Locals looking for a place to crack open a craft beer will have another option at the end of the month, as Orange County welcomes Ambitious Ales to Costa Mesa.
The award-winning craft brewery will open a brewery and tasting room at the LAB Anti-Mall with a opening weekend celebration planned for Oct. 24-25.
“We’re excited that the Ambitious Ales guys are also becoming LABsters — they are “ambitious” for sure! And will add great craft beer, energy, and an awesome patio experience to the LAB small business collective,” Linda Sadeghi, owner of the LAB Anti-Mall, stated in a news release.
Ambitious Ales co-founders from left to right: Jon Cuthbert, Juan Carrillo, Jerome De Leon, Garrett Carroll, and Danny Karpinski.
(Courtesy of Ambitious Ales)
The Long Beach-based craft brewery was founded in 2012 by Orange County friends Jon Cuthbert, Juan Carrillo, Jerome De Leon, Garrett Carroll and Danny Karpinski. Inspired by a group trip to the Oregon Brewers Festival, the five friends began brewing their own beer and perfecting their craft before opening the first Ambitious Ales in Bixby Knolls neighborhood of Long Beach in 2019.
The Costa Mesa brewery will be the first Ambitious Ales location in Orange County.
“As an independent craft brewery, we couldn’t be happier to open at the LAB Anti-Mall, which is based on fostering small businesses and creative brands,” Karpinski stated in the news release.
In the time between the idea for Ambitious Ales and the opening of the first location, the five founders were testing and experimenting with beer brewing and they remain curious about the beer making process, upgrading their infrastructure and using better ingredients as the business grows.
The ambition is evident in the numerous accolades Ambitious Ales have earned, including a Gold Medal at the 2024 Great American Beer Festival (GABF) for its hazy IPA, “Professional Human Being.” They have also earned multiple awards at the California Brewers Cup and in 2019, Ambitious Ales took home a Bronze Medal for its coffee beer, “Central Perk.”
Ambitious Ales in Costa Mesa will feature a lineup of quality handcrafted beers and small-batch and seasonal releases.
(Courtesy of Ambitious Ales)
Today, the brewery is known for its lineup of quality handcrafted beers and small-batch and seasonal releases. For opening weekend in Orange County, Ambitious Ales will pour a full tap list that introduces locals to all the beers they have to offer, like “Gandalf the Crisp,” a New Zealand-style Pilsner brewed with 100% Motueka hops and the fruit forward “Calamansi Corner,” a fruited Gose brewed with calamansi, cucumber, coriander and sea salt.
Along with an extensive tap list, attendees can also look forward to special limited merchandise, DJ’s spinning vinyl and food from Smoked & Salted Barbecue on Saturday and Hamburgers Nice on Sunday. Indoor and outdoor seating will be family and pet-friendly.
Karpinski said the team is looking forward to connecting with local beer enthusiasts in O.C. and joining the existing breweries in the city.
“We know Orange County and Costa Mesa specifically is full of craft beer lovers who will appreciate our approach to beer, creativity, and our strong sense of community,” Karpinski said.
Ambitious Ales is located at the LAB Anti-Mall, 696 Randolph Ave., Costa Mesa. Opening weekend is Oct. 24-25. For details go to ambitiousales.com.