San Diego Home-brewers out there???

[Huaco]

I will be going to San Diego for a professional conference in a few weeks. I will be staying downtown as my conference is at the convention center. Are there any home-brewers out that way that could tip me off to some good craft beer brewpubs in the downtown area? I will be staying so close to the convention center that I will not be needing a rent car, so I will just have to walk to see everything.

 

[Huaco]

Hello??? No good beer in San Diego?

 

[A4J]

There are no brewpubs within walking distance of the convention center/downtown. You'll probably find Stone in most of the bars downtown but you won't get a good sampling of the variety that's out there. Rock Bottom Brewery is in the Gas Lamp District/Downtown.

You can take the trolley and then walk a few blocks to Home Brew Mart/Ballast Point.,

If you can get a car, you can go to Stone Brewery, Encinitas Alehouse, Blind Lady Alehouse, Pizza Port, Oggi's, etc.

They do have bus tours that can take you to a few of the breweries.

 

[MadHopper]

Hey there. San Diego has loads of local breweries and great pubs that offer huge variety of craft beers.

Here are some suggestions for the downtown area:

1. The Neighborhood bar. http://neighborhoodsd.com/ Their food is very good as well.

2. Monkey's Paw, which has opened recently, seems to have a good selection of local beers on tap. But it will be bit of a walk http://monkeypawbrewing.com/ (they brew their own as well)

3. The Tilted Kilt - good selection of local, US-craft as well as import beers. Also, err....interesting servers http://sandiego.tiltedkilt.com/

4. Karl Strauss has their brewpub/restaurant in downtown: http://www.karlstrauss.com/PAGES/Eats/Downtown.html

5. Mission Brewery http://missionbrewery.com/ (bit of a walk)

If you are here on a Wednesday - you an think of catching this free bus that goes around all the major brewpubs: http://sddrinkabout.blogspot.com/

You can also take the trolley and the Coaster train to Carlsbad and try the Pizza Port there (right next to the station).

Most downtown pubs/bars will also have a selection of local craft brews. When I am in d/t for conferences etc, I usually enjoy going into The Fields (on 5th Ave) - nice Irish pub with live music almost every evening.

Hope this helps - will post more if I remember any other place. I am sure many other San Diegans will chime in soon!

(btw, which conference are you attending?).

 

[spiny_norman]

Downtown Johnny Brown's is also... downtown; they have an excellent draft selection. Also check out The Local.

Also check this out:

http://beermapping.com/maps/citymaps.php?m=sandiego

 

[Balue]

Besides above mentioned, the south park area is not a far cab ride from down town and has a great line up of pubs in the area, hamilton's, whistle stop, linkery just to name a few. There is also the Stone Company store in south park with tasting bar, $5 gets you a 4 taster flight and you get to keep the tasting glass, they do growler fills and bottle sales as well. They also have weekly and weekend special taps and/or limited release bottles for sale.

I will second the Ballast Point/Home Brew Mart visit. I am there weekly doing tastings, growler fills and getting supplies. They have a 15 tap line up with most of the taps pouring their special releases some of which are only available there.

 

[Huaco]

So the website for the bus said it is NOT a pub crawl. What does that mean? How exactly does the bus thing work?

 

[chemman14]

Besides above mentioned, the south park area is not a far cab ride from down town and has a great line up of pubs in the area, hamilton's, whistle stop, linkery just to name a few. There is also the Stone Company store in south park with tasting bar, $5 gets you a 4 taster flight and you get to keep the tasting glass, they do growler fills and bottle sales as well. They also have weekly and weekend special taps and/or limited release bottles for sale.

I will second the Ballast Point/Home Brew Mart visit. I am there weekly doing tastings, growler fills and getting supplies. They have a 15 tap line up with most of the taps pouring their special releases some of which are only available there.

I wish my LHBS had 15 taps!!!

 

[VanHorneDog]

There are no brewpubs within walking distance of the convention center/downtown. You'll probably find Stone in most of the bars downtown but you won't get a good sampling of the variety that's out there. Rock Bottom Brewery is in the Gas Lamp District/Downtown.

You can take the trolley and then walk a few blocks to Home Brew Mart/Ballast Point.,

If you can get a car, you can go to Stone Brewery, Encinitas Alehouse, Blind Lady Alehouse, Pizza Port, Oggi's, etc.

They do have bus tours that can take you to a few of the breweries.

False, there are 4 Brewpubs downtown (Karl Strauss, Rock Bottom, Monkey Paw and Beer Co.) there is also Mission Brewery right next to the Baseball Stadium, all of which are walkable from the Convention Center. 20 minutes tops. Downtown San Diego is very walkable.

 

[Huaco]

False, there are 4 Brewpubs downtown (Karl Strauss, Rock Bottom, Monkey Paw and Beer Co.) there is also Mission Brewery right next to the Baseball Stadium, all of which are walkable from the Convention Center. 20 minutes tops. Downtown San Diego is very walkable.

I will actually be staying a bit north of the Convention Center. The Holiday Inn right next to the Aircraft Carrier. I am guessing my walk will be 20 min one way as the hotel is about a mile from the Convention Center. I may have to find a few places on the way back that I can frequent after the convention is done for the day!