By TR Robertson
In ten years’ time, Nick Corona has gone from experimenting with a small home brew kit in his home to opening his own brewery in Vista, joining with the other craft brewers that make Vista their business home. Five Suits Brewery has weathered opening during the height of the COVID pandemic to becoming a popular destination for craft beer aficionados in Vista.
Going from a non-craft beer lover, a sampling of Avery Brewing’s Maharaja at Churchills, in San Marcos in 2012, set Nick on a quest to try his hand at developing numerous craft beer tastes. Along the way, Nick’s primary desire was to be a competitive craft beer brewer as he entered numerous brewing contests. Over the past ten years he has won many ribbons, medals and certificates attesting to his success in creating new tastes in the craft beer industry. When asked what title he was most proud about winning he immediately said winning the Sierra Nevada California State Home Brewer of the Year for 2017, awarded when he won medals in three different craft beer category competitions indicating he could create a variety of tastes for different beer palates.
Nick has also won awards at the San Diego County Fair Beerfest, Best of Show at National Brewing Championships, numerous state and local titles and many more awards along the way. He is also very proud of placing first in the San Diego Beer News Awards selections for 2020 being voted Best New Brewery, Best Customer Service, Best Charity Effort for Beers 4 the ICU and Best in a Fan Poll for his Hazy IPA Planet Nectaron. He was also featured in an article in the San Diego Union Tribune and on Channel 10 KGTV during the COVID pandemic as a business that was not going to let the pandemic close them down.
What patrons of Five Suits will experience is a brewer who has developed his skill not only competitively, but through featuring his craft beers at other breweries around the county. Breweries like Lightning Brewery in Poway, Hanger 24 Brewery in Redlands, Green Flash Brewery in San Diego, Indian Joes formerly in Vista, Duckfoot Brewery in Miramar, Lady Face Ale in Agoura Hills and Barrel and Stave in Vista all pour different selections Nick has developed.
Five Suits Brewery is in the former home of Barrel Harbor, 2575 Pioneer Ave., Vista. Nick and Kandy, his wife of 18 years, had been looking for a place to open their first family business, prior to the COVID outbreak. As fate would have it, the Barrel Harbor spot became available just prior to March 2020 and Nick felt committed to sticking with the purchase of the business. Using help from family members and friends, Nick opened in June of 2020, providing walk-up service to patrons, selling a variety of his craft beer in growlers and cans. While this was happening, Nick, family and friends took their time remodeling the interior of the facility, choosing to create a Vegas lounge style bar look. Those entering Five Suits will notice the look immediately with pictures on the wall and memorabilia from various Vegas scenes, one featuring his wife Kandy, a former Vegas “showgirl”. Hanging on the walls are 15–20-foot curtains, all from former Las Vegas Casinos, like the Sands, Stardust and Sahara. The curtains were given to Nick by Mary Ann Slamma, also a former Vegas “showgirl”, who had been able to obtain the curtains from the casinos where she once worked. In the center of the brewery is a unique wooden bar, obtained online at the Facebook Market Place. The bar was once in a San Diego Old Town Mexican piano bar. Nick’s family worked long and hard in refurbishing the bar for the brewery. Scattered around the brewery are tall tables and chairs as well as several booths. On the wall is the long list of the eleven craft beers Five Suits offers as well as a flavored seltzer. Patrons can also see Five Suits brewing units running along the wall. An outside area is provided for those who would rather sit outside or in a tented structure.
When asked about the name of the brewery, Nick said he thought about calling the brewery the Nick Corona Brewery, but decided to keep away from using his name and confusion with another beer and instead decided to go with a Vegas theme, adding a suit to the deck of cards, corona (crown), and using the card emblems of hearts, diamonds, spades, and clubs and add crowns to the company emblem. He also added that his father came up with the brewery motto –
“Brew That Suits You.”
The beer selection is impressive. From old school style IPA’s to Hefeweizen’s to lagers to wheats and flavored wheats to flavored IPA’s and more. I especially liked the two stouts offered, Cover Your Snout Stout and 10 Black Fathoms Imperial Chocolate Stout – a sweet chocolate stout made with pure cacao nibs. Eleven beers on tap and once a month a new beer is added or subtracted from the choices.
Also offered at Five Suits is the Al Toque Peruvian Kitchen. Unique food selections are offered each day from their kitchen. Many patrons come to Five Suits not only for the beer but for the delicious food selections. A variety of appetizers are on the menu ranging from calamari to fried Yucca to Homemade fries with sausage and toppings. Main dishes include Saltados – Peruvian stir fry dishes with homemade fries and rice and meat choices, Tallarines – linguini sautéed with vegetables and meat choices, Chaufas – traditional Peruvian fried rice with eggs, onion, and meat choices to Ceviche – fresh Swai marinated in lime juice with rocoto and cancha, sweet potato and meat choices.
Five Suits is open Sunday 12-6, Monday, Tuesday, Thursday 3-8, Friday 3-9, and Saturday 12-9. A variety of activities occur during the week like Monday Cornhole leagues, Tuesday Happy Hours with $4 appetizers and drinks, Thursday Game Nights and Live music on Fridays and Saturdays. COVID protocols are in place at the brewery and listed on their web site. Nick said, “While beer is our passion, the health of our fans and team members is our top priority and that will never change.” For a complete description of their beer offerings and menu selections go to their web site at www.fivesuits.com.
For a unique and fascinating experience, give Five Suits a try and you will experience a great selection of beers from an award-winning brewer as well as some Vegas casino history right here in Vista. For more info: https://fivesuits.com/
