E-Malt.com News article: USA, CA: Smog City Brewing opens its own tasting room and brewery

Smog City Brewing Co. finally has its own home, Los Angeles Times reported on April, 30.

Started by John Porter and his wife, Laurie, while Porter worked at Tustin Brewing Co., a brewpub in Orange County, Smog City has moved to a new facility just steps from the hot spots of the South Bay brewing scene.

The Porters have spent the last few months focused on building a brewery and tasting room in the Torrance industrial neighborhood that also houses Monkish Brewing and the Dudes Brewery. The new 5,500-square-foot facility will allow for not only more production, but also the development of new recipes, more experimentation and an on-site tasting room in which to serve the brews.

Featuring 20 tap handles, the tasting room is open to the bustling brew house and fermenters where Smog City's beers are born. Working behind the bar at Tustin Brewing and getting immediate feedback from the customers was invaluable to Porter, and he says he's excited to have the same intimate relationship with drinkers at Smog City's brewery.

In addition to increasing production and experimenting with new brews, Smog City has signed with Stone Brewing's distribution arm to bring its kegs into more L.A. bars and restaurants. Smog City also plans to package its beers this year, though that won't happen until Porter is happy with the quality and consistency.

08 May, 2013