Local Business Highlight: Ambitious Ales
Ambitious Ales Offers Locals a New Point of Brew Seven years ago five guys had a vision. Bixby Knolls beer drinkers are sure happy that they did. Five guys had a vision. Their vision was to create an experience around craft beer that is unlike anything else. That vision included the idea of a neighborhood brew pub as a place where all kinds of people could come together and get to know their neighbors. In 2019, in the burgeoning Long Beach enclave of Bixby Knolls, the five friends — Garrett Carroll, Juan Carrillo, Jon Cuthbert, Jerome De Leon and Danny Karpinksi — finally brought their vision to life with the opening of Ambitious Ales. Co-owner and Head Brewer Garrett Carroll says the name conveys who they are as a company. “At our core, we are all extremely ambitious. From day one to now, from the types of beer we make, to the way we operate, to the fact that we opened the business with our own money and did the work on the building ourselves, we’ve shown that we look at everything in a big way. But at the same time, we like to keep things simple. It seem like a contradiction, but there’s a bigger meaning. We’re aiming for something larger than just our brand and our beer. We want to serve challenging beers, but make the experience inviting for people who are willing to try new things.” After experimenting with home brew and hitting on some unique flavors that became favorites with family and friends, the crew decided to turn their hobby into an enterprise. They began the (dare I say it?) ambitious tasks of engineering commercial grade brew systems, assembling funds, licensing and choosing the perfect locale. After scouring the region for the right venue, these fab five set their sights on Long Beach, where Jon Cuthbert had already been a resident for two years. “We spent a lot of time here already, so it made sense for us,” Garret said. “We fell in love with Bixby Knolls and everything that’s happening here. We began talking to people who own businesses in the area, and it spoke true to what we we’re all about. Community is what drives us.” They acquired a local landmark, the former home of Tuttle Cameras, which had occupied the location for 70 years. Garrett explained, “The building is so unique. It was built in the 40s and has a lot of character. When we first saw it, it was pretty dilapidated, but once we started investigating, we saw its potential.” Jon put his contracting skills to work and took the lead on redesigning the building to the team’s specifications. The result is a beautiful open-plan tasting room with exposed wood rafters and uncluttered lines. The generous use of natural finishes grounds the space with an earthy vibe, while huge windows let indoor occupants remain connected with the outdoors. Most importantly, a series of taps behind the bar deliver Ambitious Ales’ selection of cold and delicious microbrews. From their exotic Fleurs Belgian table beer brewed with chamomile, lavender and fresh strawberries, to their surprising Central Perk blonde brewed with Rose Park Roaster’s Guatemala Santa Isabel beans and Madagascar vanilla beans, you are sure to feel both challenged and chillaxed. In the spirit of inclusion, the Ambitious Ales quintet also decided to perfect their own Sarsaparilla Cold Pop and Cold Brew Coffee so underage youngsters, non-drinkers and DDs can hang out and enjoy the space too. “We get a lot of people who aren’t big beer drinkers coming back for more,” Garrett said. Ambitious Ales is one of many small businesses that are thriving in Bixby Knolls, a gentrifying neighborhood just minutes from downtown Long Beach that includes charming historic homes, a thriving business district and a vibrant community spirit. Since Ambitious Ales does not have a kitchen, it is collaborating with local eateries to offer everything from signature pizzas from neighboring Pow Wow Pizza to tasty Thai recipes from Aura Thai. Patrons can order from nearby restaurants and the food will be delivered to them where they sit at Ambitious Ales. After talking with Garrett about his vision, I felt compelled to experience it for myself. On my approach, I could see the patio was filled with people: families with children, young adults out for a night on the town, alongside more seasoned aficionados of fine brew. Through the gleaming plate windows, I saw people sitting together at communal tables playing boardgames, engaging in conversation, and of course — drinking great craft beer. I myself was ambitious enough to try four different flavors during my visit. My personal favorite? The More Better, a porter conditioned on organic toasted coconut and cacao nibs. Yum. Stop by and discover your favorite at 4019 Atlantic Avenue. Ambitious Ales is a place you’ll be welcome too.
