The idea behind Mike Durrant’s nano-brewery, The Saucy Otter Brewing Company, comes from Belgium’s neighborhood beer culture. “In Belgium, every town has a different brewery,” Mike said. “And every brewery is a huge part of the culture of that town.”
Saucy Otter plans to set up shop at 511 Lighthouse Avenue in Pacific Grove about one year from now, pending some building remodeling and permit approvals. They’ll serve small-batch craft beers and bites to eat. According to Mike, “This is not a place to wear your tuxedo.” In fact, Saucy Otter plans to have more of a locals-only vibe. In a town as Instagram-worthy as Pacific Grove, Mike noticed the need for a local hub where folks from the neighborhood could relax and socialize, away from the sea of tourists with smartphones.
It’s also worth mentioning that Pacific Grove was California’s last dry town, and since it legalized alcohol in 1969 — more than 30 years after the federal repeal of Prohibition — the area hasn’t gotten much attention from the bar scene. So one could say Pacific Grove’s locals are long overdue for a pub to call their own.
