Last July, Burning Beard Brewing’s ownership was happy to announce that, after years of searching and with the lease on the 10-year-old company’s headquarters coming to a close, they had secured a new location less than a mile away. They’ve been working to get through the permitting process for that dual-unit space for the better part of a year, but it’s been challenging.
Located at 1835 and 1845 North Marshall Avenue in El Cajon, the property looks out onto the air strip of Gillespie Field. While one unit’s permitting is rather standard in nature, the other is complicated by airport-related requirements. Ownership believes it will eventually clear permitting hurdles, but it will take some time. Unfortunately, more time than they have on the clock at their current location. Because of that, following service on Sunday, April 26, Burning Beard’s current taproom will close down, marking the start of a pause for the business until their new location is ready to open its doors.
While not news they are excited to share, ownership is happy to inform its fans that when the company reopens, it will do so with the same production and front-of-house staff as it has now. Additionally, Burning Beard’s team of contractors and consultants are at the ready to work around-the-clock as soon as permitting is finalized in order to expedite project delivery. Their construction manager currently estimates the new brewery and taproom will open to the public sometime this summer.
Knowing a hiatus would be happening, Burning Beard moved up its 10-year anniversary celebration by a month in order to bid fans adieu in style. That “psycho-garage rock dance party” took place on March 28 and featured The Creepy Creeps playing to a crowd of roughly 500 attendees. Events like those are part of the DNA of the punk-rock-themed business, which has built a cult following among its largely East County clientele.
Burning Beard ownership counts their anniversary parties, assorted live-music events and Valentine’s Day beer-pairing dinners as highlights of the decade spent at their current location. The ability to keep putting on such sudsy soirees was a priority when searching for their upcoming location. Coming in at 11,500 square feet, the new base of operations will include a 3,500-square-foot taproom (nearly three times its predecessor) supplemented by an 8,000-square-foot outdoor area, which will be transformed into a German-style biergarten.
While much of Burning Beard’s move is focused on transporting the business, its staff and everything customers have come to love in tact, there is also an element of evolution. Ownership says that, in addition to the award-winning beers that put the company on the map, they will be launching a new craft-distilling program that will “crank the new place up to eleven”.
The waiting is the hardest part, but there is much to look forward to…and there is still time to drink in the atmosphere and liquid assets of the current location. Burning Beard’s hours of operation are 11 to 8 p.m., Monday through Wednesday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Thursday through Saturday, and 11 a.m to 7 p.m. on Sundays.
Burning Beard Brewing is located at 785 Vernon Way in El Cajon