Monterey County Weekly Spotlights the Upcoming Hops and Fog Brewpub
Monterey County Weekly Spotlights the Upcoming Hops and Fog Brewpub
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Experience the FIRST Brewery in Pacific Grove, CA
Our menu includes a wide selection of beers that cater to all tastes. From light lagers to hoppy IPAs, we have something for everyone. Our experienced staff will help you choose the perfect beer to complement your meal. Come and enjoy our delicious food and great beer while relaxing in our cozy atmosphere.
Our
Story
Mike
Durrant
Get to Know MIKE
Mike Durrant, an avid home brewer and business owner, is a Salt Lake City native who has called Pacific Grove home for the past 17 years. With over 23 years as a home
brewer, Mike has garnered national, state, and regional awards for his exceptional craft beers. His favorite beer to drink is a double IPA, but the beers he really likes to brew are Irish red ales and nut brown ales. In fact, Mike and his nut brown ale have the bragging rights to winning 2 nd place at the California State Fair and in the regional Steinbeck competition and his Irish red took 3rd place in the National Home Brew competition. Though his friends, who have a tendency toward merrymaking, were exuberant and
thirsty all over again at this news, his ever-so-patient wife, Kari, could only sigh about the amassing brewery equipment bursting at the seams of their little abode. Her
perseverance has paid off! The equipment has just migrated away from their home and metamorphosized into a beautiful three and a half barrel system now housed at Hops
and Fog Brewing Co.
Before embarking on his brewing journey, Mike had a successful career in business ownership and management, production management, and sales with companies such as Kinko & FedEx, MPA, and Kühl Clothing. He also did the classic fishing stint in and around Nikiski, Seward, and Kodiak Island, Alaska, where in short order he got booted off the island for…. well, he can tell you the story. His true passion, however, was in the craft beer industry, leading him to start Hops and Fog Brewing Company with his partners. Aside from brewing the perfect pint, Mike is passionate about live music, art, and spending time with his wife and their beloved family of pets. Also living in the fragrant surrounds of their picturesque little PG cottage and gardens is a fairytale scene of wildlife: black and brown squirrels, yellow warblers, ruby throated hummingbirds, and
the aptly named Brewer’s blackbirds, many of whom they call Bubba. Together, they are set to open Hops and Fog Brewing Company in Pacific Grove in the
summer of 2024, bringing their love of craft beer and community together under one
roof.
Get to Know Ximena
(pronounced Hē-men’-uh)
Ximena was born in a faraway time on a faraway land in a faraway corner of the
universe (give or take). That said, somehow or other she grew up in Cincinnati, Ohio,
got schooled in Michigan (go blue!), and eventually bounced her way west to the
Monterey Institute of International Studies (MIIS, now Middlebury) to learn about
teaching English as a Second Language. This was the ticket to living and working
abroad; to knowing other peoples and cultures; to adventuring and discovering new
sights and sounds and smells and foods across the world. That faraway thing was in
her blood and those were extraordinary years. But, she kept returning to Monterey for
therein lived good friends, barking seals, a cool breeze, and the faint call of teeny, tiny
future bubbles emanating from a hazy, fuzzy future dream.
She finally and firmly planted herself in the tranquil nook of Pacific Grove, taught for
umpteen years at both MIIS and CSU Monterey Bay, and became a spirited ocean
advocate for the Surfrider Foundation. Leading the Monterey Bay Chapter for a decade
or so she helped champion numerous campaigns, where she thrived in environmental
education and outreach– rallying others to join in making a difference. Community
building thus became a central focus for Ximena and that is the nugget she brings to
Hops and Fog. She looks forward to organizing weekly activities, monthly
hootenannies, special events and everything in between, including just opening the
Hops and Fog doors and welcoming everyone in. She also enjoys hanging out with her
seriously-exasperating-yet-entertaining-and-loving teenage daughter Lily; dancing with
friends at music festivals; walking her dogs, or anybody else’s, in the forests and
beaches of the central coast; and much too occasionally these days – diving into the
brisk waters of Monterey Bay.
And now, the call of teeny, tiny bubbles is no longer from a hazy, fuzzy future dream but
from the crisp, clear reality of the present. So it is that a new adventure begins, and
Ximena is very, extremely, tremendously stoked to share it with you.
