Trying to plan my route, help!

Sounds like a whole lot of driving between the drinking spots you want to hit up on Thursday. And it sounds like you will be by yourself on this trip? Or your wife will join you? Timing wise you should be alright. I wouldn't want to be driving after hitting up all the places you mentioned for Thursday. Especially later in the day when traffic will start to get heavy. And it sounds like you want to stop by Smog City Long Beach location? They open at noon as the Torrance opens at 3pm I think. Monks opens at 4pm I believe. With all them stops for Thursday you'll probably hit heavy traffic on the 91 freeway heading to Chino Hills.

 

Most of those places will likely have bottles to go, unsure of the can to-go situation at Beachwood locations but Citraholic was tasting damn good last night when a buddy shifted a can my way.

Monkish will be growlers only, unless you get lucky and there happens to be a can release that day.

So your journey will suck, no other way to say it nicely. Traffic is just a nightmare.

What I would recommend is that while a day trip to san diego is always a good idea (I would say "fuck yeah, go for it, and hit me up when you plan on getting to alesmith and I'll meet ya for a pint,") it just wouldn't be a wise move. While the 2 cities look kinda close, once again, traffic can make that 1.5hr-2hr one-way journey a 3-4hr one-way. I would suggest staying in anaheim and doing the bruery/noble/BL/green cheek loop.

I would also recommend that while visiting bruery stop in at Mr. K's. It is a little liquor shop right at the corner when you turn onto the street to park for Bruery. It looks like a rundown liquor store but just walk in and marvel at Mike's selection being top notch. He also carries some san diego stuff like Toolbox, Council, Alesmith, etc...

 

Pretty much in agreement with @dcguman and @SDReaper.

I admire your ambition but I'd recommend consolidating your Thursday list a little bit. Do lunch at Firestone, go to Beachwood (since they have guest taps) and Monkish (since no one really carries their beers outside of the brewery). Wait out rush hour traffic at Monkish and grab a bite to eat in Torrance... like a hearty bowl of ramen. Find a good craft beer bar / bottle shop on your way to Chino Hills. If you're routed through the 91 to the 57 to the 60, you can stop by Mr. K's and OG Bruery.

Thursday traffic is usually the worst. Good luck! BTW, are you going to the evening or afternoon session? I'll be at the evening one.

 

Yeah that's a good plan. Smog City's main location is like 1 block from Monkish so you can just walk that. And once you're in Chino Hills there's Party House Liquor on Chino Hills parkway. They mark up a bit but have a really solid selection if you wanted a few bottles for Thur/Fri before going to the OC breweries and Mr Ks on Sunday.

 

Sadly I agree with @SDReaper

 

Same same as above. But instead of lunch at FW. Have some tasters their and then head over to Beachwood Long Beach for lunch and session ipa's. Kidding about the session part. But they do have a lunch deal on some items that for an extra $3 you get a full pour of their house beers. Which I think are okay to pretty good. And so many good food to choose from. And lets hope Monks doesn't have a can release that Thursday. Otherwise you'll probably there for awhile waiting for pours and fills. It's a sh!te show there on can release days.

 

I liked, unliked, then liked again to try to simulate a double like. My purpose on this earth is now complete. The rider has agreed with me. =P

 

I take the 91 freeway mon-fri. Traffic usually dies down after 6:30pm

 

Too bad you're planning on hitting up Long Beach/South Bay for lunch. I'm in Costa Mesa for work. Always enjoy meeting people up at my local.

Lunch at Beachwood's pretty legit though.

 

I'd still try to hit up Phantom since it's only minutes away from Smog and Monkish. Great ambiance, good food and most importantly, excellent beer. Whatever you decide to do, I'm sure you'll have a great time.

 

If I was you, I'd skip Firestone and do lunch at Beachwood and then do the trifecta of Smog, Phantom, and Monkish while you wait out traffic. I think you are being very optimistic by being at Firestone 1.5 hours after landing. That would require beyond perfect timing. If you are checking a bag that is not possible, I typically wait 30 mins at baggage claim alone (I've even waited an hour before) and once at the rental car place it could be an hour wait, anything under 30 mins is an anomaly unless you are some platinum member and don't have to wait in lines.
I love firestone, but almost all their beers are still findable at stores, even parabola (I saw cases at El Cerrito like a month ago, which is relatively close to Chino Hills). Their food is good, but so is beachwood.