Once the reopening started, Carroll said the beer scene\u2019s regulars were the first to come back. But shortly thereafter, new faces began coming in, some from as far as Culver City\u2014a sign that many were missing the craft beer scene.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s definitely bounced back big time. It\u2019s clear lots of people were ready to get out,\u201d Carroll said. \u201cEspecially when vaccines were more readily available, we got people saying, \u2018This is the first place I came after getting my vaccination.\u2019 I can\u2019t believe how many times I\u2019ve heard that.\u201d<\/p>\n
The area\u2019s business district, led by Executive Director Blair Cohn, pushed the community to support the breweries and restaurants by ordering food and drinks to go and to patronize when allowed. One of the Bixby Knolls Business Improvement Association\u2019s most prominent beer-focused offerings is coming back after a year and a half: the Big Red Bus Trolley, which carts passengers around to enjoy all of Brewery Knolls\u2019 offerings over four hours.<\/p>\n
It returned Aug. 14, Cohn said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s fantastic having a beer culture here,\u201d Cohn said. \u201cWe had fished around for our \u2018thing\u2019 for years\u2014at first we thought it could be \u2018Little Italy\u2019 because there\u2019s a lot of Italian and pizza places. But when the beer started coming, it was perfect.\u201d<\/p>\n
Here is a rundown of Bixby beer businesses:<\/p>\n
Ambitious Ales<\/b><\/h2>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/img.lbpost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/05132217\/BIXBY-BEER_AMBITIOUS_5134.jpg\")
With the brewery closed to customers on Wednesday, the owners of Ambitious Ales can their beer, July 4, 2021. Photo by Brandon Richardson.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nThis microbrewery was founded by five friends and celebrated its grand opening<\/a> in February 2019, so the small team had only a year to establish themselves within the tight-knit community. But being strictly a taproom with no food offerings at the onset of the pandemic, Ambitious had an uphill battle.<\/p>\nThe team was able to turn to canning some of its beers for sale in four packs or singles for customers to mix and match. Customers are able to order online for quick and easy pickup requiring minimal contact. When breweries were allowed to reopen in October, the Ambitious team had to figure out how to bring in the required<\/a> food element. Fortunately, Thunderbolt Pizza opened next door<\/a> later that month, and teamed up with the brewery to offer food in a new beer garden behind the brewery.<\/p>\nHead brewer Garrett Carroll has 14 beers on tap as of the end of July. From the blonde coffee-infused Central Perk to the 12% Korben, the brewery\u2019s two-year anniversary imperial stout that was aged in bourbon barrels for 16 months, the team lives up to its mission to push the boundaries of craft beer by reinventing classics with their own twist. Other offerings include pale ales, IPAs, gose, pilsners and lagers.<\/p>\n
Ambitious<\/i><\/a> is located at 4019 Atlantic Ave., Long Beach, CA 90807<\/i><\/p>\nDutch\u2019s Brewhouse<\/b><\/h2>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/img.lbpost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/05132221\/BIXBY-BEER_DUTCHS_4823.jpg\")
Dutch’s Brewhouse owner Jason Van Fleet pours a beer, Tuesday, Aug. 3, 2021. Photo by Brandon Richardson.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nAt any given time, Dutch\u2019s has four to six micro batches brewing for sale on site. The microbrewery opened<\/a> in 2015 and also carries other brands, including owner Jason \u201cDutch\u201d Van Fleet\u2019s new brewery Syncopated, which is located in Lakewood, Modern Times Beer, Oskar Blues Brewery, Radiant Beer Co. and Texas-based Shiner Bock from the Spoetzl Brewery.<\/p>\nAlso a popular eatery known for its pizza, it was not a tall order for Dutch\u2019s to fall back on takeout business, especially once they purchased a canning machine. When beers arrived in kegs, staff would get to work canning them for retail sale to go. To further drive its takeout businesses, Dutch\u2019s implemented free delivery for orders within two miles of the storefront. While the free deliveries continue, the staff no longer cans beer.<\/p>\n
One of Dutch\u2019s unique features is its onsite brewing class. Prior to the pandemic, small groups could sign up to have staff walk them through the beer-making process. Once the beer ferments, the customer returns for a small batch that\u2019s bottled and ready to drink. However, due to the close proximity necessary for the class, there are no plans to bring back brewing sessions anytime soon, one employee said.<\/p>\n
