Brewed with Matador Spirit

hat started as a homebrewing experiment in their garage more than a decade ago has grown into a cornerstone of the San Fernando Valley’s craft beer scene. Back then, Derrick Olson ’10 (Manufacturing Systems Engineering) was a recent CSUN grad and an engineer with a homebrewing hobby. Today, alongside his cousin and business partner, Bryan Olson, he’s the owner and force behind 8one8 Brewing, a local hotspot that blends community with the art of craft brewing.

The sale of the duo’s first wholesale keg in late 2015 marked a turning point, solidifying the Olsons’ transition from hobbyists to professional brewers. With momentum building, the cousins continued to expand their vision for the brewery. In May 2018, they opened their tasting room on De Soto Avenue in Canoga Park — a welcoming, communal hub where customers could gather and enjoy a frosty pint.

A decade later, the Olson cousins are raising a glass to celebrate 8one8 Brewing’s 10-year anniversary (which fell on, what else? Aug. 18, 2025: 8/18), reflecting on their journey from local garage and side hustle to beloved watering hole, community sponsor and Valley fixture.

“We’re hyper-local. Our name itself is the Valley,” Bryan Olson said. “We’re rooted here and proud to be here. We’re not trying to be the biggest, but we are trying to be the brewery that feels like home to anyone in the 818.”

The Olsons’ odyssey into the world of professional craft beer began with homebrewing in June 2012. Equipped with an extract kit — a beginner-friendly tool they picked up from a local homebrew shop — the cousin duo crafted their first blonde ale.

Through career shifts, from working as a freelance engineer to serving as a tooling engineer at SpaceX — where he specialized in designing and maintaining manufacturing tools and equipment— homebrewing remained a steady passion for Derrick. Inspired to take his hobby to the next level, he fine-tuned his recipes and his process, focusing on creating craft beer that was consistently high quality.

“For me it was about repetition — how well I could do the same beer, make it more efficiently and improve the flavor profile of it,” he said. “I focused on the quality aspects of beer and how to hit those marks every time.”

The Olson cousins shifted from weekend experiments to a steady weekly routine, fueled by the enthusiasm of their thirsty and supportive friends. Then, one pivotal day, they decided to transform their homebrewing into a full-fledged business after a close friend tipped them off to an available lease — on De Soto Avenue, across from Aerojet Rocketdyne. The tap room, which 8one8 Brewing still calls home today, is just 4 miles southwest of campus.

After completing the required renovations, the cousins officially received approval to open for business on Aug. 18, 2015, three years after their first successful homebrew batch. A nod to the Valley’s iconic area code and their venture’s birthdate, 8one8 Brewing was born.

Derrick credited much of his career and business success to the engineering education he received at CSUN. Esteemed professors such as Tarek Shraibati (now with the Robotics Education & Competition Foundation) provided him with invaluable knowledge that later enhanced his understanding of the technical and managerial aspects of running the brewery, Olson said.

“A big part of a manufacturing and systems engineering degree is the management side, doing cost analysis on [brewing] equipment and determining if it’s worth building or buying,” he said. “It ties in with the understanding of how to build an efficient facility with the mindset of minimizing your constant expenses.”

Olson’s engineering expertise proved efficient and cost effective — not to mention creative — as the first brewing system he designed, a five-gallon kettle paired with a turkey fryer, remains fully functional and is still in use at the brewery. Later, he constructed a 31-gallon tank for brewing test batches, a key step in developing the wide variety of beers on tap.

“At its core, brewing is the same — water, malt, hops, yeast — but the scale and philosophy differ. For us, it’s hands on,” Bryan said. “Derrick and the brew team are literally touching or checking every detail during the process. At 8one8, we keep it small enough to stay connected to the beer and the people drinking it.”

This philosophy extends to their relationship with CSUN, a partnership that has grown alongside the brewery.

“CSUN is part of the Valley’s DNA, and as a Valley business, supporting them feels natural,” Bryan said. “It’s great to bring it back home, and I hope that it’s inspiring to students to see that someone who graduated from here now has his beer on campus,” Derrick added.

