In March, when statewide governmental restrictions were enacted in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, fears were high that many of San Diego’s hospitality businesses would be unable to sustain lengthy closures and mandates limiting on-site patronage. That included local breweries, brewpubs and tasting rooms, many of which operate on razor-thin margins and rely on maximizing sales at their venues. Thanks to ingenuity and the loosening of some State restrictions, many of San Diego County’s brewing interests have found ways to soldier on during these tough times, but the pandemic period has not been without its casualties.
On April 2, Vista’s Iron Fist Brewing announced it would be closing its doors. Founded in 2010, the Vista-based family-owned brewery quickly became popular behind a line of largely Belgian-inspired beers crafted by then 22-year-old brewmaster Brandon Sieminski. Over the years, Iron Fist’s portfolio expanded to include numerous styles, including various hoppy beers, and in 2015, the company expanded, opening a tasting room in Barrio Logan. Iron Fist was one of the first brewing companies to see the potential in that community, which is now home to three brewery-owned venues, with a fourth on the way.
The Sieminskis cited the COVID-19 crisis as one of several factors for shutting down, saying it combined with an increasingly competitive San Diego beer market where customers crave constant introduction of new and unique brews. In recent years, the company shifted its production focus to satiating such thirst, bringing on ex-Stone Brewing and Offbeat Brewing brewer Tom Garcia to develop new beers and shifting Brandon to a sales role, but it failed to move the needle to the extent required.
“It’s with heartfelt sorrow that, after ten years, we are closing our doors permanently,” Iron Fist’s managing partners said in a company statement. “This endeavor has truly been a family passion and a dream hard to give up. We at Iron Fist are sincerely appreciative to our loyal customers and will truly miss each and every one of you. You have given us ten years of memories to cherish.”
The next brewery to announce its closure was the county’s smallest, Escondido Brewing (EBC). Founded in 2017 as an unlikely add-on to Escondido Feed & Pet Supply, the nano was outfitted with a one-and-a-half-barrel brewing system that supplied it just enough beer to get it through the Fridays and Saturdays it was open to the public. Those beers were the work of Ketchen Smith, a celebrated homebrewer who continued to win awards for EBC’s Hopcondido IPA on a professional level. Like that flagship, EBC’s beers paid homage to the city it called home.
While the company announced its impending closure the first week of May, Smith did his best to keep enough beer in stock so he and EBC’s staff could bid their clientele farewell at a “third anniversary party.” That event was held on June 20 and drew many of the small but significant brewery’s regulars to the outdoor tasting room for one last hurrah.
“It was much easier to say goodbye that way,” says Smith. “I am very sad since I put in so much work but am hoping this is the beginning of a new chapter. The Escondido community deserved this spot to come together. I am proud of what I accomplished for an open-only-Friday-and-Saturday brewery with very little distribution, and I will cherish the great patrons who made this business a second home. Some amazing memories and connections would not have happened without EBC. Cheers, Escondido!”
The most recent operation to go out of business was Miramar’s Thunderhawk Alements, a member of the Miralani Makers District housing beer and sake breweries, wineries, a meadery, cidery and other purveyors of hand-crafted consumables. Co-founder Jonathan Barbarin took to social media on May 29 to share the news. Opened in 2016 by Barbarin and co-founding brewmaster Bill Lindsay, Thunderhawk was a cult hit and quickly became one of Miralani’s most prominent “makers,” behind innovative beers, numerous collaborations that spanned beyond the brewing industry and incredibly fun events at its tasting room.
“To all the people in the craft-beverage industry that helped us along the way, collaborated with us and supported us, thank you. Without your help and support throughout the years, Thunderhawk would not have been such a special, fun project,” says Lindsay. “To all of our friends and fans, thank you for letting us share our creativity with you through our beers, tasting room environment and the experiences we had with you. We always loved seeing everyone come into the tasting room to interact, attend our parties and events, and share our beer and merch with the world. We hope everyone had as much fun experiencing Thunderhawk as we did creating and sharing it with you.”