Over the past decade, Oceanside had two namesake craft-beer operations. The first was Oceanside Ale Works, a 16-year-old concern started by a local high-school teacher and firefighter, which was founded in 2006. (The reason that math doesn’t add up is due to a multi-year period of non-operation following a falling out between said founders in 2018.) That beer biz – the northerly municipality’s first ever – was joined in 2015 by the product of two longtime homebrewers (who also split up in 2020), Oceanside Brewing.
Despite the potential for marketplace confusion, there was enough space for both breweries in “O Side”, even as the city’s brewery count ballooned to a whopping 14 in 2021. That growth was in line with a thrush of development within the municipality, much of which was concentrated in Oceanside’s coastal downtown area and included construction of hotels, housing and hospitality venues. But even such a booming locale has not been immune to the economic and operational pressures currently facing brewery owners.
At the close of last year, Oceanside Ale Works’ owner closed the business after selling it to a non-brewery entity. And now, Oceanside Brewing owner Tomas Bryant has decided to call it quits after a decade, despite the great fulfillment he reaped providing an inviting hangout for the business’ namesake community while supporting local artisans, charities and humanitarian efforts.
“It’s been ten years since embarking on this journey at Oceanside Brewing Company. While it started as backyard brewing and dreams poured into overflowing pint glasses, OBC grew into a home base for a community craving something different,” wrote Bryant in a post on the company’s Instagram account. “Colorful splashes of music and art brought by entertainers and friends of all kinds, intertwined with our true expression of what a pint of beer should be…We were so lucky to share in the laughter, and to feel all that love. It would never have been the same without every person that walked through the doors to leave their mark.”
Bryant says it’s time for change, a next chapter upon which to devote his energies in an effort to continue showing love for Oceanside and its residents. Though he has yet to disclose where he will be redirecting his efforts, he notes “the future looks beautiful”.
Undoubtedly individualistic yet bound by monikers communicating a love for their shared community, Oceanside Ale Works and Oceanside Brewing have a lot of things in common, one of which will unfortunately be the fact both operations closed within two months of each other. But the latter still has one more party left in it, and Bryant wants to see Oceanside Brewing’s regulars so he can bid them farewell in person.
“We’d be honored to share some more stories, and laugh, and cheers,” he writes. “With just one more beer.”
Oceanside Brewing’s last service will take place tonight, and will feature an open mic from 6 to 11 p.m.
Oceanside Brewing is located at 312 Via Del Norte in Oceanside