Founded 10 years ago by Derek Lloyd and Scott Stokes, La Quinta Brewing Co. has quickly gained popularity throughout the desert region.
“Forecasting has never been my strong suit, but we’ll continue to make great beer and support the community here in the desert for as long as we can,” said Derek Lloyd, cofounder of La Quinta Brewing Co., he told Coachella Valley Times when asked about the future of the brewery.
Lloyd, who has been in the adult beverage sales business since age 21, worked for a Coors distributor in the late 1990s and for a wine and spirit distributor in the desert in 2002. He admitted that opening the brewery was Stokes’s idea, who is a desert native and former home brewer. Lloyd was brought on as a partner before starting the brewery in early 2013 and opening its first location that November. The main brewing location is on Technology Drive in Palm Desert, as well as two taproom locations in Palm Springs and La Quinta.
“Scott did a lot of home brewing and was spending some time in Coronado and San Diego… visiting all the breweries that were popping up there and how the community got behind them,” Lloyd said.
They closed the original brewery in 2021 and opened their current location in Palm Desert in late June of that year.
“We have a full kitchen, expanded taps and wine selection. It has an indoor-outdoor feel to it, with a firepit, beer garden and stage for live music outside. We have an event and dining space that makes you feel like you are in the brewery,” Lloyd said.
Despite its relatively short existence, La Quinta Brewing has already won numerous awards. In 2014, La Quinta won a bronze medal for its Indian Canyon IPA at the San Diego International Beer Competition, followed by another bronze medal for the One Eleven Pale Ale at the Los Angeles International Beer Competition. More recently, La Quinta won a Silver Medal for its Tan Line Brown Ale at the 2015 San Diego International Beer Competition, and in 2016 it won a Gold at the World Beer Cup for their Bourbon Barrel Aged Koffi Porter. In 2018, La Quinta took home seven medals, including a Gold Medal for its Even Par 7.2 IPA at the U.S. Open Beer Championships.
La Quinta Brewing embodies the laid-back desert lifestyle. Lloyd and Stokes are supporters of local events throughout the Coachella Valley area and strive to bring locals and visitors superior craft beer with a fun, resort-style vibe unique to the area. La Quinta beer can be found in over 175 bars and restaurants in the desert area, and five of their beer styles are sold in 16-ounce cans available at retailers throughout the desert.
Lloyd and Stokes recently constructed a 14,000-square-foot facility that houses a 15-barrel brewhouse capable of producing over 10,000 barrels annually, along with a full-service kitchen and 24 tap handles, including guest brews and wine.
“We specialize in ales… Indian pale ale, blondes, ambers… but we’ve been having success with some of the lagers as well. Two specifically, our fall seasonal, Desert Fest Marzen, and our Una Mas Por Favor Mexican Lager,” Lloyd told Coachella Valley Times.