Anchor ads are not supported on this page.

4S Ranch Allied Gardens Alpine Baja Balboa Park Bankers Hill Barrio Logan Bay Ho Bay Park Black Mountain Ranch Blossom Valley Bonita Bonsall Borrego Springs Boulevard Campo Cardiff-by-the-Sea Carlsbad Carmel Mountain Carmel Valley Chollas View Chula Vista City College City Heights Clairemont College Area Coronado CSU San Marcos Cuyamaca College Del Cerro Del Mar Descanso Downtown San Diego Eastlake East Village El Cajon Emerald Hills Encanto Encinitas Escondido Fallbrook Fletcher Hills Golden Hill Grant Hill Grantville Grossmont College Guatay Harbor Island Hillcrest Imperial Beach Imperial Valley Jacumba Jamacha-Lomita Jamul Julian Kearny Mesa Kensington La Jolla Lakeside La Mesa Lemon Grove Leucadia Liberty Station Lincoln Acres Lincoln Park Linda Vista Little Italy Logan Heights Mesa College Midway District MiraCosta College Miramar Miramar College Mira Mesa Mission Beach Mission Hills Mission Valley Mountain View Mount Hope Mount Laguna National City Nestor Normal Heights North Park Oak Park Ocean Beach Oceanside Old Town Otay Mesa Pacific Beach Pala Palomar College Palomar Mountain Paradise Hills Pauma Valley Pine Valley Point Loma Point Loma Nazarene Potrero Poway Rainbow Ramona Rancho Bernardo Rancho Penasquitos Rancho San Diego Rancho Santa Fe Rolando San Carlos San Marcos San Onofre Santa Ysabel Santee San Ysidro Scripps Ranch SDSU Serra Mesa Shelltown Shelter Island Sherman Heights Skyline Solana Beach Sorrento Valley Southcrest South Park Southwestern College Spring Valley Stockton Talmadge Temecula Tierrasanta Tijuana UCSD University City University Heights USD Valencia Park Valley Center Vista Warner Springs

Pure Project's year of flexibility

Brewery manages to open a new Carlsbad Village location while planting trees

Pure Project's new taproom and patio, next to the Carlsbad Village train station
Pure Project's new taproom and patio, next to the Carlsbad Village train station

“Times are moving fast right now and we are adapting,” read the email from Pure Project. The Miramar-based brewery had originally reached out to let me know it would begin serving beers at its new satellite location, set in one of North County’s most desirable commercial districts: Carlsbad Village.

Place

Pure Project Carlsbad

2825 State St., Carlsbad

Except, that had been late June, and by July 3, the governor was shutting things down again. Instead of pouring beers, the email informed me, Pure Project Carlsbad would open for take-out beers only.

Sudden changes have been par for the course, not only for Pure Project, but for all San Diego breweries, which have had to plan repeatedly for one contingency, only to see changing county restrictions mandate another.

Sponsored
Sponsored

Having made it through the costly permitting process required by the city of Carlsbad, Pure Project had originally planned on a spring opening for its stylish indoor-outdoor beer space, which sits on the short block between State Street and the Carlsbad Village train station. When it finally started to serve beer outside later in July, nearly two years had elapsed since it first signed the lease.

Normally a very organized business, prone to patient and detailed planning, Pure Project has been tested by a pandemic forcing it to improvise. When the pandemic first hit, the brewery initially doubled its canning output to account for the lost retail and distribution. It started shipping directly to consumers throughout California and Nevada. It signed a short-term lease to set up a beer garden in an empty lot across the street from its Bankers Hill location, used seasonally to sell Christmas Trees.

To get Carlsbad open, the brewery had to quickly team up with a pair of Village restaurants — Señor Grubby’s and El Puerto — to meet the county mandate that beer only be served with food. It trained staff to adhere to rigorous safety standards and converted a small parking lot to supplement the spatial distancing to limited patio seating.

“It’s a game of Tetris,” says cofounder Mat Robar, “always figuring out how to move things around and fit parties in the appropriate spaces.”

They face a similar state of flex with regard to packaging. Now that indoor dining has resumed, Pure Project’s Miramar tasting room has also resumed service. With three taprooms open, the brewery needs more beer in kegs, and less in cans. “It’s been a task to try and guess which percentages go into which formats,” says Robar.

