Crafting Community: A Beer Week Chat with Tom Kelley of El Segundo Brewing

Join Gary in this LIVE episode of HopTalk, recorded at the buzzing LA Beer Week kickoff festival, where he sits down with Tom Kelley of El Segundo Brewing. This isn’t your typical beer chat; it’s a deep dive into the LA beer scene’s journey from a handful of breweries to over a hundred. Tom, who began his craft beer journey as a bartender at Library Alehouse and has helped grow El Segundo Brewing into one of LA’s best breweries, shares his first-hand experience of the growth of LA’s beer culture. We cover the rise of the craft beer market, the impact of social media, and the importance of community events like LA Beer Week. But it’s more than a history lesson; it’s about the bonds formed over a shared passion for beer. Tom highlights how the LA beer scene isn’t just about the number of breweries, but the community that’s formed around them. We also delve into their collaboration project with Smog City, ‘Squirrel Tooth Tiger,’ a distinctive brew that shows the creative spirit of LA’s breweries. It’s a brief chat, but one that encapsulates the innovation LA’s beer scene is known for.