Gettin’ Craft-y
Names: Matt West; Gerald Dolente
Job Titles: Co-Founders of Latchkey Brewing Company
Residents of: San Clemente & San Diego
Local Living: 6 years & 25 years
3 Must-Try Beers at Latchkey Brewing:
– The Dreamer IPA
-San Diego 1915 Lager
-Doppeldacker Doppelbock
Exp 10/8
Love for the Craft
The San Diego craft beer community has over 200 breweries, making it the most saturated craft beer market in the world. In any other industry, this would create a cut-throat (eat or be eaten) competitiveness. But because this is a labor of love for many people involved and everybody takes a lot of pride in their work, it is more supportive than anything else. We may not share recipes, but at the end of the day, we stand behind one another.
“Latchkey is unique on three levels: our approach, our variety and our maniacal focus on quality. From the onset, Latchkey was designed to be a local business with a vision to serve the San Diego and adjacent markets.”
Latchkey Brewing Company
1795 Hancock St
San Diego, CA 92110
858.284.7076
Follow the Light Latchkey Brewing
Tucked behind the airport on Harbor Island, Tom Ham’s Lighthouse is a San Diego institution that has been around for decades. Not many locals are familiar with it, but the ones who are do swear by it. Due to where it sits, you look back across the San Diego skyline rather than looking out across the Pacific. Most people know it for its brunches or event space, but the view is amazing, the food is superb and their staff always remembers faces.
Taking the Lead Latchkey Brewing
Owning a business is challenging and stressful, but there is a lot of joy in creating something from nothing and helping provide jobs to the community. While it sounds great to “be the boss,” it’s not for everyone. Knowing that your decisions and actions have real repercussions that affect people’s livelihoods is daunting, but at the end of the day, it’s all worth it.
Happy Hour Hot Spot
High Dive in Bay Park is owned by former craft beer pro Ryan Glenn, so you know the beer is good. As an “upscale dive bar,” their menu features bar food with a twist. Everything from their burgers to their Chicago beef is superb, but if you’re feeling adventurous, order The Kraken—two peanut butter and jelly sandwiches (the buns), bacon, gorgonzola cheese, caramelized onions and a half-pound burger patty!
Somethin’ to Taco ‘Bout
Royal Rooster in Mission Bay took over what used to be a hole-in-the-wall breakfast and burger joint that served the people getting on and off fishing boats. Now it’s owned by Chef Corey Rapp, who is fulfilling his dream of selling tacos on the water. Corey worked under Michelin Chef Thomas Keller, so his version of “tacos” is special and usually consists of meat that’s been smoked for hours, and just about everything is made from scratch.
