{"id":477908,"date":"2025-12-29T15:29:26","date_gmt":"2025-12-29T15:29:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/477908\/"},"modified":"2025-12-29T15:29:26","modified_gmt":"2025-12-29T15:29:26","slug":"2025s-top-news-stories-11-20","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/477908\/","title":{"rendered":"2025\u2019s top news stories: 11-20"},"content":{"rendered":"

As we work our way through the last, fleeting moments of 2025, rocketing toward a brand-new 365-day span, we\u2019re pausing to look back on the year that was. It\u2019s a San Diego Beer News<\/strong><\/a> tradition to reveal the 25 news stories that garnered the most engagement among our readership (not including standard fare about events and beer competitions results or features such as our travel guides, Beer of the Week pieces and brewery-staff spotlights). But there was so much going on in the local brewing community over the past 12 months, that we decided to take things further, presenting the top 50 articles. The following are numbers 11 through 20.<\/p>\n

20. <\/strong>Resident Brewing\u2019s tenancy coming to an end<\/strong><\/a>
January 3, 2025<\/p>\n

\"ResidentPhoto: Resident Brewing<\/p>\n

In 2016, a hospitality mogul tapped his brother-in-law, an award-winning homebrewer who had collaborated with the likes of Stone Brewing<\/strong><\/a>, to head beer-making at a brewery installed inside longtime downtown watering hole The Local<\/strong>. Going by the name Resident Brewing<\/strong>, that business was a hit, wowing early on with its New England-style IPAs as that trend erupted on the West Coast, collaborating with San Diego Padres <\/strong>hurler Joe Musgrove<\/strong> on a double IPA called No-No Joe, and eventually bringing its beers to the South Bay with a downtown Chula Vista taproom at the former home of Third Avenue Alehouse<\/strong>. But despite name-recognition and a solid reputation, hardships that have plagued American craft breweries over the past half-decade took their toll, forcing an unceremonious end for the respected local brand.<\/p>\n

19. <\/strong>North Park beer op headed to Esconddo<\/strong><\/a>
October 10, 2025<\/p>\n

\"BarleyPhoto: Barley & Sword Brewing<\/p>\n

For eight years, Jacked Up Brewery<\/strong> was a North County hub for hometown beer and live entertainment. When that Escondido business shuttered last November, it left a hole that two-year-old North Park beer concern Barley & Sword Brewing<\/strong><\/a> is hoping to fill, while significantly expanding its production capabilities. Founded in 2023 in one of three lease-to-brew suites at H.G. Fenton<\/strong>\u2019s CRAFT by Brewery Igniter <\/strong>facility, Barley & Sword separates itself from the majority of San Diego\u2019s other beer companies by producing traditional Old World styles hailing from the U.K., Ireland, Belgium and Germany versus multiple IPAs and adjunct lagers. While unorthodox, that approach has worked well for owner and U.S. Navy vet Michael Howell<\/strong>, who hopes his historically accurate beers will be just as warmly received up north.<\/p>\n

18. <\/strong>Beer Briefs: Brewer relo, wet-hop wins and an ABC suspension<\/strong><\/a>
October 21, 2025<\/p>\n

\"DannyPhoto: Matt Furman, Furman Photography<\/p>\n

A late-October roundup of industry news told of veteran brewer Danny Garcia<\/strong> (Societe Brewing<\/strong><\/a>, Northern Pine Brewing<\/strong>, Black Plague Brewing<\/strong>, Culver Beer Co.<\/strong>) getting hired as lead brewer for San Clemente-based Artifex Brewing<\/strong>, as part of a personnel shift following founding brewer Johnny Johur<\/strong>\u2019s recent move to Switzerland. Also included was info on TapRoom Beer Co.<\/strong> and Burgeon Beer Co.<\/strong><\/a> medaling in the fresh-hop round of Oregon\u2019s Best of Craft Beer Awards<\/strong>, and notice of the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control<\/strong> issuing a 45-day suspension to Chula Vista Brewery<\/strong> for its Third Avenue location.<\/p>\n

17. <\/strong>Brewer lands turnkey HQ for tropical beer biz<\/strong><\/a>
January 21, 2025<\/p>\n

