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Entrepreneurs Raise a Glass to a Popular New Brew M ark Fitch and Scott Coming enjoy their day jobs. They would never channel crooner Johnny Paycheck and shout that familiar refrain, "Take this job and shove it." But like other dreamers, they smile in the mirror each morning before heading to work, knowing that it's all a prelude to a grand plan. For now, Fitch works by day as an accountant, and Coming forges ahead as a real estate agent/property manager, equally confident that one day soon their business cards will just say "brewer." "The thought of being full time in our brewery is still the ultimate dream job we are striving for," Coming says. In the meantime, beer flows freely at Monterey Bay Brewing Company, a new independent, small-batch brewery run by two dedicated dreamers who apparently need little sleep. Since 2013, the company has produced Mad Otter Ale, a classic American-style pale ale packed with notes of tan- gerine and grapefruit. The two friends always shared a love of beer. After attending the Mammoth Mountain Blues and Brews Festival, Fitch experienced first- hand how everyone was going "mad" over craft beer. The friends attend- ed together the following year and knew they wanted to bring that same excitement for craft beer to Monterey Bay. They started to homebrew out of their kitchens, and one day on a golf course the name Mad Otter Ale popped into Fitch's head. From that light- bulb moment the two have expanded the business, putting their beer into kegs and cans, and building partnerships—you can find Mad Otter at Tarpy's Roadhouse, Lalla Grill, Taste of Monterey, and others. "Our passion is to provide high quality ales to this area while having fun doing it," Fitch says. The first year of brewing proved so successful that they tapped out their production capacity. They hope to double production in 2015, and are also laying the groundwork for their own brewing facility. "All these signs only fuel our fire and make it clear that we have the makings of something special," Coming says. For more information, go to www.madotterale.com. —Larry Harland SHORTCUTS BUSINESS The microbrew renaissance continues with the Monterey Bay Brewing Company, home of Mad Otter Ale, created by Mark Fitch and Scott Coming. The small-batch beer, named after a day of golf, can be enjoyed at several local restaurants. 60 C A R M E L M A G A Z I N E • S P R I N G / S U M M E R 2 0 1 5 Photo: Kelli Uldall