Urban Jungle Brewing pulls plug

After years of trying to get the business off the ground, Urban Jungle Brewing Company is officially a no-go. Would-be co-founder James Lombard and his partners have officially thrown in the towel, terminating the lease at the Scripps Ranch business park suite that would have served as Urban Jungle’s lair, and dissolving the company.

Particularly promising about Urban Jungle was the fact that AleSmith founder Skip Virgilio was involved as a brewing consultant. But it would seem it wasn’t the brewing that was the sticking point. According to Lombard, there were a number of delays and problems with permitting. On top of that, he reports that the City of San Diego was less than helpful and that played a part in Urban Jungle folding.

Lombard and company are open to selling the business and/or the items they have purchased. The latter includes a new John McKay 30-gallon prototype brewing system, a cold room, and hops (as well as the contracts they established for hop supplies over several years). Currently, they have 200 pounds of Summit, Chinook, Willamette, Pallisades, Northern Brewer, Ahtanum, Mt. Hood, CTZ, and other assorted hops in freezer storage. Interested parties may contact Lombard via email.

Though this interest is no more, Lombard believes that he will make another go at the commercial brewing game at some point in the future. But, as he’ll be first to attest, when it comes to joining the local craft beer scene, it’s a jungle out there.