Belching Beaver Brewery is best known for its well-patronized, accommodating tasting rooms as well as its full-scale indoor-outdoor tavern in Old Town Vista, but the real action—and tons of growth—is taking place at its Oceanside production brewery. Last summer, the company expanded its headquarters, adding 24,000 square feet (essentially doubling its footprint) so that it could venture into the hard-seltzer market. Those all-natural offerings have been a hit since, enough that Belching Beaver is once again advancing its capabilities in O-side by adding a pair of 240-barrel fermentation tanks.
The new vessels bring Belching Beaver’s tank farm totals to 23 fermenters plus seven brite tanks. Last year, the company produced 37,000 barrels. They are currently on-pace to finish 2020 at 45,000 barrels, and the addition of the new tanks will allow for the manufacture of an additional 12,000 barrels, at a minimum, over a full calendar year. Among the company’s most popular and oft-produced offerings are its popular Peanut Butter Milk Stout, Phantom Bride IPA and Hazers Gonna Haze Hazy IPA.
“These tanks will also help us in 2021 as we continue to provide a variety of one-off beers,” says Marketing Manager Haley Smith. “This is so important to us, as one of our favorite things about being in this industry is being able to continuously give our customers something new and exciting to try. And we have some fun things in the works.”
Several miles inland, Burgeon Beer Co. has also been busy expanding its Carlsbad headquarters. A year ago, the company acquired an additional 7,500-square-foot space two doors over from its existing suite, in which to install an additional 2,500 square feet of cold-storage and a new 1,200-square-foot service area. Last weekend, Burgeon unveiled the latter, showing off a cozy space replete with wood and natural greenery. Dubbed The Greenhouse, it is currently being used as a taproom until it’s safe to be utilized for gatherings as a private-event space.
“While we can’t wait until the day when we can invite our community to grow, gather and celebrate private events in The Greenhouse, it is heartwarming to see folks enjoying fresh pints in this beautiful space during its current use as a taproom,” says Burgeon Marketing Director Mackenzie Graham. “The Greenhouse is now open to the public for on-site enjoyment fro Thursday through Sunday every week.”
The Greenhouse is but one of (and the smallest) of a handful of expansion projects Burgeon has in the works. Earlier this month, the company announced it is taking over the nano-brewery and all-outdoor tasting space previously occupied by Escondido Brewing. Going by the name The Oasis, it is estimated to debut late this month or early-December. Meanwhile, work continues on The Arbor, an indoor-outdoor tasting room on Kettner Boulevard in downtown San Diego’s Little Italy community that will include a kitchen operated by Miramar-based The Good Seed Food Co. Burgeon hopes to open that venue to the public in March of 2021.
Burgeon Beer Co. is located at 6350 Yarrow Drive in Carlsbad