8 0 5 . 8 4 5 .1 6 7 3 | 1 3 3 E A S T D E L A G U E R R A S T R E E T | N O.1 8 2 | S A N TA B A R B A R A
AU G U S T 1 6 – 2 3 | 2 0 1 3 |
by Zach Rosen
The Birth of a Brewery Brewer James Burge (left) and David Burge are close to opening Santa Barbara’s second brewery, and they’re toasting imaginary beers as that gets closer and closer.
A
t 410 North Quarantina Street there lies an indiscreet rectangular building. Duct-taped to its sky blue door, a sagging large white paper sign proclaims to all who pass, “PUBLIC NOTICE OF APPLICATION TO SELL ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES.” The applicant is listed clearly as Pure Order Brewing Co LLC. Santa Barbara’s second brewery is born.
All In the Family Just as many breweries begin, Pure Order Brewing Co started off with a homebrewer. James Burge had spent years working in construction and irrigation. Homebrewing was just a hobby. But a couple years ago his passion for brewing could no longer be contained in the home and he made the choice to open up his own brewery. Before long, James had recruited his father Steve Burge, brother Bucky Burge and cousin David Burge to the team. They quickly set about searching for properties in Santa Barbara and developing the Pure Order concept. The brewery derives its name from the Reinheitsgebot, which means “purity order” in German. The law was enacted in 1516 and stipulated that beer had to be made with barley, hops and water (yeast was added when Pasteur discovered fermentation in 1857). James wants to show the diversity of styles that can be brewed with the four classical brewing ingredients. His beers will blend traditional brewing techniques with the progressive, full flavored beers for which the West Coast is known. Overall, I must say that James brews seasonable beers with substance, featuring robust flavors, an easy finish and a polite balance that make each sip of beer welcome the drinker back for another.
Zach Rosen is a Certified Cicerone® and beer educator living in Santa Barbara. He uses his background in chemical engineering and the arts to seek out abstract expressions of beer and discover how beer pairs with life.
9
one day be planted. Regrettably hop vines don’t flower their first year so it will be a while before we see any fresh hop beers from their garden. But in the meantime, the hops will provide nice décor to their outside tasting area. Inside, the floor was now finished. Most of their equipment had arrived. Packages were strewn throughout the building, waiting to be opened and installed. Rolls of hoses were piled around the brewery floor. In the back corner, their 15 BBL (465 gallons) brewing system sat, waiting to be plumbed. Peering into the dark depths of their walk-in (the refrigerated ...continued p.22
The Growth of a Brewery The Sentinel’s fearless Editor-in-Chief Matt Mazza first introduced me to James and David back in January. Over the months I’ve had the opportunity not only to witness the growth of the brewery but also become friends (and share plenty of beer) with them both as well. When I first visited the property in February it was but a crude cut of land. Their parking lot and tasting garden was no more than an empty lot overgrown with grass and weeds. The building had no tanks or equipment. Workers were huddled over the floor, painstakingly walking over every inch of it, patching up any irregularities they found in the freshly poured floors. As we walked, James used his hands to illustrate where the tanks and equipment would be located. There was not much to see but the vision was clear in James’ mind. I visited the brewery for a second time in April. The outside area had been stripped of the overgrown foliage. The dirt field looked barren but markers indicated where the hop garden will
Visit our main production facility and taproom at: 45 Industrial Way Buellton, CA 93427 (805) 694-2252
Or if you’re in Santa Barbara, visit our new tasting room in the Funk Zone at: 137 Anacapa St., Suite F Santa Barbara, CA 93101 (805) 694-2255
www.figmtnbrew.com Weekly Happenings in Santa Barbara:
*(Live Music) 8/16 Fri: TGI ‘HEF’ ($3/German Hef) *The Rawhides 5-8pm 8/17 Sat: ‘Summerfest’ at FIG in Buellton, Ca. *Rubberneck Lion 5-8pm 8/18 Sun: *Delta Martini 5-8pm 8/19 Mon: $4 Pints for 4 Hours From 4-8pm 8/20 Tues: Our First ‘Quiz Night’ 8/21 Wed: Charity Tap Handle Day- Surfrider Foundation! 8/22 Thurs: Student ID- $1 OFF 8/23 Fri: *Dave Band 5-8pm
www.figmtnbrew.com expires 9/16/13
coupon cannot be combined with any other offer coupon can be redeemed at any Figueroa Mountain Brewery Taproom