Reports are in that San Diego's Coronado Brewing Company is in the process of purchasing the East Village-based Monkey Paw Pub & Brewing Company from owner Scot Blair, who also operates South Park Brewing and Hamilton's Tavern.
The San Diego craft beer devotee Scot Blair opened Monkey Paw Pub & Brewery at 805 16th Avenue in the East Village in 2011 as his first venture into the brewing industry. At the time, Blair's South Park-based Hamilton's Tavern, which opened in 2006, was already well known as one of the top beer bars in the city. Blair later opened South Park Brewing Company brewery and seafood restaurant in the space adjacent to Hamilton's in 2015. Neither Hamilton's nor South Park Brewing are part of the Monkey Paw deal.
Monkey Paw brewing produced less than 1,000 barrels last year, and Coronado Brewing Company owners Ron & Rick Chapman, who are friends with Blair, hope to assist in increased production of Monkey Paw beers and launching the lineup of craft brews into a wider market. Effective immediately, the majority of Monkey Paw beers will begin being made at Coronado's Bay Park brewery, while maintaining the 15 barrel brewing system at Monkey Paw. Coronado Brewing also recently announced a sister venture - SouthNorte Brewing Company, headed by Coronado's head brewer Ryan Brooks, which aims to "blends the rustic flair of Mexico with the art of San Diego craft brewing."
