June 26, 2019
Earlier this year, it was announced that longtime North Park residents Steve & Patricia Billings had taken over the 4,000 square-foot space that last housed Grace Christian Center Church across the street from U-31 Bar, which the couple has been operating for over a decade. Dubbed The Original 40 Brewing, the name pays homage to the 40-acres of land purchased in 1893 by James Monroe Hartley that eventually became the founding site of the North Park neighborhood. The beautiful restaurant and bar was designed by Mariana Postlethwaite of Tijuana’s Casa Duhagon in collaboration with San Diego's Violets & Vinegar Design Group, who together implemented an industrial-chic style.
The Original 40 Brewing Company houses a 15-barrel brewhouse with two 30 barrel and three 15 barrel fermenters, as well as four 15-barrel bright tanks. Head brewer Chris Gillogy - who previously worked at Mikkeller Brewing, Pizza Port and won a couple Great American Beer Festival medals while at Groundswell Brewing - is brewing up an eclectic mix of beer styles. Highlights include the Juice Maze Hazy IPA with notes of peach and apricot, and the Hoffmanweizen German Hefeweizen.
The food at The Original 40 is in the hands of esteemed San Diego chef Luke Johnson, who previously oversaw culinary operations at Cutwater Spirits in Miramar. Prior to joining Cutwater, which sold to Anheuser-Busch InBev earlier this year, Johnson worked at the now-defunct Sky Room at La Valencia Hotel, ran the kitchen at the long-closed Red Velvet Wine Bar in Little Italy, and even cooked with celebrated chef Grant Achatz at Alinea in Chicago, which is considered by many as the top restaurant in the United States. The Original 40 is currently serving a concise list of offerings ranging from salads and snacks to shareable plates and entrees.
The Original 40 Brewing Company is now open at 3117 University Avenue in North Park, operating Monday through Friday from 3pm to midnight and Saturday & Sunday from noon until midnight. The kitchen will be open from 5-10pm daily. For more information, visit original40brewing.com and check out the menu and photos below.
