It wasn’t until 2014 that the City of La Mesa welcomed its first brewery, the second-coming of iconic San Diego trailblazer, Bolt Brewery. Since then, Helix Brewing opened down the street from Bolt and combo brewery, distillery, restaurant, coffee shop and event space, Depot Springs Brewing has been in the works for roughly three years. All three operations are north of Interstate 8, near and beyond Grossmont Center, but later this year, La Mesa’s heavily trafficked downtown village area will get its first fermentation operation in the form of Fourpenny House (8325 La Mesa Boulevard, La Mesa).
In the works for the better part of a year, this brewpub is the vision of La Mesa resident Peter Soutowood. Two years ago, Soutowood took a family vacation to Scotland and became enamored with the community-hub feel of the region’s public houses. Before long he found himself envisioning such an establishment in the heart of his hometown. The “East County resurgence” he and business partner Khalid Kyler have witnessed—an influx of artisanal businesses, including craft-breweries, coffee roasters and next-level restaurants—provided an environment rife for bringing this dream to life.
Construction is currently underway on Fourpenny House, which will be equipped with a two-and-a-half-barrel brewing system and five-tank cellar. Soutowood will serve as brewmaster and Kyler—who has spent the past several months logging brew-days with numerous San Diego County brewing companies—will be the head brewer. Both have been home-brewing for nearly a decade. Their plan is to craft mostly European styles, including a German wheat beer and gose, Belgian tripel and quadrupel, and, as one would expect given the project’s roots, a Scottish ale. San Diego-style India pale ales, a black currant- and sage-infused pale ale and chicory coffee stout are also part of their game-plan.
On the restaurant-side, Fourpenny House will have a wood-fired oven pumping out pizzas and freshly baked breads. In addition to house beers, wines, ciders and kombucha will also be available on-tap. The timeframe for the brewpub’s public debut is up in the air at present, but is expected to occur in the second half of 2017.