The California Experience: The Dudes Brewing

Where better than the Beach Cities communities just south of Los Angeles International Airport to launch a successful brewery called The Dudes. Known for gnarly waves, the Beach Boys, and now, breweries and brew pubs, this part of Los Angeles is indeed the perfect location for this quintessentially Californian experience.

Located in Torrance, Calif., home to many acclaimed breweries, The Dudes Brewing offers thirteen tap handles operating via a 3.5 barrel pilot system. The Dudes who run this company, which opened in 2013, exude laid back coolness. Open four days a week, Thursday through Sunday, the tap room is a bright, open place to hang out with a clear sight-line through to the manufacturing line. Picnic tables and beer barrels serve as prime spots to taste in the spacious, modern room. Yes, quotes from The Big Lebowski are to be found on their brewery tasting room walls, and there’s a family-friendly atmosphere with food trucks camped out behind the open warehouse doors. Well behaved pups are welcome, too. In short: it’s a good spot to chill and taste.

Who are these dudes? Toby Humes, Jeff Parker and Mike Holwick started brewing commercially in 2013, but head brewer Parker paid his dues home brewing as early as 1989 when microbrewing was just beginning, and at Strand Brewing before teaming up to create a thirty barrel, nine vessel beer brewing system aimed at creating a half a million gallons of beer. Around here, the old “Ninety-nine Bottles of Beer” ditty could use up-dating here – to “Half a Million Cans.”

The Dudes’ Double Trunk IPA and rich Grandma’s Pecan brown ale are extremely popular, available at Whole Foods and area restaurants as well as on tap in the tasting room.

Double Trunk features a substantial 9.4% ABV, with plenty of hops and malt. Amber and bubbly, its brewed using corn sugar to stay dry and light despite the strong hop content.

Grandma’s Pecan approaches 7% ABV, with a rich, nutty taste well matched by its warm brown shade. Toasted pecan and caramel flavors this potent ale, which is as rich as a slice of Thanksgiving pie and yet crisp and cooling.

Like Porter? The Grinning Face Porter is definitely smile worthy, smooth and redolent of coconut with a 6.2% ABV. On the lighter end of the craft brew scale, the Dudes serve up Kolschtal Eddy, whose clean, crisp taste clocks in at a mellow 5.5% ABV.

There’s also seasonal releases available, brewed with fresh fruit. Called the Juicebox Series, these fruity brews offer unique and dynamic flavors perfect to finish off a day riding the waves. One current offer is the Blood Orange Amber Ale, a vibrant mix of flavors that includes hand-zested local California blood oranges, vanilla beans, and coca nibs. Citrus, chocolate and beer – a pretty profound combination.

Brew aficionados who want to taste all of the above can get their chance with tasting flights that conclude with a take-home, Dudes-logo glass. It’s the perfect accessory when buying cans of these drinks to quaff at home.

The brewery’s catch phrase certainly appears to be true here, “Happy people make good beer. Good beer makes people happy.”