Burning Beard Brewing, a craft brewery based in El Cajon, is getting ready to open a new headquarters at 1825 North Marshall Avenue.
Owners Mike Maass and Jeff Wiederkehr signed the lease earlier this month after a two-year search prompted by their current landlord’s redevelopment plans, according to SD Beer News. Their existing lease at 785 Vernon Way is set to expire in 2026. The new site is 11,500 square feet, located just one mile from their current facility, and will feature a 3,500-square-foot tasting room, an 8,000-square-foot outdoor patio, and an event space. The company will relocate its current brewing equipment to the new location and expand its production and fermentation capacity.
Their in-house food program, originally launched as Punkespeare’s Brasserie in 2020, will also move to this location. Chef Dan Hacker will continue running the kitchen and food trailer under the Burning Beard brand. The owners aim to be fully operational by Spring 2026, depending on permitting.
Burning Beard has been in business for nine years. After receiving notice that their building would be part of a future development project, Maass and Wiederkehr began searching for a new space near their customer base. They considered several turnkey brewery sites but found them unsuitable due to pricing, location, or lack of character. The search had nearly ended the business until the Marshall Avenue facility became available.
The new location will enable expanded manufacturing and a permanent outdoor event space featuring a stage and sound system. The brewery’s spontaneous fermentation and wild beer program will likely be paused, citing low market demand; however, the owners hope to revive it in the future. Following the move, Burning Beard will continue to operate at its current Vernon Way location.
