New Business Hopes to Brew Up Some Fun

San Juan Capistrano may becoming known as a must-stop place for wine aficionados, but one business setting up shop right now hopes to draw in the beer lovers as well.

The BrewHouse is looking for an October or November opening – after final permitting from the city and the state Department of Alcohol and Beverage Control. It’s opening in the Capistrano Center, 31896 Plaza Drive in Unit D3.

It’s headed – ha! – by Ron Bland of the OC Beer Society and business partner Andrew Reed.

“While I have enjoyed craft beer for a number of years now, Ron is the one who brings the deep beer knowledge to our venture,” Reed said. “Ron embarked on a career in beer a number of years ago and achieved success as a commercial brewer.

“Ron has a terrific base of knowledge about beer in general and his appreciation of European beer styles is a good complement to my palate, which leans toward the hoppier styles that are prevalent on the West Coast,” Reed said.

Reed said he was originally a bigger fan of wine, but found being a vintner to be a cost-prohibitive hobby.  

“I realized that a bottle of craft beer can embody as much passion and creativity as a winemaker might put into a bottle of wine and can also deliver a complexity or flavors that cannot be found in mass-produced beers,” Reed said.

A recent layoff from a software company prompted the midcareer switch, he added.

The pair chose San Juan Capistrano as the place to be because of its central location to South Orange County as well as their appreciation for the hundreds-year history of the town, Reed said.

“We expect to be a destination location for craft beer lovers, as well as for those looking just beginning to explore the world of craft beer,” he said. “Awareness will come through social media channels, our own personal networks, as well as pre-opening events such as the recent OC Brew Ha Ha.”

Locals will also get the chance to sample the suds at The Vintage Food & Wine Festival on Oct. 5, hosted by the San Juan Capistrano Chamber of Commerce.

“We will be pouring a couple of different beers for attendees,” Reed said.