Over the month of September, we’ll single out some of the most promising upcoming brewing industry projects on deck in San Diego County. With roughly 60 such work-in-progress breweries, brewpubs and tasting rooms on deck, splitting the standouts is a necessity, so this series will break them down by geographic region, beginning with those in the North County area. Check back over the next several weeks for summaries on exciting enterprises in the west, east and south portions of the county.
North 40, Carlsbad: It’s a project that’s been in planning for some time, but once realized, will provide a site housing an artisanal collective of sorts near the iconic Carlsbad flower fields. This 43-acre “urban farm experience” will be home to fruit and olive groves, vineyards and hop fields, the cones from which will be provided to a trio of local breweries that will occupy satellite space within the North 40’s 110,000 square feet of commercial space: AleSmith Brewing Co., Iron Fist Brewing Co. and Mother Earth Brew Co. The caliber of those resident brewers lends added worth to a concept that is plenty exciting all on its own.
Mason Ale Works, Oceanside: The team behind Rancho Bernardo’s Urge Gastropub and Brothers Provisions are putting the finishing touches on a second, North County coastal version of the former. Located along the popular Coast Highway the O-side version of Urge will be a brewpub where former Port Brewing Co./The Lost Abbey head brewer Mike Rodriguez will make a long-awaited comeback with mostly West Coast-style ales brewed on a 10-barrel system. Barrel-aged and sour ales are also in the business plan, as is are plenty of guest taps, an innovative cocktail program and an on-site speakeasy.
Belching Beaver Projects, Vista & Oceanside: Never underestimate the power of hoppy ales and peanut butter-flavored stouts. Belching Beaver Brewery has used both to rapidly expand its three-years-young empire, first to include a North Park satellite tasting room and, soon, a 6,600-square-foot brewpub installed in a former Vista bank building and, more importantly, a new brewery in Oceanside that will up annual production to as much as 60,000 barrels. Throw in a soon-to-be-established wild ale program headed by former Toolbox Brewing Co. head brewer Peter Perrecone and there’s lots to look forward to with this company.
NOTE: The items above have been selected from a list of public projects. There are a number of projects that are quite exciting throughout San Diego, but cannot be disclosed as they are confidential in nature and must be kept under wraps by request of the business owners.