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Local Business Highlight: A Drink Come True
A Drink Come True INTERVIEWED BY LINDSEY GOODROW Long Beach boasts an exciting nightlife, offering residents endless options for epic bars and restaurants to go out to, each unique in its own right.The city’s lively and diverse food & beverage scene is one of the many upsides of living in this spectacular city. But what if instead of going out to the bar, the bar came to you? That’s where A Drink Comes True comes in. Meet Jesse Rodriguez, the innovative mixologist behind A Drink Come True, a mobile bar service catering to the greater Los Angeles area. Tell us a bit about your background prior to starting A Drink Come True? I moved to Long Beach in 2012. I started off in hospitality as a food runner and busser. I knew I wanted to get in behind the bar so I switched gears and got a job at a popular spot with a full bar program and worked my way up to a bar back.I studied hard, learned the ins and outs of the cocktail world, and really grew to love it. So when I heard of a new bar opening up Downtown, I felt confident to take a chance and apply for the bartender position.I was hired! From there, it took off, and I fully immersed myself in the cocktail scene. What prompted you to start a mobile bar service? Was it something you had seen done before? How did you recognize there was a need for it? In January 2021, I was working a job I hated. The pandemic had devastated the hospitality industry, so I found work as a car salesman. It paid the bills, but it wasn’t what I wanted to be doing. One day I received a call from a friend who was having a party, and he asked me to bartend and make some fun cocktails. I jumped on the opportunity. I had really missed slinging drinks. I missed the sound of tins cracking back and forth, the banter, the cheer, but most importantly, I was missing the creative outlet. Soon after, I attended a wedding and was not impressed with the cocktails and the whole bar service. It lacked personality all around. That was my lightbulb moment. Clearly, there was a need for a damn good drink, especially at a special event! So why couldn't I provide that for people? That's when the idea for a mobile bar service really started to unravel into A Drink Come True! What kind of events do you serve? All kinds! You name it, I'll do it. I've served a 250-person wedding down to an intimate 5-person cocktail class.I've done birthdays, fundraising events, private tastings, retirement parties, and everything in between. It's been a lot of fun. Is there a memorable moment from one of these events that made you realize the business was a success? The first wedding I did was at a beautiful venue in Santa Barbara. The guest list was pushing about 130 people, and I knew it was just the beginning of something great. Although a huge learning curve, it was a major success! The feedback was extremely positive, but the one thing that stood out was a man thanking me for having something "surprisingly good" to drink that wasn't the typical Jack n' coke. It was great having people enjoy my cocktails, so that's when I knew this was going to be a success. What are your favorite bars in Long Beach and Los Angeles? Ooh tough question... My favorite bars in Long Beach are all bars in Long Beach! They all have something great to offer! Just to throw out a few.. you've gotta try "Smoke em if you got em" at Mezcalero, anything Momma Leah makes at The Hawk, The fun and wild drinks at Baby Gee's, the beers and Amaro at Ambitious Ales, the beautiful execution of cocktails at Navy Proof, classic tiki drinks at Bamboo Club and the list goes on! But honestly, all LB bars have something special and unique to them. Where do you draw your inspiration from? What are you current favorite flavors to experiment with? Much of my inspiration comes from the classics and things I've experienced while traveling. But mostly, the inspiration comes from each client. I like to figure out what types of drinks the party enjoys and use that as a guideline. Each menu is personally curated for each client, so no two menus are identical. When it comes to flavors, lately, I've been experimenting with Kaffir lime leaves and Italian Amaro. The Kaffir Lime leaves have a beautiful floral and citrus note that is great for infusions! Amaro (an herbal, bitter, and sweet digestif) is close to my heart, but it's loved by a very niche group of people because it can be a bit aggressive, so that's always a fun one to play with. What has been the most challenging aspect of starting a mobile bar service? The most challenging aspect has been the freelance lifestyle and its inconsistency. Some months are jam-packed, others might be a dry month (looking at you, January!)...( I do have some killer mocktail recipes...just sayin'..). But in all seriousness, it's a little scary waiting for the phone to ring; it's not the first thing people might think of when planning an event. Another challenging aspect is keeping up with the trends. Mocktails are huge right now. I recently worked on two events that requested a handful of mocktails. I wasn't going to just slap some fruit juices together and call it a day, I wanted to create a well-balanced, flavorful mocktail, so that was challenging..but extremely rewarding. What has been the most rewarding aspect of starting a mobile bar service? The most rewarding aspect is probably the amount of referrals from happy clients.It's a reminder that I'm doing something right and someone out there really enjoyed their experience with me and my team.And that everyone having a good time! Do you feel supported by the community in your work? What makes you love working out of Long Beach and the surrounding area? Every day I feel supported by the community, from my friends and regulars that I serve from behind the bar to my friends who promote and refer my services or even hire A Drink Come True for their event. One big reason I love working and living in Long Beach is 100% the community.It's a big little city that supports each other in arts, music, food, culture, diversity, and definitely the hospitality industry. Follow @adrinkcometrue on Instagram to stay updated on all that’s new with ADCT. For more information or to Book A Drink Come True at your next event, email adrinkcometrue@gmail.com directly. Let's have some fun!
