Oro Brewing Co. has been a familiar watering hole on downtown Mesa’s Main Street for nine years, serving award-winning beers from a comfortable, if traditional, shotgun-style bar and taproom. These days, that’s not always enough.
“It’s hard to be just a brewery anymore,” Oro founder Dave Valencia says.
The team behind the Mesa craft brewery plans to change things up with a new look and a new name. The beermaker will become Oro Brewing & Vice Co. on Friday.
“We want to really lean into being a dive bar, because that’s what we’re all into,” Grant McLennon, Oro’s director of operations, says.
A red-felted pool table will replace the community table at the front of the taproom. Rich red lighting now casts a glow over the interior. Art, movie and music posters adorn the ceiling and the walls, reflecting Valencia and Kortepeter’s past lives playing in bands, as well as pieces other staff members have brought in.
“When people walk(ed) into the Oro taproom, they knew it was a nice place and good beer. But there was not a lot here that told the story of me or our brewer Jesse (Kortepeter)," Valencia says. “When somebody walks in now, they’re going to understand what the ownership and what the brewer is about. They’re going to feel it, they’re going to see it and hopefully we make a better connection with people on that level.”
The brewery will continue to make and serve craft beer onsite, such as its award-winning tangerine wheat ale Trigo Suave and coffee blonde Cafe Oro, and the popular American IPA Hopiphany.
Starting Friday, those beers, wine and cider will be offered alongside a collection of convenience store items that will be stocked behind the bar. Think packs of cigarettes and Pepto Bismol, Pop-Tarts and BuzzBallz. The selections will grow over time, “to have as much of a full bodega as possible for the common working man and the industry person,” McLennon says.
Oro Brewing & Vice Co. has plenty of unhealthy ways to celebrate the new name and vibe. On Friday, Oro will host a grand reopening party that kicks off at 3 p.m., featuring a hot dog cart, beer specials and tunes from DJ LaRue beginning at 7 p.m.
Inspired by the success of a Tuesday industry night launched six months ago, the taproom's hours will be extended in the coming weeks. The reopening party will go until midnight.
“It’s hard to have a vice bar that closes at 9, you know?” McLennon says with a laugh.
The rebrand and new look come during a time of expansion for the brewery. Oro will open Golden Oak Barbecue & Taproom in downtown Phoenix in September with the team behind the popular Mesa pop-up Nicky’s Barbecue.
With "vice" joining the brewery's name, it begs the question if Oro plans to explore pursuits beyond beer. For some beer makers, that's meant starting a distillery or exploring the THC beverage market.
“I plead the fifth or whatever on that one,” Valencia says.
“We will explore every vice that has a legal avenue,” McLennon quickly adds.
“It’s hard to be just a brewery anymore,” Oro founder Dave Valencia says.
The team behind the Mesa craft brewery plans to change things up with a new look and a new name. The beermaker will become Oro Brewing & Vice Co. on Friday.
“We want to really lean into being a dive bar, because that’s what we’re all into,” Grant McLennon, Oro’s director of operations, says.
A red-felted pool table will replace the community table at the front of the taproom. Rich red lighting now casts a glow over the interior. Art, movie and music posters adorn the ceiling and the walls, reflecting Valencia and Kortepeter’s past lives playing in bands, as well as pieces other staff members have brought in.
“When people walk(ed) into the Oro taproom, they knew it was a nice place and good beer. But there was not a lot here that told the story of me or our brewer Jesse (Kortepeter)," Valencia says. “When somebody walks in now, they’re going to understand what the ownership and what the brewer is about. They’re going to feel it, they’re going to see it and hopefully we make a better connection with people on that level.”
The shotgun-style taproom at Oro Brewing Co. will feature convenience store items and a pool table starting on Aug. 1.
Oro Brewing Co.
Starting Friday, those beers, wine and cider will be offered alongside a collection of convenience store items that will be stocked behind the bar. Think packs of cigarettes and Pepto Bismol, Pop-Tarts and BuzzBallz. The selections will grow over time, “to have as much of a full bodega as possible for the common working man and the industry person,” McLennon says.
Oro Brewing & Vice Co. has plenty of unhealthy ways to celebrate the new name and vibe. On Friday, Oro will host a grand reopening party that kicks off at 3 p.m., featuring a hot dog cart, beer specials and tunes from DJ LaRue beginning at 7 p.m.
Inspired by the success of a Tuesday industry night launched six months ago, the taproom's hours will be extended in the coming weeks. The reopening party will go until midnight.
“It’s hard to have a vice bar that closes at 9, you know?” McLennon says with a laugh.
The rebrand and new look come during a time of expansion for the brewery. Oro will open Golden Oak Barbecue & Taproom in downtown Phoenix in September with the team behind the popular Mesa pop-up Nicky’s Barbecue.
With "vice" joining the brewery's name, it begs the question if Oro plans to explore pursuits beyond beer. For some beer makers, that's meant starting a distillery or exploring the THC beverage market.
“I plead the fifth or whatever on that one,” Valencia says.
“We will explore every vice that has a legal avenue,” McLennon quickly adds.
