Praising the Bar: BattleMage Brewing

Fantastical fantasy gaming is as much the draw for fans of BattleMage Brewing as its fantastic fermented beverages. But no matter the object of one’s quest, campaigners will be welcomed to this unique Vista locale by gregarious guardians sharing their passions for beer and roleplaying adventures. Whether wielding glassware, 12-sided dice or medieval weaponry, they can be counted on to ensure thirsts are sufficiently slaked throughout their corner of the local beer realm. Get to know BattleMage’s barkeeps in this week’s installment of Praising the Bar.

Julia Peterson
Bar Manager

Where did you grow up?
Milwaukee, Wisconsin and Carlsbad

What brought you to San Diego?
My dad’s job moved us from Wisconsin to San Diego in 2004. Not exactly a thrilling answer, but it definitely was a thrilling case of culture shock! My friends were baffled by my stories of outdoor schools and roads that curved instead of using a grid system.

When and how did you get into craft beer?
I got into craft beer much too early. My dad started working for The Lost Abbey back in the day, and my sister and I thought a brewery was the absolute coolest place to hang out. My a-ha moment was more of a well-you’re-always-here-we-may-as-well-pay-you moment. My training was a tasting event with (The Lost Abbey’s Director of Production & Quality) Gwen Conley called Sunday School, and I remember seeing people’s reaction to the beer and the bizarre food pairings, and thinking “Oh, the people I’ve grown up around actually know what they’re doing!”

What other beer employers and positions are on your résumé?
I worked for The Lost Abbey as a bartender, then assistant bar manager, before I moved on to the other side of the family, Pizza Port. I was the bar manager at Solana Beach until 2021, when I started at BattleMage. 

What do you love most about your job?
Honestly, the reason I’m still a bartender is because I’m nosey. I love talking to people and learning about what makes them tick. You’d be surprised how many people take the bartender-slash-therapist role quite seriously. I’ve heard some amazing things over the years, but bartender-patron confidentiality prevents me from divulging too much. 

Truth time, what is the part of your job that you like the least?
Well, if customers are my favorite part, my least favorite part has to also be customers. I’m actually very spoiled at BattleMage. We have the most lovely and considerate patrons I’ve ever seen in this industry. I’m soft now. If I ever had to leave, I’d never make it back out in the wild. But as a business that’s open to the public, you’re still going to encounter your fair share of jerks. If you wanna argue about style guidelines, bring it up with the BJCP, not me! 

What accomplishments are you most proud of from your time in the craft-beer industry?
I’ve done some pretty cool things in this industry, and I’m proud of a lot of them, but I think the thing I’m most proud of is a bit cheesy. At BattleMage, we have a very large Dungeons & Dragons community campaign. I was one of the first players seven years ago, and it’s still running to this day. Now, as an employee, I get to participate in a different way, which includes luring in new players. I’m very proud of how many people I’ve made comfortable enough to sit for four hours and play a tabletop role-playing game with complete strangers. Some of these people were completely unsure of how well they would “fit in” or if they had enough “nerd cred”, and now they are part of a huge community of pretty radical people. If you love D&D, beer or are just looking for a new group of friends, BattleMage is the place to be. 

What do you love most about the company you work for?
Because BattleMage is such a small operation, we all get to wear just about every hat. I have a lot of experience in this industry, but here I get to learn more sides of the business, from brewing to cellaring to packaging and pretty much everything in between. I previously worked in relatively large companies, but with just five of us, there’s a camaraderie that I haven’t experienced anywhere else. It comes with a bit of pressure too, because you do have quite a large impact on the success of the business. But when we get a win, it really does feel like a group achievement. 

What is your favorite beer that your brewery produces?
Ooh, this was almost my answer to the “proudest achievement” question. For five years, I begged BattleMage to make a sour. And for five years, our owners, Chris Barry and Ryan Sather, said no. Once I was hired, the begging turned into bullying, but it still took two more years of constant pestering before we finally made Chaos Bolt. I got to pick the fruits – lemons, blackberries and blueberries – and they even made it our fifth-anniversary beer. It sold like crazy. That was one sweet, sweet, “I told you so”. 

