Hawthorne Summer Sipping Guide: Best Craft Beers for Hot Days
- Jason Hargrove

- Oct 13
- 8 min read
Updated: Oct 14
Hawthorne’s sunny summers call for crisp, refreshing beers. This guide highlights the best Hawthorne summer beer options — from local brewery favorites to seasonal releases perfect for hot days. Discover which craft brews to sip, where to find them in Hawthorne, and how to get them delivered cold to your door.
Hawthorne Summer Beer at a Glance
Where to sip: Stay cool at hometown favorites like Los Angeles Ale Works and Common Space Brewery in Hawthorne, or venture to nearby breweries (e.g. El Segundo Brewing or Three Weavers Brewing) for even more summer sips around the South Bay.
What to drink: Citrus-forward IPAs, light wheat ales with fruit infusions, crisp pilsners, and tangy sours – any refreshing, low-bitterness brew hits the spot on a hot day. (Local brewers are even adding fruited sours, tropical hops, and lime-zest lagers to keep things interesting.)
How to order: Skip the heat – sign up with Brwtxt for easy home delivery. We cover Hawthorne in our delivery zones, so icy cold craft beer comes straight to you. Just have your 21+ ID ready at drop-off per California ABC guidance.
Los Angeles County boasts nearly 100 craft breweries (labusinessjournal.com), and Hawthorne holds its own with two of the finest. In this guide, we’ll explore what makes a great summer beer, highlight Hawthorne’s local brewery offerings, and show you how to enjoy the best brews all summer long.
What Makes a Great Summer Beer?
Not all beers are equal when the temperature rises. The best summer beers are refreshing, sessionable, and bursting with flavor without being heavy. Think crisp lagers, golden ales, citrusy IPAs, or fruited wheat beers. Brewers today are thinking outside the light lager box – recent summer trends include puckering fruited sours, passionfruit IPAs, creative collabs, and plenty of lime in the mix. (thrillist.com)The goal: maximum refreshment in each sip.
Another hallmark of a summer beer is modest strength. Many session beers (lower ABV brews around 4-5%) let you enjoy a few cold ones without overdoing it. As one beer expert put it, the ultimate summer session ale is “bright, citrusy, and super drinkable… you can keep this one in your hand all day on the beach without fear of overindulging” thrillist.com. In other words, easy-drinking is key.
Breweries big and small now release special summer seasonal beers each year – it’s almost a warm-weather tradition. From watermelon wheat beers to lemony shandies, these limited releases capture the spirit of summer. It’s a chance to make new sunny memories with unique beers only available for a short time allaboutbeer.com. So embrace the season and try something new while it lasts!
Hawthorne Breweries for Summer Sipping
Hawthorne’s craft beer scene may be compact, but it’s mighty. Two local breweries – Los Angeles Ale Works and Common Space Brewery – anchor the community with lively taprooms and summer beer selections that rival any in Los Angeles. Here’s what to expect at each spot when you’re craving a cold one on a hot day:
Los Angeles Ale Works’ patio offers plenty of space to enjoy a summer brew.
Los Angeles Ale Works – Beer Garden Vibes and Seasonal Taps
One of Hawthorne’s hometown heroes, Los Angeles Ale Works offers a sprawling beer garden and a laid-back vibe perfect for summer hangs (la.eater.com). Picnic tables, string lights, and often a food truck or two make this a go-to after work or weekend chill spot. The brewery is family- and dog-friendly, and even expanded with a second taproom in Culver City – but Hawthorne is the original where all the Hawthorne-brewed beers originate (la.eater.com.)
What to drink: LA Ale Works always has a diverse tap list, but in summer you can’t go wrong with their West Coast IPA or a crisp lager – local favorites that pack flavor without weighing you downbrwtxt.com. They’re also known to feature seasonal brews; if you spot a fruity wheat beer or a limited release tropical pale ale on the menu, give it a try. Pro tip: Check the taplist (on their website or at the brewery) to see what’s fresh. On a hot day, a cold Hawthorne summer beer from LA Ale Works’ taps – whether hoppy or light – will hit the spot.