Our
STORY
Ximena Waissbluth
Get to know hops & fog
As befitting a good brewery birthing story, the idea was conceived between the bubbles
at the Steinbeck Homebrew Festival, during the innocent days of the of early 2019 . A
blogger chatted with Mike Durrant (who goes by the handle HopFog) about his passion
for brewing and where it could lead, liked what she heard, and, as bloggers do - wrote
about it. A good friend (shout out to Sarah Boyle) subsequently read the story and
made some calls to see about turning that dream into reality. In a nutshell, we needed
some digs.
From the top to the bottom of the hill we scoured vacant warehouses and office spaces
with little luck… until… thar she blows! We met the dream: a building (more like a big
house) on the downtown strip that for decades immemorial housed a laundromat, which
was soon to retire. The transition seemed fateful – with precious water credits on site to
brew, another kind of clean suds would be wafting out of 511 Lighthouse Ave. We high
fived, we squeaked with anticipation, we did a little boogie. That was February 2020,
then [womp womp] a few weeks later the world turned upside down with Covid.
Lockdown. Uncertainty. Deliberations. Long pauses where time slowed down and
months became years. But the bubbles would not be ignored - the decision to move
forward marched forward with permits and hearings, an awesome work crew (shout out
to Joel Magallon Construction), and eager locals asking about the long-faded “Opening
Soon” sign.
And now, the renovation from laundromat to brewpub is nearly complete and we are so
eager to welcome you in! And, we cannot state enough how much we thank you - the
support of our community truly motivated us all along to keep moving forward.
Simply stated, at Hops and Fog Brewing Co. we take our passion for brewing outstanding beer (and other sublime non-alcoholic craft beverages), and the love of our community to provide a sanctuary where locals and visitors alike can gather. And, we will nourish you too. In fact, our wickedly exceptional fare might just tip you into the weepy zone, just take a look at our pizza oven…
Welcome to Hops and Fog Brewing Company, where tradition
meets innovation in every pinT
Located in beautiful downtown Pacific Grove, our brewery is a testament to craftsmanship and creativity. Our dedication to quality shines through every batch, whether it’s a delicious lager, a hop forward IPA, a tantalizing fruited sour, or an experimental brew pushing the boundaries of flavor. We believe in the power of hops to elevate beer to new heights. Our hoppy beers are a celebration of the diverse aromas and flavors these little green wonders can impart. Whether it’s a classic west coast IPA bursting with pine and citrus or a juicy hazy IPA enveloping your senses with tropical fruit, we craft our hoppy beers with precision and passion. But we are not just about hops, our commitment to excellence extends to every style we create: crisp and refreshing lagers showcase our dedication to traditional brewing methods; bold and robust stouts offer a rich indulgent experience; rotating fruited sours meld tartness and fruit forward flavors with delicate balance. Made with real fruit sourced from local farms whenever possible, these beers are a burst of flavor and sunshine in every glass. Behind every beer is a meticulous brewing process that blends art and science in exquisite harmony. From selecting the finest local ingredients to carefully monitoring and controlling every aspect of the fermentation, we take pride in every step of the process to ensure every batch is a true representation to our commitment to excellence. Whether you’re s hop
aficionado, a lover of lagers, or simply someone in search of great beer, come join us at Hops and Fog. Cheers to good times and all the possibilities of craft beer!
OUR
BEER
Happenings
Live Music at Hops & Fog
June. 18
JOHN DOE
Join us for a night of great music with John Doe. He will be performing his latest hits and some old favorites. Don't miss out on this great opportunity to enjoy good music and great beer.
NOV. 19
JANE DOE
Get ready to dance the night away with Jane Doe. She will be performing her latest hits and some old favorites. Come and enjoy the music while tasting our delicious beers and food.
NOV. 20
JOHN & JANE DOE
Join us for a special night of music with John & Jane Doe. They will be performing their latest hits and some old favorites. Don't miss out on this great opportunity to enjoy good music and great beer.
Share your experience at Hops&Fog brewery by using the hashtag #HopsAndFog. We love to see our customers enjoying our beer and food. Follow us on Instagram to see the latest updates and promotions.
Stay Updated with Hops & Fog
Visit Us Today
Hops & Fog brewery is located at 511 Lighthouse Ave, Pacific Grove, CA.Come and experience the best beer in Pacific Grove while enjoying the beautiful scenery.
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