The San Diego area thread

[FoudreGuy]

My parents are in San Diego right now for a few days. Anywhere specific they should hit up or anything they should track down and drink? They're really into craft beer but not dialed into social media.

 

[bathroomlaughter]

My parents are in San Diego right now for a few days. Anywhere specific they should hit up or anything they should track down and drink? They're really into craft beer but not dialed into social media.

where are they staying

 

[Sage1]

where are they staying

And what styles do they like?

Also note, I recently updated my visitor’s guide: https://www.talkbeer.com/community/threads/san-diego-visitors-guide.2069/

 

[FoudreGuy]

They're staying at the Horton Grand Hotel without a car, but are up for Ubering around.

My mom loves sours. My dad likes everything. They've been to San Diego before and have hit most of the breweries (that I tell them to go to), but they also fall into the rut of ending up at stupid touristy bars and I know there are places and beers that they'd love but I don't know about them. My dad likes to call me and tell me about what he's drinking and that's he checking them all in on Untappd.

I love my parents.

 

[Xul1]

They're staying at the Horton Grand Hotel without a car, but are up for Ubering around.

The Local/Resident Brewing is walkable from there, good house beer from Resident and good guest tap selection as well.

Bottlecraft Little Italy is either a short Uber or decent walk depending on their preferences. Great selection and Crack Shack right around the corner has excellent fried chicken if they're into that. Alternatively, Bottlecraft at Liberty Public Market is a good choice with lots of food options at LPM, which could be tied into a visit to Pizza Port Ocean Beach and/or Modern Times.

An evening in North Park would be pretty hard to beat. Toronado is pretty much the anchor for the area but Rip Current is an essential stop, North Park Beer Co always has great stuff on (both house and guest taps), yet another Bottlecraft location, Eppig and TigerTiger right across the street from each other, and a handful of other choices if they're particularly thirsty (Fall, Second Chance, Belching Beaver, etc.). All walkable once you're in the area.

Hamilton's in South Park is an unbeatable beer bar, South Park brewing right next door, Kindred has awesome cocktails along with a few beer choices, and Buona Forchetta right across the street is killer.

 

[bathroomlaughter]

copy pasting from sage's guide for the areas close by

Ocean Beach, Point Loma, Liberty Station

• Pizza Port, Ocean Beach
• Modern Times, Point Loma
• Bottlecraft, Liberty Station
• Stone, Liberty Station

Downtown

• Resident
• Bottlecraft, Little Italy
• Monkey Paw
• Stone, Downtown

University Heights, North Park

• Small Bar
• Eppig
• Tiger Tiger
• Modern Times
• Rip Current
• Toronado
• North Park Beer Co
• Bottlecraft, North Park

north park is real hip, dunno what kind of vibe they're into but there's tons of good food and great beer.

modern times, pizza port, and any bottlecraft are all great stops. toronado and tiger are pretty iconic beer bars. resident is a really good brewery and close to their hotel.

 

[FoudreGuy]

The Local/Resident Brewing is walkable from there, good house beer from Resident and good guest tap selection as well.

Hah. I just got off the phone with my Dad. They're at The Local right now.

Bottlecraft Little Italy is either a short Uber or decent walk depending on their preferences. Great selection and Crack Shack right around the corner has excellent fried chicken if they're into that. Alternatively, Bottlecraft at Liberty Public Market is a good choice with lots of food options at LPM, which could be tied into a visit to Pizza Port Ocean Beach and/or Modern Times.

An evening in North Park would be pretty hard to beat. Toronado is pretty much the anchor for the area but Rip Current is an essential stop, North Park Beer Co always has great stuff on (both house and guest taps), yet another Bottlecraft location, Eppig and TigerTiger right across the street from each other, and a handful of other choices if they're particularly thirsty (Fall, Second Chance, Belching Beaver, etc.). All walkable once you're in the area.

Hamilton's in South Park is an unbeatable beer bar, South Park brewing right next door, Kindred has awesome cocktails along with a few beer choices, and Buona Forchetta right across the street is killer.

Thanks. They're going to Hamilton tonight, too. It's my mom's birthday and he surprised her with tickets.

My parents are in their early 60s but very easy going and don't mind going to "hip" places. My Dad will talk to anyone. He typically comes with my buddies on our de Garde runs to Tillamook and drinks all of us 30-something dudes under the table.

 

[bathroomlaughter]

also seconding hamiltons and kindred. kindred has excellent cocktails and a rad aesthetic. hamiltons is another iconic beer bar.

 

[chemman141]

My parents are in San Diego right now for a few days. Anywhere specific they should hit up or anything they should track down and drink? They're really into craft beer but not dialed into social media.

Any particular style they gravitate towards? Eppig is an amazing place for delicious lagers.

 

[FoudreGuy]

Any particular style they gravitate towards? Eppig is an amazing place for delicious lagers.

My mom loves sour beer. My dad loves everything.

 

[chemman141]

My mom loves sour beer. My dad loves everything.

Yeah, sorry saw that after I replied haha. Everyone already nailed it above for sure.

 

[rrryanc]

And what styles do they like?

Also note, I recently updated my visitor’s guide: https://www.talkbeer.com/community/threads/san-diego-visitors-guide.2069/

Is Ballast Point not on your list because they sold? Or because folks think they don't make good beer anymore. I definitely think they went overboard on adjuncting whatever they had - but especially in Little Italy I think are a good option to grab a beer (and kid friendly!).

