Fourpenny House, a Scottish-inspired brewpub in the heart of La Mesa Village, is for sale, according to owner Peter Soutowood.
Although a sale doesn’t necessarily spell the end for the business, it’s a less than ideal sign for the small brewery and restaurant, which opened less than two years ago in the developing East County area. Known for their flagship Scottish ale, the brewpub promotes both whiskey and beer paired with traditional Scottish food like bangers & mash and Crofters pie as part of an authentic pub experience.
Turnover at Fourpenny has been high—original brewer Davey Landers departed in fall 2018 to move to Duck Foot Brewing Company and most recently to Attitude Brewing. Samantha Olson then took up the mantle after a stint as head brewer for ChuckAlek Independent Brewers. Kitchen staff has also been sporadic, including exits by both former executive chefs Josh Kemble and Kerry Larceval.
If Fourpenny closes, that will leave only two other breweries in La Mesa city limits: Helix Brewing Company and Bolt Brewery. (Little Miss Brewing operates a tasting room in La Mesa, but does not have a brewing facility on-site.)
At this time, it’s unclear what prompted ownership to put the two-and-a-half barrel brewery and restaurant up for sale, but West Coaster has reached out to Soutowood for comment and will update this story as it develops.