Gab Chabrán
covers what's happening in food and culture for LAist.
Published April 26, 2024 5:00 AM
Golden Road's Get On Board Hazy IPA made and marketed by autistic adults is their most personal beer yet
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Courtesty of Golden Road Bewery
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Topline:
Golden Road's Brewery has just unveiled its Get On Board Hazy IPA, a beer made and marketed by nonspeaking autistic adults. Gab Chabrán is a lifelong craft beer drinker and has a daughter who is autistic. After hearing about the beer, he knew he wanted to learn all about it.
Why now? 25% to 35% of children with autism spectrum disorder are minimally verbal. Meg Gill, the CEO and co-founder of Golden Road Brewing, whose daughter is nonspeaking autistic, wanted to create a beer for the autistic community to raise awareness.
How did they do it? The adults who worked on the beer used the Spellers Method, a series of letter boards that allowed individuals to point to letters to help them spell out the words to communicate.
Back in college, I worked in a bar restaurant in Whittier called the 6740. It specializes in craft and imported beers. Craft beer opened my eyes to a spectrum of different ingredients and flavors.
Like many people my age (Hello, my fellow elder millennials), microbrewery tasting rooms and craft beer bars served as our "third place" for hanging out with one another as young adults. When I moved to Northeast Los Angeles, I regularly frequented craft beer establishments such as The Hermosillo at their original location on York Boulevard in Highland Park, Eagle Rock Brewery, and Golden Road Brewing’s first location in Atwater Village,off San Fernando Road, across the street from the train tracks.
Craft beer love
My wife and I moved away from our beloved Northeast Los Angeles neighborhood of Highland Park after getting married in 2015 (we'd served two kegs of Highland Park Brewing at our wedding). In late 2017, we discovered we were pregnant with our daughter and decided to move to Long Beach to be closer to family and take advantage of the smaller school system and lower cost of living.
Luisa Beatrix Chabrán was born on June 13, 2018, and we were immediately smitten with her striking blue eyes and infectious smile.
In early 2020, the pandemic hit, and around that time, right before her second birthday, we noticed that Luisa was showing signs of a speech delay. Our pediatrician recommended that we get her screened for autism. The specialist confirmed that Luisa met the criteria for Autism Spectrum Disorder. We learned that 25-35% of children who are diagnosed with autism are non-speaking or minimally verbal.
At that point, the world took on a whole new level of emotional weight during this period for our family — the processing what an autism diagnosis meant and trying to make sense of what the future might look like.
I often longed for those carefree days back in Highland Park, where friends and I would just hang out.
But those days were gone. It was the height of the pandemic. Everything had shut down. Reality itself took on a different form. Our days were now filled with various doctor appointments, Zoom assessments, and in-home therapies. I was different, too.
Since this new reality has set in, I’ve made many strides towards acceptance.
Luisa is now 5 ½ years old, continues to have limited speech, and attends a Special Education class at a local public school in Long Beach. One of the highlights of my day is when she curls up in my lap and asks to listen to the Peppa Pig stories on Spotify for the 900th time that I know all the words to by now. I always find myself singing along.
So, when I received an email about a new Hazy IPA called Get On Board, it caught my eye for two reasons.
One, it was a new release from Golden Road Brewery, one of my old stomping grounds.
Two, the beer was made by and in support of adults with non-speaking autism, individuals who are not all that different from my daughter.
Nonspeaking autism
I reached out to Meg Gill, the CEO and co-founder of Golden Road Brewery and learned that her daughter, too, has autism. We shared similar stories about raising our girls during the pandemic and grappling with the notion of what the future might hold.
“I was so scared and hopeless in those early days, thinking maybe she couldn't ever communicate,” Gill told me of her daughter.
CEO and Founder Meg Gill (center) with the Spellers team who helped make Get On Board Hazy IPA.