As an alumnus, he’s discovered meaningful ways to give back to his alma mater, from partnering on alumni events and pouring beer at athletics fundraisers to honoring the university’s mascot with the brewery’s Matador Red ale. Their beer is also proudly served at The Soraya, CSUN’s renowned performing arts center.

Derrick’s innovative approach to brewing built a solid foundation for 8one8 Brewing. However, the road hasn’t always been smooth. When the COVID pandemic struck, the cousins had to lean on their resourcefulness and resilience to keep the brewery thriving.

To adapt, 8one8 Brewing invested in their own canning line and launched a refillable growler service, allowing customers to enjoy reusable bottles of their craft beer.

“Locals showed up for us with continued support to make sure we were around when the world re-opened,” Bryan said.

“People would come by two or three times a day to get their growler filled. They understood and saw that we’re a small business trying to make it,” Derrick added.

As restrictions eased, 8one8 Brewing began its recovery. The cousins saw an opportunity to enhance the taproom by adding food. Together, they debuted Osborne Pizza Kitchen (a nod to their Osborne Street cross street), offering patrons their take on Italian food to complement their brew of choice. The menu, featuring freshly made pizzas, has been a hit and pairs perfectly with the brewery’s 28 beers on tap.

“Opening the restaurant felt like a necessity to us,” Derrick said. “People want to go out and enjoy great food and beer in one place.”

The cousins have observed a shift in customer trends and preferences, with less focus on beer alone and a growing demand for a complete experience. They’ve embraced this change by offering live music, trivia nights, a popular “818 Oktoberfest” celebration, and even weekly community bike rides to keep customers engaged and connected.

“To be a successful entrepreneur, you have to be ready to adapt to your audience,” Derrick said. “You can’t be stuck in a rut. You have to listen, be dynamic and be aware of what the trends are, what’s changing and go in that direction.”

The Olson cousins’ commitment to variety extends to their brewing. They’ve retained their penchant for experimentation, catering to adventurous craft beer enthusiasts and those seeking classic flavors. In fact, 40 to 50 percent of 8one8’s craft beers are experiments or trials.

To commemorate their 10-year anniversary, Derrick and the 8one8 brew crew crafted Cold Reputation, an experimental IPA that bursts with citrusy, piney, tropical and berry notes and reflects his passion for innovation and creativity.

“Craft and independence mean freedom,” Bryan said. “It means we can experiment, make a beer just for our neighborhood or collaborate with local businesses without answering to a boardroom somewhere. Our identity is shaped by that flexibility — and every pint reflects that.”

8one8’s distribution footprint spans the Valley and greater Los Angeles and Ventura Counties.

Seeing their beers featured in restaurants and retailers across the region — from local favorites like Finney’s Crafthouse and Kitchen to national chains such as Yard House and Total Wine & More — is a milestone that reflects how far they’ve come, Derrick said.

“It’s rewarding seeing our beer in over 85 different restaurants and over 100 bottle shops and box stores,” he said. “I run every canning line session with the brew crew, so every beer that’s out there, I helped can.”

The cousins are looking ahead, with ambitious plans for 8one8 Brewing.

“I see us still here in Canoga Park, still independent, and hopefully recognized as one of L.A.’s most important craft breweries,” Bryan said. “I’d like to see us expand our footprint, with maybe a second tasting room and a stronger retail presence — but always rooted in the 818.”

Reaching this point has required more than just crafting great beer. For the duo, it’s also been about embracing the challenges and lessons that come with running a business.

“Be ready to hustle and sacrifice harder than you thought possible,” Bryan advised aspiring entrepreneurs. “What your business does is the fun part, but actually running a business is where the real work comes in. Surround yourself with people who balance your strengths and weaknesses, and never lose sight of why you started in the first place.”

“It’s so important that people understand what makes a craft brewery. Independent breweries like us, their main driver is passion,” Derrick said. “When you’re doing something you love, you put more into what you do. You’re going to get a higher quality product.”