There’s a new craft beer brewery in Clovis — plus a new name for its Fresno location
Summer Fox Brewing Company isn’t new to the Fresno area, but you might not know it by that name.
Formerly Amalgamation Brewing, there’s a lot more going on in this Fresno-based business. In addition to the new name, it’s got a new brewery in Clovis and the business is partially funding a new nonprofit that helps foster kids.
Amalgamation opened in late 2019 in northwest Fresno, on Santa Fe Avenue, south of Herndon and Milburn avenues.
The owners chose the name because they wanted to convey a sense of bringing people and things together. That’s why they serve beer from other breweries, in addition to their own.
But Amalgamation turned out to be a bit of a mouthful for customers, said Kevin Lisitsin, who owns the brewery and Rocket Dog Brats & Brew with his wife Sarah and another couple, Bethany and Gary Hsia.
So they recently changed the name to Summer Fox. The Hsias’ last name means summer in Chinese. And Lisitsin means fox in Russian.
The name change comes just in time for the new brewery.
It opens at 4 p.m. Friday, April 8 on Clovis Avenue, north of Gettysburg Avenue, in the same shopping center as Valley Rod & Gun. The spot was once occupied by ISH Brewing.
Clovis breweries
Like so many Clovis breweries, it’s not far from a trail, making the brewery accessible by bike or on foot. The Fresno-Clovis Rail Trail is across Clovis Avenue.
It’s also a bit of a return to Clovis for the owners, who used to have a Rocket Dog location there, but closed it during the pandemic.
Summer Fox bought the brewing equipment and is leasing the space. It’s still brewing beer at the northwest Fresno location and will brew at the new one too.
It has 24 taps featuring its own beer and brews from other breweries.
Expect craft beers like their Llamas in the Fog, a milkshake IPA named for its foggy appearance.
Both that beer and Summer Fox’s red ale won awards in a recent competition.
The new location has a big bar and a stage for live music, TVs and plenty of room for just hanging out.
Like its other location, it will be family friendly and serve wine. It will also serve pizza and flatbread.
The business funds a nonprofit
The owners also recently founded a nonprofit organization, called Diligent Heart.
The Lisitsins fostered two kids and then adopted them. During that process, they learned about the challenges older foster kids often face.
“When foster kids turn 18, they just basically go on the street,” Kevin Lisitsin said. “In some cases they become homeless.”
Less than 3% graduate college.
Diligent Heart is in the beginning stages of forming a network of mentors to help foster kids ages 15 to 25 as they age out of the system. Like helping them find jobs, for example.
Summer Fox and Rocket Dog will partially fund the organization, he said.
The nonprofit will soon be looking for people to serve on committees and its board. An informational meeting about it is scheduled for 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., Tuesday, April 26 at the northwest Fresno Summer Fox.
Details: Summer Fox Brewing is at 2700 Clovis Ave. in Clovis. The Fresno Summer Fox Brewing is at 6585 North Santa Fe Avenue. Hours at both are noon to 7 p.m. Sundays, 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. Fridays and noon to 11 p.m. Saturdays. 559-375-1771.
This story was originally published April 7, 2022 at 5:00 AM.
