Last November, when Jacked Up Brewery closed its doors after eight years of service to the Escondido community, it left behind a legacy of lively nights filled with live music and local beer. Also left behind was a large 6,812 square-foot complex, split between two buildings – a production facility and a kitchen-equipped tasting room. Located on an islet at the intersection of Grand Avenue and Valley Parkway, that space has sat dormant for nearly a year, but it was recently taken over by a small operation looking to scale up. That growing business is Barley & Sword Brewing, a two-year-old concern launched in a 1,860-square-foot lease-to-brew suite in H.G. Fenton’s CRAFT by Brewery Igniter facility in North Park.
Opened by U.S. Navy veteran Mike Howell, Barley & Sword has been a standout in the San Diego brewing scene, in part for eschewing large-scale production of IPAs and other ubiquitous styles, instead celebrating Old World styles from countries such as the U.K., Ireland and Germany, and making a name for itself with beers most other breweries claim are nearly impossible to sell, much less base a business plan around. But Howell has done it, keeping pace with high-profile Brewery Igniter neighbors, including Seek Beer Co. and short-lived GOAL. Brewing.
Barley & Sword has also racked up awards for its beers at noteworthy professional brewing competitions. Those events include the Best of Craft Beer Awards, California State Fair and San Diego County Fair Craft Brew Competition. It speaks to a level of quality fans of the company laud and Howell is willing to bank on as he takes the bold step to expand to Escondido while maintaining the lease at his current North Park digs.
“I love what we’ve built in North Park, but we’re getting close to the ceiling on what’s possible there,” says Howell. “Escondido offers the breathing room we’ve been looking for with space to grow our production, host more events and create a destination that still feels like Barley & Sword; approachable, rooted in tradition and centered on community.”
The Escondido facility includes Jacked Up’s 10-barrel brewhouse and approximately 37 barrels of fermentation space. Howell intends to increase the size of the brewery and gradually grow cellar capacity to over 140 barrels.
It’s been a while since a company graduated from the Brewery Igniters’ lessee ranks. The last operation to do so was Eppig Brewing, which moved out of the suite currently occupied by Seek in 2019, expanding to a sprawling, 16,000-square-foot new-construction facility in south Vista. That brewery, taproom and special events space was taken over by Mason Ale Works’ parent company in 2023 (along with the Eppig brand), and is now solely operated by The Lost Abbey Brewing. Other tenants to move onward and upward include Pure Project Brewing, which took over Iron Fist Brewing‘s former base of operations in Vista (while retaining possession of its Brewery Igniter suite in Miramar), and hard-kombucha company JuneShine, which moved into Ballast Point Brewing‘s former Scripps Ranch headquarters.
“I see the Escondido spot as the next chapter for Barley & Sword; a place where we can keep growing without losing what makes us who we are,” says Howell. “I’ll be able to expand my cask program, perhaps add some proper lager tanks, finally dive into some Belgian styles and create more space for people to gather and ‘enjoy the journey’ together.”
Barley & Sword’s opening timeline is up in the air as it is dependent on receiving license approvals from the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, but Howell hopes to welcome the public to the company’s second location before November is through.
Barley & Sword Brewing is located inside the CRAFT by Brewery Igniter facility at 3052 El Cajon Boulevard, Suite 102 in North Park, and its new facility will be located at 800 West Grand Avenue in Escondido