Long Beach Landmark: Broadlind Hotel
Broadlind Hotel BY LINDSEY GOODROW A 1920s Bachelor’s Paradise is now a marvel of American Architectural History Named for its location at the southwest corner of Broadway and Linden Avenue, Broadlind Hotel was instantly marked as an architectural symbol of Long Beach. Throughout the century, the Broadlind has evolved from being an extravagant Roaring Twenties bachelor hub to an adoringly preserved historical landmark. Read along as we uncover the history and architectural significance of one of Long Beach’s oldest hotels. Broadlind Hotel was designed and erected in 1928 by the architectural firm, Piper & Kahrs. Interestingly, the same year saw both The Lafayette Hotel, which is across from Broadlind, and the Villa Riviera on Ocean be built. Now all three are historical landmarks. The cost to build Broadlind Hotel was around $85,000—or $1.5 million in today’s money—and originally consisted of 33 total rooms on two floors, nestled above a lobby and mezzanine. The architectural design of this historical hotel was influenced by a magnificent blend of styles: It is dominated by the Italian Renaissance style with its symmetry & geometrical patterns, wide arches, stone columns, and ornately braided concrete. It has hints of American Midwest, noted by the red brick and cream-colored terra cotta exterior. Lastly, the hotel is sprinkled with wrought iron and intricate metalwork common to New Orleans as well as large wooden doors found mostly in Spanish mission-style architecture. Due to this unique blend of architectural styles, it’s no wonder the Broadlind Hotel has been attracting eyes and patrons for nearly a century and has in recent years been recognized for historical preservation. In the late 19th century, Long Beach was emerging as a coastal haven for those seeking escape from bustling metropolises like Los Angeles. For this reason, Long Beach experienced rapid growth and urban development. Hotels like the Broadlind Hotel were popping up on every street corner, and these businesses became an integral part of the city's early expansion and prosperity. Built by bachelors for bachelors, the Broadlind Hotel initially attracted naval officers and sailors to occupy and temporarily live in its rooms while they were docked in Long Beach. The hotel quickly became known for pandering to these men's vices. As the Broadlind was built during the peak of the Prohibition era, the basement was secretly a VIP-only speakeasy, complete with gambling tables and a drinking hall. Over the next century, the Broadlind would see a great deal of change. Changing of hands, of use, and of significance. During World War II it was used for housing by Navy officers. Years following, it became a combination hotel and apartment complex. When the economy collapsed in the 1980s, East Village as a whole became nearly unhabitable, and the hotel stood vacant for many years. The once elegant and bedazzling hotel faced complete abandonment, covered every decade in more dust with more and more Long Beach residents forgetting its very existence. Fortunately, the 20th century ushered in a newfound interest and appreciation for historical landmarks, and the Broadlind Hotel was no exception. Efforts to preserve this unique architectural delight saw the hotel officially get accepted as a Long Beach Historical Landmark. The Broadlind, having been dusted off, renovated, and modernly furnished, now stands in its historical glory as a boutique hotel made up of 20 rooms ranging from studios to two-bedroom suites as well as a penthouse—the structure of which gives the building the appearance of having a tower. In 2014, the vacant basement/prohibition bar was converted into The Blind Donkey, a bar famous for its wide selection of brown liquor. Anyone in Long Beach who is familiar with walking down the stairs to this whiskey bar can now imagine what it was like to sneak down to a hotel speakeasy during the Roaring Twenties. Today, you can visit the Broadlind Hotel, stay in its storied rooms, and appreciate what it must have been like to live during the Roaring Twenties. The hotel's designation as a historic landmark solidified its place in Long Beach's cultural landscape, ensuring that future generations can appreciate the resilience and endurance embedded in its walls.
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