In the early 2000s, large groups boarding a chauffeured high-occupancy vehicle and spending an afternoon touring multiple wineries in nearby Temecula was commonplace. Many were – and still are – the companies that offered such services. But in San Diego County, where the craft-beer scene was not just sizable, but starting to grow at a rapid clip, fans looking to enjoy a touring experience were faced with the age-old question: Who ya’ gonna call? To which there was no answer, that is until 2007, when former Ballast Point Brewing staffer Jon McDermott got behind his wife Mindy’s idea to offer guided beer-touring experiences to private groups. Together they launched Brewery Tours of San Diego, and it was a runaway success, not just for the McDermotts, but the many breweries they teamed with to teach locals and tourists alike about craft beer and what San Diego County’s next-level roster of brewing companies had to offer. In addition to private tours, the company drove buses to brewery anniversary parties, beer festivals and special events. It was a solid business model, one which inspired other entrepreneurs to throw their rentable vehicles into the ring. Yet, over the past nearly two decades, Brewery Tours of San Diego has maintained its upper-echelon position. But like most businesses, particularly those related to the craft-brewing industry, the pandemic forever altered the trajectory of the McDermott’s company, not to mention the couple themselves. Unable to transport large groups to public spaces for a prolonged period, Jon and Mindy pivoted. In doing so, they started down new career paths that they are content to continue on, leading to their decision to put Brewery Tours of San Diego up for sale. Here, Jon opens up about the couple’s choice, the company and its past, including the accomplishments he and his wife are most proud of.
Why was this the right time for you to put your business on the market?
After COVID, we had to pivot away from the business to be able to provide for our family. During that time we were still running the business with a couple key staff, but we also began to enjoy the time we had with our kids and having more of a structured schedule closer to the kids’ schedules. I have put the business on the backburner for the last couple years, as I have been completing my master’s degree in education. I thought that after I finished school I would have more time to ramp the tours back up, but my wife and I have decided that we want to focus on family commitments and explore other opportunities.
What was the local landscape like when you started as far as breweries and other tour companies
When we started doing brewery tours in 2007, we were one of the first such companies in the country. We could only find one other similar company. It was in Portland, and that company was doing one tour a month, so they didn’t seem to really be trying to make a business out of it. When we started our tour business, there was another tour company called Brew Hop, which started around the same time. We had slightly different models of operating, which I think actually helped us both get off the ground. The beer landscape was completely different than what it is nowadays. I feel like there were only about a dozen or so breweries to work with. Tasting rooms’ operating hours were very limited and the breweries were spread out geographically. I can remember trying to put a regular Sunday tour together and we had to drive from Ballast Point in Linda Vista to Stone Brewing in Escondido to Pizza Port in Solana Beach, because there were not very many options that were open.
What do you believe set you apart and allowed you to continue on for nearly two decades?
I think what set us apart in the beginning was the fact my wife and I really knew about local beer and how it was made. We had some good connections within the industry, which helped get people excited about what they were seeing and learning on the tours. The industrial-space tasting rooms and beer-tasting as an activity were very new when we first started, so many people were going tasting or on a brewery tour for the very first time. We were able to introduce people to brewery owners and brewers, and we were able to get some good access to the production side along with having the knowledge about the equipment and beer styles. We started with a 20-passenger bus, then added more buses and vans as we continued to grow. We were able to hire and train staff who shared our passion about San Diego beer.
What do you count as some of your greatest successes over the business’ lifespan?
We have been very lucky with Brewery Tours of San Diego, and with being in San Diego and the incredible beer scene. Being a part of San Diego beer for over 20 years has been amazing. We were named the top tour company in the county by San Diego CityBeat in 2018. We were able to purchase a home in San Diego because of our brewery tour business. In 2011, we started a brewery tour company in San Francisco, and prior to the pandemic we owned 11 tour buses and had close to 20 employees. We met people from all over the world and would have folks do tours as traditions on a yearly basis.
What are some of the most attractive aspects of your business for those interested in purchasing it?
I would recommend this business for a single owner who can commit to putting the time into all the business aspects along with leading the tours or as a partnership where the timing and responsibilities can be shared. It is currently set up to be run without dealing with owning any vehicles, or I would suggest starting with one vehicle to maximize potential earnings. We have not invested or marketed the business in recent years, and with a little social-media and marketing I believe there would be a quick path to success. The business has an incredible reputation and has been the top brewery tour company in San Diego for almost 20 years. The SEO and online presence is something we are very proud of with top reviews on Google, Yelp, TripAdvisor and other platforms. We have great relationships with the breweries as well as with event planners.
Interested parties can reach out to the McDermotts via email