In March, GOAL. Brewing held its final service, closing the doors to its lease-to-brew suite in H.G. Fenton’s Craft by Brewery Igniter facility in North Park after just 19 months in business. While brewery shutdowns have become somewhat commonplace amid the most challenging marketplace and circumstances for American craft brewers in the modern era, this one was different, as it involved one of the county’s most popular head brewers, Derek Gallanosa. A veteran who started his career with Karl Strauss Brewing in the early twenty-tens before taking on head-brewer positions with start-ups Abnormal Beer Co., Moksa Brewing and GOAL. (where he was a partner), he amassed a considerable following among ale-and-lager fans locally and abroad, while also racking up awards at prestigious brewing competitions. Naturally, there was much interest in where Gallanosa would head next to continue his brewing career when GOAL. folded, and a great deal of shock when he announced he would be leaving the industry. That decision was broadcast far and wide when he sat down with All About Beer Editor John Holl for the outlet’s Drink Beer, Think Beer podcast last month in an episode titled “Reassessing a Career in Brewing”. Many were concerned someone as tenured, appreciated and accomplished as Gallanosa walking away from the beer industry might be a bellwether of the industry’s inability to retain talent as well as an overarching unsustainability. But after taking some time to gain some distance and increased perspective, Gallanosa decided to come back to craft beer. As of this week, he is back in brewer’s boots and helming not one, but two brewhouses for his new employer, Chula Vista Brewery (CVB). As the eight-year-old business’ new Head Brewer, he will team with Steven Teran (another recent hire from a North Park establishment, The Original 40 Brewing) to update a beer program that hasn’t seen a great deal of change over the company’s lifespan. It’s not only a return to the industry Gallanosa loves, but also the community where he grew up, and he’s excited to lend a hand in advancing Chula Vista’s – and the greater South Bay’s – ale-and-lager scene, one batch of beer at a time. We caught up with him to talk more about his multifaceted homecoming in our latest Craft Q&A interview.
What have you been up to since GOAL. closed and what inspired you to return to the industry?
Since April, I’ve been hanging out in San Diego with occasional visits to L.A., drinking beer and seeing what the job market has to offer. Ultimately, after exploring other industries, brewing is what I know the most. It has been my only career and something that I still have great passion for. I grew up in Chula Vista, and the idea of drawing more beer-drinkers to the area excites me. With two brewing locations on both ends of Chula Vista, CVB has the opportunity to become a destination for not only people visiting from surrounding cities, but also South Bay residents looking for quality craft beer.
How much leeway do you have when it comes to altering CVB’s beer portfolio?
The owner, Tim Parker (pictured, at right), has given me creative freedom to completely take over brewing operations. I will use this first week to intensely study the current beer portfolio and work to fill in any holes and opportunities we see based on consumer demand. Any new beers will have flavor, drinkability and approachability as the main focus for development using the highest quality ingredients available to us at the time. I want customers to look at the beer board and see multiple options that appeal to them.
What styles of beer do you plan to offer CVB patrons?
With the current climate of our industry and business in general, this chapter will be focused on creating quality-driven beers within the most popular styles consumed locally. What I’ve learned over time is to keep things simple. I think it reflects consumer tendencies of wanting drinkable beers that are approachable. Think lagers and IPAs with the occasional classic style or fruited sour depending on consumer demand. I’m looking forward to providing these flavor-focused beers to the people of my hometown…and beyond.
How do you feel about joining the South Bay’s brewing scene?
I think Chula Vista and the surrounding communities of Bonita, National City, Imperial Beach and San Ysidro can attract more consumers from outside the South Bay. I’m stoked to brew beer in one of the fastest growing geographical segments in San Diego County and contribute to the growth of the local economy by enticing more customers to make the drive down south, while adding CVB to the rotation of breweries they frequent. For those who have had my beers in the past, know that I am constantly learning from everywhere I can, even during these last six months outside of a brewery. I look forward to implementing that new knowledge to produce what I hope will be the best beer of my career. It’s a new chapter and I hope people choose to experience it with me.
What does it mean to be back in the beer industry after thinking that chapter was over for you?
Brewing has been a very rewarding part of my life, giving me opportunities to meet people, travel and explore beer in a unique way. Part of what is rewarding is sharing my creations with everyone. I hope when the new round of beers are ready, those who haven’t been to CVB or haven’t been in for a while can come out and celebrate with me and the crew. We haven’t decided on a date or what the event details will be, so follow CVB (or me) to keep updated.
Chula Vista Brewery is located at 294 Third Avenue in Chula Vista, and its satellite brewpub is located at 871 Showroom Place, Suite 102 in Chula Vista’s Eastlake community