New microbrewery with ‘secret society’ vibe is opening soon in SLO. What’s on tap?
A new microbrewery promising community and innovative ales is opening its doors at San Luis Obispo’s burgeoning Duncan Alley marketplace.
Shrine Brewing will celebrate the grand opening of its new taproom at 3197 Duncan Road, Unit B, on March 1.
Duncan Alley is home to a variety of trendy wellness and drink spots, including Ancient Owl Beer Garden, Shindig Cider and KBRG Coffee Lab, according to the Duncan Alley website. There are also a few winery tasting rooms and yoga and pilates studios.
Shrine Brewing is the realization of a longtime ambition to create quality craft beer on the Central Coast, co-owner Joe Florence told The Tribune.
Florence teamed up with his wife, Justine Florence, and friend Max Lachowyn to turn the small commercial space into a brewery cranking out unique takes on hoppy beer styles.
“We just want a really great place and all our friends to come here and drink beer and hang out with us,” Joe Florence said.
How SLO home brewer became small business owner
The road to launching a new brewery in San Luis Obispo took longer than expected, Florence said.
He initially got a taste for craft brews while printing T-shirts for taprooms in the Seattle area nearly a decade ago.
Florence started making his own barley concoctions at home.
Within five years of picking up the new hobby, Florence said he felt ready to start brewing professionally — calling it his version of a “midlife crisis.”
Florence completed an intensive brewing program at the American Brewers Guild and then accepted a six-week internship at Firestone Walker Brewing Co. in Paso Robles. That’s where he struck up a friendship with Lachowyn, who now works as a lead brewer at Firestone.
Florence and his wife, who works as an oncology nurse, soon moved to Santa Barbara, but their new home didn’t stick.
The couple thought the area was too expensive and too far from Justine Florence’s family in San Luis Obispo.
The Florences made the moved back to SLO with a vision of finally finding a brewery space, they said.
New craft brewery set to open in Duncan Alley
After joining forces, Lachowyn and the Florences turned their attention to an up-and-coming makers marketplace in San Luis Obispo’s in SLO’s LoBro neighborhood about two years ago.
Duncan Alley, now owned by San Luis Obispo development company CoVelop, started leasing out a dozen tenant spaces at the corner of Duncan and Orcutt roads in 2022.
At the time, the industrial complex was hardly a hopping destination, Lachowyn said.
However, after many chats with other business owners in the area, he and the Florences made the leap and signed a lease in January 2024.
That triggered the year-long process of building out the brewery.
Although Shrine Brewing is a “modest brewery,” Lachowyn said, he and his partners faced some obstacles with regulations and the city, which led to extensive waiting periods to get construction projects off the ground.
“Everything takes time,” Lachowyn said.
Three months were spent crafting plans for the place, followed by eight months of construction, which included putting in a gas line from the street to the new spot, Joe Florence said.
“It’s been a journey but a fun one,” Justine Florence said.
The trio behind Shrine Brewing said they’re finally ready to introduce their brews to San Luis Obispo.
“We’re done building,” Lachowyn said. “Now it’s time to make money and serve the public.”
Shrine Brewing has ‘secret society’ vibe
Shrine Brewery’s new taproom is comfortable and minimalist, with a clean design look, Justine Florence said.
The space, which has a capacity of 40 people, has concrete floors and a clear garage door that can open up on warm weather days.
There are 28 seats for visitors and a long bar covered in artwork featuring black and white waves. Vibrant plants drape over the walls.
The Florences said the space’s design derives from the name Shrine Brewing.
It took weeks of brainstorming to land on the taproom’s title, the couple said.
Then one day the idea of a shrine popped into Joe Florence’s head.
No breweries had yet swooped up the name, he said, and he was immediately excited by the imagery that came to mind: Illuminati symbols, spiritual signs and contrasting colors.
“It’s mystic. It’s a secret society vibe that we’re going for,” Florence told The Tribune.
Lachowyn said the brewery will play music and have packaged snacks for hungry beer drinkers.
In the future, the space may offer DJ nights or live music events.
What’s on tap at new microbrewery?
Shrine Brewing is creating a slate of beers that is tasty and experimental, Joe Florence said.
The brewery plans to open with four beers on tap that highlight hoppy, refreshing styles of beer.
Lachowyn said the goal is to craft inventive beverages that people enjoy sipping on.
“We want to brew what we want to drink first,” he said.
On opening day, visitors can grab a glass of pale ale, hazy India Pale Ale, American brown ale or a West Coast-style IPA, Justine Florence said.
Eventually, the brewery expects to fill up all eight of its taps, but the brewers are testing out different beer styles and flavor combinations in the meantime.
“If something becomes our niche, we’ll run with it,” Lachowyn said.
Shrine Brewing’s co-founders said they have no intentions of canning or distributing their beer. Instead, their mission is to pour out great beers in a taproom that brings the community together.
“We’re really big on having a really inclusive, welcoming space where everybody can come enjoy and be themselves, drink a really good beer, have fun,” Justine Florence said.
What are open hours at new SLO brewery?
Shrine Brewing will open its doors for the first time at 3197 Duncan Road, Unit B, on Saturday, March 1.
Once it opens, you can visit the brewery from 2 to 8 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, noon to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday or from noon to 8 p.m. on Sundays.
The establishment will be closed on Monday and Tuesday, according to Justine Florence.