Despite the relative turmoil, the steadily growing business has managed to stay on course in 2020. Between government assistance and the continued support of loyal fans, Pure Project looks to finish the year strong, and has even stayed with its mission to support environmental stewardship. In August, it partnered with the National Forest Foundation in its reforestation efforts, which seeks to replenish forests lost to wildfires, for example. The beer company has committed to planting 10,000 trees this year, with a goal to plant 150,000 by 2030.

Meanwhile, the new Carlsbad location will serve as a barrel aging facility to expand Pure Project’s sour ale production. This will be bolstered by the imminent installation of a 15-barrel wine cask being shipped form Italy’s Barolo wine region.

Robar says other long term plans may move forward, likely at a slower pace. Though, who knows what 2021 may bring? “Everything’s changed so quickly,” he says, “We have no idea what it’s going to look like in a month.

The latest copy of the Reader

Please enjoy this clickable Reader flipbook. Linked text and ads are flash-highlighted in blue for your convenience. To enhance your viewing, please open full screen mode by clicking the icon on the far right of the black flipbook toolbar.

Here's something you might be interested in.
Submit a free classified
or view all
Previous article

Happy accidents on the Bob Ross soundtrack

Jason Lee and Dave Klein craft new sounds for a classic show
Next Article

Jacobs Music Center Grand Opening

The concert did what it was designed to do
Pure Project's new taproom and patio, next to the Carlsbad Village train station
Pure Project's new taproom and patio, next to the Carlsbad Village train station

“Times are moving fast right now and we are adapting,” read the email from Pure Project. The Miramar-based brewery had originally reached out to let me know it would begin serving beers at its new satellite location, set in one of North County’s most desirable commercial districts: Carlsbad Village.

Place

Pure Project Carlsbad

2825 State St., Carlsbad

Except, that had been late June, and by July 3, the governor was shutting things down again. Instead of pouring beers, the email informed me, Pure Project Carlsbad would open for take-out beers only.

Sudden changes have been par for the course, not only for Pure Project, but for all San Diego breweries, which have had to plan repeatedly for one contingency, only to see changing county restrictions mandate another.

Sponsored
Sponsored

Having made it through the costly permitting process required by the city of Carlsbad, Pure Project had originally planned on a spring opening for its stylish indoor-outdoor beer space, which sits on the short block between State Street and the Carlsbad Village train station. When it finally started to serve beer outside later in July, nearly two years had elapsed since it first signed the lease.

Normally a very organized business, prone to patient and detailed planning, Pure Project has been tested by a pandemic forcing it to improvise. When the pandemic first hit, the brewery initially doubled its canning output to account for the lost retail and distribution. It started shipping directly to consumers throughout California and Nevada. It signed a short-term lease to set up a beer garden in an empty lot across the street from its Bankers Hill location, used seasonally to sell Christmas Trees.

To get Carlsbad open, the brewery had to quickly team up with a pair of Village restaurants — Señor Grubby’s and El Puerto — to meet the county mandate that beer only be served with food. It trained staff to adhere to rigorous safety standards and converted a small parking lot to supplement the spatial distancing to limited patio seating.

“It’s a game of Tetris,” says cofounder Mat Robar, “always figuring out how to move things around and fit parties in the appropriate spaces.”

They face a similar state of flex with regard to packaging. Now that indoor dining has resumed, Pure Project’s Miramar tasting room has also resumed service. With three taprooms open, the brewery needs more beer in kegs, and less in cans. “It’s been a task to try and guess which percentages go into which formats,” says Robar.

Despite the relative turmoil, the steadily growing business has managed to stay on course in 2020. Between government assistance and the continued support of loyal fans, Pure Project looks to finish the year strong, and has even stayed with its mission to support environmental stewardship. In August, it partnered with the National Forest Foundation in its reforestation efforts, which seeks to replenish forests lost to wildfires, for example. The beer company has committed to planting 10,000 trees this year, with a goal to plant 150,000 by 2030.

Meanwhile, the new Carlsbad location will serve as a barrel aging facility to expand Pure Project’s sour ale production. This will be bolstered by the imminent installation of a 15-barrel wine cask being shipped form Italy’s Barolo wine region.

