In early 2020, the economic development arm of the Rincon Band of Luiseño Indians officially debuted an entirely rebranded, reimagined iteration of the brewery it originally established as SR-76 Beerworks back in 2017. The new concept, Rincon Reservation Road Brewery, is headquartered on the grounds of Harrah’s Southern California Resort in Valley Center and was gaining momentum until COVID-19 reared its ugly head. Still, the team behind “3-R Brewery” has soldiered on and notched some significant victories during the pandemic. Its beers are now available at Costco and BevMo stores as well as other retail outlets near the reservation. That has helped increase brand visibility, but outreach figures to get far more personal with the upcoming debut of the brewery’s first satellite tasting room in Ocean Beach.
Sited in the 3,200-square-foot, two-room space on Newport Avenue that was operated by Oceanside-based Belching Beaver Brewery until its lease expired last December, the venue is currently being redecorated with meaningful tribal art and iconography. Additionally, local chef Ron Oliver (the longtime chef de cuisine at La Jolla’s upscale Marine Room restaurant) is working on a menu of Native American-inspired snacks, including a modern spin on fry bread and several recipes from tribal members, making for a culturally immersive experience.
“It has always been our plan to expand the presence of 3-R Brewery. We felt that it was time to get off the reservation and share our beer with both locals and tourists, and Ocean Beach seemed like the best place for that,” says Ruth-Ann Thorn, Chariwoman of the Rincon Economic Development Corporation (REDCO), which manages the brewing operation. That opinion was partially informed by the space’s former tenants. “The owners at Belching Beaver were great in helping us make a decision to take over their tasting room, sharing that the neighborhood was friendly and very supportive while they were there.”
Thorn says REDCO also looked at potential project sites in Oceanside. That community is situated at the coastal terminus for State Route 76, which was the path her ancestors took when trekking from Palomar Mountain to the Pacific Ocean. Local tribes also have historic ties to Ocean Beach.
“Luiseño people spent a considerable amount of time on the ocean gathering fish and shellfish. Ocean Beach was the original stomping grounds of both Luiseño and Kumeyaay tribes,” says Thorn. “We felt it would be the perfect place to share our culture and beer with the locals.”
The space can hold up to 200 people and will have an octet of 3-R Brewery beers on tap, including flagship offerings Oasis Blonde Ale, Rez Dog Hefeweizen, Red Rattler Amber Ale and Chief IPA. REDCO also plans on having guest beers available and holding tap-takeover events for other local brewing companies. Advisor Marc Martin, former Vice President of Beer for Karl Strauss Brewing, will be primarily responsible for coordination with those San Diego beermaking interests.
Thorn says 3-R Brewery’s OB tasting room is on track to debut in October. Once open, they intend for the venue to be open seven days a week, likely from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., but staying open a little longer on the weekends.
Rincon Reservation Road Brewery’s tasting room will be located at 4836 Newport Avenue in Ocean Beach