All this weekend, The Roadies Brewing is celebrating the Vista company’s two-year anniversary. The multi-day party includes two beers brewed just for the occasion (including the current Beer of the Week Fluff’n Perfect) as well as multiple live-music performances. It’s a fitting series of events for a brewery focused as much on music and performance as it is on ales and lagers, and a fitting send-off of sorts, as owners Diane and Sean Hilz have made the difficult decision to close the business.
“After a lot of thought, many difficult conversations and exploring every option we could, we’ve made the heartbreaking decision to close Roadies at the end of this month,” said Diane. “Over the past several months, we’ve faced some incredibly difficult circumstances, including a significant amount of debt and the loss of Sean’s mom, who passed away after being in the hospital. Her passing brought additional financial challenges, and unfortunately, we’ve reached a point where we simply don’t have the time or resources to keep going.”
In addition to simply loving music, the Hilz named their business after a nickname they shared with some fellow parents from their daughter’s high school who, like them, spent many a weekend toting around gear central to their kids’ extracurricular activities. One could have easily confused The Roadies as a reference to beer brought along for consumption on a road trip…until making a visit to the company’s taproom.
Since debuting in August of 2024, the Hilz have revelled in providing bands and musicians of all genres with a top-notch stage and sound system with which to entertain their patrons. The musicality of the operation extends to every inch of The Roadies’ interiors, with a piano-key bar, cymbal light fixtures and a complete drum set standing sentinel on high, plus beers named after songs, albums, lyrics and more.
The Roadies’ beers have been the handiwork of Sean and Head Brewer Peter Perrecone. The pair met while the latter was working at Belching Beaver Brewery’s Pub 980 location in Vista. Over several visits, the Hilzes let Perrecone in on their plans to get into the beer business, eventually asking him if he would like to be part of the project. It was an offer that sounded good on its own, but felt particularly fateful given the fact The Roadies was being installed in the very same Poinsettia Avenue industrial suite where Perrecone had worked from 2013 to 2015 as the head of fermentation for defunct sour-centric business Toolbox Brewing.
Perrecone had been involved in the establishment of every aspect of Toolbox’s brewery and cellar operations, lending him intimate knowledge of the space that he put to use helping get The Roadies up and running. While barrel-aged beers have long been one of his specialties, in his new role he was able to flex his muscles with fresh, clean beers, taking on a number of hop-forward ales as well as numerous lagers.
The Hilzes expressed heartfelt gratitude to regulars and those who have supported their business, saying they will forever be grateful. This weekend’s events provide an opportunity to bid The Roadies farewell, but it won’t be the last chance for fans of theirs to enjoy beer and a show. The taproom’s live-music calendar is booked up through the last weekend of August, and the final service will take place on Monday, August 31.
“We are so incredibly grateful for every person who has walked through our doors, supported us, celebrated with us and made Roadies what it has been,” said Diane. “To all the bands and DJs who have shared their talent with us, to our amazing vendors and to everyone we’ve had the privilege of working alongside – thank you. And especially to our staff, who have been absolutely incredible through all of this. We could not have asked for a better team.”
The Roadies Brewing is located at 1495 Poinsettia Avenue, Suite 148 in Vista