2 Kids find a place to call home

Last August, I told the story of two young San Diegans looking to open their very own brewery. Theirs is the type of story I get to tell with great regularity, but the fact that they’re a husband-wife couple adds a different element to it. I have to say, even someone like me who goes out of their way to see each incoming business without bias, can’t help but root for these marrieds as though I were viewing some movie about two kids striking out on their own. That’s apt since the name of the business is 2 Kids Brewing Company.

Last time I checked into this sudsy soap opera, owners and brewing duo Rob and Sam Dufau had a big development to share, telling me they’d found a nest for their passion project. The Mira Mesa residents were able to find a spot close to home in an industrial suite (8680 Miralani Drive, Suite 123, Mira Mesa) where they’ll be in good company. It’s a short jaunt from a number of other breweries in what has fast become one of the most densely brewery packed parts of the county.

Everybody talks about Vista, a municipality that has nine operating brewhouses and another three in planning, but the Mira Mesa/Miramar area is home to AleSmith, Green Flash Brewing Company, Hess Brewing, Rough Draft Brewing Company, Saint Archer Brewery, Intergalactic Brewing Company, White Labs, and Wet ‘N Reckless Brewery. That’s one short of Vista, but when 2 Kids goes live, that’ll tie them up.

Throw in the fact Ballast Point Brewing & Spirits, New English Brewing Company, and Karl Strauss Brewing Company’s Sorrento Mesa brewery restaurant are less than two miles from this central San Diego region and you have what just may be the easiest place to build a great brewery tour route in all of San Diego. 2 Kids will be closest to AleSmith, which should make it easy for beer voyagers to fold them into their plans and get a first taste.

The floorplan for 2 Kids Brewing Company's facility

Rob and Sam are waiting for replies on their license applications, but doing anything but twiddling their thumbs while they wait. Their time is being spent building their brewhouse, cold box, and tasting room bar amid waiting fermenters and boxes of supplies. Fortunately, they have a large number of friends pitching in to make it all happen. Apparently, those helpers are as big of suckers as I am for this local beer rom-com.