Beer of the Week: La Chona

In illustrating their passion for live music, the family behind The Roadies Brewing could have slapped some concert posters on the walls of their tasting room and called it a day. Instead, they placed instruments (including a full drum set) within their public space, painted piano keys along the length of their underbar, hung cymbal-topped light fixtures and installed a stage with pro-grade lighting. Most importantly, they drove things home by inviting artists of all genres to play at their Vista business several nights a week. One of the bands that has graced their stage is Los Tortugas, a cover band that’s rocked many a brewery taproom and beer fest in its day. Such locales are fitting considering their guitarist is none other than longtime Karl Strauss BrewingBrewmaster Paul Segura. Recently, Segura was invited back, not to strum on stage, but instead to play around in the brewhouse with The Roadies’ Head Brewer Peter Perrecone. Working together, they forged a duet of sorts, which is this week’s featured beer, La Chona. Pouring a lovely chestnut color, it’s an amber Mexican-style lager, a variety of beer previously absent from either The Roadies or Karl Strauss playlists. Light in body and leaning into the caramel character that’s a hallmark of this style, La Chona is an ideal beer for enjoying over the course of an extended musical set. One has to think, given the brewery where it was conceived, that was exactly what Perrecone and Segura had in mind from the start.

This collaboration was an absolutely huge goal for our brewery. Paul and Karl Strauss are both testaments to San Diego’s greatest beers, styles that last and the level of beer that we know we can produce. This was certainly not a traditional style for me and a true challenge, yet the standard we at The Roadies always strive to achieve. We’re continuing to provide a menu as diverse as the people who drink it, while always experimenting with something new.”

Peter Perrecone, Head Brewer, The Roadies Brewing

The Roadies Brewing is located at 1495 Poinsettia Avenue, #148 in Vista