The week after San Diego Beer News’ (SDBN) website came online, we shared the story of three members of locals who were teaming up to install an artisanal brewery on the grounds of a winery in Baja, California’s Valle de Guadalupe. Dubbed Cervecería El Destino, it was the brainchild of couple Anthony and Hannah Sylvester (the latter of whom was part of the hospitality teams at Karl Strauss Brewing and Ballast Point Brewing), and their longtime friend and OB Brewery Head Brewer Jim Millea. There was a great deal of red tape to get through, but the trio were able to get the project off the ground. Unfortunately, getting to that point took a lot out of the members of the team, many of whom by then had differing ideas of what the business should be. The partnership eventually dissolved, but the friendship remained strong as Millea retrained his full focus on his work in San Diego and the Sylvesters remained in Baja. Over the past half-decade, numerous SDBN readers have inquired about whatever became of the El Destino trio, so we sought them out and discovered that the Sylvesters are now the proud owners of Mad Magee’s Pub, a brand-new craft-beer bar located in the coastal community of Baja Malibu. The couple were kind enough to share details about their business and welcome beer fans north of the border to pay them a visit the next time they’re in the neighborhood.
How did the idea for your new business come about?
When El Destino dissolved, we needed and wanted to find a new location to set up the brewhouse. We wanted to carry on with production and reset our hopes for a brewpub in the future. We found a warehouse close to where we live where we were able to build out the brewery, and spent about two years brewing at the new site, selling kegs to local bars and restaurants, and slowly building a new brand called Magee Brews. Around this time, we had the good fortune of meeting another husband-and-wife duo who were looking for an investment project, Oscar and Ariana Medina. We shared our ideas with them over some beers and became fast friends. They were excited about the project and all-in on our vision of opening a neighborhood brewpub. At that point, we had the necessary investment capital to proceed with the new business. There is a commercial strip near to the brewery that was already serving the surrounding community with an excellent mini-market, beauty salon and laundromat, that had a small space available. We decided this would be a great place to open a neighborhood pub.
What does Mad Magee’s look and feel like, and what do you offer to your patrons?
Opened in July of last year, Mad Magee’s Pub is a neighborhood spot. It’s small and cozy with dark green walls, lots of dark wood, comfortable seating and friendly patrons. Think Cheers with a Mexican accent. Instead of Norm we have Diego! We are a place for the community to gather, and feel comfortable and safe while enjoying a great drink! We offer house-brewed craft beer alongside local guest beers; eight taps in total. We have a mug club, a selection of premium liquors and elevated cocktails like our Smoked Old Fashioned or Greyhound with fresh-pressed juices. Our community loves a good party and so do we! So we have special events for most holidays, theme parties, live music, DJs and an Oktoberfest celebration.
What does your beer list and food menu have to offer?
The house beers vary from season to season, but we like to maintain a variety of classic ales, ranging from English pale, porter and blonde to Irish red, Belgian wit and golden strong, to name a few. For the hoppy beers, there will be a West Coast or American IPA as well as a white IPA throughout the year, and typically a hazy and a stout on our guest taps. We also have plans to sneak a few lagers into the rotation as soon as possible. On the food side, we have a range of snacks, including all-beef hot dogs and chicken sausages, local beef jerky, pretzels and more. We also welcome local food purveyors via pop-up events featuring classic burgers, wood-fired pizzas, Cajun comfort food, barbecue, Hawaiian and Mexican food. We also like to host the occasional potluck.
What has the public reception been so far and what are your plans for the future?
Mad Magee’s has enjoyed a warm reception, with many saying that a pub was what the neighborhood had been missing. We have been members of the community here for over a decade, and many of our neighbors and friends here have shared this journey with us since the beginning with El Destino. The pub continues to grow and welcome new guests on a regular basis, and we still have neighbors popping in who are just discovering us. Down the road, we hope to move into a slightly larger space and add more in-house food options.