Locals Oppose Plans to Bring Anheuser Busch Brewery to San Diego

Local beer enthusiasts are opposing a project that would bring an Anheuser-Busch-owned brewery to San Diego’s East Village.

The Downtown Community Planning Council on Wednesday approved the plan for beer giant Anheuser-Bush to open up 10 Barrel Brewing Brew Pub in the 1500 block of E Street.

But critics are opposing the brewery representing itself as a craft brewery.

Organizers of the San Diego Brewers Guild said they strongly oppose the brewery’s opening. They say the brewpub will devalue local craft breweries whose beer is actually made in San Diego.

“It’s OK to put your name on Petco, Qualcomm – any stadium you want to – and say, ‘Guess what? We are Budweiser. We’re here.’ That’s fine. But don’t say we’re a San Diego craft company where you are really a wolf in sheep’s clothing,” said Kevin Hopkins of the Brewers Guild.

In response, the planning council said it doesn’t have authority to regulate competition and looked at the proposal strictly from a land-use perspective.

To officially open up shop, the proposed brewery still needs the approval of the Civic San Diego’s Board of Directors.

Ed Note: A previous version of the article stated the project needed the approval of the city council. We regret the error.

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