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Last year, in a Voices of San Diego Beer guest article on this site, Belching Beaver Brewery owner Tom Vogel shared insights into how his company operates. In doing so, he mentioned how crucial he and his partners believe it is for the business to own its facilities and public venues. And after searching for some time for a new spot to purchase, Vogel and his associates are in escrow on a restaurant and bar in Murrieta that they intend to convert into a brewpub.
Located on the corner of Washington Avenue and B Street in Old Town Murrieta, the property is currently home to Joannie’s Cantina. The interior space comes in at about 900 square feet but the lot the bar is on will allow Belching Beaver to build a 7,000-square-foot brewery-equipped restaurant on it. Another bonus, the deal includes a Type 48 liquor license, which will allow the Oceanside-based interest to sell beer, wine and spirits, just as it does at its Belching Beaver Brewery Tavern and Grill location in Old Town Vista.
“We are super-excited to get this property,” says Vogel. “The lot is larger than our tavern property in downtown Vista. Therefore, the goal is to keep Joannie’s open while we get the plans for a larger tavern-type property then start building it out.”
While it is still early in the design process, Vogel envisions a “modern building with a lot of glass” as well as outdoor seating with fire pits. The latter is a staple at all but one of Belching Beaver’s public venues. The company also plans to build a rooftop bar and install a seven-barrel brewing system. Doing so should increase the company’s annual production by about 1,200 barrels, but this project is more about expanding Belching Beaver joining a growing community, building to their exact specifications and expanding their reach beyond San Diego County.
“Building from scratch has always been something we had hoped to do and now we have this great opportunity,” says Vogel. “We are coming to Murrieta because we love the area. The City’s plans for this area are outstanding—an outdoor amphitheater, larger hotels and the redevelopment of Murrieta Hot Springs.“
“The City of Murrieta has created a specific plan for our downtown area that is focused on creative an active, vibrant, walkable destination featuring food, drink and entertainment,” says the City’s Deputy Director of Development Services Scott Agajanian. “Belching Beaver is the perfect representation of this type of environment.”
With all of the construction that will need to take place, this project will take a great deal of time to construct. Vogel estimates it will take two-and-a-half years to fully complete. Meanwhile, the installation of a hard-seltzer speakeasy at Belching Beaver’s North Park tasting room remains on-track to debut to the public next month.
Belching Beaver Brewery’s new brewpub will be located at 24750 Washington Avenue in Murrieta