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

Intergalactic Brewing invading Miramar

New nanobrewery set to blast off this spring

Place

Intergalactic Brewing Company

9715 Carroll Centre Road #107, San Diego

When Arizona State collegian Alex Van Horne was discovering craft beer at Tempe’s Four Peaks Brewery, he had no idea of the prevalence of artisanal suds and the companies that produce them back home in San Diego. It wasn’t until he graduated and moved back that he made the realization. That came courtesy of a workplace colleague who took him under his wing and around town to tasting rooms at spots like Ballast Point Brewing & Spirits and AleSmith.

Sponsored
Sponsored

It wasn’t long before that duo’s thirst for beer evolved to the desire to make their own. One visit to Home Brew Mart later, they were off and running with a homebrew experiment. According to Van Horne, it took only a few months for that budding hobby to “metabolize” to an “infection.” He switched from extract to all-grain brewing, bought a kegorator, joined local homebrew club QUAFF (Quality Ale Fermentation Fraternity), and proceeded to spend the next two years brewing every other week.

In the midst of all that homebrewing, Van Horne spent his days working for an independent coffee shop he’d helped open and grow. Doing so helped him to get a feel for the costs and various requirements associated with starting a business. A visit to Miramar’s Hess Brewing Company, gave him his first exposure to the nanobrewery model and got him thinking about going into business for himself.

Van Horne spent the next year working on his recipes, visiting tasting rooms across California to research best practices, and volunteering at another Miramar nanobrewery, Wet ‘N Reckless Brewing where he picked owner Dave Hyndman’s brain about how much it cost to get his operation up and running. To his surprise, it was much more affordable than it had been for his employers to open their coffee bar. Another bonus—it required fewer permits and time spent acquiring them.

As expected, the process was rather easy, especially with numerous supportive members of the San Diego craft brewing community willing to lend advice. The hardest part was securing a space. Van Horne spent six months putting in offers, many of which were rejected by individuals stating they preferred “a normal business” to a brewery. It wasn’t until an article about Van Horne’s upcoming business appeared in the Reader last August, that he got his first break. A real estate agent read the piece and contacted Van Horne. Within a month, he had his current North County Inland business park suite (9835 Carroll Centre Road, #108, Miramar)*

Van Horne aims to soft open his Intergalactic Brewing Company in April before holding a grand opening on Saturday, May 4. He is currently at work brewing up plenty of beer for that event and beyond. Once open, all of his core beers should be on-tap. Those include a West Coast India pale ale called Andromeda IPA, a lower-ABV extra pale ale called Subspace Session, the coffee-esque Orion’s Oatmeal Stout, and an homage to Four Peaks’ Kilt Lifter Scottish-style ale called Astro Scottish Ale.

Once open, Van Horne plans to brew three batches a day, three times per week. If he can get to a total production between 120 and 150 barrels in year one, he’ll be happy. Beers will go for $4 to $5 per pint and growler fills (32- and 64-ounce sizes) will start at $12. Intergalactic Brewing Company will be open from 3 to 8 p.m., Wednesday through Thursday, 3 to 9 p.m. on Fridays, and noon to 6 p.m. on Saturdays. And on Sundays, he’ll rest.

In the future he hopes to share the love with homebrewers by holding monthly contests where winning amateur brewers get to brew their recipes with Van Horne and serve up their beer in his tasting room one special night. The beer has yet to hit the taps, but that’s an idea that’s certainly out of this world.

The latest copy of the Reader

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

Gonzo Report: Hockey Dad brings UCSD vets and Australians to the Quartyard

Bending the stage barriers in East Village
Place

Intergalactic Brewing Company

9715 Carroll Centre Road #107, San Diego

When Arizona State collegian Alex Van Horne was discovering craft beer at Tempe’s Four Peaks Brewery, he had no idea of the prevalence of artisanal suds and the companies that produce them back home in San Diego. It wasn’t until he graduated and moved back that he made the realization. That came courtesy of a workplace colleague who took him under his wing and around town to tasting rooms at spots like Ballast Point Brewing & Spirits and AleSmith.

Sponsored
Sponsored

It wasn’t long before that duo’s thirst for beer evolved to the desire to make their own. One visit to Home Brew Mart later, they were off and running with a homebrew experiment. According to Van Horne, it took only a few months for that budding hobby to “metabolize” to an “infection.” He switched from extract to all-grain brewing, bought a kegorator, joined local homebrew club QUAFF (Quality Ale Fermentation Fraternity), and proceeded to spend the next two years brewing every other week.

In the midst of all that homebrewing, Van Horne spent his days working for an independent coffee shop he’d helped open and grow. Doing so helped him to get a feel for the costs and various requirements associated with starting a business. A visit to Miramar’s Hess Brewing Company, gave him his first exposure to the nanobrewery model and got him thinking about going into business for himself.

Van Horne spent the next year working on his recipes, visiting tasting rooms across California to research best practices, and volunteering at another Miramar nanobrewery, Wet ‘N Reckless Brewing where he picked owner Dave Hyndman’s brain about how much it cost to get his operation up and running. To his surprise, it was much more affordable than it had been for his employers to open their coffee bar. Another bonus—it required fewer permits and time spent acquiring them.

As expected, the process was rather easy, especially with numerous supportive members of the San Diego craft brewing community willing to lend advice. The hardest part was securing a space. Van Horne spent six months putting in offers, many of which were rejected by individuals stating they preferred “a normal business” to a brewery. It wasn’t until an article about Van Horne’s upcoming business appeared in the Reader last August, that he got his first break. A real estate agent read the piece and contacted Van Horne. Within a month, he had his current North County Inland business park suite (9835 Carroll Centre Road, #108, Miramar)*

Van Horne aims to soft open his Intergalactic Brewing Company in April before holding a grand opening on Saturday, May 4. He is currently at work brewing up plenty of beer for that event and beyond. Once open, all of his core beers should be on-tap. Those include a West Coast India pale ale called Andromeda IPA, a lower-ABV extra pale ale called Subspace Session, the coffee-esque Orion’s Oatmeal Stout, and an homage to Four Peaks’ Kilt Lifter Scottish-style ale called Astro Scottish Ale.

Once open, Van Horne plans to brew three batches a day, three times per week. If he can get to a total production between 120 and 150 barrels in year one, he’ll be happy. Beers will go for $4 to $5 per pint and growler fills (32- and 64-ounce sizes) will start at $12. Intergalactic Brewing Company will be open from 3 to 8 p.m., Wednesday through Thursday, 3 to 9 p.m. on Fridays, and noon to 6 p.m. on Saturdays. And on Sundays, he’ll rest.

In the future he hopes to share the love with homebrewers by holding monthly contests where winning amateur brewers get to brew their recipes with Van Horne and serve up their beer in his tasting room one special night. The beer has yet to hit the taps, but that’s an idea that’s certainly out of this world.

Comments
Sponsored

The latest copy of the Reader

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

East San Diego County has only one bike lane

So you can get out of town – from Santee to Tierrasanta
Next Article

San Diego beaches not that nice to dogs

Bacteria and seawater itself not that great
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