The end of an era is on the horizon for the San Diego beer community. Today, West Coaster learned that Gordon Biersch’s venerable San Diego location will be closing. Details are scant at this time, but the last day of business for the Mission Valley brewpub will be July 14.

A link in a chain spawned in Palo Alto, California, Gordon Biersch debuted in San Diego in 1999. Doug Hasker transferred from the chain’s second store in San Jose to head brewing in Mission Valley. He has manned that post ever since.

Hasker is widely credited among local brewers as San Diego’s foremost lager brewing expert. Recent recipients of his tutelage include Carli Smith, who went on to head up Bold Missy Brewery in Charlotte, North Carolina, and Dan Anderson, who heads brewing operations for Rock Bottom’s La Jolla brewpub and recently earned four medals at the California State Fair’s commercial brewing competition.

In recent years, Hasker had ventured beyond Gordon Biersch’s traditional German-style lager box, crafting a variety of ales with a modern bent more in tune with local tastes. All the while, he continued to pump out to-style company standards as well as out-of-portfolio lagers. He also held frequent release parties for seasonal beers that raised money for local non-profit organizations and charity causes, many headlined by his hand, The Barnacles.

More information will be provided as it becomes available.