I definitely recommend a club. Looks like your closest LHBS is Steinfillers, which is where Long Beach Homebrewers is based. I'm a member of
brewcommune, and I know you'll probably find someone on there who'd be more than willing to let you try a beer. I'd offer but I'm way down in south OC and my wife is 8 mo pregnant, so I'm not exactly allowed visitors these days
