You’ll have to forgive Cody Gagnon for being just a little excited, but he’s dreamed of owning his own brewery for a very, very long time. We’re talking even before he started as a beertender at Karl Strauss Brewing, and long before he left that hospitality gig to embark on a decade-long brewing career that’s included stops at Black Market Brewing, Mother Earth Brew Co., Pizza Port, WestBrew and, most recently, Carlsbad Brewing. It was while at the latter that he started to seriously entertain the idea of launching his own beer business, and while he came close to going the alternating proprietorship route, ultimately he decided he wanted something all his own, a situation where he could be in control of every aspect of the business and put the countless lessons he’d learned at each of his previous workplaces to work at his own.
It took over a year of searching, but eventually a tip from a former coworker led him to a shuttered San Marcos brewery and tasting room just west of San Elijo Hills. Previously home to Double Peak Brewing, that 3,600-square-foot facility had been decked out in a hiking design aesthetic, a nod to the mountain trail leading to nearby Double Peak Park. Now, after three months of hard work on the part of Cody and his wife Michiko, the space is a full-scale celebration of tiki culture. That Polynesian-inspired vibe will be on display for all to see when Michi Brew Co. opens to the public at noon on Saturday, May 3, but we’re happy to provide an early peek behind the bamboo curtain.
Next to the stone-backsplashed bar is a bright orange rendition of Michi Brew Co.’s tiki-totem logo painted in vibrant repose on a dark green wall. That color choice was inspired by a memorable hike Cody and Michiko (for whom the business is named) once took through a rainforest, while the orange is meant to represent lava rock. Across from the bar is a cozy enclave lit by festive string lights and decorated with Hawaiian tiki masks and curtains sporting a tropical-flora pattern (pictured above). It and a spacious lounge in the back of the unit (pictured below) are still works in-progress, but they have a lot going for them. The same can be said for the beer program.
There will be a total of five beers on tap on opening day, covering the styles most popular with today’s beer-drinkers – crushable lagers and IPAs. Gagnon is happy with all of them, particularly their softness on the palate, which not only lends to he beers’ overall drinkability but allows hop- and yeast-borne flavors to shine. This is a result of adjustments made using reverse osmosis, altering local water so that it is better suited for use in the individual styles of beer he is producing.
The following are the beers that will be on tap at Michi’s grand opening…
- Cenote | Mexican-style Lager, 4.5%
- Akita | Rice Lager, 5%:
- Mungo | Extra Pale Ale, 5.9%
- Memphre | Double Dry-hopped Hazy IPA, 6.4%
- Chelan | West Coast IPA, 7%
The day after the grand opening, Michi Brew Co. will release a sixth beer crafted especially for pseudo-holiday May the Fourth. An imperial fruited ale brewed with dragonfruit, pink guava, strawberry and jamaica, it’s called Mythosaur (a reference to a creature from the Star Wars universe) and will be available along with limited-edition glassware.
When asked about the additional stress that comes with holding two special events during his company’s first two days in business, in lieu of wariness Cody gives off an air of excitement. He is elated to be able to do things his way. Even though a weight and element of risk accompanies entrepreneurship, he’s glad to be the one calling the shots and thankful for the opportunity to bring his vision to life.
Michi Brew Co.’s hours of operation will be noon to 9 p.m., Friday and Saturday, noon to 8 p.m. on Sundays, and 3 to 9 p.m., Monday through Thursday. For the grand opening, the parking lot will be roped off to provide space for patrons, mobile food vendor Fuego Me Up and live entertainment from local rock band, The Thieves About.
Michi Brew Co. is located at 1801 Diamond Street, Suite 101 in San Marcos