What started as a one-time collaboration celebrating Japanese heritage and craft culture has blossomed into a lasting partnership for Miramar’s Embolden Beer Co. and Kearny Mesa-based Matcha Cafe Maiko. Over the past year, the latter has been featured on a pop-up basis at the former’s tasting room during “Taste of Japan” events presenting street food and beverages from the Land of the Rising Sun.
One of the fan-favorite delicacies from those affairs has been an emerald-hued IPA called Midnight in Tokyo, which is produced by Embolden and infused with ceremonial-grade green tea from Matcha Cafe Maiko. Beyond its alluring appearance, the earthy, hoppy creation has won high marks from beer enthusiasts and local brewers alike. Inspired by Midnight in Tokyo’s popularity and intrigued at what could come from expanding on their collaborative relationship, the owners of both companies have decided to take things to the next level and officially partner on a pair of major projects.
The first of those initiatives will be the creation of a new, shared line of beers infused with ingredients of Japanese origin. Branded as Shogun Brewing by Embolden, that family of products will include Midnight in Tokyo. That flagship offering will be joined by a Japanese-style rice lager brewed with hojicha (a roasted version of matcha) called Dusk in Kyoto and a yuzu-infused blonde ale called Spring in Okinawa.
“Our business and personal relationships, expertise and access to complementary resources made this seem like a perfect partnership,” says Embolden co-founder and Chief Marketing Officer Andy Sist. “We are looking to launch the Shogun product line widely across our current territories – which are now looking to expand all the way to San Francisco – and have an opportunity to expand our already robust export business to Japan.”
Back home, the partnership will allow Embolden and its sister adult-beverage business, New Motion Beverages, to launch its first-ever satellite venue as part of a collective at the site of North Park Asian-inspired vegan restaurant Sipz. Located on the high-traffic corner of 30th Street and University Avenue, the roughly 2,000-square-foot space has been taken over by Matcha Cafe Maiko and will be home to that business and Embolden, as well as Japanese bakery Salt & Butter.
We have always wanted a satellite tasting room and the owners of Matcha Cafe Maiko have always wanted to carry our products. Since Sipz already had a beer-and-wine license, it was a no-brainer to create this unique collective in the heart of North Park.”
Andy Sist, Co-founder & Chief Marketing Officer, Embolden Beer Co. / New Motion Beverages
The new space is currently under renovation and is expected to re-open this summer, serving vegan and vegetarian dishes as well as bar snacks and baked goods from Salt & Butter. The space will also be equipped with 16 taps dispensing Embolden and Shogun beers, plus New Motion’s portfolio of hard seltzers, kombucha and sparkling teas.
The aforementioned beverages will be produced by a new production team, following the departure of former Director of Brewing Operations Andrew Kelly, who recently moved on to accept a lead-brewer position with Coronado Brewing. Kelly has since been replaced by Zach Donald (pictured, far left), formerly of North Park Beer Co. He will be working side-by-side with his best friend, Christian Maxwell (pictured, center), who, 10 months into his time with the company, is the longest-tenured member of its production crew. Embolden has also brought aboard former Ballast Point Brewing cellarman Josue Mendoza.
In addition to new products, a staff overhaul and an expansion, Embolden has another significant project in the works. This one will provide a reliable food option at the company’s tasting room at all times courtesy of Ryoko, an on-site kitchen serving “Japanese and Western bar food” and fusion dishes, as well as flatbreads and sandwiches for the casual dining crowd. Matcha Cafe Maiko and Salt & Butter will take the lead in operating Ryoko. Construction on the project commenced earlier this week and is expected to be completed as soon as mid-July.
When asked about his team’s embrace of Japanese culture and why it feels like such a solid extension of their company’s brand, Sist replies, “Working so closely with our partners at Matcha Cafe Maiko reminded us that our core company mantra is ‘craft, culture, community’. We relish this opportunity to explore the food and beverage of different backgrounds to expand our horizons and those of our customers.”
Embolden Beer Co. / New Motion Beverages is located at 8655 Production Avenue in Miramar, and its collective taproom is located at 3914 30th Street in North Park