This week, it’s personal. I’m especially excited to tell you about the debut of the Museum of Beer San Diego project, not only because it’s going to be a unique and super-cool addition to downtown, but also because I’m a part of it!
It’s been more than two years in development, and the MoB team is finally ready to tell the world about its plans to build a 12,000-plus square-foot facility in East Village that will house exhibits, a nanobrewery, a tasting room, an artisanal pizza kitchen, and a beer garden, among many other things.
The exhibits will comprise eight major installations, covering everything from the science of beer and how it’s made, to an overview of the beer universe, to the history of San Diego’s craft beer industry. Hands-on features and immersive technology will be a part of every exhibit, and guests will even have the opportunity to create a variety of their own custom-made beer experiences.
Museum of Beer San Diego to Open in East Village
Architect rendering of the Museum of Beer exterior concept
An in-house brewer will work the museum’s 3.5-barrel system, where collaborations with pro brewers and home brewers will come to life on a regular basis. An expansive tasting room will feature 65 taps of exclusively San Diego-brewed beer, along with an unparalleled bottle list of rare and limited-release beers. A special “Barrel-Aged Experience” will also be a component of the space.
The Museum of Beer was co-founded by Anthony & Molly Ridenhour and Mike & Christine Kociela, who are longtime friends and co-workers. Combined, they have decades of experience in the fields of museum construction and administration, venue management, promotions, and entertainment production. As the museum’s Curator of Craft, I will help to oversee the creation of exhibit content and will curate all the sensory and tasting aspects that the MoB will offer to its visitors.
So far, the museum’s list of official community partners includes The San Diego Brewers Guild, The San Diego Tourism Authority, The East Village Association, 91X, and West Coaster Magazine. Numerous other organizations will soon sign on as well. The real beauty of the project, according to co-founders Ridenhour and Kociela, is that MoB “will be a tremendous community asset for the brewing industry as well as the city.” San Diego Mayor Kevin L. Faulconer agrees. “San Diego is home to many of the world’s finest craft breweries and the Museum of Beer will be the place to tap into all that our region’s beer scene has to offer,” Mayor Faulconer said. “It’s been a long time coming and I hope all beer lovers will visit the museum for a taste and experience of what’s brewing right here in America’s Finest City.”
Museum of Beer San Diego to Open in East Village
Museum of Beer will have an expansive tasting room that serves exclusively San Diego beer
The Museum is working on completing its first round of fundraising, and part of that strategy includes a just-launched Indiegogo campaign that allows everyone in the community to take part in making the project a reality.
Museum of Beer is slated to open Spring/Summer 2020. For more information (and to check out the fundraising campaign) visit museumofbeer.com.
Museum of Beer San Diego to Open in East Village
Museum of Beer will celebrate San Diego and be California’s first immersive hands-on beer experience