What are some of your favorite San Diego craft beers, in general?
South O Brewing had a Turkish Delight porter with rose water and chocolate malts that I fell in love with right away, but unfortunately they haven’t made it in years. Other than that, I’m definitely a sucker for a classic pale ale or IPA. Pure Project Brewing’s Sun Rays Like Stilts is an amazing pale ale and Craft Coast Beer & Tacos’ 275 IPA is always a favorite of mine. 

What are some local brewery venues other than your own that you like to refer customers to or patronize when you’re off the clock?
If I’m not at the Mage, I’m probably at South O in Oceanside hanging at the bar. Or at Burgeon Beer Co., Pure Project, Craft Coast or Bottlecraft…the list goes on and on. But if they have good beer and good people behind the bar, I’m a fan for life.  

Who are some of your favorite regulars and why?
BattleMage regulars are a different breed in the absolute best way possible. We get such a wide variety of people in, but they all mesh together so well. I’ve never seen a customer base value their spots at the bar like our regulars do; those four stools are a hot commodity. Gertrude, Layla, Harlow, Bruce, Terry, Charlie, Gilbert, Charlotte, Bubba, Yeti…now those are all dogs, but their people are also pretty cool. 

Everybody has funny work stories. Would you mind sharing one with us?
It was my very first beer festival, and there was a completely packed crowd in front of our booth when one of our kegs kicked. Not a problem, I’ve changed kegs before. But I didn’t have the coupler seated quite right and, in front of at least a hundred people, I learned what a beer shower is! A geyser of beer shot up, hit me in the face and soaked the tent above me. And of course, because it was a beer festival, I got quite the round of applause. So I reseated the coupler, bowed and waved to the crowd, then ran to my car to take advantage of the spare set of clothes I keep there. It pays to be prepared. 

What music genre and artists are playing in the tasting room when you’re in control?
We typically have metal playing in our tasting room, which works out perfectly for me! The guys usually stick to power metal or video-game metal, but I’m a fan of stoner and sludge metal. Bands like Mastodon, Red Fang, Clutch, The Sword…you get the idea! But if the guys aren’t there, it’s all ABBA all the time.

What do you consider cornerstones when it comes to customer service, particularly at a brewery tasting room?
I do believe that anyone can be a beertender, but to be a good one you have to be excited about your spot, you have to be curious about the beer in your area and you have to talk to everyone. If you’re enthusiastic, it’ll catch on. My favorite interactions are the ones where someone walks in and tells me that they don’t like beer but are willing to try. I’ll spend any amount of time trying to find that person their beer. Most people just need someone willing to take the time with them to figure it out. 

What advice would you give to customers looking to have the best possible experience when visiting a brewery taproom?
Just talk to your beertender! It certainly helps if you know what type of beer you like, but even if all you know is that you prefer red wine over white or whiskey over tequila, that can give your beertender a great jumping off point. Your beertender understands what they have to offer better than your sister’s friend’s cousin that recommended the place, so just listen to them! 

What are your career aspirations either in or beyond the craft-beer industry?
That’s a hard one. I think a lot of us are in this industry because we don’t know what we want to be when we grow up, but seeing as I honestly can’t picture myself in any other industry, I’ve probably figured it out at least a little bit. I’d consider myself lucky if I got to stick with BattleMage and grow with them. Hospitality Director has a nice ring to it!   

What are some of your favorite beer events, whether at your brewery or elsewhere?
Mammoth has a festival every August called Bluesapalooza. It’s the only beer festival I’ll actually plan my vacations around. What other beer fest is in a pine grove at 8,000 feet? 

What do you enjoy doing when you’re not at work?
Being a nerd is basically a requirement of the job, so when I’m not at work I’m probably playing D&D or whatever video game I’m currently hyper-fixated on, or daydreaming about my next international trip. There’s a lot more beer out there that I gotta try! 

Who do you think you are (a purposely broad question requiring a succinct answer)?
Personality of a velvet sledgehammer with a heart of gold.

Sev Osborne
Beertender

Where did you grow up?
I grew up in Riverside, right on the border of Corona, which is where I spent most of my time.

What brought you to San Diego?
I moved down to Oceanside in 2013 when I was going to MiraCosta College, and fell in love with the city, so I decided to stick around for the next decade!

