The Ingleside Light Marks 17 Years With Craft Beer Icon Dave McLean

Local craft beer legend David McLean held forth in a Q&A at Ocean Ale House on Sept. 5 as part of an intimate celebration for The Ingleside Light’s 17th anniversary.

The news publication’s founder and publisher, Alex Mullaney, interviewed McLean for the beer lovers who lined up at the bar for beers from McLean’s new brewery, Hidden Splendor.

McLean introduced “Just a Dream” as a British-inspired, yet modern take on an extra pale ale, a light and bright pilsner malt that straddles both English and American brewing styles.

Next up was “Going Home”, an ESB, extra special bitter, a traditional English style beer. 

“Despite the name, bitters aren't usually very bitter,” McLean said. “It's a really balanced beer. It's meant to be in England, in a pub, a sessionable beer that you drink five of.”

After years of brewing malts at his former company, Magnolia Brewing Company, McLean reconsidered the environmental impact of shipping thousands of pounds of malt overseas while based in the agriculturally rich state of California, leading him to create his own malting company, Admiral Maltings.

After reflecting on San Francisco’s beer identity, McLean announced his plans to open the Hidden Splendor pub, currently dubbed “Excelsior,” in San Rafael by early 2026 in honor of the Excelsior neighborhood where he lived for many years.

“Feels awesome to be back here, both back here at Ocean Ale House, because I love this place, and just back doing this,” he said.

After eight years of malting and focusing mainly on the agricultural side of brewing, McLean said he was happy to be back connecting with customers at the bar.

“There's something about making beer and connecting with those people, who ultimately are the ones who drink the beer. And so just this whole return to brewing and the things like this that it entails, it's pretty special.”