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Courtesy of Golden Road Brewing
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Gill’s search for a solution had led her to the book Underestimated: An Autism Miracle by father and son J.B. and Jamie Handley. The book explores how Jamie, who was diagnosed with autism, learned to communicate when he was 17 years old using the Spellers Method for individuals using a hand-held letter board, pointing to letters and spelling words to communicate.
More Info
Get On Board Hazy IPA is now available in stores and all Golden Road brew pubs; more info can be found on the Golden Road website.
H-O-P-E
After reading the Handleys' book, Gill immediately felt inspired: "I was on a mission." She eventually connected with Dawnmarie Gaivin, who runs Spellers Center in Oceanside, a resource for parents and children using the method.
That’s when Gil and her team at Golden Road set out to build a work program for about a dozen autistic adults, focused on beer making and marketing. Both sides learned valuable communication and work skills from each other during the process.
The letter board used by the Spellers who helped with making Get On Board Hazy IPA with Golden Road.
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Courtesy of Golden Road Brewing
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The result: Get On Board, the name chosen as a reference to the letter board, which is also seen on the label.
The beer is a Hazy IPA brewed with citrus, featuring orange, peach, and eureka lemon. The beer is 6.5%, so for the casual beer drinker, one might do you. The beer contains equal notes of sweetness from the citrus to a hint of bitterness at the end, resembling an orange natural wine, providing a medium-bodied finish and easy drinkability that is perfect for the upcoming warmer weather.
Documenting the process
The entire process of making Get On Board was documented for an online docuseries titledUnderestimated: the Heroic Rise of Nonspeaking Spellers and will be available on Underestimated.tv. (The series begins streaming May 26. Golden Road and the Get On Board Hazy IPA are featured in Episode 3.)
Creating change one letter at a time
For Gill, Get On Board underscores the message of inclusion for everyone, including nonspeaking individuals. She says the experience has empowered her to think about other ways to match these individuals for jobs that suit their abilities and serve their communities.
"I love learning more about the adult space, how we can help those with superpowers get to the right jobs, and how CEOs of businesses are looking at diversity and inclusion because I know I thought it was a different thing than what I think it is now," says Gill.
Gill’s story and words struck a particular chord with me.
I, too, have sleepless nights worrying about Luisa's future and whether or not she’ll ever be able to communicate effectively and advocate for herself.
Same when it comes to designing fair and equitable spaces for autistic individuals. Many businesses pay a lot of lip service to words like "diversity." As someone who spends a lot of time in restaurants, I’m constantly thinking about how a space is conducive for Luisa, from the food offered to the noise level to how the tables are situated. Are we creating diverse and inclusive spaces for them?
LAist food editor Gab Chabrán, introducing his daughter Luisa, to Skee Ball.
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Katie Chabrán
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I was reminded of a sign that used to hang above one of the main entrances of Golden Road in Atwater Village, which I always found to be an incredibly welcoming place.
It was a quote from author George Orwell, describing his ideal pub setting and lamenting that children were not allowed in: "... excluding children — and therefore, to some extent, women — from pubs… have turned these places into mere boozing-shops instead of the family gathering-places that they ought to be."
That quote has stuck with me all these years. Drinking establishments should keep everyone in mind, especially families.
Gill’s mission for creating Get On Board is an excellent starting point for how we can better support autistic individuals in leading well-rounded and fruitful lives.
After all, there’s nothing more joyous than people getting together to support one another while enjoying good food and drink.
Jill Replogle
covers public corruption, debates over our voting system, culture war battles — and more.
Published January 2, 2026 5:00 AM
Stewart tests out the herding instincts of the author's dog, Ace.
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Joshua Letona
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LAist
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Topline:
Is your dog a natural herder? Several ranches around Los Angeles will let your pup satisfy their instincts with actual livestock.
How do I know if my dog would like herding? The American Kennel Club lists 33 herding breeds that “share an instinctual ability to control the movement of other animals.” That doesn’t mean your pet will or won’t have that instinct. “The dog will tell us,” said longtime herder and trainer Jerry Stewart.
