LA Beer Hop

I expect that when the viral lockdown is lifted that there are going to be some people who will want to celebrate and to gather friends together who they have only seen on computer screens.

Which is why L.A. Beer Hop will be hopping when they can offer their new Mooney Trailer (nickname pending). You know L.A. Beer Hop from their blue vans that ferry tour groups from brewery to brewery.  But now they will offer the reverse service. Founders Hal and Cindy Mooney have bought a 1955 Aljoa Travel Trailer and are converting it into a full mobile taproom (and photo booth) to bring to your next event or party.

At first, the idea was more slimmed down, they “wanted a more interesting way to serve and present the beer than just rolling up with a folding table.”  From that kernel of an idea, came the idea to just go all the way to a full trailer which they have been renovating this year.  They have teamed with Orange County Vintage Trailers for the construction and Glacier Design Systems on the draft system and combined they have literally begun to rebuild the trailer from the ground up.

Speaking to Hal Mooney via e-mail, he explains “the goal is to design this for ease of use and to take some serious wear and tear. We’re going to operate this trailer ourselves and then get into the process of selling the trailers to people who want one for their own personal or business use (breweries, fancy Airbnbs, boutique hotels, small business owners, etc…).” 

There will be a couple of different ways to what beverages are on tap depending upon the venue.  Some venues will do the sourcing themselves but other clientele will have the option of working with L.A. Beer Hop to fill the six taps with the best beer that Los Angeles has to offer.  That service will gain the value add of the knowledge that has been gleaned from visiting the breweries on a regular basis and the relationships that have been created with the brewers themselves and for the customer new to craft beer, that knowledge will be invaluable.

That knowledge extends to beer education, which is a “secret sauce” to L.A. Beer Hops success.  Their tours are a great educational environment as well as fun.

Typical events will include weddings, birthdays, corporate events but outside the box thinking can range to other life events such as retirement parties or family reunions or big sporting events such as the recently concluded March Madness and can also have food truck or catering components as well. The drinks don’t have to be just beer as well.  It can be a mix of “wine, nitro coffee, kombucha, or anything else that can come from a tap!” according to Mooney.

Hopefully sooner, rather than later, Angelenos will be able to book the Mooney Trailer and make their social gathering one that people will arrive early to.

Sean Inman is the founder of the Beer Search Party blog, which has been posting about beer since 2009 and also covers other beer topics for Food GPS.