Meet Legacy Brewing Company

Most of the beer writing I’ve done regarding the coastal municipality of Oceanside has revolved around the highly anticipated work-in-progress Bagby Beer Co. Its debut is scheduled for next spring, but O-siders won’t have to wait until then to welcome a new brewery. Legacy Brewing Company, a small brewery run by a trio of North County entrepreneurs, will open for business this Friday, October 18.

They’ve done a good job of flying under the radar, but here’s the skinny. The brewmaster is Mark Mericle, a long-time brewer with professional experience spanning decades that includes co-founding Orange County’s first microbrewery, Heritage Brewing Co., and earning a gold medal at the Great American Beer Festival. Mericle has been working on getting Legacy open with fellow co-owners John “JJ” Snyder and Bob Adamson for nearly a year.

So far, Mericle has used his 15-barrel brewing system to produce English-style beers including an extra special bitter (a style better known as ESB), nut brown ale, and India pale ale. Other Old World beers are on deck including a porter and stout. As for the interior design, I’ll reference an excerpt from the new San Diego Beer News Complete Guide to San Diego Breweries, available on Amazon.com beginning in November:

Legacy Brewing Company features a tasting room tastefully outfitted in brick and wood with a bar featuring an awning and hanging light fixtures. Picnic tables provide places to meet new friends over an assortment of largely European beer styles including lagers, an Irish red ale, and a Scottish ale.

Legacy Brewing Company's 4,400 square foot facility is located at 363 Airport Road. Its 1,000 square foot tasting room will be open daily from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., with private group tours available by appointment.