\"MichiPhoto: Michi Brew Co.<\/p>\n

Even as he worked at other breweries, brewer Cody Gagnon <\/strong>(Carlsbad Brewing<\/strong>,WestBrew<\/strong>,Pizza Port<\/strong>) dreamt of \u2013 and worked toward \u2013 opening his own business. He just needed to find the right place. Even in a county suddenly awash with vacant brewery spaces, that proved difficult. But when he toured the former home of Double Peak Brewing<\/strong> in San Marcos, he knew he\u2019d found the forever home for his passion project, Michi Brew Co.<\/strong><\/a> Flush with Hawaiian-isle appeal and iconography, as well as a wide-ranging array of beers named for famous bodies of water the world over, Michi has found a fast following among North County residents and hikers taking on the trail the spot\u2019s previous tenant was named for.<\/p>\n

16. <\/strong>Thorn Brewing moving out of Barrio Logan HQ<\/strong><\/a>
January 24, 2025<\/p>\n

\"ThornPhoto: Thorn Brewing<\/p>\n

In 2017, Thorn Street Brewery <\/strong>took a big step forward, going from a small neighborhood brewery in North Park by opening a spinoff brand called Thorn Brewing<\/strong>, which was built around a high-volume distribution model. In doing so, the company constructed a 10,500-square-foot production facility in Barrio Logan. By 2024, with beer sales down and the beverage market more challenging than ever, ownership sold Thorn Brewing\u2019s brand rights to Latitude Brewing<\/strong>. With that entity having Thorn\u2019s beers contract-brewed, there was no need for the Barrio Logan brewery, prompting ownership to move out and revert to its original, much smaller setup in North Park.<\/p>\n

15. <\/strong>Burning Beard signs lease on new HQ<\/strong><\/a>
July 21, 2025<\/p>\n

\"BurningImage: Burning Beard Brewing<\/p>\n

In 2023, the owners of El Cajon\u2019s Burning Beard Brewing<\/strong> were notified by their landlord that he had plans for their base of operations, prompting them to search for a suitable site where they could relocate. It took nearly two years, but over the summer they found a 10,500-square-foot building just a mile north of their current brewery, which would not only allow them to keep their nine-year-old business going but increase their production capabilities and host even larger versions of the live-music and other assorted events they have become so well known for. Since making the announcement, Burning Beard\u2019s owners have been working to clear several licensing hurdles, but still hope to complete their relocation next year.<\/p>\n

14. <\/strong>Detailing the modern incarnation of Modern Times<\/strong><\/a>
July 8, 2025<\/p>\n

\"ModernModern Times\u2019 Far West Lounge in Encinitas (Image: Modern Times)<\/p>\n

So much has happened since Modern Times Beer<\/strong> went from a juggernaut beverage brand hellbent on West Coast domination to a wounded bird, caught overextended and decimated by COVID (and further bloodied by harassment claims, prompting an exit by the company\u2019s founding CEO), and sent plummeting to earth. Locations closed, a court-ordered receivership was ordered, a new owner took over then divested in the company, leaving it to its current stewards, which have split responsibility for the company into three revenue streams: beer, coffee and hospitality venues. Confused yet? So was everybody else, prompting this piece explaining the current state of affairs with the 12-year-old business.<\/p>\n

13. <\/strong>What Villains Brewing aims to bring to San Diego<\/strong><\/a>
May 27, 2025<\/p>\n

\"VillainsPhoto: Villains Brewing<\/p>\n

Last April, the brother-and-sister owners of ten-year-old East Village brewpub Half Door Brewing<\/strong> announced that they were moving out after selling the business to Villains Brewing<\/strong>. That two-year-old concern was a mystery to most, but a check of their flagship location in Anaheim \u2013 the 33,000-square-foot former site of Modern Times Beer\u2019s \u201cLeisuretown\u201d \u2013 turned up a historic two-story house Villains had outfitted into a bar and restaurant with a haunted-mansion theme. That venue is remarkably similar to the historic two-story house Half Door had occupied, allowing its new occupants the ability to replicate that design in San Diego.<\/p>\n

12. <\/strong>Bolt Brewery is going to the dogs<\/strong><\/a>
March 10, 2025<\/p>\n

