South Bay Brewery Guide

The Best Breweries, Taprooms & Craft Beer Bars in LA's South Bay

I consider the South Bay LA to be one of the meccas of craft brewing. Warehouse space is plentiful and affordable allowing numerous operators to set up and run with a thirsty market already in place and local. From Torrance's brewery warehouses and El Segundo's independent taprooms to Hermosa Beach's neighborhood brewpubs and Redondo Beach's waterfront beer bars, there's plenty to explore without leaving the coast.

Whether you're after a fresh West Coast IPA, a crisp lager, an experimental sour, or a pint with a harbor view, this guide will help you find your next stop.

Torrance Breweries & Taprooms

Monkish Brewing Co.

20311 S Western Ave, Torrance, CA 90501

Monkish is a destination for hop lovers, especially fans of hazy IPAs, double IPAs, and limited releases. The Torrance brewery also pours Belgian-inspired ales and farmhouse styles. It's a great stop for serious beer drinkers who want to see what's fresh from the source.

Website: https://www.monkishbrewing.com

Instagram: @monkishbrewing

Smog City Brewing

1901 Del Amo Blvd, Torrance, CA 90501

A South Bay craft beer staple with a broad lineup of IPAs, lagers, stouts, and creative seasonal releases. The original Torrance brewery offers plenty of tap choices, food vendors, and a relaxed warehouse atmosphere. A natural starting point for a Del Amo Boulevard brewery outing. They have indoor and outdoor seating along with regular food trucks. Several nights a week they feature excellent live music along with trivia nights and events.

Website: https://www.smogcitybrewing.com

Instagram: @smogcitybeer

Smog City West

22755 Hawthorne Blvd, Torrance, CA 90505

Smog City's West Torrance taproom makes it easy to enjoy the brewery's beers without heading to the production facility. Its Hawthorne Boulevard location is convenient for a casual stop while exploring South Torrance, shopping nearby, or heading toward the coast. The tap room has a select amount of board games and music nights to keep you entertained.

Website: https://www.smogcitybrewing.com

Instagram: @smogcitybeer__west

Scholb Premium Ales

2964 Columbia St, Torrance, CA 90503

Scholb produces a varied lineup that includes hoppy ales, approachable lagers, and more adventurous small-batch beers. Its Columbia Street brewery has an easygoing neighborhood feel and it’s less than a 5 minute walk from our next recommendation, Absolution Brewing Company. The brewery has numerous video games all currently free to play including classic arcade shooters, retro systems like Nintendo and Super Nintendo, racing and claw prize games. They have a large enclosed outdoor seating area and are extremely kid friendly. Sundays they often have a bounce house for the kids so parent’s can relax while the kids get some energy out. Food kitchen is limited but they do have regular food trucks.

Website: https://www.drinkscholb.com

Instagram: @scholbpremiumales

Absolution Brewing Company

2878 Columbia St, Torrance, CA 90503

Absolution is a convenient stop a short distance from Scholb Premium Ales. Expect a craft brewery atmosphere and a selection that rewards trying something beyond your usual order. Pair a visit with nearby Scholb for two local beer stops in the same area.

Website: https://www.absolutionbrewingcompany.com

Instagram: @absolutionbrewing

Hermosa Brewing Company, Torrance

1855 Del Amo Blvd, Torrance, CA 90501

Hermosa Brewing brings its South Bay roots to Torrance with locally brewed beer and a neighborhood-focused atmosphere. This location sits along Del Amo Boulevard near other breweries, making it an easy stop for anyone exploring Torrance's craft beer scene.

Website: https://hermosabrewingco.com

Instagram: @hermosabrewingco_torrance

HopSaint Brewing & Restaurant

5160 W 190th St, Torrance, CA 90503

HopSaint combines house-brewed beer with a full kitchen built around wood-fired cooking and Southern-inspired barbecue. Its lineup ranges from refreshing lagers to pale ales and darker beers. Come here when you want a proper meal with your pint.

Website: https://www.hopsaint.com

Instagram: @hopsaintbrewingco

HopSaint at The Ditch

1954 Del Amo Blvd, Torrance, CA 90501

The Ditch is HopSaint's more casual tasting-room experience, with familiar house beers, rotating food trucks, and patio seating. Its Del Amo Boulevard location puts it close to Smog City and Hermosa Brewing's Torrance location.

Website: https://www.hopsaint.com

Instagram: @hopsaintbrewingco

Project Barley Square

1109 Van Ness Ave, Torrance, CA 90501

Located in Old Torrance, Project Barley Square combines craft beer, a full kitchen, and a lively local music and events scene. It's a good pick for groups who want dinner, a pint, and something happening beyond the bar.

Website: https://projectbarley.com

Instagram: @projectbarleybrewery

Hermosa Beach Breweries

Hermosa Brewing Company, Hermosa Beach

1342 Hermosa Ave, Hermosa Beach, CA 90254

A neighborhood brewery with a coastal personality, Hermosa Brewing is a natural choice for beer after a beach day. Its location near the heart of Hermosa Beach makes it easy to work into an afternoon of walking, dining, and exploring the local scene.

Website: https://hermosabrewingco.com

Los Angeles Ale Works, Hermosa Beach

1200 Hermosa Ave, Hermosa Beach, CA 90254

LA Ale Works brings its independent Los Angeles brewing identity to Hermosa Beach. This location offers a convenient stop near the beach and downtown restaurants, especially for visitors who want a local beer without heading inland.

