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Newwave Brewing secures California brewery license for Los Angeles

Newwave Brewing secures California brewery license for Los Angeles

New Capabilities Los Angeles, CA local

A four-generation Korean brewing family moves to sell makgeolli and soju made in Southern California

2 days ago: Newwave Brewing gets its California brewery license

Overview

Updated 1 hour ago

Newwave Brewing, a family-run Korean brewery, received its California beer manufacturer's license on September 24. The type 09 license lets it produce makgeolli and soju at 816 Stanford Ave in Los Angeles.

The company says it carries four generations of Korean brewing tradition. The license is one step among several: Newwave still needs other approvals and has not announced an opening date.

Why it matters

Newwave's license clears a path for locally made Korean rice wine and soju in Los Angeles, stretching the city's craft scene past beer alone.

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Key Indicators

1
California ABC type 09 license
Beer manufacturer's license issued to Newwave on September 24, 2026.
4
Generations of Korean brewing heritage
Newwave says its family has brewed Korean rice wine for four generations.
95
Breweries in Los Angeles County
Per the L.A. County Brewers Guild; 72 opened in 2015 or later.

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People Involved

Organizations Involved

Timeline

1 event Latest: 2 days ago
  1. Newwave Brewing gets its California brewery license

    Latest Licensing

    California ABC records an active type 09 beer manufacturer's license for Newwave at 816 Stanford Ave, Los Angeles.

Scenarios

1

Newwave Brewing holds a grand opening in Los Angeles

Likely Resolves by Q3 2027

Discussed by: Company statements and standard brewery launch trackers like Brewbound

Newwave clears remaining city and county approvals and opens a taproom or retail space at 816 Stanford Ave. The four-generation heritage story, plus growing L.A. interest in makgeolli and soju, draws early customers and media.

2

Permit delays push Newwave's launch past a year

Possible Resolves by Q3 2027

Discussed by: Observers of L.A. food-and-beverage permitting, local business press

Newwave's type 09 license stands, but the company needs additional approvals from the city of Los Angeles and county agencies before serving customers. Those rounds can take months, sliding the opening into 2027 or later.

Historical Context

2 moments from history that rhyme with this story — and how they unfolded.

2015-2026

Los Angeles craft brewery boom (2015 onward)

The Los Angeles County Brewers Guild counts 95 breweries in the region; 72 opened in 2015 or after. Much of the growth landed in neighborhoods tied to blue-collar workers, immigrants, and people of color, including the San Gabriel Valley, Riverside, and San Bernardino.

Then

New breweries like Boomtown, Brewyard, and Dragon's Tale built strong local followings.

Now

The wave made L.A. one of the country's more diverse craft beer regions, with breweries tied to local cultures and ingredients.

Why this matters now

Newwave is part of that wave, bringing Korean brewing traditions to a city where younger breweries increasingly reflect immigrant histories.

early 1900s-2026

Four generations of Korean brewing heritage

Newwave says its family preserved Korean brewing methods for more than a century, passing recipes for makgeolli and soju through four generations.

Then

The latest generation, led by Teddy Bae, started brewing in Southern California.

Now

The family aims to introduce Korean rice wine and soju to a broader American audience.

Why this matters now

It shows the legacy behind the license: this is a family craft carried into a new market, not just a brand built on trends.

Sources

(4)

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