[Riho Beer No.508] HUMAN PEOPLE × ISM Brewing “THERE IS NO BREWER” Hazy IPA 8.5% | Long Beach Craft Beer Can Review

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About me

About Me

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Riho

Beer Engineer

Sharing the craft beer experience through an IT engineer's perspective. As a certified beer judge in Japan, I participated in the 2024 JGBA competitions. Currently based in Seattle, I offer brewing process insights and reviews while comparing craft cultures between the US and Japan.

My mission is "creating a world where breweries' unique stories reach their audience." I support brewers by leveraging my IT skills through prompt engineering and web development. Feel free to reach out with any questions about beer and technology. Cheers! 🍻


📋 この記事はファクトチェック済みです
確認できた事実と個人的な感想を明確に分けて記載しています。

📌 About This Article: This is a can beer tasting review (Riho Beer No.508), not an in-person taproom visit to ISM Brewing in Long Beach. A taproom visit is planned for a future LA trip!

⚠️ Note: This article is research-based and does not reflect a confirmed personal visit. No Instagram post or firsthand visit record has been found. Personal experience is not included.

Hello! I’m Riho, a craft beer enthusiast.

On November 16, 2025, I visited ISM Brewing & Kitchen in downtown Long Beach’s Promenade. Founded in November 2023, this extraordinary brewery achieved World Beer Cup 2 Gold Medals and a GABF Gold Medal within just 2 years — making it Southern California’s most explosive new brewery on the craft beer scene.

The brewery’s name comes from the initials of founder and head brewer Ian S. McCall, whose experience honed at Beachwood Brewing manifests in world-class craft beers that earned global recognition within two years of opening.

Hop-kun
Hop-kun

ISM’s “Western Standard Time” won World Beer Cup 2024 Gold for West Coast IPA, and “Chepedelic” won GABF 2025 Gold for New Zealand IPA — Hop! Earning 6 competition medals within 2 years of founding is extraordinary, even by world standards — Hop! Head brewer Ian McCall’s experience from Beachwood Brewing is fully flowering at ISM — Hop!!

Rune-chan
Rune-chan

6 medals in just 2 years is incredible — Woof!! Long Beach has a new star brewery — Woof! New Zealand IPA sounds so exotic and delicious — Woof!!

📍 Basic Information

ItemDetails
📍 AddressLong Beach Downtown Promenade, Long Beach, CA (exact address TBC)
🌐 Websiteismbrewing.com
📸 Instagram@ismbrewing
🍺 SpecialtyWest Coast IPA · New Zealand IPA · Barrel-Aged
📅 FoundedNovember 2023

🍺 Tasting Report: HUMAN PEOPLE × ISM Brewing “THERE IS NO BREWER” (Hazy IPA 8.5%)

Today’s review: the collaboration beer “THERE IS NO BREWER” by HUMAN PEOPLE × ISM Brewing (Hazy IPA, 8.5% ABV). Brewed as a “Hasta La Raíz” collaboration, a portion of proceeds supports Freedom for Immigrants — an organization working to end immigrant detention and reunite families.

ホプくん
ホプくん
The hop bill is absolutely world-class! Mosaic Cryo, CLS Farms Centennial (late-pick), and Freestyle Nelson Bliss (early/late blend) — these are premium craft brewing ingredients at their finest!

Hop Bill

Mosaic Cryo / MosaicBerry, tropical fruit, concentrated lupulin richness
CLS Farms Centennial (late-pick)Pine, lemon, subtle coniferous contrast
Freestyle Nelson Bliss (early/late blend)White grape, elegant dank, clear citrus peel

Tasting Notes

Aroma: As you bring the glass to your nose, a burst of Centennial-derived pine and lemon explodes briefly but intensely. The late-pick CLS Farms lot contributes a subtly green, coniferous edge that creates beautiful contrast.

Flavor: On the palate, delicate Mosaic/Mosaic Cryo berry notes layer with fresh juiciness and resinous dank. The Cryo concentration means it’s rich without being heavy. Flavors oscillate between fruit and resin with incredible depth.

Finish: Berry and white grape linger quietly, with a transparent bitterness that fades like the final notes of music. Strength and quiet, resin and fruit, dry and lush — opposing elements harmonize in complex layers. Remarkable.

りほくん
りほくん
This is the first Mosaic-forward beer I’ve ever thought was truly exceptional! Usually they leave a stale gum aftertaste, but this one achieves sharpness and transparency together — like the beer draws ‘layers’ of intensity on your tongue.
ルネちゃん
ルネちゃん
The social mission is so meaningful! Buying this beer means supporting immigrant families — craft beer with a purpose! That’s beautiful!
ホプくん
ホプくん
ISM Brewing is Long Beach-based but winning medals across the country! Their taproom is high on my list — planning to visit ISM, Trademark Brewing, and Beachwood on my next LA trip!

