[Riho Brewery No.241] ISM Brewing (Long Beach) | 6 Competition Medals in Under 2 Years — Southern California’s Most Explosive New Brewery!

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

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

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

🏆 Awards (6 Medals in Under 2 Years)

🍺 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.

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

🔗 Other Breweries from This Trip

• [Riho Brewery No.237] Our Mutual Friend Brewing (Denver) (World Beer Cup Gold · Mixed-Fermentation Saison)
• [Riho Brewery No.238] Coronado Brewing Company (San Diego) (World Beer Cup Champion · Islander IPA)
• [Riho Brewery No.239] Mason Ale Works (San Diego) (Dankenstein’s Monster DIPA)
• [Riho Brewery No.240] The Original 40 Brewing (North Park) (GABF 2025 Silver · Barrel-Aged Stout)
• [Riho Brewery No.242] SD TapRoom (Pacific Beach) (GABF 2023 Gold PB Haze · Veteran Craft Beer Bar)
• [Riho Brewery No.243] Monkish Brewing Company (Torrance) (West Coast NEIPA Pioneer · 1.6M Untappd Check-ins)
• [Riho Brewery No.244] Craft Coast Beer & Tacos (Oceanside) (GABF 2024 Gold · Baja Tacos)
• [Riho Brewery No.245] Fort George Brewery (Astoria) (GABF & WBC Consecutive Gold · Vortex IPA)

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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