Easy’s Place: JerryStewart has been training dogs for nearly 40 years, mostly on a patch of land next to the 710 Freeway in Long Beach. But in October, he was abruptly told he could no longer lease the land. Now, he’s trying to keep his business going at a new location in Moreno Valley.
I knew it was a gamble taking my mutt, Ace, to herd sheep. He had a little Australian cattle dog in him, but that was it in terms of traditional herding breeds.
Still, one of my neighbors had told me about this place that lets urban dogs test out their sheepherding instincts. I thought Ace’s habit of running at me full steam at the park, then swerving at the last minute, might stem from a deep-seeded urge to mind the flock. So I decided to give it a shot.
Jerry Stewart of Easy’s Place herding greeted us as we pulled up next to the sheep corral on a ranch at the base of the Box Springs Mountains in Riverside. With his cowboy hat and shepherd staff, you’d never know this 76-year-old is a former surfer from Huntington Beach. Unless, of course, you recognize him from an episode of the Dog Whisperer with Cesar Millan or one of his other media appearances over the years.
Stewart has been training dogs for 36 years, mostly on a patch of land next to the 710 Freeway in Long Beach. But in October, he was abruptly told he could no longer lease the land.
The author tries to get her dog, Ace, to take an interest in the sheep.
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Joshua Letona
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LAist
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Now, he’s trying to keep his business going in a new location that while much more peaceful, is not as convenient for him and most of his clients.
“I’m retired so I don't need the money,” Stewart said. But he also doesn’t want to lose money training other people’s dogs.
Herding instinct
Stewart holds classes twice, sometimes three times a week. Many of the dogs and their owners are there to let loose behavior that can be destructive at home or annoying at the dog park. But Stewart also trains dogs and their owners for herding competitions, known as trials. (Yep, that’s a thing, and extensively documented on YouTube. You’re welcome.)
The American Kennel Club lists 33 herding breeds that “share an instinctual ability to control the movement of other animals.” These include Australian and German shepherds, as the name suggests, as well as border collies and corgis.
The main motivation for Stewart’s business, he told me, is to help city dogs with herding instincts live their best lives.
“In the backyard, they have nothing to do but chase a bird’s shadow when it flies overhead,” he said. “They get a little neurotic.”
Stewart has a well-worn answer for people wondering whether their pet would like herding: “The dog will tell us.”
Jerry Stewart and his sheep in Moreno Valley.
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Joshua Letona
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LAist
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My not-so-herder dog
Ace was clearly nervous when I took him out of the car and headed toward the corral. He sniffed the air apprehensively. There were the nearby sheep, of course, but also horses and wild donkeys — all unfamiliar smells for my suburban, condo-bound dog.
We let him loose in the corral and he immediately scoped out the perimeter, which Stewart said was normal. We then led him toward the sheep. He seemed mildly interested, and even caused the small herd to move to another corner of the corral.
But Ace soon turned and headed straight for the exit. Round 1 was over. We tried again later with not much more luck. Ace seemed very relieved when I let him jump back in the car.
“If it's not there, you ain't doing nothing,” Stewart said of a dog’s herding instinct, or lack thereof. “It ain't happening.”
Stewart's seasoned herding dog, Sunny.
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Jill Replogle
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LAist
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The herders
A couple of other dogs at the class couldn’t have seemed happier to be herding. Tir, a 16-year-old blind border collie, is so fragile that her owner Kimberly Schreyer had to lift her out of the car.
Kimberly Schreyer brings her 16-year-old border collie, Tir, to herd sheep weekly.
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Jill Replogle
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LAist
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But once in the corral, Tir raced around like a pup, keeping the flock in constant motion. “ She's just so happy,” Schreyer said of the dog’s weekly herding sessions.
Kathleen Wang’s 7-year-old Australian cattle dog, Wally, had been off the herding scene for a few months. But he seemed to jump right back in, easily guiding the flock through a set of barriers, which gets you points at competitions.
“ He's learning the commands and stuff, so I'm pretty proud of him,” Wang said.
