Christopher Wallace used to read Word Up! Magazine before he became the Notorious B.I.G., and Rob Croxall read a book about breweries back in college; both with a dream. El Segundo Brewing Company has been brewing beer at their El Segundo facility since April of this year. Come mid September they’ll be opening up their long awaited tap room offering IPA, pale ale and couple of “tap room only” selections. We caught up with Co-Owner and Brewer, Rob Croxall on a busy brew day to have a heart-to-heart about El Segundo, starting a brewery and having his dreams come true.

Making a Change

Rob worked in the aerospace business for 13 years before making the switch to beer. But owning a brewery was perpetually on his mind. “I read a book about opening up a brewery back in college in the early 90’s. Something I was thinking about then, but it’s not very practical right when you graduate college with no money,” Rob tells us. He shelved the idea for about a decade before one fateful day at his daughter’s soccer game. He overheard a man he didn’t know sitting in front of him talking about opening up a brewery in El Segundo. “If some other guy came along and opened up a brewery in my hometown, I would be kicking myself forever,” Rob says. His job at the aerospace company was good, with constant opportunities to make good money, however, to Rob it was noticeably unfulfilling, “I never came home at the end of the day thinking it was a great day.”

Soon after, Rob began to devise a business plan and applied for UC Davis’ Master Brewers Program. In November of 2010, his job had a voluntary layoff. With that in mind, he volunteered and took off to UC Davis. Being a homebrewer for eleven years, he knew about the hands-on facet of brewing but aspired to learn about the science aspect of it, “It’s 22 more years before I could consider retiring. It’s either do something now, or put up or shut up. I had to do something now.”

Brewers Helping Brewers

During the building of his brewery, Rob had help from neighboring brewers like Rich Marcello and Joel Elliott from Strand Brewing Company and Patrick Rue from The Bruery. “I sent Patrick an email and I’ve never met him in my life. I told him what I was doing and wanted a little bit of information. He responded with a four page email. He had no reason what so ever to help me but he did.”

The Beers

El Segundo Brewing Company offers an IPA and a pale ale. While his brewery is at full production, Rob is planning to brew an imperial stout and a red ale. You can find Rob’s beers at craft beer bars across Los Angeles like Library Alehouse, Beer Belly, Rock & Brews and Naja’s. Thanks to Thomas Kelley, the sales director, who is well-recognized in the Los Angeles craft beer business, a Certified Cicerone and GM of Library Alehouse in Santa Monica. “He’s the right guy on board. I don’t think he’ll be out there representing us if he didn’t think the product is worth it,” says Rob.

Local

Rob tells us the reception of being a local brewery has been great; “People get so excited about it.” El Segundo Brewing Company sits directly across the street from Rock & Brews, a craft beer bar. “It’s a good draw for El Segundo. With us here and Rock & Brews. The next block up you have Richmond Bar & Grill, Deluca Trattoria and Second City Bistro. There is a nice little beer and food scene here.” He hopes the scene will continue to grow.

The journey wasn’t painless, but for Rob it has been a satisfying road to a brand new career. “I’ll tell you, I haven’t regretted it for a day yet, and there have been some really tough days.”

You can try both of El Segundo Brewing Company’s beers at Steingarten LA for Blue House Ale Pine Night on August 31 from 7 PM – 10 PM and at their tap room come mid September.


Where?
El Segundo Brewing Company
140 Main St.
El Segundo, CA 90245

Additional Information
https://www.facebook.com/pages/El-Segundo-Brewing-Company-home-of-Blue-House-Ales/139665352742459
http://twitter.com/#!/BlueHouseAles