They say timing is everything, and that’s certainly the case where California Wild Ales’ new tasting room in Ocean Beach is concerned. Founders Bill DeWitt and Zack Brager have been hard at work remodeling it to fit the Sorrento Valley company’s established wood-and-critter aesthetic with hopes of opening it in time to celebrate one of their favorite days: May the Fourth. That May 4 celebration of the Star Wars sci-fi franchise is recognized by numerous local breweries, but CWA attacks the pseudo-holiday with the fervor of a miffed TIE fighter pilot. DeWitt and Brager have 11 specialty beers ready to go but still needed a license to offer them from their new OB satellite. Like a last-minute assist from Luke Skywalker, an ABC OK arrived mid-day yesterday, allowing CWA to open its OB version of the Mos Eisley cantina at noon today.
“We are beyond thrilled that we can hold this year’s May the Fourth celebration in-person at our new tasting room in Ocean Beach as well as our existing tasting room in Sorrento Valley,” says DeWitt. This is the third straight year CWA as gone all-in with their cinema-inspired event. “It’s the perfect way for us to kick off the grand opening and offer some really unique wild ales to the public.”
CWA’s new tasting room is on the corner of Newport Avenue and Cable Street. DeWitt and Brager took the 1,200-square-foot venue over after Kearny Mesa-based non-alcoholic and THC beer company Two Roots Brewing opted not to renew its lease last fall. The space can seat up to 49 customers and is equipped with 16 taps pouring the company’s beers. The opening-day roster will be supplemented by bottles of the aforementioned Star Wars specialties, which are available to order online and split into two flights named for the film’s opposing forces:
Rebel Alliance Lineup
- May the Force Be With Yuzu: Two-barrel wild ale blend with yuzu and sea salt
- Mangolorian: Overripe mango added to the 12-month barrel-aged golden ale before an addition of ginger and local honey
- Padme Almondala: Sea salt plus lightly roasted almonds were added to golden ale
- Chewboocha: Higher-ABV golden sour base with carrot, turmeric, ginger and cayenne pepper kombucha *
- C3POrange: Made with local oranges, a bright refreshing citrus sour
The Dark Side Lineup
- Jabba the Hopp: 12-month barrel-aged golden sour made with Citra hops
- Jabba the Hopp with Kohatu Hops: 12-month barrel-aged golden sour made with Kohatu hops from New Zealand
- Mango Fett: Overripe mango added to the 12-month barrel-aged golden ale, before an addition of jalapeño and sea salt
- The Dark Side: Barrel-aged golden sour plus beet, pomegranate and hibiscus kombucha *
- ImPEARial Stormtrooper: Julian pears and Saigon cinnamon feature in this 7.5% ABV Imperial sour
- Darth Citrus: Wild ale with Escondido-procured Persian limes, Meyer lemons and satsuma mandarins
* collaboration with TapShack OB
CWA is a brewing entity that has historically marched to its own drum. To date, its portfolio has consisted exclusively of barrel-aged sours, a difficult-to-produce niche style category many breweries opt not to take on. Vibrant, offbeat cartoon art is the basis of its branding, and should fit in well in similarly colorful, out-there Ocean Beach. It’s the main thing ownership was drawn to and the basis of their decision to expand where they did.
“We have a very clear vision: to be a place where people come to celebrate life in San Diego’s funkiest neighborhood,” says DeWitt. “It’s also exciting to offer an expanded range of beverage offerings, including seltzers and beer-flavored beers.” The latter will come courtesy of a pale ale brewed in collaboration with neighboring OB Brewery and a lager—the company’s first—which was crafted with assistance from Bivouac Ciderworks head brewer Samantha Olson.
Brewing contemporaries aren’t the only ones who’ve lent a hand to CWA. Ocean Beach residents have donated items to help decorate the space, including pennies, Legos, mirrors and wood from old pallets and fences. DeWitt, a graphic designer by trade, used the copper coins for flooring (a 150-hour project) and the connecting blocks for the backsplash, while the remaining items bring touches of CWA’s Sorrento Valley tasting room to its new sister community.
“We are truly humbled by the outpour of support by the OB community and are extremely excited to introduce Ocean Beach visitors and locals alike to our unique sour ales,” says Brager. “At the same time, we are happy to now offer ‘clean beer’ and seltzers, giving people several options and helping to create a welcoming atmosphere for everyone.”
CWA’s OB tasting room will be open from noon to midnight, Fridays and Saturdays, and noon to 10 p.m., Sunday through Thursday. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, seating will not be offered at full capacity.
California Wild Ales’ satellite tasting room is located at 4896 Newport Avenue in Ocean Beach