Common Space Brewery – Refreshing Pints Near LAX
Just minutes from LAX and SoFi Stadium, Common Space Brewery is a Hawthorne staple for quality craft beer with a fun, communal atmosphere la.eater.com. The taproom is a large warehouse-style space that opens to an outdoor beer garden, so there’s plenty of room to relax with friends. Common Space keeps things lively with frequent events and food vendors, making it a great summer gathering spot for locals and visitors alike.
What to drink: Common Space is all about straightforward, delicious brews that go down easy la.eater.com – exactly what you want in summer. Grab a pint of their latest hazy IPA for something juicy and tropical, or try a refreshing pilsner if you’re craving clean and crisp. They often rotate in creative one-offs too; you might find a tart fruited sour or a collab beer pouring for a limited time. Whatever’s on tap, you can trust it to be cold, fresh, and perfect for a hot afternoon in Hawthorne.
Nearby Breweries to Explore
Hawthorne’s neighbors also host some worthy stops for summer beer adventures. If you feel like a short field trip, here are a couple of local breweries beloved by the South Bay craft community:
El Segundo Brewing Company – Known for West Coast IPAs and a laid-back taproom just a few miles away. It’s a classic South Bay brewery where you can cool off with a pint of hoppy goodness (often enjoyed with an ocean breeze not far away).
Three Weavers Brewing Company – In nearby Inglewood, this woman-owned brewery has become an L.A. standout. It boasts a spacious tasting room with board games and award-winning beers. Their crisp blond ale and juicy IPAs make excellent summer choices, and you’ll even find Three Weavers’ brews at SoFi Stadiumla.eater.com.
These spots are only 10–15 minutes from Hawthorne and offer even more best summer beer options to discover. (Plus, Brwtxt can often deliver beers from various L.A. breweries, so you can sample widely without leaving home!)
Savoring Summer: Tips and Trends
Exploring Hawthorne’s summer beer scene is as much about how you drink as what you drink. Keep these tips in mind to make the most of every sip:
Mind the freshness: Summer hop-forward beers like IPAs and hazy pales are best enjoyed fresh. If you’re picking up cans, check canning dates and opt for the newest batch for peak flavorbrwtxt.com. (Don’t worry – Brwtxt takes care to deliver fresh stock, so you’re covered there.)
Keep it cool: Nothing spoils a summer beer faster than heat. Keep your brews chilled – in a cooler with ice if you’re outdoors, or refrigerated until serving. (When we deliver, we maintain a cold chain, so your beer arrives ready to drink.)
Pair with summer eats: Light, crisp beers pair beautifully with classic summer foods. A lager or kölsch goes great with grilled burgers and hot dogs, a citrusy pale ale complements tacos or spicy BBQ, and a fruity sour can even work like a palate cleanser with salads or dessert. The right beer will elevate your next cookout.
Stay hydrated: Remember to drink water alongside your beers. In the summer sun, it’s easy to get dehydrated. Alternating brews with water will help you enjoy the afternoon longer (and feel better the next day).
Summer is also when breweries roll out fun events and special brews. Hawthorne’s breweries embrace the season – for example, LA Ale Works often hosts weekly vinyl music nights or trivia in the taproom, and Common Space’s event calendar features all sorts of themed gatherings (they’ve even planned a “Snow Day” in winter before!) brwtxt.com. To keep up with what’s happening, follow their social media or check our events page.
And don’t forget the limited releases. Craft brewers love to debut unique summer beers – a passionfruit wheat here, a grapefruit IPA there – that might only be on tap for a few weeks. Keep an eye on Brwtxt’s new releases page for any special summer beers Hawthorne drinkers should snag while they can. Nothing says summer like raising a glass of a beer that’s here for a good time, not a long time!
Beat the Heat with Beer Delivery
Why brave traffic in a heat wave when your next 4-pack could come straight to your door? Brwtxt makes it effortless to enjoy summer beers in Hawthorne without stepping out into the 90°F sunshine.
Here’s how it works:
Join Brwtxt – It’s free to sign up, and you’ll get beer offers via text. (See our how it works page for details on the super simple signup.)
Tell us your cravings – When a new beer deal is texted, reply “YES” to order. Whether it’s a juicy IPA or a crisp summer lager, we curate great options for you.
We deliver to Hawthorne – Our team brings your beer cold to your doorstep across our service zones in LA. Hawthorne? Absolutely covered.
Enjoy responsibly – Meet our driver with your ID (21+ only, of course) and grab your delivery. Then just chill (literally) and enjoy your cold drinks!
With Brwtxt, you can discover new favorite brews without the beer run. We highlight local releases and craft classics, so you’ll always have something interesting in the fridge. Best of all, you’re supporting SoCal breweries while relaxing at home.
Sign up to Brwtxt and your fridge fills itself.
FAQ
What are popular summer beer styles in Hawthorne?
Answer: In Hawthorne (and greater LA), popular summer beer styles include West Coast IPAs (for a burst of citrus and piney refreshment), pilsners and light lagers (crisp, clean, and low in alcohol), wheat beers like hefeweizens or witbiers (often served with a slice of orange or other fruit), and sour ales or goses (tart and super refreshing). Anything that’s light-bodied, flavorful, and served icy cold is a hit in the summer heat.
Where can I find the best summer beer in Hawthorne?
Answer: Start with Hawthorne’s two local breweries: Los Angeles Ale Works and Common Space Brewery. Both offer excellent choices for summer – from hoppy, fruity ales to easy-drinking blondes and lagers – which you can enjoy right at their taprooms. You can also find seasonal craft beers at local spots like King Keg (a popular bottle shop in Hawthorne for finding new releases). And of course, you can use Brwtxt to get Hawthorne’s best summer beers delivered to your door in a snap.
Can I get seasonal craft beers delivered in Hawthorne?
Answer: Yes! Brwtxt specializes in delivering craft beer in Los Angeles County, and Hawthorne is within our service area. As new seasonal beers are released – summer IPAs, limited-run sours, special brewery collaborations – we make many of them available for delivery. Just sign up to receive our text offers, and when you see a beer you want to try, reply to order. We’ll handle the rest and bring those cold seasonal brews right to your Hawthorne home (21+ ID required at delivery).
What food pairs well with summer beers?
Answer: Summer beers are quite food-friendly. Some classic pairings: BBQ fare with hoppy ales (an IPA or pale ale cuts through rich, smoky ribs and burgers), Mexican food with lagers (a crisp lager or light ale is perfect with tacos, spicy wings, or ceviche), and salads or fruit desserts with wheat beers/sours (the fruity or tart notes complement lighter dishes and sweets). The general rule is to match light dishes with lighter beers, and use refreshing brews to balance out bold, spicy flavors.
Are there any summer beer events in Hawthorne?
Answer: Keep an eye on the local breweries’ calendars. Los Angeles Ale Works and Common Space Brewery often host summer events at their Hawthorne locations – think taproom parties, trivia or music nights, special beer release gatherings, etc. Hawthorne is also near other craft beer events in the South Bay and greater LA (for example, some nearby breweries host summer festivals or anniversary parties). To stay updated, check Brwtxt’s events page or follow your favorite breweries on social media for announcements.



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