\"CameronCameron Valentine (Photo: Simon Lee Harmon)<\/p>\n

After 10 years\u00a0 running a La Mesa brewery feeding beers to restaurants in San Diego\u2019s Little Italy and Old Town neighborhoods, the owners of Bolt Brewery <\/strong>decided to call it quits on the fermentation front and focus on their eateries. After putting their 5,000-square-foot production headquarters (which included an expansive multi-level patio) on the market, numerous breweries showed interest, but were turned away. Then came news that a young entrepreneur with zero brewing experience (who planned to serve as head brewer) was in escrow on the location with plans to install a dog-friendly business offering house beers, coffee, and food menus for humans and canines alike. That concept went by the name Breeds & Brew<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

11. <\/strong><\/a>Good Pressure Brewing\u2019s debut just days away<\/strong><\/a><\/strong>
November 25, 2025<\/p>\n

\"Good<\/p>\n

Days ahead of the soft-opening of their new brewery, Good Pressure Brewing<\/a><\/strong>, married founders Erik and Shannon Fowler<\/strong> gave readers an idea of what they could expect from their come-one-come-all Allied Garden business. That included a taproom designed to be as inviting to families with children as it would be to couples on dates, singles, the post-work happy-hour crowd and adventurers looking to toast successful hikes at nearby Mission Trails Park<\/strong>. They also previewed a line of straightforward beverages \u2013 IPAs, lagers, a coffee stout and duo of hard seltzers \u2013 while teasing that they would be producing ciders and wines down the line.<\/p>\n

Click here to see which of this year\u2019s news stories ranked 21 through 30<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"As we work our way through the last, fleeting moments of 2025, rocketing toward a brand-new 365-day span,…\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":477909,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5134],"tags":[5229,20680,216495,51249,5800,216496,92384,7738,216497,184922,137963,169189,137964,22127,167868,134902,167195,215344,1582,276,8737,216498,16214,167869,4415,216499,216500,216501,8315,21030,10087,216502,216503,216504,43018,10506,216505,42026,193210,187373,635,20881,212395,18010,43184,37543,8037,137973,187374,119440,3549,48789,7264,35389,191653,128247,134903,125186,212401,196418,67,586,132,5230,68,2969,216506],"class_list":{"0":"post-477908","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-san-diego","8":"tag-america","9":"tag-anaheim","10":"tag-artifex-brewing","11":"tag-award-winning","12":"tag-awards","13":"tag-barley-sword-brewing","14":"tag-barrio-logan","15":"tag-beer","16":"tag-beer-briefs","17":"tag-black-plague-brewing","18":"tag-bolt-brewery","19":"tag-bottlecraft","20":"tag-breeds-brew","21":"tag-brewery","22":"tag-brewery-igniter","23":"tag-brewpub","24":"tag-burgeon-beer","25":"tag-burning-beard-brewing","26":"tag-ca","27":"tag-california","28":"tag-carlsbad","29":"tag-carlsbad-brewing","30":"tag-chula-vista","31":"tag-chula-vista-brewery","32":"tag-closure","33":"tag-cltvt","34":"tag-culver-beer","35":"tag-double-peak-brewing","36":"tag-downtown-san-diego","37":"tag-el-cajon","38":"tag-escondido","39":"tag-h-g-fenton","40":"tag-half-door-brewing","41":"tag-jacked-up-brewery","42":"tag-joe-musgrove","43":"tag-la-mesa","44":"tag-latitude-brewing","45":"tag-little-italy","46":"tag-michi-brew","47":"tag-modern-times","48":"tag-new","49":"tag-north-park","50":"tag-northern-pine-brewing","51":"tag-oceanside","52":"tag-old-town","53":"tag-opening","54":"tag-padres","55":"tag-pizza-port","56":"tag-resident-brewing","57":"tag-san-clemente","58":"tag-san-diego","59":"tag-san-marcos","60":"tag-sandiego","61":"tag-shoots","62":"tag-societe-brewing","63":"tag-stone-brewing","64":"tag-taproom-beer","65":"tag-tasting-room","66":"tag-thorn-brewing","67":"tag-thorn-street-brewery","68":"tag-united-states","69":"tag-united-states-of-america","70":"tag-unitedstates","71":"tag-unitedstatesofamerica","72":"tag-us","73":"tag-usa","74":"tag-villains-brewing"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"","error":"Validation failed: Text character limit of 500 exceeded"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/477908","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=477908"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/477908\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/477909"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=477908"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=477908"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=477908"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}