Dutch\u2019s<\/i><\/a> is located at 4244 Atlantic Ave., Long Beach, CA 90807<\/i><\/p>\nLiberation Brewing Co.<\/b><\/h2>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/img.lbpost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/05133223\/BIXBY-BEER_LIBERATION_5233.jpg\")
Liberation Brewing Co. co-owner Eric McLaughlin puts labels on the breweries newest beer, the Belgian-style Saison “The Path of Least Resistance,” Wednesday, Aug. 4, 2021. Photo by Brandon Richardson.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nThe first full-fledged brewery in Bixby Knolls, co-founders Dan Regan (former Reel Big Fish trombonist), Eric McLaughlin and Mike Clements opened the doors to Liberation in 2018. \u201cEqual parts Mos Eisley cantina [a \u201cStar Wars\u201d reference] and Tom Waits fever dream,\u201d according to its website, Liberation includes a five-barrel production facility and a tasting room, which\u2014outside of pandemic circumstances\u2014has been used for community events.<\/p>\n
The brewery offers numerous lagers, ales, IPAs and more, some with Long Beach-inspired names such as the Jackrabbit and the Cyclone Racer. Throughout the pandemic, Liberation continued the sale of its beers in growlers and Crowlers\u2014large containers, such as jugs or cans, that hold 32-64 ounces of beer\u2014as well as cans and bottles.<\/p>\n
Even before the pandemic, Liberation teamed up with food vendors for events and pop-ups on site. The brewery began serving<\/a> Fire Bird\u2019s Nashville hot chicken months before the pandemic forced the facility to close. But as soon as the city gave approval, Liberation and Fire Bird were back in the game, offering ice-cold beer and smokin\u2019 hot chicken outdoors.<\/p>\nLiberation<\/i><\/a> is located at 3630 Atlantic Ave., Long Beach, CA 90807<\/i><\/p>\nRasselbock Kitchen & Beer Garden<\/b><\/h2>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/img.lbpost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/05133249\/BIXBY-BEER_RASSELBOCK_4780.jpg\")
A server walks beers out to customers at Rasselbock Kitchen & Beer Garden, Tuesday, Aug. 3, 2021. Photo by Brandon Richardson.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nWhile not a brewery, Rasselbock is absolutely a staple in Bixby\u2019s beer scene. As it says on the restaurant\u2019s website, \u201cGermans take our beer seriously and it plays a major role in our culture.\u201d Owned by German-born Bjoern Risse and B\u00fclent Yildirim, the restaurant carries 35 German and Belgian beers, served in German-style pint glasses, mugs and even boots.<\/p>\n
Rasselbock thrives on its biergarten atmosphere: people coming together to enjoy hearty food and heartier beer. Forced to forego that atmosphere, the team made some of the most creative moves of the past year. Most notably, in late November and early December, the restaurant turned itself into a Christmas tree lot<\/a>, selling hundreds of trees to the community. Rasselbock also transformed into a mini-market, selling beer, imported chocolates and other items.<\/p>\nUndeterred by the challenges of the pandemic, Bjoern opened a second Bixby Knolls restaurant. Wood & Salt Tavern opened in September during a brief lull in the pandemic, a couple months before the worst surge of the pandemic began.<\/p>\n
Rasselbock<\/a> is located at 4020 Atlantic Ave., Long Beach, CA 90807<\/i><\/p>\nSmog City Brewing Co. @ SteelCraft<\/b><\/h2>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/img.lbpost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/05133312\/BIXBY-BEER_SMOG-CITY_4852.jpg\")
Though not based in Long Beach, Smog City Brewing Co. certainly has established itself as a Bixby Knolls beer scene contributor. The Torrance-based brewery is one of the original tenants of the original SteelCraft food hall, which opened<\/a> in Bixby Knolls in early 2017. The Long Beach location offers 25 beers, including pilsners, IPAs, various ales, lagers, saisons, stouts, sours and cider.<\/p>\n
This microbrewery was founded by five friends and celebrated its grand opening<\/a> in February 2019, so the small team had only a year to establish themselves within the tight-knit community. But being strictly a taproom with no food offerings at the onset of the pandemic, Ambitious had an uphill battle.<\/p>\n The team was able to turn to canning some of its beers for sale in four packs or singles for customers to mix and match. Customers are able to order online for quick and easy pickup requiring minimal contact. When breweries were allowed to reopen in October, the Ambitious team had to figure out how to bring in the required<\/a> food element. Fortunately, Thunderbolt Pizza opened next door<\/a> later that month, and teamed up with the brewery to offer food in a new beer garden behind the brewery.