In June 2015, I reported that partners in business and in life, Greg Littrell and Katie Earle, had closed on a location for their shared passion project, Barrel Rescue Brewing. They have spent nearly three years shaping that 2,000-square-foot Kearny Mesa spot into a hospitable spot for future patrons, installing a brewery, restrooms, cold box, draught system, L-shaped bar, Big Ass Fan, vintage warehouse lighting, tasting-room walls, a garage-style roll-up door and covered outdoor patio. But just as they had completed construction and were poised to open their doors, their landlord put the building they occupy at 8125 Ronson Road up for sale, splitting it into a trio of “business condos.” Despite the fact their lease is up in June, Littrell and Earle have decided to open Barrel Rescue at its current location…then close the business in June and move out.
Many factors contributed to their decision. They had considered investing more money on their location to operate there beyond their initial three-year lease, but the asking price per square foot is significantly higher than the rent they have been paying since 2015. And even with less than four months to go, they remain uncertain as to whether their landlord—or whoever ends up purchasing their part of the building—will offer them another long-term lease, and month-to-month is not an option they are willing to entertain. The couple are disappointed at the turn of events after having put so much into the space, but are encouraged by the fact they have the equipment and barrels to start fresh at a new location as “Barrel Rescue 2.0.” They are already in search of a new facility, but in the meantime, they’ll let version one of their interest provide a preview of what’s to come.
Littrell and Earle hope to open their doors in March. They are titling it a simultaneous “grand opening and temporary last hurrah,” build mainly to give friends and family an opportunity to taste what they’ve been up to. Over the past year, they have brewed beers and funneled some into barrels “rescued” and given second lives as sour-ale maturation vessels. They have also brewed some straight-to-tap beers, including an all-Fuggles hops Belgian-style table beer that will be available when they open. Some Barrel Rescue beers may also be bottled as part of the opening-closing ceremonies. And though they didn’t have the opportunity to incorporate another of their shared passions—canine rescue—into the business at its current locale, that will definitely be a prominent part of Barrel Rescue once it reemerges at a new location.