Round six months in the past, a flip-flop-wearing Evan Value of Inexperienced Cheek rolled as much as my home on considered one of his twin boys’ thigh-high Razer scooters. Being neighborly, he introduced me a six-pack of his freshly-brewed Kolsch-style beer known as Easy Translation and we chatted about my current journey to Cologne. “Oh, by the best way, we’re opening a brand new spot in Sundown Seashore quickly,” he talked about earlier than zipping off again house to the fam.
I had fully forgotten about it till I obtained a random 10 pm textual content from Evan the opposite evening, “Oh dude! come down tomorrow.”
Sundown Seashore, the place Inexperienced Cheek’s new location sits, is form of a sleepy-seaside strip that PCH runs by with a teeny inhabitants of lower than a thousand. The primary drag has a couple of touristy spots, small resorts, and surf & turf eating places to meander, however in case you’re not from Sundown Seashore, you’re in all probability headed to hit the waves at close by Seal or Huntington Seashore.
“We actually like the world, and we love that it’s on PCH,” says Evan, smiling. “We’ve by no means had a location that truly has any visibility, so it is a complete recreation changer for us,” he continued. Inexperienced Cheek’s authentic location in Orange may be very very like a brewery speakeasy that’s tucked far within the backof an industrial park, and the Costa Mesa location is adjoining to a number of foot site visitors, but firmly manages to maintain its hidden gem standing. “We’re additionally stoked riip beer co. is close by (lower than a mile) as a result of they’re making insanely good beer and we like that we will have somewhat brewery tour-type factor up right here,” provides Evan.
Inexperienced Cheek’s new spot is a boxy bi-level blue constructing with two bars, a full kitchen, with an upstairs patio deck that’s excellent for soaking within the solar with suds and buds. “I actually wished a drive-through at this location, and it’s in all probability probably the most thrilling a part of the entire thing!” says Evan, beaming. The drive-through, for authorized functions, is extra of a curb-side pickup, the place it’s a must to bodily exit your automobile to get cans or crowlers, however with restricted parking, with the ability to cease in for bites and beers to go is a large bonus with nothing prefer it within the space. On the patio deck, you may see the Pacific Ocean, in addition to an oil rig that put this seashore on the map.
The meals menu is similar as Costa Mesa, but may even see some fast modifications. “We really employed a kitchen supervisor,” notes Evan. “We’ve had the identical menu for over a 12 months, and we’re undoubtedly going to broaden on that with a seasonal shift of some dishes,” he continued. The smash burger to date stays the most important vendor, the place they grind a brisket and chuck mix onsite. There’s additionally a tasty hen membership that’s brined, baked, then seared to order, and in addition a very wholesome Mediterranean salad. “Once I was at TAPS, they’d at all times say we’re a restaurant first and brewery second, and we at all times hated listening to that, so I don’t need to say we’re a brewery first and meals second…right here we need to preserve a small targeted meals menu that’s carried out proper,” he added.
On the subject of deciding on what to drink, Inexperienced Cheek’s common lineup of West Coast and Hazy IPA’s, lagers, classics, combined fermentation foeder beers, in addition to their profitable line of seltzers is all on supply. “What’s loopy is there are two totally different video games with drinkers,” notes Evan. “What individuals drink right here versus what individuals carry house…we see individuals crush lagers, west coasts, and seltzers on website, then take house our canned hazies and doubles to go.” And people who assume flavored seltzers are fading away, Evan famous their lavender lemonade has bought greater than some other single beer they’ve made. I’m not a seltzer man in any way, however theirs style extra like a crushable house cocktail than simply faux fruity fizz. They’re undoubtedly price trying out in case you’re “beered out.”
With any new location, one would anticipate distribution to take successful, and that’s the case right here. “We’ve at all times been a really small distribution brewery, possibly 15% ish of our complete output…with this coming on-line, we’ll in all probability go all the way down to zero-ish,” notes Evan. Small breweries appear to wrestle with distribution, and Inexperienced Cheek’s with the ability to push their very own high quality drinks throughout their very own bar is the important thing to their success. So if you wish to get Inexperienced Cheek beer sooner or later, it sounds such as you’re going to gave to go to considered one of their three places.
“Will there be a fourth location quickly?” I ask. “Perhaps,” solutions co-owner Brian Rauso. “I have to take a couple of months off after this,” he added, sighing.
Inexperienced Cheek Sundown seashore is open Wednesday by Sunday, and open at 9 am on weekends with a easy espresso setup, breakfast burritos, and seashore vibes. 16685 E. Pacific Coast Freeway, Sundown Seashore, CA
