Inside Legacy Brewing Company with Andrew Baer

Award winning craft beer, fabulous food trucks, live music, local art and more! You’ll find it all at Legacy Brewing Company off the CA-76. Get the inside scoop on one of Oceanside’s original breweries in the following interview with marketing director Andrew Baer.

What makes the experience of visiting Legacy Brewing Company special?

Being the first brewery in Oceanside to offer live music and concerts including Reggae Sundays from Memorial Day through Labor Day and Open Mic Nights every Tuesday. We also have plenty of award winning beers.

What’s the story behind the name Legacy?

After a trip to Germany in the ‘80s, head brewer Mark Mericle quickly realized that American beer was subpar compared to what he was drinking in Europe. His desire for fresh, locally brewed beer back home set him on a path to learn how to brew, which he did in Northern California. In 1989, he opened Orange County’s first brewpub – Heritage Brewing Company. Fast forward to October 2013, Mark teamed up with JJ Snyder and Legacy Brewing was born.

Through Mark, Legacy Brewing has a European influence with quality representation of old styles and hybrids of new. With a quick scan of our tap list, it’s obvious that Legacy calls on more styles than most West Coast breweries.

Why is there a Harley Davidson in the entryway and motorcycle parts and on display?

Before we opened the brewery it was a Harley Davidson repair shop. And before that, it was the Transworld Skateboarding magazine headquarters. To show the buildings legacy and pay homage to our location, we display the tanks and skateboards that our monthly artists paint.

What is your bestselling beer and why?

That Guava Beer: this unique refreshingly delicious beer is made with Mexican white guava to give it a fresh, not too sweet, slightly tart taste. One sip and you’ll think that you’re lying on a beautiful black sand beach in Costa Rica.

What is your most unusual beer?

Yorkshire Quarry Ale: we brew it in a normal fashion except to mimic the mineral rich water in Yorkshire, England; we put slabs of slate stone in our hot liquor tank (hot water).

Are you working on any interesting collaborations?

Yes, we are working with local reggae band Fluid Foundation and have created two unique and amazing beers for them: Voodoo IPL, a blend between an IPA and a Lager with orange and pineapple and SLO RYDE, a dark red ale with a hint of vanilla.

We also created Sticky Bumps Surf Wax Blueberry IPA because we love surfing and blueberries in our IPA.

Describe some fun events that you run at Legacy on a regular basis.

• Open Mic Nights / Taco Tuesday every Tuesday from 5-10pm
• Live music every Friday night from 7-10pm
• Off-Road Meets (3^rd Wednesday of each Month) where like-minded peeps gather to check out each other’s rides, enjoy live bands and our great beer
• Rockabilly Classic Car & Bike Meets (1^st Saturday of each Month) also features rides, live bands and our great beer
• Octane & Brew Classic Car Rockabilly Show on August 18^th
• Fuel the Desert off-road show held in June with a car crawl and flex off (you should see the pictures)

MORE: Live Music in Oceanside

What are the most popular food trucks at Legacy?

M&M Taco’s Ensenada Style, Rockin Roasted Corn and Legacy Brewing Co Tap & Kitchen.

What is your favorite beer and food pairing?

Classic Street Tacos from M&M Tacos with fresh made That Guava salsa paired with That Guava beer. Also VG’s Donuts and beer happens during Beer Week in November.

Tell me about the art on display?

Every month we have a new local artist display some amazing pieces of art from paintings to photography that you can purchase or just enjoy with a beer.

What are your future plans for Legacy?

First is to grow and expand through distribution and more locations, get our name out in front of as many people as we can and create some fun delicious products.