Director of Marketing, Fighter Town Brewing Company
Time flies when you’re drinking beer. It feels like only yesterday I broke news about La Jolla Brewing Company’s owners’ initiative to open a contract-brewing facility in Sorrento Valley’s QUALCOMM campus called Fightertown Brewing Company. But a check of the calendar shows it was a full 11 months ago. Clearly, it’s time for an update on this project, so I went to the source and have the following to share, courtesy of one of the owners and the group’s director of marketing, Eden Algie.
What was the impetus for the new venture?
Fightertown Brewing Company originated out of need to expand the production of La Jolla Brewing Company (LJBC), and a desire to incubate and partner with other breweries looking to expand. Fightertown was purposely built to enhance the artisan craft-beer market and address the lack of capacity of many San Diego brewers. We are also excited to produce our own exciting beers under the Fightertown label and have an incredible ‘flight deck’ tasting room for people, local and from far, to enjoy rotating tap handles and great service.
What is the expected split between beers being produced for LJBC and those brewed for outside interests?
Fightertown’s estimate for LJBC beer-output is about 15% of total production in the first year. Fightertown is a unique and separate entity from LJBC, and has exclusive rights to produce, market and distribute LJBC-branded products as well as others. We have several committed contracts in place (including LJBC), already totaling 2,400 barrels as soon as we open the facility.
When will Fightertown open and what can visitors expect?
We expect to produce beer and open to the public in the fourth quarter of 2016, just in time for the holidays! The Fightertown tasting room will be unlike the tasting-room stereotype. We will be creating a real user sense experience in a warm and educational space. The décor will contrast brewing elements with entertainment. There will be elements and design that pay homage to the Fightertown legend, Topgun and U.S. Navy and Marine Corps flight operations that are so dear to us, and the city and heritage of San Diego. The space will be warm and the beer will be cold to complement the fast-casual dining service. We also have a 3,000-square-foot outdoor patio already nicknamed “the runway” for people to enjoy laughs and libations.
Will beer from contract partners be available in the tasting room?
We will offer every one of our contract-brewing partners the opportunity to pour in the Fightertown tasting room. We want to celebrate and support brands from barrel-to-bar.
This project’s been a while in the making. Have there been delays?
As with any business-growth, the challenges have been a combination between finding the right combination of space and ideas, and ensuring we hone the unique approach to a multiple business-stream model. We are excited to bring Fightertown to San Diego and pour some great memories. (And) we can most certainly see potential to roll Fightertown out across the U.S. It has a San Diego heart and an American beat.