Last year, we introduced Beer Briefs, a roundup of current events related to the local beer industry, and it was a resounding hit with our readers. In response to your overwhelming interest, we’re bringing it back for 2026, starting with this collection of news items pertaining to work-in-progress projects located throughout San Diego County.
Despite opening at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Craft Coast has been a runaway success behind award-winning IPAs and lagers, as well as decidedly San Diego-style taco-shop fare. It wasn’t long after debuting in downtown Oceanside that ownership began searching for a coastal site to expand into. And they found that in May of 2024, when they took over a former Encinitas Filiberto’s taco shop which was partially destroyed during a fire in 2021. Located on South Coast Highway, directly next door to Modern Times Beer’s seven-year-old Far West Lounge pub, the 1,490-square-foot site will require significant work – including conversion of a drive-through lane into a shaded outdoor patio – in order to suit Craft Coast’s needs. After a lengthy City approval process, Craft Coast’s team was finally able to break ground on the project in December. There is currently no firm estimated debut date for the venue, but progress is being made.
Since opening in 2017, Chula Vista Brewery has been a steady, reliable operation South Bay beer drinkers have been able to depend on. But every business needs a refresh at some point, and three months ago owners Timothy and Dali Parker decided it was time to mix things up. In November, they brought on hometown product Derek Gallanosa as their new head brewer, and last week the couple shuttered their five-year-old Eastlake brewpub as they work on space renovations and introduction of a new culinary concept. The Parkers say the project should take six-to-eight weeks to complete and that brewing on the space’s 10-barrel system will continue during the shutdown.
Last week, we shared details about renovations being made at Bottlecraft’s North Park location. This week, we’re showing off a photo of the finished bar as the venue reopens today. Keep scrolling for a sneak peek at the bottle shop’s transformation into more of a “pub” concept. Key elements driving that new shared status are a remodeled central bar with 22 taps (10 more than it had before) and expanded seating, including booths reminiscent of South Park sister-business Bock. One enticing addition to the venue that can’t be seen in the photos is a menu of dine-in delights the in-house artisans from Venissimo Cheese will be introducing in the very near future.
