Ranch & Coast Magazine

Detour diversions COURTESY PHOTOGRAPHY Collective Collaboration New Vista collective brings beer and wine production together in stylish environs T HE COLLECTIVE MODEL has taken root in San Diego soil and is flourishing from North County (Oceanside's Tremont Collective) to the South Bay (National City's 8th & Market). Locals and tourists alike crave the convenience of having a variety of vendors — everything from clothiers, restaurants, bars, and more — all in one place. Typically, collectives are comprised of storefronts and stalls, but a new communal venture called CoLab Public House is adding production to the mix and bringing something completely new to San Diego's adult beverage scene in the process. With more than 150 breweries and over 115 wineries within county limits, it's a cinch to find local beer and wine in San Diego. Ping-ponging to and from local beverage makers is a beloved pastime, but CoLab allows beer fans and oenophiles to find everything they're looking for in one place. A $5 million project sited just off State Route 78 in Vista, CoLab comes in at 12,500 square feet, over a third of which is devoted to public space. Upon entry, guests may belly up to any of four tenant-specific sections of a 100-foot contiguous bar to order beers from Barrel & Stave, Breakwater Brewing, Laguna Beach Beer Company, and Propaganda Wine Company. ey may then enjoy those liquid wares in a two-story indoor tasting room or on an extensive outdoor patio. e former features a plethora of seating options, an upstairs arcade, and a colorful mural communicating CoLab's fun-times motto: "Don't overthink it." "When searching for a site to bring the CoLab concept to life, we knew from the get-go that San Diego County was where we wanted it. e county's rich craft beer culture and robust collection of top-notch breweries made it a no-brainer," says Joe Deutsch, the developer and mastermind behind the multifaceted project. "On top of that, Vista is home to more breweries per capita than nearly any other city in the country. Beer is a source of civic pride here, and we want to add to this already dynamic area while presenting something entirely unique. at includes quality wine produced in-house with choice varietals sourced from California's premier grape- growing regions, and delicious, comfort-driven food being produced on the premises." CoLab isn't the only local spot where patrons can visit multiple breweries. Local developer H.G. Fenton's Brewery Igniter lease-to-brew campuses in Miramar and North Park allow for that, but there is no wine or food on-site, and leases are short-term, whereas CoLab's tenants are committed for the long haul. Rather than produce their beers using separate BY BRANDON HERNÁNDEZ @ranchandcoast ranchandcoast.com 90 JULY 2022 RANCH & COAST MAGAZINE

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