Last year, Torrance-based Absolution Brewing took over a brewpub at 7536 Fay Avenue. They are the third owners of the venue, following in the tracks of La Jolla Brewing and La Jolla Brew House.
La Jolla Brewing failed after four years behind a business plan that was aimed toward growing from a neighborhood-geared, brewery-equipped restaurant into a large production operation and contract-brewing interest. The former on its own has proven an increasingly difficult model for brewing entrepreneurs in recent years.
Meanwhile, La Jolla Brew House was in business for a decade. Before its demise, it was the site of many a rager, including raging by a trio of brewers who came aboard during the hind-end of the business’ lifespan only to be deprived of the basic ingredients they needed in order to make beer. All three made relatively quick exits en route to opening their own successful breweries (Societe Brewing, Benchmark Brewing, and Pariah Brewing).
Many are the locals who also have a bad taste in their mouths where La Jolla Brew House was concerned, in large part from its infamous status as the starting point for the 2007 murder of Emery Kauanui. That bad reputation is something Absolution ownership is well aware of and has been working to diffuse from the get-go.
“La Jolla Brew House had a severely tarnished reputation for some time. Absolution Brewing and our restaurant partners had to come up with a concept to distance ourselves from that reputation,” said Absolution co-founder Steve Farguson. “Absolution by the Sea was that concept and why we did not call it Absolution Brewing Company. It was never going to be for the long haul, just a tool to force a full separation of past history with a new vision and outlook.”
Farguson and company feel satisfied that quality has led the way in shaking off the cobwebs of their brewpub’s previous identities, citing multiple medals won by beers brewed at the La Jolla venue as well as positive customer reception on the restaurant side.
“Over the past few months, we have been working on the final steps of the evolution of this model, which will be revealed within a few days,” says Farguson. “Our vision of this evolution will create a distinctly unique pairing of two clearly different businesses operating in unity to create something exceptional.”
While specific details of the changes that will be unveiled are not available at this time, Absolution is ready to share the new name for the venue. It will go by the handle CAVU Brewing. It calls off an aviation acronym referring to “ceiling and visibility unrestricted” — the perfect day. According to Farguson, more information will be shared in the near future via Absolution Brewing’s social media accounts.