On a recent trip, Poway native and Maui Brewing founder Garrett Marrero learned a sobering fact: the whole beer world is watching him.
In Sligo, Ireland — population: 19,000 humans, 140,000 sheep — he bumped into an Irish brewer. That wasn’t surprising. After all, Marrero seeks out brewers wherever he travels. The brewer’s comments, though, knocked him flat.
“Oh my God,” the Irishman said. “I heard you are buying Modern Times!”
He heard correctly. This October, San Diego’s Modern Times Drinks will become part of Craft Ohana along with Maui Brewing and its distilling arm, Kupu Spirits. While this is a marriage of necessity, Marrero and Jennifer Briggs, Modern Times’ CEO, predict it will be a happy and prosperous union.
Modern Times’ beers “are so well respected in Hawaii and in California,” Marrerro said during a recent visit to San Diego. There may be some layoffs, he acknowledged, but there also will be numerous new job openings. “We would be foolish to close Modern Times, to get rid of the brand and the beer and the people.”
“For the most part,” Briggs said, “everything is working out in what had been a really difficult situation.”
Modern Times had opened a wildly ambitious Anaheim facility — a production brewery, restaurant, swimming pool, gardens and a renovated three-story Craftsman home — months before COVID-19 hit. The financial blow was nearly lethal, and the company could not pay its bills.
After the banks called in Modern Times’ loans, the brewery and its assets — and liabilities — were offered at auction.
“When we learned of this,” Marrero said, “my first reaction was, ‘Goddamn, they have great beer!’”
Marrero insists there’s a shared sensibility, mutual respect and affection between Maui Brewing and Modern Times — “Ohana” is a Hawaiian term for family. Even before Modern Times’ troubles, the two breweries had collaborated on a hazy IPA, pre-pandemic.
Moreover, the new Craft Ohana will enable Maui to brew its beers on the mainland, avoiding skyrocketing shipping costs.
“We were paying $3,000 a container,” Marrero said. “Now it’s $9,000, $10,000, $12,000 a container. It just makes it impossible to ship from Hawaii.”
Maui, which had been distributed in 23 states pre-COVID, was planning to scale back to two or three states. Now, planning to expand and update some Modern Times facilities, Maui is entering 27 states.
It pays to have friends and family — or ohana — on the mainland.
“We’re just stoked,” Marrero said.
Oct. 17, 1810: The first Oktoberfest, a six-day bash celebrating the wedding of Crown Prince Ludwig of Bavaria and Princess Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen ended on this date.
Why bring this up now, in September? I’ll explain.
Sensing the possibilities for beer tourism, Munich quickly transformed Oktoberfest into an annual event. This was such a success, the suds-soaked party was expanded; it now runs 16 to18 days.
Only the final weekend is required to occur in Oktober, enabling revelers to enjoy September’s warmer weather and organizers to still use the original moniker.
Oktoberfest 2022 begins Sept. 17 and runs until Oct. 3.
Now: Eppig’s La Jolla Bierhaus opened last weekend, so you know what that means: It still has that new tap room smell! 1273 Prospect St.
Now through Sept. 9: All Stone Brewing locations are accepting new school supplies, to be donated to underserved local families.
Sept. 10: The 5th annual Reader Burgers & Beer is 1 to 4 p.m. in Golden Hill Park, 2590-2596 Golden Hill Drive, San Diego.
From: OEC Brewing, Oxford, Conn.
Drink or dump: Drink. Summer is a great saison – that’s French for “season,” doncha know – for this light-bodied, spicy ale. Unmalted wheat and rolled oats combine for a biscuity base, while grains of paradise add a peppery touch.
From: Novo Brazil, Chula Vista
Drink or dump: Drink. Pilsners are tough to make – brewers can’t take shortcuts and the flavors have to be bright and clean. I’ve had issues with Novo Brazil’s consistency in the past, so my pint of Chula Pils was a revelation. Crisp, clean, refreshing? Czech, Czech and Czech!
Drink or dump: Drink. Like a pilsner with attitude or a marzen with sharper edges, this lager is smack dab in Eppig’s wheelhaus, as Eppig leans toward classic German styles. Full-bodied and malty, Festbier is ready to party.
Rowe is a freelance writer.
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San Diego Dining and Drinking
New owner plans to double production volume at Stone’s commercial brewing facilities in Escondido and Richmond, Va., over the next 18 months.
Modern Times CEO Jennifer Briggs will remain as Chief Experience Officer of the combined craft breweries.
San Diego craft brewery gives 60-day WARN notice to its 160 workers as it proceeds with court-supervised sale to Maui Brewing. The deal is expected to close in October.
After some twists and turns amid a court-supervised auction sale, Modern Times appears poised to continue operating under new ownership
Affiliate of Anaheim’s Brewery X elects not to go ahead with the acquisition, leaving backup-bidder Maui Brewing next in line to buy San Diego’s Modern Times.
Despite setbacks and economic uncertainty, local brewing companies continue to debut and expand throughout San Diego County.
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