Nibble Bit Tabby Brewery Closing

Nibble Bit Tabby Brewery: owner Brian Lethcoe

Amid all the happy news of L.A. Beer Week -- splashy openings for Golden Road and Sunset Beer Company -- we have some sad news: Nibble Bit Tabby brewery is closing.

We talked to brewer and co-owner Brian Lethcoe, who tells us the brewery's last day will probably be October 31st. Don't expect a blowout party. Then again... maybe.

Located on the gritty outskirts of downtwon L.A., the brewery, which opened about a year ago and just launched its tasting room in July, was dubbed, by us, as Los Angeles' Best Contrarian Brewery. Lethcoe did a great job making odd, obscure, intriguing beers -- beers that no local brewer was making.

To quote ourselves:

The microbrewery produces only 600 gallons a month. The locale isn't pretty, and [Nibble Bit Tabby] suffers from a lack of marketing finesse. It does not suffer from a lack of great beer. Even as competition for craft-beer handles grows increasingly fierce in Los Angeles, Uncle Arnie's Irish Red is worth seeking out.

If you're lucky, you can find this mellow, earthy Irish ale with a slightly sweet finish at some of the better beer bars in town. Or you can pop into Nibble Bit's recently opened tasting room on Friday and Saturday nights, where you can chat with Lethcoe himself about plumbing, painting, muscle cars, L.A.'s hidden beer history and the subtle differences between London ale and San Francisco lager yeast.

Right now, we're pouring out a little Irish red ale for our favorite departed brewery.

[@elinashatkin / eshatkin@laweekly.com]

Location Info

Venue

Map

Nibble Bit Tabby Brewery

2001 S. Santa Fe Ave., Los Angeles, CA

Category: Music

0 user reviews
Write A Review
Save to foursquare
Powered by Voice Places
My Voice Nation Help
3 comments
ShimmyShan
ShimmyShan

Awesome picture of Brian!! I know this is not the end, just a huge REMINDER of who not to have as a business partner! Huge lessons learned for a brighter future my friend, your time will come xo!

Dorian J.
Dorian J.

"Marketing finesse"? You just have to get your beers out there. And even though IPAs generally bore me, I would have still crafted one as a business move. I didn't even know that the tasting room opened. Maybe he can make a comeback. Location really doesn't matter anyway, all these taprooms are in industrial areas away from major retail districts. If a beer is good, people will come. You just to let us know a taproom has opened. I had no idea until right now. Now even if I go, its too late. They just got to make a comeback with the same brews plus some popular ones, and a sharp marketing plan. This is a great time for craft beer growth.

Gqabelreynoso
Gqabelreynoso

This is terrible news!!! They make some of the best craft beers i've ever tasted! So Sad!! :0(

Now Trending

From the Vault

 

©2013 LA Weekly, LP, All rights reserved.
Browse Voice Nation
  • Voice Places Los Angeles

    Voice Places

    Find everything you're looking for in your city

  • Happy Hour App

    Happy Hour App

    Find the best happy hour deals in your city

  • Daily Deals

    Daily Deals

    Get today's exclusive deals at savings of anywhere from 50-90%

  • Best Of

    Best Of...

    Check out the hottest list of places and things to do around your city