Thus far, 2025 has been a year of contraction for many local breweries, but San Diego’s beer industry is not a monolith. Numerous brewing companies are still performing well and focused on advancement. One of those institutions is Burgeon Beer Co., fitting considering the company’s name is a synonym for growth.
Over the past eight years, that Carlsbad-based institution has gradually increased its production capabilities and distribution footprint, while also establishing satellite locations in Escondido, Vista and San Diego’s downtown core. Each of those moves has resulted from strategic planning and risk assessment. While Burgeon’s leadership team is always looking to take the next step, they wait until timing seems optimal before doing so.
After years of contemplation, that group now believes the conditions are finally right to expand their Southern California presence by distributing their beers to Orange County.
“Over the past eight years, we have sold over 95% of our beer solely in San Diego. We did this because we simply did not have enough beer to sell outside the county,” says Burgeon co-founder and President Matthew Zirpolo. “We recently added more fermenters, a brite tank and a centrifuge, which will finally give us the much needed production increase to serve Orange County.”
Burgeon produced 8,000 barrels of beer last year and is on pace to reach 10,000 by the end of 2025. To date, the company has self-distributed all of its beer from Oceanside to Menifee to Alpine and the South Bay. It’s a successful model they are confident will work just as well for them in Orange County given its strategic positioning north of the company’s Carlsbad headquarters along Interstate 5. The only thing they will need to shore up ahead of the expansion are resources of the human variety. Burgeon is currently looking to hire an experienced sales representative to oversee operations in Orange County.
“Our plan to self-distribute will keep the beer within our locus of control, ensuring our accounts in Orange County receive the freshest and highest quality Burgeon beer possible,” says Zirpolo. “We plan to grow into the territory organically, starting by servicing southern Orange County first, distributing to taprooms, bottle shops, restaurants and grocery store accounts south of [State Route] 55.”
Burgeon plans to start distributing beer to Orange County in late spring. Zirpolo notes that service to Costa Mesa and Huntington Beach will not be included in Burgeon’s initial launch, but those communities and all others in the county will have access to the company’s beers by the end of 2025.
When asked if Burgeon has any plans to eventually open a satellite location in Orange County, Zirpolo says he and his partners would be interested, but for now the focus is establishing retail relationships to ensure people in the area who want the company’s beer can get it.
Burgeon Beer Co. is headquartered at 6350 Yarrow Drive in Carlsbad