It’s been just over a year since Julian Beer Co. debuted on the main drag of the mountain getaway-town of the same name. The second brewpub concept birthed by Pizza Port co-founder Vince Marsaglia, its success inspired expansion plans centering around a newly acquired pear orchard neighboring the Santa Ysabel East and Volcan Mountain Preserves. Coming in at eight acres, the property is home to an old barn and organic pear trees.
“We will be expanding our brewing capabilities and starting a barrel-aging program in the barn,” says co-founder and general manager Jeremy Marsaglia. “We will primarily focus on using the local fruits from our organic orchards and future planting projects as well as fruit from local farmers. We are focusing on the basics for now—the barrel aging and sour programs, orchard improvements and overnight rental properties, which will be marketed as a brewery-slash-Julian experience.”
The addition of a hospitality component should appeal to epicurean tourists, who will be able to access Julian Beer’s offerings as well as those of nearby Volcan Mountain Winery, Menghini Winery and Volcan Valley Apple Farm. All of those businesses are within a quarter-mile of the new spot. Additionally, the Marsaglias are mulling over numerous other ideas for the property, all of which are beer- and event-related.