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 latest journey to Cologne. “Oh, by the best way, we’re opening a brand new spot in Sundown Seaside quickly,” he talked about earlier than zipping off again house to the fam.
I had fully forgotten about it till I received a random 10 pm textual content from Evan the opposite evening, “Oh dude! come down tomorrow.”
Sundown Seaside, the place Inexperienced Cheek’s new location sits, is type of a sleepy-seaside strip that PCH runs via with a teeny inhabitants of lower than a thousand. The primary drag has a number of touristy spots, small motels, and surf & turf eating places to meander, however for those who’re not from Sundown Seaside, you’re in all probability headed to hit the waves at close by Seal or Huntington Seaside.
“We actually like the realm, and we love that it’s on PCH,” says Evan, smiling. “We’ve by no means had a location that really has any visibility, so this can be a complete sport changer for us,” he continued. Inexperienced Cheek’s unique location in Orange could be very very similar to a brewery speakeasy that’s tucked far within the backof an industrial park, and the Costa Mesa location is adjoining to numerous 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 are able to have slightly 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 good for soaking within the solar with suds and buds. “I actually needed a drive-through at this location, and it’s in all probability essentially 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 you must 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’ll be able to 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 truly employed a kitchen supervisor,” notes Evan. “We’ve had the identical menu for over a 12 months, and we’re positively going to develop on that with a seasonal shift of some dishes,” he continued. The smash burger to this point stays the largest vendor, the place they grind a brisket and chuck mix onsite. There’s additionally a tasty rooster membership that’s brined, baked, then seared to order, and likewise a very wholesome Mediterranean salad. “Once I was at TAPS, they’d all the time say we’re a restaurant first and brewery second, and we all the time hated listening to that, so I don’t wish to say we’re a brewery first and meals second…right here we wish to preserve a small targeted meals menu that’s performed proper,” he added.
In the case of deciding on what to drink, Inexperienced Cheek’s common lineup of West Coast and Hazy IPA’s, lagers, classics, blended 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 web site, then take house our canned hazies and doubles to go.” And people who suppose flavored seltzers are fading away, Evan famous their lavender lemonade has bought greater than every other single beer they’ve made. I’m not a seltzer man in any respect, however theirs style extra like a crushable house cocktail than simply pretend fruity fizz. They’re positively value trying out for those who’re “beered out.”
With any new location, one would count on distribution to take successful, and that’s the case right here. “We’ve all the time 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. “Possibly,” solutions co-owner Brian Rauso. “I must take a number of months off after this,” he added, sighing.
Inexperienced Cheek Sundown seashore is open Wednesday via Sunday, and open at 9 am on weekends with a easy espresso setup, breakfast burritos, and seashore vibes. 16685 E. Pacific Coast Freeway, Sundown Seaside, CA
