Market Watch, April 2016

48 MARKET WATCH MARKETWATCHMAG COM APRIL 2016Next Generation BrewingWhile a typical Silicon Valley MBA would join a tech startup Jenny Lewis decided to apply the principles of her degree to a brewery Strike Brewing Co was founded in 2011 and is housed in an industrial section of south San Jose Lewis and partner and brewmaster Drew Ehrlich are making headway with the on site public taproom which now draws a steadily growing number of regulars Strike Brewing produces a range of brews from blonde ales to IPAs to stouts The brewery also produces a line of Santa Cruz beers in partnership with Santa Cruz Skateboards Strike has a capacity of more than 5000 barrels a year with its 22 ounce bottles retailing for 499 to 799 On premise placement is a challenge A lot of bars rotate their drafts so getting a permanent handle is hard Lewis says Strike promotes itself intensively through social media and its Mug Club membership program Local beer lovers embrace the gastropub trend In Campbell entrepreneur Jordan Trigg operates Liquid Bread Gastropub The venue has 21 beers on tap 6 to 12 and rotates two daily The more kegs we change the more people are drinking and were happy Trigg says Liquid Bread features craft spirits as well offering a range of whiskies including High West Son of Bourye 10 a 15 ounce pour Anchor Old Potrero 18th Century Style whiskey 18 and six offerings from Corsair Distillery 10 to 12 In addition to Liquid Bread Trigg operates Jacks Bar Lounge and 7 Bamboo Lounge in San Jose as well as a deli and catering company Liquid Bread is an example of the locals desire to enjoy rare spirits and artisanal brews in a casual but dynamic atmosphere Silicon Valley works hard and when it plays the emphasis is on inventive high quality food and beverage offerings that go beyond the norm That creativity and high energy mirrors the essence of the valley mwCreativity is a driving force at the new Los Gatos restaurant and bar The Bywater The venue pays homage to chef David Kinchs New Orleans roots and features classic fare such as gumbo beignets and a raw bar Tin Roof Drink Community designed the cocktail menu incorporating a fresh approach to the traditional Sazerac Hurricane and Daiquiri We like to pair more esoteric ingredients with really approachable flavors such as Blandys Rainwater Madeira and watermelon in the Huck A Buck says Tin Roof partner Claire Sprouse The cocktail 12 can be made with vodka or Tequila A variation on the Sazerac features Tariquet V S Armagnac It gives the cocktail a nice luscious mouthfeel thats balanced by the spice of the whiskey Sprouse adds In San Joses ultra hip Santana Row mixed use community residents can walk to the new restaurant and bar Roots Rye The venue showcases more than 100 whiskies offering rare pours such as 1998 Russells Reserve Bourbon 150 a 15 ounce pour and Michters 20 year old Bourbon 175 Consumers are driven to whiskey because of the aging soft ness and smoothness of the alcohol and they really like a curated list says chef owner Julian Yeo For cocktail lovers Roots Rye offers such items as The Last Word 13 a Prohibition era drink made with Edinburgh gin and Green Chartreuse liqueur On premise venues like Rosewood top left and the cave at Testarossa winery bottom left offer local high rollers an exclusive experience Strike Brewing Co founder Jenny Lewis above attracts the locals