Craft Coast Beer and Tacos Acquires Rip Current Brewing’s San Marcos Taproom

After over a decade in San Diego’s craft culture scene, Rip Current Brewing has announced it is shutting down sites and changing ownership.

In 2011, two home brewers from Quaff Homebrew Society of Barley Engineers San Diego Brewers Guild, Paul Sangster and Guy Shobe, fulfilled a lifelong dream to open their own brewery. Since then, the two have opened locations in San Marcos and North Park before being named Very Small Brewery of the Year at the prestigious Great American Beer Festival in 2015. The company recently announced on social media that significant changes will occur in the coming weeks.

“After 11 years, we will be closing our San Marcos location,” according to the company’s social media. “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!”

First, Rip Current Brewing announced that it will be closing its 6,700-square-foot San Marcos brewery and tasting room at 1325 Grand Avenue #100 on Friday, December 15. Once it’s closed, Craft Coast Beer & Tacos will take over operations. Rip Current Brewing will also permanently close its North Park location at 4101 30th Street on December 30. While the North Park site won’t reopen, eventually, Craft Coast will reopen the North County taproom with its own twist.

“We are sorry to post that we are selling Rip Current Brewing and will be closing both locations during December,” according to the company’s social media. “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 reopens after some updates.”