Nibble Bit Tabby Craft Beer Brewery Opens in Los Angeles, For Reals

The city of Los Angeles now officially has two craft beer breweries. Nibble Bit Tabby Brewery, nestled between Boyle Heights and the south side of Downtown L.A., is brewing full speed ahead. We spoke to owner and brewer Brian Lethcoe about the ups and downs of his new business. Read on for details on his upcoming launch party and where you can find his L.A.-born beers.

Open Sesame

Opening a brewery in Los Angeles is no easy task, as Steve and Jeremy Raub at Eagle Rock Brewery have explained to us before. Brian’s dedication to opening a brewery started six years ago, but his interest in beer began long before that since his dad would always stop at breweries on family trips. “We talked about it. If it’s simple, it’s boring to me. I wanted to know why there were no brewers in this town. I didn’t want L.A. to have that label — where it has buildings that say ‘brewery’ on them that don’t even brew.”

Now Brian, with a staff of three others, runs his own small brewery hidden in an alley behind Santa Fe Ave. Once he got his building permit, it took three years to renovate the space and transform it into today’s fully operating Nibble Bit Tabby. But it wasn’t the handiwork that took so long — Brian explained that almost every single knob, nozzle, tube, pipe and screw that hadn’t been used before in Los Angeles had to be certified by the Los Angeles Research Report (L.A.R.R.).

Since there’s only one other brewery in the city of Los Angeles, there’s still a lot of equipment that hasn’t been used in the city that had to be cleared. This has been the most difficult part of the process for Brian. His secret to making it work? “You’ve got to know your politicians. You’ve got to know the ones that like beer.”

It’s Alive!

The brewery is a bit like Frankenstein’s monster. Some of his tanks are from Alabama’s Poplar Head Brewery that was wiped out in Hurricane Katrina. His label maker is from Coronado Brewing Co. The cement that makes up sections of the floor were cut by Brian the handyman himself. The tap handles sitting on his work bench are made by Barnacle Brothers, art fabricators that he worked with.

Brian’s seems like a tough guy, but a little talking with him and you’ll see how big of a heart he had to have to make his dream come true. When we asked him what he wished for the next brewer opening in Los Angeles he said, “I wish for the L.A.R.R.’s and N.S.F.’s [National Sanitation Foundation] to be easier for them. And that would be for Ohana.”

“Stay Thirsty”

His quaint space has the capacity to brew about three beers at a time, though he will sometimes pump out one-off’s for special occasions. Currently brewing is Uncle Arnie’s Irish Red, Nibble’s Extra Special Bitter (ESB) and the new Eternity Street Pale Ale, named after L.A.’s Broadway Street. Ultimately he’d like to make an oaked barrel-aged barleywine but his current location can’t quite facilitate that, so until then he’ll be working on Ye Olde 16 Ton Barleywine.

Brian doesn’t plan on reinventing the wheel with his brews — as a former Cal Arts student he knows too well that postmodernism has made it impossible to create something totally new! He’s focusing on brewing good beer that he likes. Though there are currently no plans for growlers, Nibble Bit Tabby will be bottling beers, hopefully by the end of this year.

Go Get ‘Em

Nibble Bit Tabby brews are currently available on tap all over L.A. Look for them at J Lounge, the Eagle Rock Brewery taproom, Tony’s Darts Away, Johnny’s, 81/2 Taverna, Pure Luck, Barbara’s at the Brewery and soon at The York, Down and Out and Boneyard Bistro. We can’t wait to have some more ESB at J Lounge, and we sure hope we can have it sometime at Verdugo Bar or The Surly Goat. The malty deliciousness tasted like the best parts of a Guinness on ‘roids with lots of creamy, balanced, full-bodied, toastyness.

We Like to Party

The official launch party for Nibble Bit Tabby Brewery will be this Friday, September 3 from 11 AM – 2 PM in the alley outside of the brewery. Brian knows how to throw a party — let’s just say while we we’re talking to him a balloon artist stopped in. Get out there Friday and show your support for L.A. brews!

Where?
2001 S. Santa Fe Ave Unit E
Los Angeles, CA 90021

When?
Nibble Bit Tabby Launch Party
September 3, 11 AM – 2 PM … or later

Additional information:
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=141320886321
http://www.myspace.com/404443757

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