When and how did you get into craft beer?
I got into craft beer pretty soon after moving to Oceanside. I was living in the downtown area so we had some great local spots. Up to this point, I was mostly used to whatever I could find on the grocery-store shelf, so when I discovered places like Stone’s Oceanside beer garden, I was hooked. I started exploring around North County to see what else I was missing out on and ended up being a regular at BattleMage. After my best friend and I kept asking Ryan and Chris questions about the brewing process, they helped us get into homebrewing, which really took my appreciation for good beer to the next level.

What other beer employers and positions are on your résumé?
I worked in packaging at The Lost Abbey back in 2021, though anyone who’s worked in production knows that everyone will usually end up doing a bit of everything. It was pretty awesome to get that kind of experience as a complete newcomer to the brewhouse.

What do you love most about your job?
I was a regular for years before I got hired on at BattleMage, so getting to work at a place that you already know and love is pretty incredible. I think my favorite moments are when you help someone find that one beer they’re looking for. I’m the kind of guy that, when I find something I really like, I end up ordering it pretty much exclusively forever, so helping other people get that kind of experience is especially satisfying.

Truth time, what is the part of your job that you like the least?
Right now I’m commuting from Temecula, so definitely that. It can be especially exhausting having to fight through traffic after a tough shift.

What accomplishments are you most proud of from your time in the craft-beer industry?
Helping others get into the industry and seeing them still thriving feels incredibly rewarding.

What do you love most about the company you work for?
I can’t understate how epic it is to work at the place that makes your favorite beer. Also, it’s the only job I’ve ever had where I can put Lord of the Rings on anytime I’m working…and get scorned by customers if it isn’t playing.

What is your favorite beer that your brewery produces?
It’s a toss-up between Summon Ifrit (amber ale) and Perception Czech (Pilsner); those have been my most consistent pints since the early days.

What are some of your favorite San Diego craft beers, in general?
Noble Tendencies (Czech-style Pilsner) from The Lost Abbey and Special Lager from Eppig Brewing will always hold a special place in my heart. Anytime lagers get solid representation in San Diego, I’m a happy camper!

What are some local brewery venues other than your own that you like to refer customers to or patronize when you’re off the clock?
Culver Beer Co. is a great spot I tend to gravitate towards when I’m out and about. One of their killer sandwiches with a Green Stone (New Zealand-style lager) and you’ve got the makings of a good day. Burgeon and Northern Pine Brewing also have great brews and solid vibes.

Who are some of your favorite regulars and why?
I already know I’m gonna catch flak for not naming everyone, but Tim, Adam and the entire entourage always bring a kind of chaotic, silly energy that makes my shifts great. Bonus points to anyone who brings in doggos.

Everybody has funny work stories. Would you mind sharing one with us?
Every Monday and Tuesday night we host official D&D games, so I get to listen in on the tables during the games. The accents and characterizations are hilarious and legitimately good, especially when we get close to the season finales, when the intensity is at a high. 

What music genre and artists are playing in the tasting room when you’re in control?
The go-to is usually fantasy or power metal. I also like to put on RPG (role-playing game) tavern music sometimes since we’re pretty heavily fantasy-themed.

What do you consider cornerstones when it comes to customer service, particularly at a brewery tasting room?
I think being able to keep a cool head when things are slammed is an art form that takes actual experience to master. When I first started working here, Ryan would occasionally remind me the taps only pour so fast, so no sense stressing about it when things are busy.

What advice would you give to customers looking to have the best possible experience when visiting a brewery taproom?
Don’t be afraid to try things that go against your usual palate! I think a lot of people would be surprised at the breadth each style can encompass, so it’s usually worth it to continue to branch out.

What are your career aspirations either in or beyond the craft-beer industry?
I’m also a pianist and composer, and one of my lifelong dreams is to write the score for a video game! 

What are some of your favorite beer events, whether at your brewery or elsewhere?
Definitely the BattleMage anniversary parties. I’ve been to almost every one and worked the last one, and it’s a blast on either side of it. I also try to make it out to the Viking Fest and Meading at the Garden festival when I can.

What do you enjoy doing when you’re not at work?
If I’m not practicing or writing, I’m probably gaming. Newest season of Diablo 4 just dropped and it’s an absolute banger so far!

Who do you think you are (a purposely broad question requiring a succinct answer)?
A beer-loving, piano-playing Lord of the Rings nerd.

Breweries being spotlighted via our Praising the Bar feature performed exceptionally well in San Diego Beer News Awards voting during the span of 2021 to 2024