San Diego beer fans are familiar with most of the breweries that opened in the 1990’s and helped pave the way for the many craft-beer operations that would follow. AleSmith, Ballast Point, Pizza Port and Stone Brewing are all household names…not just in San Diego County, but throughout the country. But not all of the old guard were outspoken or interested in offering their wares beyond their own establishments. Among them was San Marcos Brewery and Grill, which opened its doors in 1993 and seemed to follow the if-it-ain’t-broke philosophy until the world around it broke care of the pandemic.
On Friday, Dean Jabosen, the owner of the 27-year-old brewpub, took to social media to announce that, due to the recent rise of local COVID-19 cases leading to San Diego County hospitality venues being ushered back into the purple tier, he has decided to close the business permanently. The following is the message that appeared on the business’ Facebook page:
Well, the time has come. With the restrictions of COVID 19, and the purple tier, the Brewery has suspended its operations. We’ve had a good 27 year run and not it’s time to call it…done. Thank you all for the support through the years. We wish you well. Cheers to a better year ! 2021
Even as San Diego’s craft-beer scene grew by leaps and bounds over the past decade-and-a-half, San Marcos Brewery remained in the deepest recesses of the local industry’s backdrop. Beer offerings varied little save for a partial rebranding of San Marcos’ bottled products in 2017 under the sub-brand Great Goats Brewing, and plans to expand into an additional facility with a larger brewing system and canning line were never realized.
On Saturday afternoon, the neon open sign remained on at the restaurant, though it was dark and empty inside, signaling this is, indeed, the end of the road for one of the county’s longest-running brewing interests.