<\/p>\n Head brewer Garrett Carroll has 14 beers on tap as of the end of July. From the blonde coffee-infused Central Perk to the 12% Korben, the brewery\u2019s two-year anniversary imperial stout that was aged in bourbon barrels for 16 months, the team lives up to its mission to push the boundaries of craft beer by reinventing classics with their own twist. Other offerings include pale ales, IPAs, gose, pilsners and lagers.<\/p>\n Ambitious<\/i><\/a> is located at 4019 Atlantic Ave., Long Beach, CA 90807<\/i><\/p>\n At any given time, Dutch\u2019s has four to six micro batches brewing for sale on site. The microbrewery opened<\/a> in 2015 and also carries other brands, including owner Jason \u201cDutch\u201d Van Fleet\u2019s new brewery Syncopated, which is located in Lakewood, Modern Times Beer, Oskar Blues Brewery, Radiant Beer Co. and Texas-based Shiner Bock from the Spoetzl Brewery.<\/p>\n Also a popular eatery known for its pizza, it was not a tall order for Dutch\u2019s to fall back on takeout business, especially once they purchased a canning machine. When beers arrived in kegs, staff would get to work canning them for retail sale to go. To further drive its takeout businesses, Dutch\u2019s implemented free delivery for orders within two miles of the storefront. While the free deliveries continue, the staff no longer cans beer.<\/p>\n One of Dutch\u2019s unique features is its onsite brewing class. Prior to the pandemic, small groups could sign up to have staff walk them through the beer-making process. Once the beer ferments, the customer returns for a small batch that\u2019s bottled and ready to drink. However, due to the close proximity necessary for the class, there are no plans to bring back brewing sessions anytime soon, one employee said.<\/p>\n Dutch\u2019s<\/i><\/a> is located at 4244 Atlantic Ave., Long Beach, CA 90807<\/i><\/p>\n The first full-fledged brewery in Bixby Knolls, co-founders Dan Regan (former Reel Big Fish trombonist), Eric McLaughlin and Mike Clements opened the doors to Liberation in 2018. \u201cEqual parts Mos Eisley cantina [a \u201cStar Wars\u201d reference] and Tom Waits fever dream,\u201d according to its website, Liberation includes a five-barrel production facility and a tasting room, which\u2014outside of pandemic circumstances\u2014has been used for community events.<\/p>\n The brewery offers numerous lagers, ales, IPAs and more, some with Long Beach-inspired names such as the Jackrabbit and the Cyclone Racer. Throughout the pandemic, Liberation continued the sale of its beers in growlers and Crowlers\u2014large containers, such as jugs or cans, that hold 32-64 ounces of beer\u2014as well as cans and bottles.<\/p>\n Even before the pandemic, Liberation teamed up with food vendors for events and pop-ups on site. The brewery began serving<\/a> Fire Bird\u2019s Nashville hot chicken months before the pandemic forced the facility to close. But as soon as the city gave approval, Liberation and Fire Bird were back in the game, offering ice-cold beer and smokin\u2019 hot chicken outdoors.<\/p>\n Liberation<\/i><\/a> is located at 3630 Atlantic Ave., Long Beach, CA 90807<\/i><\/p>\n While not a brewery, Rasselbock is absolutely a staple in Bixby\u2019s beer scene. As it says on the restaurant\u2019s website, \u201cGermans take our beer seriously and it plays a major role in our culture.\u201d Owned by German-born Bjoern Risse and B\u00fclent Yildirim, the restaurant carries 35 German and Belgian beers, served in German-style pint glasses, mugs and even boots.<\/p>\n Rasselbock thrives on its biergarten atmosphere: people coming together to enjoy hearty food and heartier beer. Forced to forego that atmosphere, the team made some of the most creative moves of the past year. Most notably, in late November and early December, the restaurant turned itself into a Christmas tree lot<\/a>, selling hundreds of trees to the community. Rasselbock also transformed into a mini-market, selling beer, imported chocolates and other items.<\/p>\n Undeterred by the challenges of the pandemic, Bjoern opened a second Bixby Knolls restaurant. Wood & Salt Tavern opened in September during a brief lull in the pandemic, a couple months before the worst surge of the pandemic began.<\/p>\n Rasselbock<\/a> is located at 4020 Atlantic Ave., Long Beach, CA 90807<\/i><\/p>\nDutch\u2019s Brewhouse<\/b><\/h2>\n
Liberation Brewing Co.<\/b><\/h2>\n
Rasselbock Kitchen & Beer Garden<\/b><\/h2>\n
Smog City Brewing Co. @ SteelCraft<\/b><\/h2>\n
Though not based in Long Beach, Smog City Brewing Co. certainly has established itself as a Bixby Knolls beer scene contributor. The Torrance-based brewery is one of the original tenants of the original SteelCraft food hall, which opened<\/a> in Bixby Knolls in early 2017. The Long Beach location offers 25 beers, including pilsners, IPAs, various ales, lagers, saisons, stouts, sours and cider.<\/p>\n