HALF MOON BAY — With 15 years under their belt, a revamped and expanded beer lineup, and all cylinders firing company-wide, Half Moon Bay Brewing Company (HMB) is poised to expand even further this coming year.
The brewery is looking to open a taproom in the coming year in the East Bay, to offer bottles, growlers, kegs and their story in the center of the Bay Area. 2015 has seen a big push by the Peninsula-based brewery to expand their core lineup of beers, bump up their monthly production, and fine-tune their branding.
(Photo: Maegan Tingling)
“We’ve been remaking Half Moon Bay for the past four years,” said Nate Rey, general manager of HMB. “We worked on their restaurant first… then we focused on the beer, the labels… and the core line-up.”
Having recently celebrated their 15 year anniversary, HMB’s core beer lineup went from two beers to five year-round offerings in bottles and draft: an Amber ale, IPA, Kolsch, Calf-eine Coffee Milk Stout, and Not For Sale Saison. Seasonal offerings include the recently released Three Little Pigs Belgian Tripel, a regularly changing Single Hop Series of pale ales, and their Pumpkin Harvest Ale.
Their expansion of beer offerings will also debut a barrel aging program in the coming months, with a dark strong on deck first. The brewery has 48 wine barrels on hand to aid with the project, which is to include dark strongs, sours, lambics and fruit beers — “aged anywhere from six months to a year,” according to Rey.
(Photo: Maegan Tingling)
Overseeing the growth of the brewery side is Craig Carroll, director of sales at HMB, and an employee of 10 years. James Costa, brewmaster at HMB, and the brewery’s team of seven, have been responsible for the brewing expansion, both creatively and logistically. Recently, the brewery was able to bump production up to 200 barrels in just a single month; their biggest production before had been 130 barrels.
Beer drinkers looking for HMB’s brewery experience outside of their taproom will be able to order a “brewery-to-you” service in the coming months. Rey says HMB’s unique liquor license combination with a catering license allows them the ability to bring their beer offsite, and wants to be able to “bring the brewery experience to you at home.”
As the brewery continues to expand their presence in the Bay Area, beer drinkers can find a majority of their core line-up throughout Bay Area retailers and bars. Check out BeerMenus.com for updated tap and bottle lists near you.
(Photo: Maegan Tingling)
(Photo: Maegan Tingling)
(Photo: Maegan Tingling)
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