PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID ENCINITAS, CA 92024 PERMIT NO. 94
THE COAST NEWS
.com LOCAL, INDEPENDENT, TRUSTED
VOL. 39, N0. 40
Oct. 3, 2025
SAN MARCOS -NEWS
Business
Black Plague closes
.com THE VISTA NEWS
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Gothic brewery exits O’side, Esco By Samantha Nelson
ESCONDIDO — After eight years of serving craft beer in North County, Black Plague Brewing permanently closed its Oceanside and Escondido locations over the weekend. The brewery, known for its Gothic-inspired branding, opened in 2016 in Oceanside under the leadership of retired professional skateboarder Jordan Hoffart, marketer Jarred Doss, and other partners. Despite being tucked away inland, the brewery quickly became a regional hit. In 2022, Black Plague launched the Purgatory Lounge, a 2,400-square-foot taproom with a kitchen and 1,400-square-foot backyard in downtown Escondido. The venue partnered with Full Metal Burgers for food service until the collaboration ended last year. Following the lounge’s success, Hoffart and Doss opened a third location, Dearly Departed, in North Park at University Avenue and 29th Street. According to San Diego Beer News, the brewery hoped its proximity to The Observatory music venue would drive foot traffic, but the bar struggled to capture an audience and closed earlier this spring. Black Plague officially shuttered its Oceanside and Escondido sites on Sept. 28. Over the years, the company collected awards at the San Diego TURN TO BLACK PLAGUE ON 15
RANCHO SFNEWS
.com BAVARIAN BUDDIES: Encinitas resident Mila Romero, 4, left, and Aliza Erickson, 5, of Del Cerro, smile in traditional German folk outfits during the 29th annual Encinitas Oktoberfest on Sept. 28. The family-friendly street festival, organized by the Encinitas Chamber of Commerce, drew a crowd with live music, German food and beer, Bavarian dancers, a parade, vendors and activities. Photos on 34. Photo by Paul Nestor
NCTD pilots zero-emission trains By Leo Place
OCEANSIDE — The North County Transit District is flirting with the concept of zero-emission trains, via a planned pilot program with the California State Department of Transportation. NCTD has expressed interest in entering into an agreement with the state Department of Transportation, or Caltrans, to test out a fleet of zero-emission trains based on Swiss manufacturer Stadler’s Fast Light Innovative Rail Trains, or FLIRT. The fleet of 10 hybrid hydrogen fuel cell and battery vehicles, known as FLIRT H2, is expect-
ed to arrive by late 2027 or early 2028. Caltrans contracted with Stadler back in 2023 to procure the trains and is currently completing the final design phase. In the meantime, the agency has been assessing potential areas to deploy them and testing their feasibility, Caltrans Rail Division Chief Kyle Gradinger told the NCTD Board of Directors on September 18. After examining infrastructure and service patterns throughout the state, Caltrans identified the San Diego County A STADLER FLIRT H2 train, above, is powered by hydrogen fuel cells TURN TO FLIRT ON 15
and batteries. North County Transit District and Caltrans will pilot a fleet of the zero-emission trains in San Diego County by 2028. Courtesy photo
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