Being a native San Diegan, I have a soft spot for the Filippiβs Pizza Grotto chain. Just before writing this piece, I actually chowed down on a marinara-soaked meatball sub from that institutionβs Scripps Ranch location. It seemed appropriate fuel for an article about entrepreneurs converting a former Filippiβs to a brewpub. Gary Gorton, CEO of Renoβs Pub & Grub, is negotiating a lease on the site of the former "grotto" at Jamul Village Center with plans for it to house their Jamul Town Brewery & Tap concept.
Scheduled to debut in June, itβs an operation thatβs been a long time coming for Gary and his wife, Julie, who trademarked the name Jamul Brewery in 1996 and incorporated in 1999. Since then, the couple has operated two start-up companies in completely different industries, but the call of craft beer is strong and has them focused on bringing Jamul its first place to taste beers produced on-site (Cold Bore Brewing Company has been in operation for several years, but does not have a public tasting space).
Playing a key role in this endeavor will be John DeGrazia, an experienced homebrewer and certified beer judge with beer industry experience amassed at AleSmith and as a member of the organizing committee for the San Diego Festival of Beers. DeGrazia will be in charge of a five-barrel brewhouse manufactured in Brazil. Jamul Town Brewery & Tap will be that companyβs first US client. Originally, the Gortons had planned on purchasing the eight-barrel system from Rock Bottomβs downtown San Diego brewpub, but it wasnβt a good fit for the former Filippiβs space.
Since things are far from concrete at this point, the team isnβt ready to share the beers they intend to make, though they have disclosed that they hope to make everything from a refreshing kΓΆlsch-style beer to a malty red and double IPA. They also hope to play off the fact that Jamul is such a major agricultural community and make beers utilizing locally grown ingredients including hops and grain they intend to help get seeded in local soil.
Jamul Town Brewery & Tap is actually planned as the first link in an eventual chain that will see other communitiesβ names plugged in before βTown Brewery & Tap.β
Being a native San Diegan, I have a soft spot for the Filippiβs Pizza Grotto chain. Just before writing this piece, I actually chowed down on a marinara-soaked meatball sub from that institutionβs Scripps Ranch location. It seemed appropriate fuel for an article about entrepreneurs converting a former Filippiβs to a brewpub. Gary Gorton, CEO of Renoβs Pub & Grub, is negotiating a lease on the site of the former "grotto" at Jamul Village Center with plans for it to house their Jamul Town Brewery & Tap concept.
Scheduled to debut in June, itβs an operation thatβs been a long time coming for Gary and his wife, Julie, who trademarked the name Jamul Brewery in 1996 and incorporated in 1999. Since then, the couple has operated two start-up companies in completely different industries, but the call of craft beer is strong and has them focused on bringing Jamul its first place to taste beers produced on-site (Cold Bore Brewing Company has been in operation for several years, but does not have a public tasting space).
Playing a key role in this endeavor will be John DeGrazia, an experienced homebrewer and certified beer judge with beer industry experience amassed at AleSmith and as a member of the organizing committee for the San Diego Festival of Beers. DeGrazia will be in charge of a five-barrel brewhouse manufactured in Brazil. Jamul Town Brewery & Tap will be that companyβs first US client. Originally, the Gortons had planned on purchasing the eight-barrel system from Rock Bottomβs downtown San Diego brewpub, but it wasnβt a good fit for the former Filippiβs space.
Since things are far from concrete at this point, the team isnβt ready to share the beers they intend to make, though they have disclosed that they hope to make everything from a refreshing kΓΆlsch-style beer to a malty red and double IPA. They also hope to play off the fact that Jamul is such a major agricultural community and make beers utilizing locally grown ingredients including hops and grain they intend to help get seeded in local soil.
Jamul Town Brewery & Tap is actually planned as the first link in an eventual chain that will see other communitiesβ names plugged in before βTown Brewery & Tap.β
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