As the official Grand Opening has yet to happen, the soft opening of Oakdale’s newest brewery, Dying Breed Brewing, seems to offer some poetic justice to the history behind the brewery’s name.

With owners Dan Wood, Joe Novotny and Josh Malcom serving as the trifecta of recent new-to-the-scene business owners, the men shared coming up with the “right” name was far from easy.

“It’s important because it sticks with you forever,” Joe Novotny said, noting the company business plan stems from the company name. “It’s your brand, your legacy, it’s what you become”

Novotny and Malcom, longtime childhood friends and Oakdale raised, along with Wood, felt the name “Dying Breed” pays proper homage to the tradition which Oakdale was founded on.

“When you think about Oakdale, truly it was a cattle town and it’s gone away,” Novotny said. “It has, it’s a dying breed, it really is. It’s all pasture of walnuts and almonds growing out there and as a kid growing up this was a cattle ranching community and it’s a dying breed.”

The trio shared the naming of their business at 963 Shepard Court, Suite B in Oakdale was one of the most important decisions made when they first kicked the idea around in early 2019.

“The name was really for us, to pay homage to the working class, the hard working people that stood up in our community,” Novotny continued, “and all the different ranchers out here that I have conversations with.”

With an original planned opening set for Rodeo Week in mid-April, the three partners learned to adapt and react quickly; no different than a rancher with some cattle that finds a hole in the barbed wire fence.

With hops brewing in anticipation of their opening and hopes brewing for a building full of cowgirls the Wednesday before Rodeo Weekend, the COVID-19 shutdown quickly changed everything.

But they have made it work, and on Friday, May 8 from 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., they will have the official release party for their ‘All Together Beer.’ To do so, they are inviting patrons to drive-thru the beer garden, order their beer and listen to an intimate jam session, courtesy of the Randy Mandy Band and Willy Tea Taylor performing on the main stage.

The three men said prior to the state mandated shutdown, they were pushing construction efforts, with friends and family giving their free time to help get the space ready for the mid-April event.

“I’ve always used the quote, ‘Never waste a crisis’,” Novotny shared.

And that they did not. Receiving an e-mail from CCBA (California Craft Brewers Association) stating that tap rooms were being closed, but allowing online sales, curbside and to go sales, they seized the opportunity.

With growlers in stock and six brews on tap, the team turned to social media promoting that they would be offering these options for the community and its patrons.

Within 90 minutes of that original post, they had sold out of growlers through curbside sales.

Thinking fast on their feet, with beer left to pour and a community anxious to try it, Malcom came across mason jars as a viable option. The team shared due to quality, mason jars are great for sales for immediate (two to three days) consumption, but not ideal for long team flavor.

Within two weeks on the curbside, online service they were complete in to go options (growlers, cans and mason jars), as well as swag.

“That was Joe,” Wood shared of the ability to jump in the can end of the business so quickly.

“I use the analogy multiple times, every small business owner is operating with quicksand under their feet. Every day you’re adjusting,” Novotny said. “In an environment like this you have to be able to adjust on a dime.”

Some might say you also have to be willing to operate on little sleep and commit to sweat equity. Each of the three partners additionally have day jobs, as do their spouses.

“It takes a village and we’ve got some great village people,” Novotny said of the help from friends and family.

“We don’t have any employees right now and we have people line up to buy beer at the curb, which was a misdemeanor a few weeks ago.” Malcom noted.

“If that’s the worst thing that has to happen, we’ll take those problems all day long,” he added, beaming. “I’m grateful to have those types of problems.”

Contrary to what some might think, the three men are equally grateful for the team of their neighbor and fellow craft brewer Last Call Brewing.

Noting a connection with Last Call business partner, Josh Garcia, Novotny and Malcom arranged for a meeting with the team before launching their own business plan.

“I think that’s what’s exciting about this industry. We have found very early on,” Novotny said, “the other craft brewers want to help you succeed.”

“We want to be about the experience. We want people to come in here and sit down and tell their story,” Wood shared of the space, which has yet to open to the community. “You know everybody has a story.”

Wood shared thoughts on conversation becoming a lost art and a desire to create a space where people can gather and visit. To encourage that connection, only one television occupies the brew space and an outdoor stage is the centerpiece of the patio area.

“Quality has always been a conversation,” Novotny said of the beer. “Experience has been really important, creating a great environment, but we want to have a quality product.”

So as the new brew business owners learn the ropes during a daunting period in history, they continue to share their gratitude to the community and their families for continued support during their short curbside hours. As they continued to be overwhelmed by the support, they spoke of how they could give back to the community, most specifically the hospitality business.

“For us the one thing we wanted to do, we wanted to figure out a way to pour something back to the hospitality industry,” Novotny said, noting the discovery of a collaboration brew spearheaded by a brewery in New York.

“They’ve given us the recipe and they’ve given us the branding rights and it’s one beer. Their only requirement is that we give back to our local community,” Novotny said of the soon to be released, All Together brew.

Currently approximately 15 barrels are brewing, which will provide 30 kegs for beer enthusiasts eager to not just quench their thirst but give back to the community.

“I want to give back to our local community. That was really important in our business plan,” Novotny said. “Whatever we do, we’re going to give back. How we give back and truly be that business that gets people to come into the community and give back to the community.”

The team has partnered with Oakdale Enrichment Society who will in turn distribute all profits from the brew to the locally owned businesses and bars.

As for the joy the business has brought them thus far, all three men share they each possess a passion not just for beer, but the community of Oakdale.

“People here are more grounded and more connected to the community,” Wood said. “The overwhelming response we’ve received so far makes it very important for us to give back to this community. Seeing the smiles on people’s faces when they come back over and over again and they enjoy the beer that’s really cool.”

“We want to be the place that everybody goes to and has a good time,” Malcom stated.

Dying Breed curbside hours are currently Wednesday through Friday 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.; Saturday noon to 7 p.m. and Sunday noon to 5 p.m. Information can also be found on their social media pages, Dying Breed Brewing.