Best of the Beach 2017, Best Craft Brewery: King Harbor Brewing Company
King Harbor Brewing’s Tom Dunbabin, Paul McDaniel, Will Daines in their brewing facility. Photo (CivicCouch.com)
Redondo Beach’s King Harbor Brewing Company recently celebrated their third anniversary with 20 tap handles, a scorching set from South Bay blues lady Kira Lingman and killer food trucks. Their core beers — the IPA, the versatile pale ale “The Quest” (interchangeable with different hops throughout the year), “Swirly,” a brown ale with a hint of coffee that creates the taste of a soft serve chocolate and vanilla ice cream cone — have become craft beer stables. Hoptober, as owner Tom Dunbabin dubbed October, was dedicated to new releases. It culminated with the pouring of their first Triple IPA, “Skull Clever” and an epic Halloween party featuring the South Bay’s favorite Rockabilly band Thirsty Crow. We always knew KHBC loved to get canned. Now it’s available all over the South Bay in four packs: Tiki Hut IPA, a citra and mosaic IPA; 808 Concentrate, a passion fruit IPA; and Sink with California, a dry hopped pale ale. Comedian Adam Carolla collaborated with KHBC brewmaster Phil McDaniel for the “Endless Rant” IPA.
2907 182nd St., Redondo Beach. (310) 542-8657.
Kingharborbrewing.com
Runner-Up: HopSaint Brewing Company
5160 W. 190th St., Torrance. (310) 214-4677.
Hopsaint.com