In 2018, longtime Pacific Northwest homebrewer Kurt Bach opened a brewpub in a corner spot at Barrio Logan’s Mercado del Barrio. Going by the name Attitude Brewing, the business was modeled around a bicultural thematic combining Latino design and American brewing sensibilities.
In 2021, Attitude’s hazy IPA, Blissed, earned a bronze medal at the Great American Beer Festival, an astounding achievement that inspired Bach to expand the operation. Later that year he signed a lease on a brewery-and-tasting-room unit at local developer H.G. Fenton’s Brewery Igniter facility in North Park, while also acquiring a storefront on downtown Chula Vista’s Third Avenue to convert into a South Bay tasting room.
Fast forward to the present and Attitude is now subleasing its Brewery Igniter space to work-in-progress beer business, GOAL. Brewing. Meanwhile, Bach and his investors are in the midst of a civil suit against the landlord of the Chula Vista location, which is currently closed. And, as of this week, Attitude’s Barrio Logan brewpub is officially for sale.
The brewpub is still open for business and continues to produce top-selling hazy IPAs, including its Legendary 24, Bases Loaded and releases from its OG Haze series, it faces a challenging market as well as numerous modern-day hurdles. That said, Bach reports there was more to him putting Attitude on the market.
“Before I started Attitude, I had a family commitment and a six-year window to pursue my dream. Throw in a global pandemic and those six years were pushed to eight. The brewing business involves a lot of long days and it’s difficult to give your children the attention they need,” says Bach. He says he loves the craft-beer business and what it stands for, but being a part of it has taken a physical toll, as well. “I love to brew, but recently we replaced our steam boiler, and while moving the old one out to the curb, it leaned my way and I propped it back up straight. Unfortunately, I used my back and it cracked. I am looking at two herniated lower discs—L3, L4 and possibly L5. It’s going to take a lot of time to heal. This is a young man’s sport, and I am at retirement age.”
Attitude’s brewpub comes in at 5,000 square feet and includes a full kitchen. The manufacturing side consists of a 7.5-barrel, two-vessel, steam-driven brewhouse with eight 18-barrel fermenters for double-batching, two eight-barrel fermenters, two 18-barrel brite tanks and a 10-barrel brite. Bach says his system is capable of producing 160 barrels of beer in 16-to-30 days, depending on the styles being brewed.
I would like to see another passionate innovator take this space over and push the limits whether its with their brand or ours. I would definitely consider a strategic partnership, as well.”
Kurt Bach, Attitude Brewing
Bach says the advantages of taking over his existing brewpub versus starting from scratch include its turnkey nature; little would need to be done for a new operator to get started other than the transfer of Attitude’s ABC (California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control) and TTB (Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau) licenses. He also notes that it would likely cost twice as much to build the brewpub today as it did for him in 2017.
“This is a great opportunity for an established brand that needs additional production and brand awareness, or a startup that has the means and passion, but wants to forgo the wait and red tape,” says Bach. “Perhaps you’re a brewer who is very passionate and hard-working but doesn’t have $2 million to start your own brewery or has a chunk of money to partner up. Reach out to me. Or if you’re a restaurateur and looking for a turnkey facility with lots of loyal fans, let’s talk.”
Bach invites interested parties to contact him via email. He notes that the purchase of Attitude’s Barrio Logan facility would not in any way involve the sublease of the company’s Brewery Igniter space.
Attitude Brewing is located at 1985 National Avenue in Barrio Logan