New Tipples in SoCal
Spirits are in abundance in Oceanside, California, this harvest season — but not the scary kind. This coastal town is quickly becoming a hotbed for local entrepreneurs producing everything from wine to craft beer to mead: a beverage once enjoyed by kings.
Legacy Brewing Company (363 Airport Road, Oceanside): Opened October 20, 2013, Legacy Brewing Company features a tasting room and brewery at the gateway to Oceanside’s surfer’s alley. The 1,000 foot tasting room will include a 37-foot concrete bar and two eight-foot long picnic-style tables. Head Brew Master and Co-Owner Mark Mericle is an award-winning industry veteran who co-founded Heritage Brewing Company in California’s Orange County in the early 90s. The tasting room is expected to offer up to eight beers a day, including Mark’s Founding Father’s Nut Brown Ale, and will be open from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily.
Beach House Winery (1534 Sleeping Indian Road, Oceanside): Tucked away on the ridgeline of the “Sleeping Indian” in the South Morro Hills section of Oceanside, visitors will find the Beach House Winery. The first vineyard/winery established in Oceanside, the winery features a wide selection of wines including merlot, viognier, petite sirah, chardonnay, rosé and cabernet sauvignon. Family owned and operated, owners George and Kim Murray have earned gold, silver and bronze awards for several of their wines and recently were awarded “Best of California’s North Coast” appellation, as well as a gold medal for its 2010 Melange and silver medals for its 2011 Viognier and 2010 Petite Sirah at the California-wide 2nd Annual 2013 San Diego County Fair commercial wine competition. Visitors are welcome by appointment and tours are available by request.
Golden Coast’s Oceanside Meadery Pier: Among the unique products produced in Oceanside is Golden Coast’s Mead. An age-old beverage that dates back to Ancient Greece but was virtually unknown to consumers even 20 years ago, mead is a brew made from honey. Founders Frank Golbeck and Praveen Ramineni have made it their mission to reintroduce the ancient brew to Southern California’s beverage scene. And, while you can’t visit the Meadery for tastings, a number of local markets and restaurants now carry the mead including Whole Foods, Pizza Port and Primo Foods.
More Still To Come…
In 2014, Bagby Brew Company is expected to open on Coast Highway and will feature a world-class brewery, tasting room and restaurant. Other great watering holes in Oceanside include Oceanside Ale Works, Breakwater Brewing Company and Stone Company Store Oceanside.
Oceanside is located along the Southern California coastline between metropolitan San Diego and Los Angeles.
(Photo courtesy of Legacy Brewing Company)