Welcome back to BONE-A-Fide Brews everyone, and boy do we have a treat for you. With each passing episode I feel like I am the fortunate one, not just because I’m bringing you the listener great information about a new brewery for you to hopefully check out, but because I get to sit down and chat with some of the big names in the beer industry here in the Bay Area. And for this week’s episode, I get to sit down with someone who has been doing it for about twenty-five years now.

James Costa is the Brewmaster over at Half Moon Bay Brewing Company and if you recognize his name then you would know that his name is also synonymous with another Bay Area Brewery, Bear Republic. James was actually one of the architects behind the Racer 5 IPA, which of course we do touch on that a bit but it is one small part of his incredible story that has brought him to the coast to work at Half Moon Bay Brewing. To say that Half Moon Bay Brewing is a local spot is an understatement. As we will hear in this episode, James goes on to explain that it was first an idea by a board of directors who are all locals and saw a need for a restaurant and place for people to come and enjoy the coast. Later on, the fifteen barrel system that is still there today would be installed and Half Moon Bay Brewing Company would be complete!

What I really enjoy about these chats with brewmasters who have been around for some time, is the amount of detail we go into with discussions about their products. Though it may seem like a lot of beer jargon, you can actually hear the passion come out from those explanations, and hearing James talk about the famous Half Moon Bay Pumpkin Ale or even some of the other beers he has created is a great example. The next time you’re on the coast be sure to stop by Half Moon Bay Brewing for not only great food and beer but a great relaxed local atmosphere.

Cheers \m/,
Joe Hawk