Dead Oak Brewing opens in downtown Atascadero
A new Atascadero brewery is set to open Wednesday, bringing small-batch beers to the downtown area.
Dead Oak Brewing Co., located just off Sunken Gardens at 5925 Entrada Ave., took up residence in the old Pet Department space in February. It is the first establishment opened by Nikki and Jesse Kaltenberg — who moved to Atascadero from Anaheim last year.
“We went all in for our first go-around,” Nikki Kaltenberg said Monday.
Jesse Kaltenberg, a former civil engineer, started home brewing in 2008 and began taking classes and getting more serious about the business in 2016. The couple told The Tribune in February they budgeted $260,000 for the project.
Nikki Kaltenberg said they want Dead Oak to be more like a winery or tasting room than a bar. The 2,400-square-foot space won’t have televisions and will be targeted at older millennials and families, she said.
The brewery will also offer “personal experiences” to customers, such as opportunities to learn about beer and help name new varieties.
“You tailor the in-tasting-room experience to a particular group of people,” Nikki Kaltenberg said, referring to Dead Oak’s plan to set itself apart from other breweries.
Initially, Dead Oak will offer five beers on tap, though a rotating menu of 10 beers will eventually be available, she said.
The brewery won’t serve food, but customers are encouraged to bring their own. Nikki Kaltenberg said an alley behind Dead Oak might also offer a place for food trucks to park, and customers could also purchase food from Dark Nectar Coffee Roaster, located right next door.
Danny Jones, who owns Dark Nectar, is also applying for a liquor license to sell Dead Oak beer.
Dead Oak will open its doors at noon Wednesday and close at 9 p.m. The brewery will be open Wednesday through Sunday.
Lindsey Holden: 805-781-7939, @lindseyholden27
Submit news and notes items for Biz Buzz. Email: bizbuzz@thetribunenews.com; on Twitter @SLOBizBuzz; phone: 805-781-7902; fax: 805-781-7905; mail: Biz Buzz, The Tribune, P.O. Box 112, San Luis Obispo, CA 93406-0112.
Tell us your best business advice
What’s the best piece of business advice you’ve ever received? And how has it helped make you more successful in your business/professional life? Tell us in 100 words or fewer, and send it to bizbuzz@thetribunenews.com. We will publish them in future Biz Buzz columns.
This story was originally published October 10, 2017 at 5:42 PM with the headline "Dead Oak Brewing opens in downtown Atascadero."