photo by Andy Boyd

The northward expansion of Modern Times Beer continues, but this time it's staying within San Diego County. Following announcements earlier this year that the Point Loma beer and coffee producer will be launching satellite properties in Los Angeles and Anaheim, it was starting to look as though North County beer fans would be passed over in the company's efforts to bolster its California market. A blog post and Facebook announcement on December 28th hinted that this one just took longer to figure out.

"After an exceedingly long and exhaustive quest for the perfect location, we are absolutely thrilled to announce that we have located a suitably rad spot for a North County tasting room," the post reads. Specifically, the 3000-square-foot site will open on Pacific Coast Highway at the north end of Encinitas (470 S. Highway 101).

According to the announcement, the so-called Far West Lounge will feature 32 taps flowing from a U-shaped bar that will serve up to 150 patrons in a "luxurious mid-century tropical" space featuring booth seating and "a swanky indoor fire-pit." It will sell Modern Times cans, coffee beans, and merchandise, in addition to growler fills, and also serve as an additional pick-up destination for special releases ordered through the company's seasonal online sales. No specific timeline was given for the tasting room's opening, though CEO Jacob McKean expects it to be sometime in 2017.

Prior to this announcement, the company also made its own news on the canning front. First, Modern Times revealed it's adding a fifth can to its core lineup in 2017 — Fruitlands sour gose. Modern Times has been releasing different versions of this beer in 22-ounce bottles for the past two years, switching up the fruits for seasonal releases, including cherry, apricot, and hibiscus blood orange. Available 16-ounce cans year-round beginning in February will be this reporter's personal favorite, the passion fruit and guava Fruitlands, initially released last June. Other fruits may still appear as seasonals going forward.

Additionally, Modern Times will begin 2017 releasing what may be San Diego's first packaged nitro beer. Nitro Black House with Coffee, Coconut, & Cocoa will be available in 16-ounce cans as a special release. It's nitrogenated rather than strictly carbonated, meaning smaller bubbles and a creamier mouth-feel. While there are no current plans to repeat this offering, McKean points out, "In the past we've promoted monthly releases to more regular distribution if we really like them."