Calculated first steps for Stumblefoot

San Marcos’ lofty place in San Diego’s craft brewing history is firmly cemented. It was home to Stone Brewing Co.’s original brewery, a space that has since been taken over by the owners of Pizza Port and turned into the base of operations for Port Brewing and the company’s wildly successful artisanal offshoot, The Lost Abbey. The municipality also boasts beer-centric restaurants, Churchill’s Pub & Grille and Sublime Alehouse, as well as brewing stalwart San Marcos Brewery & Grill, and new brewing operations Rip Current Brewing Company and Stumblefoot Brewing Company (1784 La Costa Meadows Drive, Suite 103, San Marcos).

Of all the businesses mentioned above, that last one is the toughest to stumble upon. Located in the southwest corner of San Marcos in a business park bordering University Commons, it takes some work to get to, but despite being more out there than its community contemporaries, brothers and brewers Bill Randolph and Pat Horton have achieved a respectable level of success in their first year of operation. The duo is in the process of doubling their square footage by taking over the business suite next to them. In doing so, they will be installing a 15-barrel brewhouse, fermenters, bright tanks and a 22-ounce Meheen bottling line that will allow them to go outside the keg.

In the shorter term, Stumblefoot is celebrating its one-year anniversary by holding a party and “Spring Artacular” event on March 30 from 2 to 7 p.m. Over the course of the past year, the company’s tasting room has been the site of multiple Artist Night events. The expansion will provide even more space for local artists’ pieces to be displayed. The artists scheduled to show their work during the anniversary party include ThreatSki HEM, Shana Haynie, Daniel James, Court Thompson, and Lance Tabor. Culinary art will be provided in the form of Santa Maria-style barbecue from GrillFellas Catering. On the beer front, Stumblefoot will debut its Questhaven Sour (made using a barrel handed over by friends and neighbors at The Lost Abbey), and its official anniversary beer, Red Dress Porter.