Boulder Creek Brewing

Boulder Creek Brewing Company update January, 2024. The project is definitely an ongoing challenge and has involved re-engineering the former plans, and trying to fit the project into a smaller budget than the previous owner had in 2015. We are still working through the septic issues with the California State Water Resources Control Board and the County of Santa Cruz, utilizing Hogan Land Services, our septic consulting firm.

We have four alternatives we are now evaluating; all of them will require some costs and modifications to the existing system, which is no longer approved, unfortunately, and the "grandfathered" system is no longer sufficient to host a restaurant of even the same capacity as it was in 2015, around 65 people - much less a brewery with higher wastewater requirements.

So this means we will need to replace or enhance the septic system, at significant expense $$$.

The good news is:

We have paid off the original seller financing - we now own the building and real estate free and clear - this is huge!

We've received a permit extension - as of July, 2023. We need to proceed with the concrete cleanup and call for a new inspection on that, as well.

We are working with our Restaurant GM and brewmaster pro tem Jack Whybark, on a detailed projections spreadsheet, and a full business plan.

We have located a willing partner to take our spent grains (waste from the brewing process), and thereby minimize our wastewater, which will help streamline the permit process with the county and the state and likely allow us to increase our targeted restaurant capacity.

We have strong community support and enthusiasm, even including other prominent local brewers, who used to work at the former Boulder Creek Brewery - they are now successful owners/brewmasters, and have reached out to me personally to offer their help and support however they can to help us reopen!

More information: https://bouldercreekbrewing.com

Photo by Julie Horner

Julie Horner's photos of the Boulder Creek Brewery building, November 2022.

Sean McLean's photos of the Boulder Creek Brewing building, November 2022.

The Boulder Creek Brewing Patreon account reads: "We are reincarnating the legendary Boulder Creek Brewing Company! Once an iconic staple of Boulder Creek, the San Lorenzo Valley, and Santa Cruz County, the original brewery tragically burned in 2015. As the 13th Microbrewery opened in the state of California in 1989, it stood the test of time, and was a great part of history, both locally and statewide.

Difficult to rebuild, it has sat empty for seven years; until now. We've decided to apply our resources and expertise to re-engineer and repair the original building, bringing it up to modern standards of design, building code, cuisine, acoustics, and gathering and entertainment space. The updated building will revitalize the lower end of Highway 9 in downtown Boulder Creek and will once again become a favorite destination for locals and visitors alike."

The new owner of the former Boulder Creek Brewery building, Joseph Wolff, is eager to return the fondly remembered restaurant and gathering place to its former glory. The fire in 2015 left just the walls and basement intact. Wolff purchased the shell of the building in early 2021. Wolff said, “We've had some big successes, and have made great strides forward so far.”

The good news is that his team is now in a position to apply for commercial financing to complete the project. “We have completed our investigations of the structural integrity of the building and the existing walls and foundations and they are solid,” Wolff said. The re-engineering is also now mostly complete. Structural Engineer Morris Shaffer and Designer / Architect Chris Baer of La Selva Design Group have been working the plans through the County submission process. They have engaged a County liaison, Hogan Land Services, for the plumbing and septic re-approval. “We now have some bounded numbers to take to lenders and investors,” Wolff said.

Options for investment in the new business include a split paradigm that would see ownership of the building separate from ownership in the restaurant. Small Business Administration (SBA) startup funding is available, Wolfe said, and the team is accepting creative investment ideas as well as taking general and subcontractor bids.

“We have made great progress on the existing site,” Wolff said. “The debris is gone, and we are rebuilding the floor ‘as is’ using new structural plans.” New rollup doors and electrical wiring have been installed. The vision is still alive.

Peering into the future, Wolff said ideas for the build-out are exciting. "We have a tentative Bar/Restaurant design and layout, with a banquet room and offices in the new mezzanine upstairs." He plans a highly visible stainless brewing area fronted by a bar, and he plans to have a full kitchen. "The front two thirds will still have the soaring exposed ceilings typical of a brew pub!" As a big music fan, Wolff expects to have at least one stage for live music performances to take advantage of what he expects will be great acoustics in the new building.

The team has locked in two veteran Brew Masters: Bart Bullington with 20+ years experience and over a dozen previous breweries under his belt, and Jack Whybark, who has 25+ years experience, including launching Laguna Beach Brewing Co with Bart. You can read about these guys on the Boulder Creek Brewing website: https://bouldercreekbrewing.com/post/2022-05-15-new-brewmaster/

Boulder Creek Brewing Company is seeking financial support and is open to creative options from commercial lenders and private investors. Read up on what Joseph is looking for here: https://bouldercreekbrewing.com/page/investors/

Read more about the journey: https://slvpost.com/a-new-boulder-creek-brewery/

Visit the Patreon site: https://www.patreon.com/BoulderCreekBrewingCo

Stay tuned: bouldercreekbrewing.com
Contact Joseph Wolff: Office 408-354-4325 | Cell 408-455-0010
[email protected]



Interview with Joseph Wolff by fellow music and craft beer lover, Julie Horner.

Boulder Creek Brewing Company is creating Great craft beer, premium entertainment, food that's a cut above | Patreon Become a patron of Boulder Creek Brewing Company today: Get access to exclusive content and experiences on the world’s largest membership platform for artists and creators.

Things are starting to crank at Boulder Creek Brewing in the heart of Historic Downtown Boulder Creek! Cleanup is still progressing nicely, the new garage door is installed, trees have been trimmed back, and we plan on doing some work on the basement and floor in parallel with the re-engineering now in progress.

The team has also met with a couple of prospective brewers, and we will likely start talking to them about partnering opportunities. More news soon! Share and follow us here and on IG: Boulder Creek Brewing

Here's our story so far: https://slvpost.com/a-new-boulder-creek-brewery/

Stay tuned for the next chapter!

A little trim here and there...

Boulder Creek Brewery...the colors of reinvention...

Boulder Creek Brewery building December, 2021. Photos by Julie Horner.

For those who knew the former Brewery building in Historic Downtown Boulder Creek, the images may be painful. The building was gutted by fire in 2015 and the shell has been standing empty since. In 2021, the building was finally purchased, and now locals and visitors alike can imagine a fresh canvas upon which to create.

In 2016 Santa Cruz County produced these computerized architectural mockups for how the Boulder Creek Brewery and Cafe might appear after a rebuild. The building in Historic Downtown Boulder Creek was gutted by fire in March of 2015, and the remains were purchased in December, 2021.

The Boulder Creek Brewery building has been sold. Musician and craft beer enthusiast Joseph Wolff plans to resurrect the cherished gathering place, bringing back to life a hub with a pulse that has been lacking in the historic downtown district since the building was gutted by an electrical fire in March 2015.

Read the exclusive in the San Lorenzo Valley Post: https://slvpost.com/a-new-boulder-creek-brewery

A New Boulder Creek Brewery: Beloved Community Hub to be Rebuilt - San Lorenzo Valley Post By Julie Horner The Boulder Creek Brewery building has been sold. Musician and craft beer enthusiast Joseph Wolff plans to resurrect the cherished gathering place, bringing back to life a hub with a pulse that has been lacking in the historic downtown district since the building was gutted by an ele...