In April, Escondido Brewing‘s flagship Hopcondido IPA was named the winner of Green Flash Brewing’s first-ever Brew Down Beer Festival. That competition included 22 entries from San Diego County breweries. The Escondido Brewing team was awarded $5,000 to donate to Wounded Warrior Homes, but even more came out of the win. Last month, Green Flash brewmaster Erik Jensen visited Escondido Brewing to collaboratively brew a West Coast IPA with highly-coveted Strata and Galaxy hops. Dubbed Brew Down IPA, it was brewed on Green Flash’s five-barrel pilot system the following week. Both versions will debut during San Diego Beer Week, with Escondido Brewing’s release folded into its Pints for Patriots event on November 9, which will incorporate Wounded Warrior Homes. A limited quantity of cans of Hopcondido IPA will also be available for purchase.
The builder of a yet-unused two-story “craft beer tasting room” on downtown Del Mar’s main drag is actively soliciting breweries in hope of securing a tenant. Located at 1201 Camino Del Mar, it consists of three suites—a 1,125-square-foot space approved for beer tasting, a 500-square-foot space approved for beer tasting, a 425-square-foot space approved for kitchen and dry storage, plus a 650-square-foot patio that’s also approved for beer tasting. Interested parties may contact George Conkwright, who says he converted and permitted the space nine years ago, but the City of Del Mar deemed him to have inadequate parking. A newly-approved parking management plan that alleviates that problem is the impetus for his solicitation.
Over the past year-and-a-half, the project that will see Novo Brazil Brewing open a tasting room in National City is taking shape. The Chula Vista-based business will be part of Market on 8th, a 9,000-square-foot food hall that will feature an eclectic octet of vendor-operated stalls. On track to open late this year or in early 2020, Market on 8th is located at 41 East 8th Street. Novo Brazil’s inclusion is no coincidence. This project is being co-founded by Joel Tubao, who also co-founded Novo Brazil in 2015. In addition to the food-and-beverage stalls, Market on 8th will be home to four retail establishments.
