White Sand Double IPA Cometh: The official grand opening party for the Strand Brewing Tap Room happens this weekend, Saturday, April 14, and Sunday, April 15. Drinking hours are Saturday, noon to 8 p.m., and Sunday, noon to 6 p.m. This will be the world debut of White Sand, an 8.6% abv double IPA that stands above and apart from the vast majority of its namesakes. There is so much tropical fruit going on that you could play a board game trying to guess which, what and how much.

Rich Marcello and Joel Elliott, owners of Strand Brewing Co.; Credit: Bernie Wire

Rich Marcello and Joel Elliott, owners of Strand Brewing Co.; Credit: Bernie Wire

Owner and brewer Joel Elliott, the brewer behind some of the best local beer you can find in L.A. County, tells us, “I brewed a double IPA in which I can play around with the different styles of hops.” In a yin-yang parallel, Elliott also will brew a Strand Black Sand double IPA in the coming months in which he can “play around with the malts.” When that day comes, “Customers will get to compare White Sand and Black Sand side by side and have the chance to gauge the differences.”

Co-owner Rich Marcello points out that Strand Brewing has grown from a 400-barrel production to more than 4,000 barrels in just over two years. Its signature beer is 24th Street Pale, a beer we called the fifth best pale ale in California last year.

Elliott and Marcello met while surfing at 24th Street and the Strand in Hermosa Beach, hence both the brewery and beer names. If there is anything more appropriate for SoCal than surfing brewers or brewing surfers, we can't imagine what it is.

Aside from the aforementioned flagship beer, 24th Street Pale, and the special-release White Sand Double IPA, the grand opening will feature a cask of oaked Batch 100 Stout, as well as straight-up Batch 100 Stout on draft, Atticus IPA and Beach House Amber. And speaking of Elliott playing with hops, you'll be able to get two other versions of 24th Street Pale: double dry-hopped with Amarillo hops and also with Cascade hops.

Marcello tells us, “We decided to open a tap room so we could provide a place for our loyal supporters to be an integral part of the evolution of Strand Brewing.” Strand will offer taster flights, pitchers, and growlers to go. There's enough street parking for a small army, a nice benefit anywhere you can find it in L.A. County.

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