Meet Barrel Harbor Brewing Company

Statistics show that Vista is home to more breweries per capita than any other municipality in the United States. It’s not surprising considering how hospitable the City has been in fostering the establishment and growth of craft brewing companies within its limits. Time and time again, Vista brewery owners share stories of good will from the local government and the organization’s openness to working with brewing companies to work out would be problems. Thus, it’s no surprise to hear that another new beer business is set to open this summer. That company is Barrel Harbor Brewing Company (2575 Pioneer Avenue, Suite 104, Vista).

Scheduled to open in late August, Barrel Harbor is the product of a quartet who see their community as “the nucleus of [the craft beer] industry.” Of course, they admit to being a bit biased as the majority of the foursome are Vista residents who are fans of soon-to-be contemporaries like Iron Fist Brewing Company and Latitude 33 Brewing Company, and appreciate what such businesses contribute to their community—easygoing, unpretentious fun and flavor in comfortable, inviting environs. Not surprisingly, they aim to do the same. So, expect something simple in aesthetic but “exceptional” (if things work out the way they hope) on the beer side.

Barrel Harbor has hired David Meadows as its head brewer. Meadows most recently worked as the brewmaster at the defunct El Cajon Brewing Company, an establishment that, as reported last week, was recently taken over by new owners. Though details on specific beers are not yet available, Barrel Harbor is looking to build off its own appreciation for beer’s European origins and Meadows’ German and Swedish roots to pay homage to Old World styles while introducing bold flavor in the manner American brewers have become famous for. Those old-meets-new beers will be produced on a 10-barrel brewing system from local company, Premier Stainless Systems.

Once operative, it is likely Barrel Harbor will be open seven days a week. But the company is looking beyond its tasting room from the get-go, stating that they are in the process of working on their distribution and plan to have their beers headed out their doors in kegs and bottles as soon as they open.