Gary Magnone
December 27, 2022
King Harbor Brewing Company, a beloved local brewery with three locations in Redondo Beach, will be closing its doors at the end of the month after 8 years in operation.
Founded in 2014, King Harbor quickly made a name for itself in the South Bay beer scene with its original production brewery and taproom on 182nd Street in Redondo Beach. Originally helmed by head brewer Phil McDaniel, who had stints at Bootlegger’s, Stone, and The Bruery, the brewery’s beer program was focused on lower ABV, highly drinkable, sessionable beers that matched the vibes of the Southern California beach community.
In June 2015, King Harbor opened a second taproom on the Redondo Beach pier boardwalk, and in June 2018, they added a third location in the popular Riviera Village neighborhood.
After McDaniel left in 2020 to start Eureka Brewing, assistant brewer John Garcia took over the head brewer role where he oversaw the production of King Harbor’s core lineup, led by Tiki Hut IPA and rounded out by several other tropical and fruit-forward hoppy beers, as well as lighter beers like their award-winning Topside Pilsner and Old Pal Pale Ale. A smaller percentage of their portfolio was comprised of darker beers like The Davey J dark lager, Lead Sales rye dunkel, and French Toast Latte imperial stout, which were highly regarded in their own right.
It’s unclear why King Harbor has decided to close its doors, but with three taproom locations concentrated in Redondo Beach, they faced the constant challenges of cultivating their local taproom audiences, staying relevant in the increasingly competitive greater Los Angeles market, and keeping their product moving through their retail accounts through distribution all at the same time.
Many other breweries that experienced similar growth trajectories in the years leading up to the pandemic are navigating very different waters in 2023. making sustainability a significant obstacle. Whatever the reason for King Harbor’s closure, it’s a sad day for the South Bay beer community as we say goodbye to this beloved brewery.
King Harbor will be open and serving beer up through December 31st, after which all three locations will permanently close. If you’re in the area, make sure to stop by and raise a pint with the team before it’s too late. Thank you to the team at King Harbor for the great beer and for being a part of the local community. We’ll never forget the memories made and the relationships formed over the years. Long live King Swirly!
1 thought on “King Harbor Brewing Company Closes Its Doors After 8 Years in Redondo Beach”
Well, this sucks. Wife and I enjoyed stopping in when we would make a trip down to Redondo. Goodbye King Harbor😲😞.