Beachwood BBQ and Brewing in Long Beach has garnered strong reviews from local craft beer enthusiasts. (Danny Lee/Neon Tommy)

"I pour craft beer every day. I can't be any more craft-centric than I am now," Gordon said.    

For Gordon, opening a restaurant was about having the opportunity to combine his passions for beer and barbecue. That vision eventually made way for the rise of Beachwood BBQ and Brewing in downtown Long Beach. Debuting in 2011, the brewpub is a spinoff of the original Beachwood BBQ in Seal Beach and has amassed its share of accolades within the craft beer community during its brief lifespan.

Beachwood BBQ and Brewing was named Southern California’s top brewpub in RateBeer’s annual “Best” list and earned medals at the Great American Beer Festival, the nation’s largest domestic beer event.

“It’s an honor to get through half the rounds, let alone win awards at them,” Gordon said.

Located in Long Beach’s Promenade, Beachwood features 36 taps, with 24 handles that pour guest beer and the other 12 devoted to house beers. It is one of the first bars to rotate every tap when a keg blows to create some suspense over the possible selections that can be featured on the drink menu. The idea sprung up at the original Beachwood when the restaurant only had 10 operating taps and limited space to store back-up kegs.

“There’s so many beers with what goes on in the U.S. and Europe. I didn’t know how to set the program and say, ‘These 10 beers are always going to be on tap,’” Gordon said. “Far be it for me to decide what 10 beers should be on tap. I’m just going to rotate everything.”ing taps and limited space to store back-up kegs.

The Northern California native also developed a draft system, which he dubs “the Flux Capacitor” to allow customers to order beer at a temperature of their choosing. The Melrose, Amalgamator and Thrillseeker India Pale Ales are some of the more popular beers at Beachwood.

But it’s more than just the drinks that draw the the crowds. Despite being a brewpub, Beachwood still sells more food than beer and specializes in various ribs, chicken, brisket and pulled pork dishes.

“There are a lot of brewpubs where food is an afterthought,” Gordon said. “We’re just as equally passionate about our food as our beer and I think that’s what sets us apart.”

Customer service also ranks high on Beachwood’s priority list. Gordon mentioned he has witnessed patron at other brewpubs who have had to endure snickering from employees when trying to order brand-name beers from the menu. He makes it a point among his staff not to engage in beer snobbery.

“If you come in and ask for a Coors Light, that’s cool if that’s what you like,” Gordon said. “We don’t have it, but we’re going to let you try something that you will really like and enjoy. Making [customers] feel like a jerk for asking for a macro beer is unacceptable. That’s not doing anything for craft beer if you’re going to be elitist about it.”

Gordon’s reason for supporting craft beer was simple — helping out the little guy.

“You listen on TV and you hear all these politicians talking about supporting small businesses,” he said. “Craft brewery? We’re the poster children for small business. These guys who open breweries put their hearts, souls and all their money into it.”

Beachwood Brewing in Long Beach operates from Tuesdays through Sundays and opens its doors at 11:30 a.m. The kitchen closes at 9:30 p.m. and the bar remains open until midnight.

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