San Diego's decade-old Rip Current Brewing has sold its brewery to a lesser-known North County craft beer and taco outlet and will soon close its San Marcos brewhouse and North Park tasting room.
Founded by longtime home brewers Paul Sangster and Guy Shobe in San Diego's San Marcos neighborhood in 2012, Rip Current Brewing went on to open a 4,000 square-foot brewpub and restaurant in San Diego's North Park, which debuted in early 2015. In 2015, Rip Current was named Very Small Brewery of the Year at the prestigious Great American Beer Festival. Today, the company announced it would be closing both locations later this month, with their San Marcos headquarters being sold to Oceanside-based, three-year-old Craft Coast Beer & Tacos.
"We are sorry to post that we are selling Rip Current Brewing and will be closing both locations during December," read a post announcing the closure on Rip Current's social media channels. "The last few years dealing with COVID and the aftermath have been too financially challenging for us to continue. However, I'm pleased to say that another great brewery will be filling our space in San Marcos ... Craft Coast (from Oceanside)! They make tasty award-winning beer, so I'm sure you will enjoy their new location when it re-opens after some updates."
After looking to sell the space for the past few years, Rip Current Brewing's San Marcos location, sited at 1325 Grand Avenue #100, will be closing on Friday, December 15. Upon its closure, Craft Coast Beer & Tacos will take over Rip Current's 6,700-square-foot North County brewery and tasting room. The Rip Current North Park location at 4101 30th Street will stay open until December 30.
"After 11 years, we will be closing our San Marcos location," continued the announcement. "It's hard to sum up how appreciative we are to the many of you who came through our doors regularly and let us enter a small part of your life. We heard many great stories, shared some amazing beers and enjoyed getting to know so many of you. Thank you so much for your support over the years!"
Rip Current's impending closure marks the third relatively large San Diego craft brewery to shutter in the past month. We announced earlier this week that Wild Barrel Brewing would be shuttering its two locations after end of business on Sunday, December 10. In November, Second Chance Beer Company shuttered its two outposts after eight years in business. Other area breweries that have closed in the past year include 16 year-old Bay Bridge Brewing in Chula Vista, Escondido's decade-old Plan 9 Alehouse, 13 Point Brewing in Lemon Grove, Bitter Brothers in Bay Ho, and Barrio Logan's Attitude Brewing, to name a few.
For more information about Craft Coast Beer & Tacos, visit craftcoast.co.