She doesn’t plan to compete with Wally, but Wang said herding gives him an outlet for behavior that is less welcome elsewhere.
“At the dog park, he would herd the little white Maltese poodles, like push them into the corner,” Wang said. “And he would be reactive towards other dogs because he wants to control the movement. But coming here, this lets him get his instincts out.”
Where to herd in SoCal
There are multiple herding classes offered around the Greater L.A. area. Here are three:
One year after the devastating 2025 wildfires in Los Angeles, multiple events and volunteer opportunities happening throughout January will remember the losses, honor the survivors and provide chances to help with the ongoing recovery.
Highlights:
The band members of Dawes have been some of the most visible survivors and supporters of the Eaton Fire community since the 2025 wildfires. They are putting their notoriety to good use and planning A Concert for Altadena, featuring some major musical talent, including Jackson Browne, Mandy Moore, Ozomatli and Jenny Lewis.
The UCLA Labor Center will host a panel discussion at the Lawson Worker Justice Center (adjacent to McArthur Park), focused on impacts on and protections for workers.
Join local leaders for a candlelight vigil in Altadena. The community will “gather in solidarity as we look toward healing, rebuilding, and a brighter tomorrow."
It’s been a tough year in these parts. Many communities affected by the Palisades and Eaton fires are still reeling, whether directly as homeowners continue to rebuild, relocate and remediate, or indirectly, as communities fight insurance logistics, navigate political processes and recover from mental health implications and job losses. Despite these challenges, the resilience of our city is astounding — and that is worth celebrating, even when it’s bittersweet.
Across the region, events marking the one-year anniversary begin in early January and continue throughout the month. Many organizers have told LAist they would love to have volunteers to help out, so reach out directly to organizers if you are interested in doing more than just attending. All events are free unless otherwise noted.
Events
With Us: Walk with fire survivors through sight, sound and story
Sunday, Jan. 4, 12 to 4 p.m., through Jan. 7, noon to 7:30 p.m. City Market Social House 1145 S. San Pedro St., downtown L.A. MORE INFO
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Department of Angels
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Continuing to tell survivors’ stories is key to recovery. That’s the thinking behind the project With Us, an audio and visual storytelling installation focused on “remembrance and recovery.” The event, put on by Department of Angels and Extreme Weather Survivors, aims to bring the community together at City Market Social House on Jan. 4; the art will be available to check out through Jan. 7.
Altadena Candlelight Vigil
Wednesday, Jan. 7, 6 p.m. 5400 N. Lake Ave., Altadena MORE INFO
Join local leaders for a candlelight vigil marking one year since the Eaton Fire. The community will “gather in solidarity as we look toward healing, rebuilding, and a brighter tomorrow.”
A Concert for Altadena
Wednesday, Jan. 7, 6:30 p.m. Pasadena Civic Auditorium COST: $150; MORE INFO
Indie band Dawes has been one of the most visible survivors and supporters of the Eaton Fire community since the 2025 wildfires. They are putting their notoriety to good use and planning A Concert for Altadena, happening Jan. 7 and featuring some major musical talent, including Jackson Browne, Mandy Moore, Ozomatli, Jenny Lewis, Lord Huron, Rufus Wainwright and many more. Hosted by John C. Reilly, the show benefits the Altadena Builds Back Foundation, which is spearheading long-term recovery and rebuilding efforts.
Songs of Remembrance: A Memorial Service of Hope and Renewal
Wednesday, Jan. 7, 7:30 p.m. Lake Avenue Church 393 North Lake Ave., Pasadena MORE INFO
Best-selling Christian author and speaker Philip Yancey will speak at a special community memorial service led by Lake Avenue Church’s Chamber Orchestra and members of the Sanctuary Choir, featuring sacred hymns, choral anthems and classical works that invite reflection, comfort and renewed hope. “This will be a meaningful opportunity to come together and find something redemptive in the midst of tragedy,” said Yancey. “Ironically, it’s often tragedy that brings people together.”
