USA, CA: San Diego’s Border X brewery coming to Bell this fall

A Latino-owned craft brewery and tasting room is expanding from San Diego to LA, and the destination is the City of Bell. Border X partners David Favela, his brother Marcelino and his sons, Martin and Ivan, opened the original San Diego location in 2014, which combines traditional brewing craft brewing methods with Mexican ingredients, the Eater LA reported on April 2.

Partner David Favela started out by making traditional beers like wheat and Belgian sours, but discovered their signature style accidentally. “We love those traditions, but is that really us?” asks Favela. “I didn’t grow up in those cultures. But my nephew made a combination of beer with jamaica (hibiscus flower). This was our first try at bat, and we hit a home run.”

The partners created beers like the pepino sour, which pairs lime and cucumber with sour beer. There is also a brew inspired by the Mexican candy Saladito, with dried prune and chile powder, along with a horchata stout. The brewery even uses hops from a relative’s San Diego backyard.

Border X made a conscious choice to head to Bell, which has a large Latino community. Real estate developers J. Alberto Lemus, and Diego Torres-Palma were also crucial to the Bell brewery coming to fruition, as Favela and Lemus grew up together. The forthcoming 7,000 square foot brewery was once home to Golden Bakery, which closed in 2006.

San Diego’s Border X brewery is known for producing a calendar full of community events with music, culture, and artists. Their most notable is Chicano Con, which coincides with Comic Con, but geared towards Latino representation in the industry. The event attracted celebrities like the Oscar-winning director Guillermo del Toro and actor John Leguiazamo. Border X will create similar community-based events at the new location.

Since the original brewery was right next to the U.S.-Mexico border, Favela emphasizes Border X’s goal: to celebrate the best of both sides. Border X should open in the fall.

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