By Damariz Arevalo, May 6, 2025
Innovation Brew Works celebrated its 10-year anniversary with live music, brewery tours, new food and beers Saturday, April 30.
Five new beers were showcased, including Prep Rally, a drink infused with Cal Poly Pomona grown Meyer lemons; Regenerative Studies made with Saison and CPP wild sage honey from the Lyle Center; Study Hall, a CPP orange juice mimosa seltzer base; and Bus Stop, a tangerine Indian Pale Ale with CPP grown pixie.
Steven Mendoza, a crew member of IBW, explained the process to make new beers involves checking what the seasonal produce at CPP is and experimenting with what produce might pair well with the beer. They also go through the creative process of relating the beer names to the life of a college student.
Eric Bassett, the brewery operations manager, has been with Brew Works for eight years and has seen the growth of the brewery. He arrived early before the event started to set up and to celebrate the anniversary.
“It’s crazy how 10 years flies by really quick,” Bassett said. “And the progression of the quality of both the food and beer and the interaction with the campus, students and different departments as well.”
CPP Bronco Pep Band, CPP Jazz Combo, Ravencrest and EKY’s World played live music at the event. The sound of the Bronco Pep Band was heard from the parking lot, and they played different popular songs such as “APT” by Rosé and Bruno Mars.
Bronco Pep Band director Manuel Gonzales, a mechanical engineering student, expressed playing at events has helped other students and himself to have a mental break from studying.
Alfred Hernandez, a hospitality management student and member of the Cal Poly Rose Float club, attended the event to promote the club and said he enjoyed the experience.
“I really like the music, especially the music right now that’s playing is a jazz kind of vibe,” Hernandez said. “I like the vibe, and it matches the gloomy kind of day.”
Alan Chadwick is a plant science student and a member of CPP Apiary, which is a club about learning how to work with and tend to bees and how to make things with their honey.
Apiary is intertwined with one of the newest beers, which Innovation Brew Works showcased.
“The energy is really good in here,” said Isabel Carrero, a communications coordinator for CPP Enterprises. “I love the live music and all the new beers. I’m going to try the Bus Stop, it’s a tangerine IPA, apparently. It’s really citrus heavy. I think they use the CPP forms of oranges with it, so I’m really excited to try it.”
There was a 10-year IBW commemorative cup available to buy in addition to testers of the new beers, and guests who came to the event also had the option to take pictures at the photo booth with the IBW logo.
Basset is expecting more growth for IBW in the future, such as getting their beer into local restaurants and bars. Their beer, West Coast IPA, will be served at the 2025 LA County Fair.
Feature image courtesy of Damariz Arevalo
