Fountain of brews

It was one chilly morning in 2016 and Daniel Moffatt could see his breath as he dropped cascade hops into a stainless steel brew tank. He’d been brewing since 4 a.m and after what felt like forever, he and his business partner Mark Bojescu grabbed a pint glass to finally taste the first beer to be served at their new venture, Fountainhead Brewing Company.

Months later—and many brewing experiments later—they finally opened their doors to the public.

“We had no idea what to expect, but it was a great feeling,” Bojescu said. “It was definitely a high-five moment.”

Tucked away on 24th Street near Sacramento City College, the brewery is small but boasts an open patio, where umbrella-covered tables and games such as a giant Connect Four make for an inviting space.

Moffatt and Bojescu recently celebrated their third-year anniversary in April; it wasn’t easy getting there.

Back in 2013, Moffatt and Bojescu both worked at a home improvement store. One day after work, the two decided to blow off steam at a nearby brewhouse. A few adult beverages later, Bojescu confided in Moffatt that he wanted to open his own restaurant. Moffatt jokingly said he could make the beer because he’s a homebrewer.

“After we sobered up, we kept on talking about it so we knew were serious,” Bojescu said. “All good ideas [happen] over a beer, right?”

The two entrepreneurs set out to learn more. The restaurant side fell through—too expensive with licensing hurdles they didn’t want to deal with—but they continued with the brewery idea, rallying investors to chip in.

One of the first things they did was visit other local other breweries to see how they ran their business. “We did a lot of quote-unquote market research—going to breweries and drinking beer,” Moffatt said.

They also needed a location; in 2014 Bojescu asked his dad, who owned an old mechanic shop on 24th Street. Bojescu’s father agreed to rent them the space and the friends spent the summer transforming the grease-covered structure into a craft beer hotspot.

One of the biggest challenges was coming up with a name. Moffatt tapped into his love of books to brainstorm titles. The pair finally settled on paying homage to Ayn Rand’s The Fountainhead.

In the years since they opened, many other breweries have also popped up. They say what sets them apart now is that they don’t just provide customers with trendy beers, but offer a pleasingly aesthetic environment.

“Our customers love coming here because we are always behind the bar interacting with them,” Bojescu said.

Reflecting on how far the two have come, Moffatt views Fountainhead as a labor of love.

“[At] our anniversary party it was amazing to see all the people come out and they celebrate with you,” Moffatt said. “It makes it worth it and your passion shows and what you do, and that, people will appreciate.”