Website: https://www.laaleworks.com

Instagram: @laaleworks

Redondo Beach & King Harbor

Scholb on the Water

160 International Boardwalk, Redondo Beach, CA 90277

Scholb's waterfront location combines its craft beer lineup with the setting of King Harbor. It's a particularly good choice for an afternoon by the marina, a casual harbor walk, or a beer with visiting friends who want a distinctly South Bay experience.

Website: https://www.drinkscholb.com

Instagram: @scholbpremiumales

El Segundo Breweries

El Segundo Brewing Company

140 Main St, El Segundo, CA 90245

El Segundo Brewing is especially well known for its hop-forward West Coast IPAs, including Mayberry and Broken Skull IPA. The Main Street tasting room is a must for fans of crisp, assertive hop character and fresh local beer.

Website: https://www.elsegundobrewing.com

Instagram: @esbcbrews

Five Point Five Brewing Co.

137 Nevada St, El Segundo, CA 90245

Named for El Segundo's roughly 5.5 square miles, Five Point Five takes a neighborhood-minded approach to craft beer. Expect a rotating lineup that can include Kölsch, pilsners, lagers, and ales. The taproom is a good place to settle in with friends and sample several styles.

Website: https://www.fivepointfivebrewing.com

Boardroom Brewery

211 Arena St, El Segundo, CA 90245

Boardroom offers small-batch craft beer in El Segundo's Smoky Hollow area, with styles ranging from pilsners and lagers to IPAs and seasonal experiments. Its spacious taproom and event-friendly setup make it a solid choice for groups.

Website: https://www.boardroomatarena.com

Sugar Monkey Brewing & Social Club

339 Indiana St, El Segundo, CA 90245

Sugar Monkey pairs an independent brewery setting with a social, group-friendly taproom. Its El Segundo location is a good option for meeting friends, catching a game, or adding another stop to a Smoky Hollow brewery outing.

Website: https://www.facebook.com/SugarMonkeySocialClub/

Instagram: @sugarmonkeybrewing

Hawthorne Breweries

Los Angeles Ale Works, Hawthorne

12918 Cerise Ave, Hawthorne, CA 90250

The original LA Ale Works brewery is known for a varied lineup of approachable lagers, hop-forward ales, and inventive releases. The Hawthorne tasting room is a good choice for exploring the brewery's wider range of beers.

Website: https://www.laaleworks.com

Instagram: @laaleworks

Common Space Brewery

3411 W El Segundo Blvd, Hawthorne, CA 90250

Common Space lives up to its name with a spacious taproom, beer gardens, food trucks, and a busy calendar of community events. It's particularly well suited to groups, sports fans, and anyone who likes a social atmosphere with their craft beer.

Website: https://www.commonspace.la

Lawndale Brewery

Far Field Beer Company

4471 W Rosecrans Ave, Lawndale, CA 90250

Far Field offers one of the South Bay's more interesting style ranges, from West Coast IPAs and crisp lagers to Berliner Weisses and experimental sour beers. Its converted auto-shop brewery features a roomy tasting area and patio.

Website: https://farfieldbeer.com

Instagram: @farfieldbeer

Lomita Brewery

Burnin' Daylight Brewing Company

24516 Narbonne Ave, Lomita, CA 90717

Burnin' Daylight brings neighborhood craft beer to downtown Lomita. Its Narbonne Avenue location makes it a worthwhile stop when exploring the southern end of the South Bay, particularly for visitors looking for a local brewery away from the larger Torrance clusters.

Website: https://www.burnindaylightbrewing.com

Inglewood Brewery

Three Weavers Brewing Company

1031 W Manchester Blvd, Inglewood, CA 90301

Three Weavers has built its reputation around approachable, well-made craft beer, especially its Expatriate West Coast IPA. The Inglewood brewery emphasizes community and is a natural beer stop when visiting the area around SoFi Stadium.

Website: https://www.threeweavers.la

Instagram: @threeweavers

More South Bay Beer Destinations

Not every great beer stop brews its own beer. These two local favorites deserve a place on the list.

The Select Beer Store

1613 S Pacific Coast Hwy, Redondo Beach, CA 90277

The Select is a destination for people who like discovering craft beer from multiple breweries. Its specialty beer-store format makes it a useful stop for exploring different producers, finding something unfamiliar, and taking quality beer home.

Naja's Place

100 Fishermans Wharf, Redondo Beach, CA 90277

A longtime King Harbor beer destination with a reputation for a wide craft beer selection and waterfront atmosphere. Naja's is a classic Redondo Beach stop, especially when paired with nearby Scholb on the Water. Come for the beer selection and stay for the harbor setting.

Plan Your South Bay Brewery Tour

You don't need to visit every brewery in one day. Start with a neighborhood, choose a few nearby stops, and leave time to enjoy the area.

Torrance is ideal for exploring several breweries close together. El Segundo has a compact collection of independent taprooms. Hermosa Beach and King Harbor are great choices when you want to combine local beer with a day near the ocean.

Check each brewery's website or Instagram for current hours, food options, special releases, and events before heading out. Please enjoy responsibly and arrange a safe ride if you're visiting multiple stops.

California South Bay | Local Beer, Local Places, Good Company