USA, CA: Ten Mile Brewing wants to move to industrial brewing in Signal Hill

A good drink can inspire epiphanies that die by last call. But in the case of Lakewood resident Dan Sundstrom, a few sips of his friend’s homemade beer during a visit to Oregon about nine years ago led him to brew his own batch, Long Beach Press Telegram reported on June 21.

“It was an enlightening experience,” Sundstrom said. “I didn’t know beer could taste like this. It was amazing.”

Sundstrom set about to make his own beer to enjoy and share with friends and family. The more he made, the more it was requested — at weddings, restaurants and special events.

Sundstrom, the facility director at Bethany Church Long Beach, and his son, Jesse, formed Ten Mile Brewing, named after Ten Mile Creek in Sierra Nevada, where the family owns a cabin. And, after earning multiple beer competition awards, Ten Mile Brewing now wants to move from its backyard plant in Lakewood to an industrial building in Signal Hill, which would call for zoning changes to make way for the city’s first brewery and beer tasting room for the public.

With the bureaucratic red tape not as snarled in Signal Hill as in other cities, and with beer scenes a relative distance away in Long Beach, San Pedro and Torrance, the Sundstroms figured their new location, at the southwest corner of East Willow Street and Cerritos Avenue, would be a fine place to plant their beer flag. With a few changes to Signal Hill zoning laws, which officials are undertaking, Ten Mile Brewing hopes to open as soon as early 2017.

“We’re happy that we’re going to fill a need in this market, and I think Signal Hill is a good central point,” Sundstrom said.

Signal Hill officials say they’ve received multiple requests from brewers looking to open in the town’s industrial zones, with the breweries typically offering tasting rooms for the public. Ten Mile Brewing has been the first to follow through.

In 2009, the Planning Commission approved what is known as a non-traditional use policy for industrial development. Officials say at that time, Signal Hill’s industrial buildings had vacancies, with non-industrial businesses showing interest in moving in.

Cities have seen breweries and tasting rooms move into industrial developments, as the locations provide artisans a relatively affordable spot to operate while stirring up business in otherwise empty locations.

Officials in Signal Hill have studied brewery operations in neighboring cities — including Long Beach, San Pedro, Torrance and Anaheim — to learn more about permitted uses.

“I think we’ve seen success with nearby breweries opening up,” said Elise McCaleb, economic development manager. “There seems to be a lot of interest in breweries, and (places like) Anaheim have relaxed their zoning.”

Ten Mile Brewing would open in an industrial zone near a cemetery and a storage yard for oil field operations.

The brewery wants to use 3,227 square feet to operate, including 1,247 square feet for the public tasting area.

A Planning Commission public hearing on needed zoning amendments will be held on June 28. The City Council could consider the issue in late July, McCaleb said.

Ten Mile Brewing’s initial plans call for the production of four different styles of beer: an IPA, a pale ale, a lager, and a stout. As the brewery solidifies its lineup, customers can expect seasonal and experimental beers as well. The brewery also will host food trucks.

The Sundstroms say the 10-barrel stainless steel brewing plant, with four fermenters, will roll out with about 500 barrels the first year. They hope to expand capacity to 1,500 barrels annually.

Ten Mile Brewing expects to host tours of the plant, and sell its beer to bars and restaurants throughout the region.

Jesse Sundstrom says Ten Mile Brewing has about a dozen styles of beer. Among the many award-winners are its “Orange Limey Golden English Ale” and “Dark Side of the Mooo Milk Stout.”

He gets a twinkle in his eye when talking about American pale ale, Belgian Dubbel and, especially, the rye whiskey barrel-aged stout.

“It’s pretty incredible,” he says, grinning. “It’s top-notch.”

23 June, 2016