Our Story

Beer is social.

We’ve met a lot of great people over a pint (or two.) Groundswell is a place where everyone is welcome. There are games, TVs, community tables, and space to connect with friends.

Founding

Established in November 2013 in the Grantville location, Groundswell Brewing Company focuses on high-quality, well-balanced beer with nuanced flavor. Our beers are often lower in alcohol content to highlight flavors. This means our beer pairs with food and plays well with a San Diego lifestyle.

Groundswell was born in our living room in 2012. Kevin had been home-brewing for more than 20 years and taking up all the space in the garage with his growing array of brew equipment. Brewing was happening on a one-barrel system in our backyard and friends (and friends of friends) regularly showed up to brew and taste. It’s that same sense of community that inspired us to open Groundswell.

In early 2017, we purchased a 30-barrel brewhouse in Santee, CA. This location became headquarters and allowed us to expand Grantville to a larger tasting room. Later that year, we opened an auxiliary tasting room on Third Avenue in Chula Vista.

In March 2021, unable to reach a new lease agreement with our landlord during a global pandemic, we closed Santee and returned brewing operations to Grantville. We added a kitchen to the Chula Vista tasting room, serving pizza, snacks, and sandos. Using fresh and local ingredients, our pizza and sandos are artisan but familiar. With a focus on flavor, we present unique combinations.

Expanding to restaurants, in October 2022 we added Lime in the Coconut to our portfolio. Located three doors north of Groundswell-Chula Vista, Lime in the Coconut is a tropical themed restaurant serving a menu of island-inspired favorites and tiki cocktails.