Eaton Fire anniversary community art gathering
Wednesday, Jan. 7, 3 to 5 p.m. John Muir High School 1905 Lincoln Ave., Pasadena MORE INFO
Artist Cynthia Lake, Side Street Projects and the John Muir High School Alumni Association will come together to make art and share stories on a day of remembrance honoring the first anniversary of the Eaton Fire. The afternoon includes art activities, music, resources, performances and more, plus Lake will launch her "Eaton Fire Bowl Series," giving away free handmade ceramic bowls to people affected by the fire — each piece a symbol of hope and comfort.
Community Prayer Services and Concerts of Remembrance, Healing and Renewal
Wednesday, Jan. 7, 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. St. Matthew's Episcopal Church 1031 Bienveneda Ave., Pacific Palisades OPEN TO ALL, SUGGESTED DONATION $45; MORE INFO
Grammy-winning violinist Anne Akiko Meyers joins members of the Los Angeles Master Chorale, conducted by Grant Gershon, with music by Bach, Morten Lauridsen and Eric Whitacre. Each concert will be preceded by a prayer service at 12 p.m. and 6 p.m. Donations will benefit Chamber Music Palisades, Palisades Symphony and Chorale, St. Matthew’s Music Guild and Theatre Palisades.
Dena United is hosting this all-day festival at Altadena’s historic Zorthian Ranch to celebrate the community’s diverse culture and commemorate one year since the devastating Eaton Fire. Expect to see a wide range of performances from acts including Bobby Bradford, Dwight Trible, Baba Onochie Chukwurah & the Rhythms of the Village Family Band, the Pan Afrikan Peoples Arkestra, Earthseed Band and the Whispering Giants with MCs Medusa and Myka 9.
Writers Bloc presents: Firestorm author Jacob Soboroff
Palisades native and MSNBC reporter Jacob Soboroff has a new book out in January on the L.A. fires, Firestorm. He’ll be in conversation with Mariana van Zeller at Writers Bloc to discuss.
Construction workers begin to rebuild a business destroyed by the Palisades Fire on May 07, 2025.
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Justin Sullivan
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Getty Images
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The UCLA Labor Center will host a panel discussion at the Lawson Worker Justice Center (adjacent to MacArthur Park), focused on impacts on and protections for workers. Please RSVP; space is limited.
Out of the Ashes: Benefit Concert and Hero Award
Saturday, Jan. 17 Private residence, Malibu COST: $750; MORE INFO
Hosted by Mission Project CEO Erik Rock, the event features a performance from Grammy winner Andy Grammer. Expect other big-name speakers and guests to participate too.
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Kevin Tidmarsh
is a producer for LAist, covering news and culture. He’s been an audio/web journalist for about a decade.
Published January 1, 2026 6:21 PM
Conditions along the Santa Ana River can become dangerous during heavy rains.
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Courtesy Orange County Public Works
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Topline:
An unidentified body was recovered from the bed of the Santa Ana River just before noon on Jan. 1, according to the Orange County Fire Authority.
What we know: Officials said a witness called 911 to report a person in the riverbed near the intersection of Warner Avenue and Harbor Boulevard in Santa Ana. The person traveled about two miles downstream before the search and rescue crew recovered their body in the city of Fountain Valley.
The response: About 60 firefighters from OCFA and the Fountain Valley and Costa Mesa fire departments contributed to the water rescue effort.
The danger of moving water: With more rain in the forecast this weekend, keep in mind that just six inches of fast-moving water can knock down most people, while 12 inches can carry away most cars.
How to stay safe: Emergency officials recommend limiting travel as much as possible during heavy rain and floods, including by car. If you see flooding in your path, remember the slogan, “Turn around, don’t drown.” LAist also has a guide on driving safely in the rain.
Manny Ruiz strikes alongside other workers with Teamsters 2785 at Amazon Warehouse DCK6 in the Bayview District in San Francisco on Dec. 19, 2024. Amazon workers at multiple facilities across the U.S. went on strike to fight for a union contract.
