Beer with an Angry Ferret
Although ferrets (the rodents) may be energetic and challenging critters, at the Angry Ferret Brewing Company in Moorpark the atmosphere is chill, relaxed and fun.
Terry Baker, who co-owns the pub with wife Angel Baker, has been brewing beers as a hobby for 23 years.
“Both my wife and I are of English, Irish and Scottish descent, and we always liked those styles of beers,” says Terry, who originally worked in information technology. “In 2016, I had a midcareer change forced on me. I was looking around at everything and decided, ‘Ehhh, let’s take the plunge, get a business plan together and open our own brewery.’ Here we are.”
The couple carefully researched beers by making multiple trips to Europe to explore pubs.
“We focused on Irish/English beers and how they are different: For sampling styles, we traveled to Europe quite a bit. We tried local beers over there. I learned how it’s brewed pretty much the same as an IPA, and how it’s also close to Germans, who also have a few different recipes,” says Terry.
Both the simplicity and complexity of beer brewing have fueled Terry’s passion. “It’s just the number of varieties you can come up with. There’re only four ingredients to beer. But with the grains that are available to us, we can mix things from very light flavored to very dark heavy flavors, by mixing the different flavors.”
In May 2021, Terry and Angel opened the Angry Ferret Brewing Company pub at 11990 Hertz Ave., Moorpark. Terry says the name came about because they used to raise ferrets as pets. “When it came time to name the business, we were sitting around and that popped up and it just kind of stuck,” says Terry.
Terry brews his small-batch beers in back, while Angel brings fun and games to the front of the pub, which is decorated with dark furniture that encourages communal seating.
“It’s a standard pub where you come to enjoy yourself, where you’ll find people you never would have spoken to,” says Angel. “We don’t have TVs. We promote people actually talking to each other and enjoying each other’s company. I’m kind of an outgoing person so often I’ll start the conversation.”
Besides a foosball table, there are two steel-tip dartboards available, and Angel says she’s trying to start a team for league play. There are also trivia nights and board game nights, as well as entertainment on weekends.
For the winter months, Angel says she hopes to introduce a new seasonal concept drink. “I’d like to try to experiment with a milk stout and make it into a hot chocolate,” she says.
Terry says that he uses a small brewing system that makes limited amounts of ale, which affords him flexibility. “I’ve got a three-barrel system that makes 100 gallons per batch. Compared with other breweries that’s tiny,” says Terry, adding that other brewmasters at larger places in town have been very helpful. “All of the local breweries are good. But I can play around a bit more because I’m not [at risk of] ruining a big batch. Because I’m new at this, I’m always concentrating on getting everything right. It’s all about the product at the end.”
The pub doesn’t offer food, but during weekends various food trucks come and offer noshes to go with the ale.
Terry says the reception from the community has been warm. “All of the people who’ve been in here liked the beer and liked atmosphere,” he says. “We’re still in the stage of getting the word out. But once [people] get in, they like it.”
For more information visit AngryFerretBrewing.com/wp or call 805-209-5963.
