Golden hour crept on a Thursday afternoon, as the sunshine rays fell atop the industrial chic building that is Innovation Brew Works. The late week lull opens up to the buzz of conversations and clinking glasses as you walk through the doors. The tables filled with students from the Mt. SAC nursing program, eagerly releasing the stress of today’s class with a cold one. The warm air blows past your face as the student worker opens the oven to retrieve the next customer’s pizza order. A whiff of hops and dough greeted the olfactory in the nasal cavity.
Here lies, Cal Poly Pomona’s hidden gem.
Innovation Brew Works (IBW), nestled in the hills of Pomona, between Mt. SAC and Cal Poly, is a pioneer of its time as America’s first education brewery/restaurant operating on a college campus. The brainchild G. Paul Storey opened its doors with the embodiment of the university’s “learn by doing” philosophy. Not only is this establishment a functioning brewery, but it also serves as a classroom, where students gain practical experience in hospitality, business operations, and of course, brewery.
The menu at IBW perfectly complements its wide range of craft beers with a variety of made to order items such as salads, sandwiches, and pizzas. Many ingredients are sourced directly from Cal Poly Pomona’s own farms. This farm to table approach ensures freshness and supports sustainable practices while also enhancing the quality of their food.
Today I tried the Elote Pizza with hot cheetos.
Imagine a street corn vendor crashing into acollege frat party.
The base starts with a perfect crisp thin crust, but sturdy enough to hold the circus tent of flavors on top. Rather than the classic marinara sauce we are all used to, it is layered with a creamy elote style sauce with cotija cheese, mayonnaise, lime and a small kick of chile powder. Roasted corn kernels sprinkled over generously like a layer of fresh snow blanketed atop your mom’s car on Christmas morning. This pizza is one that demands your full attention … and a few napkins. Overall I would rate it 8.5/10.
As Innovation Brew Works continually evolves, its core mission remains unchanged. This unique craft campus venture is a perfect blend of education, community, and creativity.