Long beach this weekend

everyone on this site is probably typing this at the same time i am, but Beachwood BBQ & Brewing in downtown LB makes some of the best IPAs around. Absolutely worth a stop.

 

Danny at Stearns Liquor is your best bet. He goes through stuff ridiculously fast, but you're sure to find some stuff you won't find anywhere else.
Cal Heights Market is a good bet as well, and Public Wine and beer just opened downtown near Beachwood BBQ.
Josh at Whole Foods gets just about everything as well. Lazy Acres is also really good.
Hope you're planning on stopping at one or both of the Beachwood's while you're here. Their beers are world class, and Amalgamator and Resinator are on right now. I believe they are all out of Tovarish bottles by now, but it wouldn't hurt to ask if you hit the LB location.

 

Places regularly get Pliny Tuesday (Total Wine) through Friday (Whenever Stone makes their delivery) and will typically be gone the day it arrives. Bruery beers are fairly easy to come by but stop at the actual brewery and you'll have a larger selection. As for local favorites, Long Beach has Beachwood BBQ; LA County also has El Segundo Brewery who, I believe, produce some of the better IPAs these days; OC has Nobel. There are a lot. check these fine forums. Check facebook pages of bottle shops before you go to see their new releases. Stearns in Long Beach is the one shop I know well in LB. Hollingshead Deli is popular on here and it's in Orange County. There are many in the South Bay: Adams fine wine and Number One Liquor are my faves.

Good luck and have fun.

 

Oh, right, try Whole Foods. That might be your best bet on a weekend.

Also, Amalgamator is ridiculously good.

 

Was at Total Wine (Huntington Beach) yesterday and asked for Pliny. No pliny. They haven't gotten pliny in a very long time. Only when they first opened the doors they got it in 3 or 4 times and thats it. Your best bet if for pliny is Stearns, Whole Foods & Lazy Acres and a few other places in LB. But call ahead. It's gone in 60 seconds once they get it in.
Beachwood LB is a must. Second would be Beachwood SB (about 20 drive south along Ocean Blvd.)

 

a beer to look for or try is Rituals Big deluxe, awesome local so cal brew, imperial oatmeal stout

 

No. They'll get it on a weekday (one day) and it will be gone that day. The comment was meant to point out that usually you will not find a bottle of Pliny on a weekend day. Total Wine in Redondo gets Pliny a couple times a month, typically. RR wild ales appear less frequently and they are also gone in a few hours as they also real popular and they're only shipped in cases of 12. If you come with some hard to find Midwest brews, I'm sure someone in Long Beach would trade you fresh pliny and sours they're sitting on.

 

It will be close to impossible to find those RR beers on the shelf anywhere in Long Beach, you're not too far [30 minute drive] from the Bruery so consider making the drive. In regards to just good bottles Stearns Liquor / Whole Foods in Long Beach / Bevmo and Total Wine are solid choices.

Of course try Beachwood and a hole in the wall that has good craft beer if you are staying downtown is the Stache Bar. http://la.taphunter.com/location/the-stache-bar

Your best bet would be to bring some good beers from Illinois, list them and watch everyone flock to you with open arms with Russian River beers in tow.

 

Hit up Stearns Liquor and California Heights Market.

 

Pliny just landed today and yesterday - throw out an IP and you can probably grab some. If I weren't out of town when it landed, I probably would just give you one.