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Jungho Kim for CalMatters
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Topline:
Under a law taking effect Jan. 1, California seeks to uphold the labor and unionization rights of private-sector employees, as the federal agency that has held that power for decades is in limbo.
Where things stand: The new law’s future is unclear because the Trump administration is challenging it.
Why now: The law, which grants more powers to the California Public Employment Relations Board, is a response to the National Labor Relations Board lacking a quorum. President Donald Trump fired the NLRB’s chairperson, Gwynne Wilcox, days after he began his second term in January. His two nominees to the board have yet to be confirmed, so the federal board has been without the three members it needs for a quorum for months.
California under a law taking effect today seeks to uphold the labor and unionization rights of private-sector employees, as the federal agency that has held that power for decades is in limbo.
But the new law’s future is unclear because the Trump administration is challenging it.
The law, which grants more powers to the California Public Employment Relations Board, is a response to the National Labor Relations Board lacking a quorum.
President Donald Trump fired the NLRB’s chairperson, Gwynne Wilcox, days after he began his second term in January. His two nominees to the board have yet to be confirmed, so the federal board has been without the three members it needs for a quorum for months.
Assemblymember Tina McKinnor, the Inglewood Democrat who wrote the bill, said when the governor signed it in September that “California will not sit idly as its workers are systematically denied the right to organize due to employer intransigence or federal inaction.”
The NLRB sued California over the law in October, saying in its lawsuit that the state is trying to assert authority over “areas explicitly reserved for federal oversight.”
On the legal challenge to the law, Terry Schanz, McKinnor’s chief of staff, referred CalMatters to the state attorney general. Attorney General Rob Bonta’s office is responsible for defending the law in court. A spokesperson for Bonta said the office would have nothing to say about it.
With the NLRB unable to fulfill its duties, states are trying to fill the gap in enforcing the National Labor Relations Act, which Congress passed in 1935. But labor experts contacted by CalMatters do not have high hopes for the California law, which is similar to a law passed in New York this year. They said courts, including the Supreme Court, have ruled that states cannot decide matters pertaining to federal labor law because of preemption, the doctrine that a higher authority of law overrides a lower authority.
“It’s difficult to imagine a scenario where the courts do not overturn these (state) laws,” said John Logan, professor and chairperson of Labor and Employment Studies at San Francisco State University.
William Gould, a former chairperson of the National Labor Relations Board during the Clinton administration and a professor emeritus at Stanford University, agreed: “In the courts the matter is a dead letter unless (the Supreme Court) shifts gears.”
That’s what the California and U.S. chambers of commerce, along with other business groups, are hoping, according to their amicus brief in support of the Trump administration’s lawsuit against California: “Under California’s view, every state could have its own labor law for private-sector workers. Dozens of laws would overlap and collide.”
The California Labor Federation, an umbrella organization for unions that represents about 2 million California workers, said in an amicus brief that even before Trump fired the NLRB chief, the federal agency’s backlog had been a problem, leading to companies being able to delay bargaining in good faith with their employees’ unions without consequences.
If the California law is overturned, employees who have formed unions but have not succeeded in securing contracts with employers such as Amazon and Starbucks — which are among the companies seeking to have the NLRB declared unconstitutional — may continue to face delays, according to Logan. Or, he said, it’s not clear what would happen if other workers tried to organize and their companies simply fired them.
“The NLRB defunctness is a scandal which cries out for political reform,” Gould said.
![A white sign with red text reads "We [love] u beautiful Altadena" is affixed to a tree on a sidewalk. A two story home can be seen in the background with yellow caution tape hanging down from the roof towards the left.](https://scpr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/0c0cf5b/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5000x3296+0+20/resize/1414x932!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fscpr-brightspot.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com%2F24%2F47%2F1345aa6b4b3b9c943ea58dbdad8a%2Fgettyimages-2193703889.jpg)
