North Park\u2019s ChuckAlek Biergarten is closing its tab.<\/p>\n
Grant Fraley and Marta Jankowska co-founded Ramona-based brewery ChuckAlek \u2014 in honor of their grandfathers Chuck and Alek \u2014 six years ago. In April 2016, they decided to expand and opened the Uptown biergarten, located on 3139 University Ave.<\/p>\n
Before ChuckAlek, Fraley traveled Europe and fell in love with its brews. After returning home, he developed a passion for recreating the flavors he tasted abroad and began home brewing. The couple decided to turn Fraley\u2019s passion into a business after realizing the demand for IPA and craft brew markets in San Diego.<\/p>\n Each beer has a historical significance specific to the couple. For example, the 1850 Runner was named after Fraley\u2019s ancestor Stephan Fraley, who was ambushed and attacked by men during the Civil War. He escaped the men by running home and hiding under his wife\u2019s large hoop dress.<\/p>\n \u201cThe very nature of brewing beer is a meditative labor that we thoroughly enjoy from the milling of malted grain, to the smell of the mash and the rolling boil, to drinking and sharing the final project post fermentation,\u201d the couple shares on their website. \u201cOur customers join our family each day as we share stories through and over our craft beer.\u201d<\/p>\n The decision to close their Ramona brewery and North Park biergarten coincided with their decision to move out of state. While the Ramona brewery was officially closed with a goodbye hurrah on July 29, the biergarten remains open until Sept. 2 and is going out with quite the musical bang \u2014 hosting local groups like Coral Bells on Aug. 10 and Koda Sounds on Aug 17.<\/p>\n \u201cWell gang, it\u2019s been a roller coaster of emotions, but the ChuckAlek team has had to make the difficult decision to close down the brewery over the next two months,\u201d Fraley, Jankowska, and Head of Operations Sam Olson wrote in an email newsletter. \u201cWe have loved being part of the San Diego craft beer community and will cherish the friends and memories we have made over the past 6 years.\u201d<\/p>\n For more information about ChuckAlek or its closure, visit facebook.com\/chuckalek<\/a> o chuckalek.com.<\/a><\/p>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/sduptownnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/new-beer-photo-225x300.jpg\")