Hopnonymous brewing

Hopnonymous making a name for itself

“Our production capacity is extremely small compared to the average,” says Remy Zurita, founder of Hopnonymous. “But we turned our small size from being an inconvenience to an actual real advantage. In fact, being able to come up with a new beer [at least] every Friday keeps the whole team happy. By team, I mean on one side, the customers that love to discover new flavor profiles consistently, and on the other side, it keeps our beertenders on their toes, as it is always a different week at Hop. And finally, the energy of the brewing team that loves experimenting and creating.”

The self-imposed challenge has led to a tap list that runs the gamut of beer styles. Zurita continues, “We want to have at least one beer on tap that will for sure please every single palate that comes in, from European lagers, to dark ales like Irish reds or English brown, to crisp Belgian ales, to every style of IPA you could think of, to fruited kettle sours, and even hard seltzers. We also have various gluten-reduced options. We really mean to change the minds of people who say, ‘I don’t really like beer.’”

All that change and variety doesn’t mean there aren’t returning favorites to be found at Hopnonymous. There’s the popular Slammin’ San Diego, a hazy IPA brewed with Strata and Enigma hops, or the upcoming second edition of Rad Santa, a 10% ABV bourbon-barrel-aged winter ale. Oh, and Hopnonymous still brews the house beer for Buono Forchetta, “On top of being our friends, they were the very first to believe in the company,” says Zurita, “so it is an honor to still be brewing Buona Forchetta beer. They are an inspiration to us; they are a family owned and operated company that really is getting big, and we are very proud to be a part of that”

Hopnonymous’s dedication to creativity extends beyond its tap list. Zurita notes that “we always have our wall filled up with artwork by local artists — for decor and also for sale. Twice a year, we do an event called Hop Con that is dedicated to promoting all the talents in the community — local artists and athletes. For example, for the skateboarding lifestyle, we were honored to have Steve Caballero in the house displaying his artwork.”

On November 19, Hopnonymous will host the ZANDER6COMIX Tour, a community-based event featuring comic book artists, writers, and creators, as well as voice actors from Disney/Pixar including Mary Gibbs, the voice of Boo from Monsters, Inc. Zander Martinez of ZANDER6COMIX explains, “We’re taking the best parts of San Diego, which are Comic-Con and street fairs, and trying to bring those two things into one.”

Hopnonymous will host a similar artists’ market at its fourth anniversary party on December 16, which will also feature special beer releases, music, food trucks, and “special guests.” Zurita expects that the brewery’s currently-under-construction front patio, which will make the brewery more welcoming and comfortable, will be ready in time for the annual event.