Green Flash Opens Tasting Room This Weekend

Saturday will be a historic day in Poway for beer lovers, with Green Flash Brewing Co.'s much-anticipated tasting room opening its doors to the public.

Last summer Mira Mesa-based Green Flash confirmed it was extending the buzzing brand via the new tasting room and packaging facility, dubbed Cellar 3, which will release its own line of barrel-aged beers. The brewery cracked the Brewers Association's list of the top 50 breweries in the U.S. based on beer sales volume this year.

Last night was the industry preview event (pictured). For the grand opening day tomorrow, expect to rub elbows with Poway officials and wait in line for a lineup of rare beer on tap and food from its second food truck, named Cellar 3 Bistro. The truck will be permanently parked on site with a beer-friendly menu. Options include Italian-style sandwiches, homemade craft jerky with potato chips and house cured charcuterie and cheese platters.

Also on tap tomorrow: an inaugural cask tapping of Illuminated Sauvage (a White IPA aged in Chardonnay Barrels), live music from local bands and an art exhibit curated by Alexander Salazar. The festivities run from noon until 10 p.m.

The 12,000-square-foot site, with 2,500-square-feet dedicated to an art-inspired tasting room and beer garden, sits at 12260 Crosthwaite Circle.

Open from Wednesday through Sunday from noon to 8 p.m., the tasting room will have 30 taps pouring Cellar 3 and Green Flash beers, plus experimental brews, and will retail bottles and growlers.

The tasting room will offer tours distilling information on the craft of barrel aging, blending and wild yeast fermentation. This year, Cellar 3 barrelmaster Pat Korn and Green Flash brewmaster Chuck Silva will oversee the national release of five Cellar 3 beers.