🏆 Awards (6 Medals in Under 2 Years)

YearCompetitionMedalBeer
2024World Beer Cup🥇 Gold (West Coast IPA)Western Standard Time
2025GABF🥇 Gold (New Zealand-Style IPA)Chepedelic
2024–2025Various4 additional medalsMultiple beers

🍺 Signature Beers

① Western Standard Time ★ World Beer Cup 2024 Gold

A West Coast IPA that won WBC 2024 Gold from a brewery less than 1 year old at the time — head brewer Ian McCall’s West Coast IPA expertise on full display. Clear, dry, with classic pine and citrus character.

② Chepedelic ★ GABF 2025 Gold (New Zealand IPA)

A New Zealand IPA developed by brewer Jose, featuring purple candy, watermelon rind, and dankness in a distinctive flavor combination. GABF 2025 Gold Medal winner — Untappd rated 4.22/5 with extremely high scores. A must-try at ISM.

🏆 Overall Rating

★★★★★
4.6/5
6 medals in under 2 years — the most explosive new brewery in Southern California. World-class quality from day one
Riho-kun
Riho-kun

“Chepedelic” is like nothing I’ve had before — that New Zealand hop character with watermelon rind and purple candy notes is wild! The fact that a 2-year-old brewery is collecting world-class awards like this speaks to Ian McCall’s incredible talent. Long Beach has a new craft beer destination!

✈️ Plan Your Long Beach / Los Angeles Trip

✈️ Book Your Long Beach Trip

※ Contains affiliate links

📸 From My Instagram Visit

❓ FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions

What does ‘ISM’ stand for?

It stands for ‘Innovative Spirits and Mindfulness’ — reflecting the brewery’s commitment to quality and craftsmanship. Their philosophy is backed by 6 combined World Beer Cup and GABF medals.

What is a New Zealand-style IPA?

NZ-style IPAs use hops grown in New Zealand (Nelson Sauvin, Motueka, Rakau, etc.), producing distinctive passion fruit, guava, and white grape aromas — quite different from classic West Coast IPAs.

What’s the taproom vibe like?

ISM Brewing occupies an industrial-style space in Long Beach. It’s a local hangout popular with craft beer enthusiasts. They have a spacious outdoor patio area that’s pet-friendly.

ルネちゃん
ルネちゃん
How far is Long Beach from San Diego?
りほくん
りほくん
About 90 miles north via I-5 — roughly 1.5-2 hours by car. Long Beach is a major port city with its own character: great aquarium (Aquarium of the Pacific), historical Queen Mary ship, and a vibrant food scene!
ホプくん
ホプくん
ISM’s medal haul is absolutely extraordinary! 6 combined World Beer Cup and GABF medals in just a few years of operation? That’s almost unheard of in the craft brewing world — truly elite!
ルネちゃん
ルネちゃん
What makes New Zealand hops different from regular hops?
りほくん
りほくん
NZ hops like Nelson Sauvin, Motueka, and Riwaka have unique tropical fruit characteristics — passion fruit, guava, white grape — completely different from American or German hop varieties. It’s like discovering a new flavor language!

🍻 How to Order at an American Taproom

New to American taprooms? Here’s a quick guide to ordering craft beer with confidence.

りほくん
りほくん
Don’t be shy at the bar! Staff at craft breweries love talking beer. Just point at the tap list or say what style you enjoy and they’ll guide you to something great.
Step 1Check the tap list on the board or menu
Step 2Order at the counter: “Can I have a [beer name], please?”
Step 3“Open tab or close?” → Say “Open” to pay later, “Close” to pay now
Step 4Show ID (passport) if asked — 21+ required
Step 5Pick up your beer at the counter
Step 6Add 15–20% tip when closing your tab (tablet screen)
ホプくん
ホプくん
Try asking: “What do you recommend?” or “What’s your most popular IPA right now?” — bartenders love these questions!
ルネちゃん
ルネちゃん
Want to try before committing? Ask for a “taster” or “sampler” — most taprooms offer small 2-4oz pours to help you decide!

⚠️ Disclaimer

Taste evaluations are personal opinions. Beer flavor perception varies by individual. Product information, hours, and prices are subject to change without notice. Drink responsibly. Must be 21+ to consume alcohol in the United States.

🔗 Other Breweries from This Trip

More brewery articles from the November 2025 California trip coming soon. US Craft Beer Brewery Guide →

🇺🇸 American Craft Beer Brewery Reviews

North American brewery reports from a Seattle-based craft beer enthusiast: https://rihobeer.com/category/beer/brewpub/usa

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