SpecHops the last brewery closure of 2017

As 2017 came to an end, so did another San Diego area brewery. On the afternoon of December 31st, Vista-based SpecHops Brewing Company announced via Facebook that it was closing its doors.

The post reads: "Hello dear friends and beer drinkers! We started this business back in 2010 and got to participate in the "Golden Age" of Craft Beer in San Diego. We made excellent beer and met thousands of amazing new people along the way. Unfortunately, SpecHops is having to permanently close our doors for business on this last day of 2017. Our heartfelt thanks for all of the great memories and the wonderful support of SpecHops and our dream these past few years!"

Founded by former Marine intelligence officer David Casperson, SpecHops is the eighth brewery to close in 2017, and the second to close within the last two weekends of the year, following the closure of Kuracali Saké and Beer Brewery a week prior.

It's also the second brewery tasting room this year to close after less than a year doing business. As the social media post notes, Casperson and wife Stephanie founded SpecHops in 2010 and briefly released beer in 2012. However, their brewery and tasting room (1280 Activity Drive, Vista) only opened in late February 2017, serving customers for just over ten months. Earlier this year, Wiseguy Brewing Co. closed its doors in Carlsbad after serving beer for about six months.

Casperson declined to comment on the closure other than to note he will retain the SpecHops brand. He did not reveal what's in store for his brewery's 15-barrel, steam-heated brewhouse, which is unique among San Diego breweries.