Today we’d like to introduce you to Ting Su.
Hi Ting, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
This was all a pipedream when we were homebrewing, and small breweries were hard to find in Los Angeles in those days. So we decided to give it a go and in 2009, started the first small production brewery and taproom in Los Angeles in decades.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It hasn’t been a smooth road at all. It took us over 2.5 years to get through the permitting process because the city of Los Angeles wasn’t sure what a small production brewery was, so getting through the red tape while educating the various departments of building and safety, city planning, and even the county health department took an incredible effort with multiple public hearings and a multitude of extraneous fees for permits beyond what should have been needed to open. Then, when we finally opened in 2009, it coincided with the worst downturn of the US economy since the Depression. That created a lot of difficulty getting enough funding to get us through opening day. Since then the market has changed substantially and the brewing industry has had explosive growth, and we’ve experienced a good amount of growth with it…. until the pandemic hit. As of now…well, we’re still riding that out.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
We are family-owned and operated, and have remained intentionally small. We truly love the community that we’re in, as we live just a few miles from the location we chose to start our business. Over the years, Eagle Rock Brewery has partnered with many local community organizations, non-profits, and social justice groups, to benefit the folks that live in and around our neighborhood. We’ve helped develop the LA Beer community by supporting and encouraging other small operators. We also are partly woman-owned, and have been very active in creating a space within both the brewing and business communities for women to not only be involved, but to flourish.
Our brewery focuses on well-balanced, easy-drinking beers, in a variety of styles, that appeal to the people of our community. Our focus on quality has helped us produce many award-winning beers over the 13 years we’ve been in business. We celebrate diversity and make every effort to create an inclusive and welcoming environment, so if you’re new to beer, an old pro, or just exploring your options, we want you to feel right at home with us!
Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
What I like most about the city is the diversity. What I like least about the city is traffic and how limited the options are for public transportation given that both traffic and parking are problematic.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://eaglerockbrewery.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eaglerockbrew/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Eagle-Rock-Brewery/100069566705530/?fref=tag
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/eagle-rock-brewery-los-angeles
