SPOTLIGHT El Cajon Brewing Company
Poised to Open New brewpub set to revitalize community By Matt Steiger
Now, owners and brothers Stephan and David Meadows are finally putting the finish- ing touches on the interior, wiring the speakers, and firing up the brew house. With Stephen handling the business side of things and David brewing, the pub promises to be an exciting addition to Downtown El Cajon. The restaurant houses a bar and sit-down area, plus there’s an outdoor patio, and event room. The open kitchen will pump out pizza, burgers, and sandwiches on homemade bread, as well as delectable fried foods in house-ale batter, while the back kitchen features a smoker for meats and fish.
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s this issue of the West Coaster goes to print, El Cajon Brewing Company (ECBC) is on the cusp of opening its doors. The anticipated East County brewpub has been trying to open for some time, but has faced several delays.
ECBC’s equipment is ready to rock ‘n’ roll!
The long marble bar boasts 40 taps, 15 of which will feature ECBC’s beers. The Meadows are planning seven or eight year-round beers and a rotation of seasonal/spe- cial brews. The brewery in the back of the restaurant has four 15-barrel fermenters, and at first they’ll sell primarily out of the pub, and (hopefully) distribute kegs and maybe bottles in the future. ECBC already brewed an American pale ale, a Belgian golden ale, and a dry stout, all weighing in under 5% ABV. An advanced taste of the pale ale proved crisp and re- freshing with a bitter start and clean finish. This beer has bite. “Yeah, but it’s all about balance. San Diego has become known for its hoppy beers, but I’m more traditional. I like balance and I like variety,” David said of his brewing philosophy. David earned a degree in food and brewing in Sweden, where he lived for 33 years. He also helped found Sigtuna Brygghus, an acclaimed Swedish craft brewery. “Sweden had its own beers, but at some point the Germans came in and took it over. Now everything is German influenced, lots of lagers,” he said of the Swedish tradi- tion of beers.
David is planning on mixing in a few special Swedish brews at the East County brewpub. “It’s all about juniper there. They smoke their fish with it and use it in their beers. I’m going to brew a Gotlandsdricke [similar to a Sahti]. It’s a traditional Swedish beer where they use juniper branches as a filter in the mash tun. I also want to smoke my own malts in-house. I have an old recipe: single smoked malt and single hops. It comes out tasting like a nice smoky scotch. It’s like sipping Lagavulin.” City planners are hoping El Cajon Brewing Com- pany will help revitalize the Downtown area. A new brewpub with a tempting menu is just what the econo- mist ordered.
Stay tuned to the West
Coaster website and social media, as we will post when the doors open.
Stephan (right) and David Meadows (center) try out some Firestone Walker beer with sales rep Dave Kachorek
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