Passion for Brewing: Meet Cerveceria Del Pueblo

(This story originally appeared in the Visit Pasadena 2023 Summer Guide, penned by Ramona Saviss. All photos are our own.)

Martin Quinones seemed destined to open a craft brewery. Born and raised in Bogota, Colombia, he moved to L.A. for film school and spent 14 years as a sound editor — brewing beer at home was just a hobby. After losing his passion for sound editing, Quinones realized craft beer was his true love. In 2017, he found a place in Pasadena to start a brewery, created a business plan, and began the process of getting permits.

Quinones launched Cervecería Del Pueblo in 2020, though the start of a pandemic was admittedly not the ideal time to open a brewery. He quickly pivoted and began packaging beer to go, selling more than 15,000 cans. In 2021, he finally was able to open his first taproom on West Bellevue Drive. “It was amazing to see people drink our beer and smile,” he says.

Now, Quinones aims to bring new cultures to his patrons through the South American ingredients he
brews with — like Colombian coffee, Argentinian yerba mate, Peruvian quinoa, and Ecuadorian cacao. His brewery also hosts comedy nights, paint classes, open mics, musical bingo, trivia, and run club meetups. As explained by Cerveceria Del Pueblo’s manifesto, it’s about building a sense of community.

“A brewery being a communal space has to be inclusive, welcoming and safe,” he says. “Our community makes us who we are."