T A S T E {BEER} (CONT. FROM PAGE 104)
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e has brewed for reputable if not renowned brewing operations — Port Brewing Company, The Lost Abbey and Boulevard Brewing Company. Now, after a couple of years on hiatus, he’s making his muchanticipated return to the San Diego brewing scene as the brewmaster at Mason Ale Works at Urge Gastropub in Oceanside, a Highway 101 brewpub from the folks behind Rancho Bernardo’s original Urge and bottleshop Brothers Provisions.
meet your maker BREWMASTER Q&A MIKE RODRIGUEZ
Brewmaster Mason Ale Works at Urge Gastropub, Oceanside
Brandon Hernåndez: Which are your favorite San Diego County breweries? MIKE RODRIGUEZ: I knew you’d ask me that and I really just can’t come up with an answer. There are so many good ones. But I live in Oceanside, and Bagby Beer Company is my local goto‌ and not a bad one at that. Well, that’s convenient since your new brewpub will be in Oceanside, too. I think the growing beer scene in Oceanside is great. In addition to Bagby Beer, there’s fellow brewpub Breakside Brewing Company, the just-over-ayear-old Legacy Brewing Company and long-time community staple Oceanside Ale Works. We’re looking forward to bringing our own unique beers and brewing angle into the fold. What surprises do you have planned? We’ve just started to gather some oak cooperage that we’ll begin filling with beer in the near future, so barrel-aged brews will be available sooner than later. And I’m definitely looking forward to sharing those with beer fans‌ myself included.
PA U L B ODY
“i just want to make beer.� —Mike Rodriguez
106 0!#)&)#3!.$)%'/ #/- s JUNE 2015
What are you most looking forward to with this new venture? I can’t wait to see it all come together. It’s been a long time coming, and I’m excited to put the lessons I’ve learned at The Lost Abbey and Boulevard to work for Urge. Bottom line, I just want to make beer. MASON ALE WORKS AT URGE GASTROPUB 2002 S. Coast Hwy., Oceanside urgegastropub.com (
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