October 22, 2024 – The official grand opening of Hops and Fog Brewing Co. in Pacific Grove involves some reveals for its fan base, namely new beer releases.
One fun twist: The event unlocked a surprise for a founding partner.
Ximena Waissbluth so focused running the new hub she didn’t know there would be a second wave of beers to try. Oh, and also because brewer/co-owner Mike Durrant didn’t tell her he had stashed them for a moment like this.
So, in addition to the debut of The Westy West Coast IPA, I Always Wanted It This Way Double IPA and Season’s Greetings Fruit Sour, Durrant will revisit their predecessors—and have more house beers to highlight.
First Batch West Coast IPA, Sweet Thing Hazy and Saucy Otter Nut Brown Ale, welcome to the party.
“We wanted to save some of the original beers to show our progression,” he says. “How do they compare, in flavor, body and looks?”
In the interceding weeks till the grand opening 6-9pm Wednesday, Oct. 23, other surprises and progressions bubbled up.
Durrant, for one, has been intrigued by the new equipment and small space learning curves, the craft of the Stephen Pacania-led kitchen, the success of their hiring amid challenging hospitality times, and even the local reception.
“We knew it felt like a good fit in the community, but we didn’t know how strong the response would be, and the number of different types of people and ages who would like it,” he says. “People just want to walk through, and they end up staying and learning a lot more about us.”
Opening night includes 10% off all food and drink—and a splash more, per their media announcement: “What more do we promise? Great pizza [and] bar bites, friendly staff, good vibes, warm memories.”
When asked what’s improved most since Day 1, Waissbluth messages one word: “Food.”
In response to the question, “What’s been a surprise or two—whether fun, bizarre, challenging, _____—from opening weeks and months…?”
Her brevity makes sense: “How all-consuming it is.”
More at hopsandfog.beer.
About the author
Mark C. Anderson, Edible Monterey Bay's managing editor, appears on "Friday Found Treasures" via KRML 94.7 every week, a little after 12pm noon. Reach him via mark@ediblemontereybay.com.
