A behind-the-scenes ownership change at a popular Fresno brewery means two new labels for the company. Meanwhile, work is nearing completion for the former Audie’s Olympic space in the Tower District.

Summer Fox Brewing began as a project between two Fresno couples. But now one of those couples has stepped aside and, with their exit, three other brewers and a longtime employee have taken on ownership roles.

The new team brings together colleagues who have been intertwined for years.

“Going back prior to Summer Fox, they’ve been a part of our journey and alongside us, doing their thing and doing our thing as we’re moving along, and now those lines are intersecting,” said Bethany Hsai, co-owner and co-founder of Summer Fox.

Ownership Brings Two Brands Under Summer Fox Umbrella

Owners of Grayview Brewing, Jason Gray and Jason Hatwig have been brewing out of Summer Fox since their former location in downtown Fresno burned. While the Grayview beers have been featured at the Summer Fox for a long time, the duo will also be guiding forces at the brewery.

With his new role, Summer Fox’s head brewer Alex Van Horne will bring back the Intergalactic Brewing label he started in San Diego.

He came to Fresno after his wife got a job at the Chaffee Zoo and Project Survival Cat Haven. Having previously owned his own business, he said he liked making decisions and being a leader.

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“That’s kind of the natural progression of things, and especially in this industry where you go from people working from the people working the tap room and there’s usually only a level or two before you get to the owner,” Van Horne said.

That progression describes Kyle Matuszewicz, now also an owner.

Hsai said they originally hired him to pour beer but they found out he was a great manager. They offered him the role and he left his other job to take on Summer Fox full time.

Summer Fox Tower Looks to Fall Opening.

Work is well underway on what will be Summer Fox Tower, Hsai said. The space will occupy where longtime music venue and bar Club Fred used to be. Others may remember it as Audie’s Olympic and more recently Full Circle Olympic.

After their Clovis location and Fresno, this will be their third location.

They plan for a fall opening.

“You always have hang-ups and things, right? But we’re going to do it as quickly as possible, hopefully in the fall, if not sooner,” Hsai said.

It will have the same beers and events as the other locations, but ownership likes to give each location its own identity to match the area. The Clovis location has line dancing that Fresno doesn’t have, Hsai said.

Fresno has most of the “Meet the Brewer” events.

At Summer Fox Tower, they’ve put up the original posters of shows the historic venue has hosted. They’ve also kept the stage and it will be a major focus for that location.

“We do have music at our other locations as well, but we’ve got that stage beautifully set up already, and so we’re going to definitely lean into that,” Hsai said.

Lost Half Their Original Ownership

When the group was trying to figure out shares with new ownership, former owners and co-founders Sarah and Kevin Lisitsin decided it was time to part ways, Kevin Lisitsin said.

“It’s been a great journey, we’ve been business partners with Gary and Bethan Hsai for 12 years,” Lisitsin said.

While not big drinkers, Lisitsin said he and Sarah will still go to Summer Fox.

“Now it’s on our own tab, too, so that’s going to make a big difference,” Lisitsin joked.

The Lisitsins started the company with the Gary and Bethany Hsai after meeting the couple at Well Community Church.

The Hsais found a mission in South Africa providing goat milk to breastfeeding mothers to provide more nutrition. As a vet, Gary Hsai cared for the livestock. But the couple needed money to continue the mission.

The four of them came up with a plan to develop passive income. That plan was Rocket Dog.

The mission suddenly ended so the need stopped but the two couples kept Rocket Dog. After Rocket Dog came Amalgamation Brewing. And, with a name change a few years later, that became Summer Fox, one in Clovis and one in northwest Fresno.

Summer Fox was never their full-time job, and with turmoil in the insurance industry, Lisitsin said the focus will be on his own business.

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Lisitsin still maintains a nonprofit providing mentors to underprivileged and foster youth called Diligent Heart. Funds from Rocket Dog supported that mission.

“We’re excited for Alex, our brewer, he’s fantastic, our general manager, Kyle, another fantastic human being,” Lisitsin said. “Our friends still go over there, I’ve helped build that community. Most of those people over there are people I know.”