Loft & Bear Distillery (aka - YSA, Inc.)

Loft & Bear is the brainchild of Paul Ryan Elliott, an east coast native and a graduate of University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill. Paul, who comes from a lineage of entrepreneurs, learned the art of distilling while growing his family’s construction company.It was during the summer of 2012 that the first Black owned distillery in California and Loft & Bear Artisanal Vodka were born in a loft in downtown LA. After a decade of growth, we welcome our new 8,600 square foot distillery in the heart of South Los Angeles. Here we will introduce new Loft & Bear product lines, open our tasting room to the public for tours and education, and offer custom distillation, bottling, and storage services.Loft & Bear Distillery continues to work toward fulfilling long-term sustainable success and is encouraged by the opportunity to support the local community and bring inclusivity and diversity of thought to the beverage alcohol industry. As part of our community commitment, Paul’s protégé, Giovanni Machorro, a Los Angeles native, has learned the art of distilling and is now our lead distiller. Additionally, we offer all our staff a living wage. Our commitment to social awareness is seen in our Distill.Drink.Donate program. We support local non-for profits that truly make a difference in our community with more than just a financial donation, but we give our time to PATH, a charity aimed at ending homelessness throughout Southern California and Homeboy Industries, founded in Los Angeles, now the largest gang intervention, rehab, and re-entry program in the world.

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