it’s not far from the 91 off the 15. Check their IG for more info. All 3 mentioned above I highly recommend. And Hilltop Liquor in HB. Mr Kegs in only a block from me and 1 1/2 miles from RiiP and Beachwood HB. BT’s Southern BBQ is nearby Mr Kegs as well. Good BBQ and tap selection.

 

Very helpful. Want to minimize driving and these suggestions are really helpful. Bottle Shops recommended have awesome offerings. Updated my trip accordingly.

Wednesday
Mr. Kegs - 5914 Warner Ave., Huntington Beach (Opens 10 AM)
RIIP Brewing - 17214 Pacific Coast Hwy, Huntington Beach (Opens 11 AM)
Holiday Inn - 1133 Atlantic Ave., Long Beach (Check-in 3 PM)
Beachwood Brewing & (1 or more: Long Beach Beer Lab, Ten Mile Brewing & Trademark)

Thursday
Firestone Walker - 3205 Washington Blvd., Marina Del Rey (Opens 11 AM)
Santa Anita Race Track - 285 W. Huntington, Arcadia (First Post 1 PM)
Brouwerij West - 110 E. 22nd Street, Los Angeles (Opens 4 PM)
Beachwood Brewing & (1 or more: Long Beach Beer Lab, Ten Mile Brewing & Trademark)

Friday
El Cerrito Liquor - 19480 E Ontario Ave. Ste C, Corona (Opens 9 AM)
Hanger 24 - 1710 Sessums Dr., Redlands (Opens 11 AM)
Viva Las Vegas!!!

 

Thursday might be rough. If the last post is around 5pm, that will be a long drive back to San Pedro/LB area. Just a FYI.

 

Thanks, yes I would likely stay for 4-5 races and try to leave around 3 and get back across town before 5.

 

If you do a Beachwood on a Thursday myself @D09daryl & @PBRandJ usually at seal, or you have @Izzy_Izumi at Long Beach (though myself/daryl and izzy sometimes go to the each other BW's if timing is in favor). Hit us up, usually we share a bottle or 2 as well.

 

Very cool! I will be at the Long Beach Brewpub on both nights, found a hotel nearby so I can drink til close before walking back. I'll reply to this thread as the trip approaches. I don't check bags when flying, but can drive over Able Baker's Chris Kael's Impaled Ale and / or other Beer Zombie available offerings from Vegas for a share.

Based on @dcgunman 's excellent input, I should be able to hit Green Cheek's new location in Costa Mesa on Wednesday, since they are expected to open for lunch. Heck, perhaps GC will also purchase Ballast Point/ Kings and Convicts before I get there.

 

If you're going to Hangar, might as well stop at Ritual (they have a decent stout and barleywine) but the 40 minute detour isn't worth it for either brewery.

For lunch Thursday, I'd recommend soup dumplings at Din Tai Fung (it's at the mall across the street from Santa Anita).

 

There's also one in Torrance (but I prefer Muodu now for dumplings)

 

go to Homage instead of Hangar

always double down on 11

 

Thanks for your replies. Will consider passing on the Friday breweries depending on when I wake up / leave. Homage doesn't open until 3 PM, but will try to hit next trip in.

 

@dukeandduke, another great bottle shop option that will be (more or less) en route to Vegas is Lone Hill Liquor in Glendora.

 

Your Thursday looks very difficult from my experience (I haven't lived in LA for 7 years). Going from the marina, all the way to Arcadia is a long way, 30 miles in LA is 70 miles in other cities pertaining to time. Then Arcadia to San Pedro; that is maybe 23ish miles. One wreck on one of the freeways (which is often) could make both of those 2+ hour drives. In the mid 2000's it would take me on average, 90 minutes, to get from Santa Monica to Pasadena, 5 days a week.

 

Thank you for your input and to all responses. Was also worried about the morning and the wide range of driving times (variances of up to 1 1/2 hours due to traffic - we don't have this in Chicago). I've been to Firestone Walker before and can get much of their stuff at home, so this is scratched. Considered going to Venice Beach (also been previous) beforehand but will just hang around Long Beach before going to the track.

It would make more sense geographically to hit Santa Anita and then drive to Vegas Friday, but this would add considerably to driving time so I'm leaving it Thursday. I was surprised at the amount of traffic, even with no accidents at 9 PM returning on a weekday from Monkish to Anaheim last year (thought traffic would have died down, it didn't). People bitch about traffic in Chicago (or even Vegas LOL), but Southern California is the real deal.

Will definitely hit Long Beach Beer Lab once or twice, Ten Mile and or Trademark depend on how things go. Two Bottle Shops, Santa Anita and 4-6 breweries covers a lot of ground in the under 48 hours on the ground, so the cuts seem to work and leave the trip memorable. If racing is cancelled, I will go to Chinatown and hit Highland Park (opens at noon).


Wednesday
Vegas to Costa Mesa (Approximately 5 hour drive)
- Green Cheek Brewing - 2957 Randolph Ave Costa Mesa (Must confirm 11:30 AM open)
- RIIP Brewing - 17214 Pacific Coast Hwy, Huntington Beach (Opens 11 AM - 25 min drive)
- Mr. Kegs - 5914 Warner Ave., Huntington Beach (Opens 10 AM - 10 min drive)
- Holiday Inn - 1133 Atlantic Ave., Long Beach (Check-in 3 PM - 40 min drive)
- Beachwood Brewing & (Walking + Long Beach Beer Lab, Ten Mile Brewing &/or Trademark Brewing)

Thursday
Long Beach in AM
- Santa Anita Race Track - 285 W. Huntington, Arcadia (First Post 1 PM - one hour drive)
Drive back to Holiday Inn - 1133 Atlantic Ave., Long Beach (Leave around 3 PM - between 1 to 2 hours)
- Beachwood Brewing & (Walking + Long Beach Beer Lab, Ten Mile Brewing &/or Trademark Brewing)

Friday
- El Cerrito Liquor - 19480 E Ontario Ave. Ste C, Corona (Opens 9 AM one hour drive)
Viva Las Vegas!!!

 

I'm surprised Santa Anita racetrack is still open

 

On your nights at Beachwood LB, you may want to check out Congregation or Beer Belly. Both usually have pretty solid options on tap and are short, easy walks from Beachwood.

 

Congregation looks solid. Beer Belly is closed for “renovations” per a Yelp user. Their website has been pulled offline, so not sure if they are reopening.

 

Ahh did not know that. Bo-Beau’s Roof tap, has a bunch of draft options as well, won’t find anything too rare there but usually solid options and in the same area.