 

[sdreaper]

Is Ballast Point not on your list because they sold? Or because folks think they don't make good beer anymore. I definitely think they went overboard on adjuncting whatever they had - but especially in Little Italy I think are a good option to grab a beer (and kid friendly!).

They were removed because of **** like this:

 

[chemman141]

They were removed because of **** like this:

What the actual ****?

 

[ThatGuy1]

What the actual ****?

I don't see the issue. We lose our **** over stuff like Barrel Aged Imperial German Chocolate Cupcake with adjuncts up the wazoo.....

 

[rrryanc]

They were removed because of **** like this:

Because of the Russian connection? Or because of adjuncts? I mean, Alesmith does some pretty ****** Speedway Variants...

 

[chemman141]

I don't see the issue. We lose our **** over stuff like Barrel Aged Imperial German Chocolate Cupcake with adjuncts up the wazoo.....

Those adjuncts make sense in beer, ginger does not IMO.

 

[Sage1]

Is Ballast Point not on your list because they sold? Or because folks think they don't make good beer anymore.

Little bit of both. Basically the way I thought about it when redoing my list was to go, If someone were to pop into the TB SD thread and say “I’m staying in XYZ region”, what are the top handful of recommendations they would get from regulars in the thread. Stone was kinda my shaky dividing line (I think everybody should visit the Escondido location at least once in their life though), and I think most here would rank Stone as a visiting spot above Ballast, for any variety of reasons.

 

[sdreaper]

Because of the Russian connection? Or because of adjuncts? I mean, Alesmith does some pretty ****** Speedway Variants...

Just the whole moscow mule thing. A 10%+ ale. Russia has nothing to do with it, and yeah...some of those speedway variants (*cough* thai *cough*) kinda missed the mark I thought. =P

 

[rrryanc]

Little bit of both. Basically the way I thought about it when redoing my list was to go, If someone were to pop into the TB SD thread and say “I’m staying in XYZ region”, what are the top handful of recommendations they would get from regulars in the thread. Stone was kinda my shaky dividing line (I think everybody should visit the Escondido location at least once in their life though), and I think most here would rank Stone as a visiting spot above Ballast, for any variety of reasons.

Thanks for the response, and fair enough. Not easy to make a list like that I suppose. I'd include them as I think their facilities tend to be a nice place to hang out, they have a lot of history in the local (and national beer scene) with the Home Brew Mart and I think some of the beer they make is quite excellent, as long as you ignore the ****** adjuncted variants that they've been peddling over the last few years.

 

[rrryanc]

Just the whole moscow mule thing. A 10%+ ale. Russia has nothing to do with it, and yeah...some of those speedway variants (*cough* thai *cough*) kinda missed the mark I thought. =P

Guess I still don't see what line this crosses that others on the list don't. I'd rather drink and ale with lime and ginger (which actually can go really well in a beer) than a craft Natty Ice...

 

[Sebowski1]

Thanks for the response, and fair enough. Not easy to make a list like that I suppose. I'd include them as I think their facilities tend to be a nice place to hang out, they have a lot of history in the local (and national beer scene) with the Home Brew Mart and I think some of the beer they make is quite excellent, as long as you ignore the ****** adjuncted variants that they've been peddling over the last few years.

I never recommend them because whoever is visiting can probably already get their beer, and the places are pretty sterile. Hard to engage with anyone there. Same can be said with most of the bigger ones though. I do recommend Home Brew Mart from time to time though. If someone is dead set on hitting a Ballast that's the spot. I think that is just as essential a stop as Stone if going just on history.

 

[arren]

They were removed because of **** like this:

What in God's ******* green earth

I'm not an adjunct whore by any means, so am I justified in saying **** this beer and **** Ballast Point?

I never recommend them because whoever is visiting can probably already get their beer, and the places are pretty sterile. Hard to engage with anyone there. Same can be said with most of the bigger ones though. I do recommend Home Brew Mart from time to time though. If someone is dead set on hitting a Ballast that's the spot. I think that is just as essential a stop as Stone if going just on history.

I agree - although honestly at this point, I would almost argue that Stone Esco or Liberty Station is worth more of a visit. Some of the experimental stuff they're doing is surprisingly awesome.

...but now that I think about it, if we're going just on history, I would visit Karl Strauss and Gordon Biersch and leave it at that.

 

[rcubed1]

...but now that I think about it, if we're going just on history, I would visit Karl Strauss and Gordon Biersch and leave it at that.

And there's nothing wrong with that.

 

[Sage1]

Been trying to find information about the Constellation/Mexicali water conflict for a while now, but (naturally) almost everything I was finding was in Spanish. This article is a little old now but at least gives some background: https://www.desertsun.com/story/new...attle-over-beer-water-and-way-life/903293001/

 

[golden1]

Pizza Port pub release: Surf Check Alley DIPA on Feb 10th.

 

[smithj21541]

Pizza Port pub release: Surf Check Alley DIPA on Feb 10th.

Looking forward to this one. But if you could tell your inside man( ) to bring back Light House this year...

 

[ThatGuy1]

Looking forward to this one. But if you could tell your inside man( ) to bring back Light House this year...

But not as good as bringing back Bacon and Eggs cans

 

[BigFrank]

But not as good as bringing back Bacon and Eggs cans

Would they ever bottle/can BA Dusk till Dawn? That was so good.

 

[ThatGuy1]

Would they ever bottle/can BA Dusk till Dawn? That was so good.

It's doubtful IMO. I don't think their barrel program is big enough to support a run.