Robar says other long term plans may move forward, likely at a slower pace. Though, who knows what 2021 may bring? “Everything’s changed so quickly,” he says, “We have no idea what it’s going to look like in a month.

Comments
Sponsored

The latest copy of the Reader

Please enjoy this clickable Reader flipbook. Linked text and ads are flash-highlighted in blue for your convenience. To enhance your viewing, please open full screen mode by clicking the icon on the far right of the black flipbook toolbar.

Here's something you might be interested in.
Submit a free classified
or view all
Previous article

Our riparian woodland begins to look like fall, Orb Weavers help decorate

Comet of the century?
Next Article

Prime Wheel in Tijuana cracks down on employees after worker disappears

Maquila co-workers turn on man's wife
Comments
Ask a Hipster — Advice you didn't know you needed Big Screen — Movie commentary Blurt — Music's inside track Booze News — San Diego spirits Classical Music — Immortal beauty Classifieds — Free and easy Cover Stories — Front-page features Drinks All Around — Bartenders' drink recipes Excerpts — Literary and spiritual excerpts Feast! — Food & drink reviews Feature Stories — Local news & stories Fishing Report — What’s getting hooked from ship and shore From the Archives — Spotlight on the past Golden Dreams — Talk of the town The Gonzo Report — Making the musical scene, or at least reporting from it Letters — Our inbox Movies@Home — Local movie buffs share favorites Movie Reviews — Our critics' picks and pans Musician Interviews — Up close with local artists Neighborhood News from Stringers — Hyperlocal news News Ticker — News & politics Obermeyer — San Diego politics illustrated Outdoors — Weekly changes in flora and fauna Overheard in San Diego — Eavesdropping illustrated Poetry — The old and the new Reader Travel — Travel section built by travelers Reading — The hunt for intellectuals Roam-O-Rama — SoCal's best hiking/biking trails San Diego Beer — Inside San Diego suds SD on the QT — Almost factual news Sheep and Goats — Places of worship Special Issues — The best of Street Style — San Diego streets have style Surf Diego — Real stories from those braving the waves Theater — On stage in San Diego this week Tin Fork — Silver spoon alternative Under the Radar — Matt Potter's undercover work Unforgettable — Long-ago San Diego Unreal Estate — San Diego's priciest pads Your Week — Daily event picks
4S Ranch Allied Gardens Alpine Baja Balboa Park Bankers Hill Barrio Logan Bay Ho Bay Park Black Mountain Ranch Blossom Valley Bonita Bonsall Borrego Springs Boulevard Campo Cardiff-by-the-Sea Carlsbad Carmel Mountain Carmel Valley Chollas View Chula Vista City College City Heights Clairemont College Area Coronado CSU San Marcos Cuyamaca College Del Cerro Del Mar Descanso Downtown San Diego Eastlake East Village El Cajon Emerald Hills Encanto Encinitas Escondido Fallbrook Fletcher Hills Golden Hill Grant Hill Grantville Grossmont College Guatay Harbor Island Hillcrest Imperial Beach Imperial Valley Jacumba Jamacha-Lomita Jamul Julian Kearny Mesa Kensington La Jolla Lakeside La Mesa Lemon Grove Leucadia Liberty Station Lincoln Acres Lincoln Park Linda Vista Little Italy Logan Heights Mesa College Midway District MiraCosta College Miramar Miramar College Mira Mesa Mission Beach Mission Hills Mission Valley Mountain View Mount Hope Mount Laguna National City Nestor Normal Heights North Park Oak Park Ocean Beach Oceanside Old Town Otay Mesa Pacific Beach Pala Palomar College Palomar Mountain Paradise Hills Pauma Valley Pine Valley Point Loma Point Loma Nazarene Potrero Poway Rainbow Ramona Rancho Bernardo Rancho Penasquitos Rancho San Diego Rancho Santa Fe Rolando San Carlos San Marcos San Onofre Santa Ysabel Santee San Ysidro Scripps Ranch SDSU Serra Mesa Shelltown Shelter Island Sherman Heights Skyline Solana Beach Sorrento Valley Southcrest South Park Southwestern College Spring Valley Stockton Talmadge Temecula Tierrasanta Tijuana UCSD University City University Heights USD Valencia Park Valley Center Vista Warner Springs
Close

Anchor ads are not supported on this page.

This Week’s Reader This Week’s Reader