ESCONDIDO — Barrel Republic’s location on Grand Avenue in Escondido has closed for good after only two years in service.
The self-service draft beer bar offered discounted pints throughout the week leading up to its last day of business on April 9.
While the bar was still relatively new to the Escondido area, Barrel Republic had grown popular among locals over the last two years.
“It is with heavy heart that we announce the closure of our Escondido location,” states a Facebook post. “We appreciate how welcoming the community has been to us.”
Many expressed disappointment in seeing the bar go in the comments below the Facebook post.
“This is such a bummer,” commented Kelly King.
“I loved this place,” said Tricia Mullen. “It was kid friendly and even dog friendly indoors which is hard to find.”
San Diego Sockers co-owner David Pike founded Barrel Republic, opening the first location in Pacific Beach in 2013. Two years later, the bar opened a second shop in Oceanside, adding a food menu. Then, in 2016, Barrel Republic opened up a third storefront in Carlsbad.
The now-shuttered Escondido location opened in 2021, shortly before the Oceanside and Pacific Beach locations closed. Carlsbad is the only remaining Barrel Republic location in San Diego County.
The beer bar was one of the first locally to use a self-pour tap system, offering a rotating tap list with various brews. The Escondido location offered 41 beers and eight different wines. In Carlsbad, the bar offers 52 beer taps and six wines.
To pour a beer, guests first received a bracelet or card upon entry. Then, when they find a beer they want to try, they hold the card up to a screen above the tap to access beer.
The news of the Escondido location’s closure caught many off guard. While the staff was reluctant to discuss the closure in more detail, one employee told The Coast News that most Escondido employees could keep their jobs by moving to the Carlsbad location.
