The San Diego area thread

[sdreaper]

I feel like you need a separate Platinum or Diamond tier for Alesmith on its own

Hahahaha, Alesmith serves a lot of my needs, especially with the pilsner they added this year but I do think their IPAs fall short compared with the rest of my list and they haven't really allowed a ton of random experimentation like MT has. The small 10bbl (might be 7) system should help with that though.

And that Chasing Galaxy...hhhnnnnnggggggggg, I constantly bother Brooke up at EAH to make it a permanent keg. It tastes so good paired with, basically everything I order up there but especially with a Trio burger and Parmesan fries.

 

[riko1]

LOL at Brandon Hernandez letting his personal grudge keep Modern Times out of his top 15.

My top 5:
Modern Times
Pizza Port Bressi (tie)
Pizza Port OB (tie)
Pizza Port Solana (tie)
Pizza Port Carlsbad (tie)

 

[jwacky]

Interesting to see NPBC showing up on some of your lists. I've never been, will have to change that this weekend.

It's hard for me to pick five. Modern Times is my overall favorite. If I had to pick only one brewery to drink from it would be them. Alesmith would be in my top five, as would Pizza Port. After that it gets tricky for me. I will admit that I have a relatively short beer attention span so I like trying new things, and for this reason I don't go to places like Societe as much as I should. And with so much being distributed down here these days, you'd think more places were actually local. It's almost as if Bottlecraft or Hamilton's should count, haha.

 

[arren]

I think my barometer for San Diego breweries (specifically those who specialize in IPAs) has always been, "would I drink this over a Ponto or Swami's?" More often than not, that answer is no.

That's why I can't really stand behind Modern Times wholeheartedly. Their IPAs are great, but they're also overpriced and hazy, which makes regular consumption of them unsustainable in my eyes.

 

[SanDiegoJoe2011]

Modern Times and Alesmith seem to have the best BA offerings. I can’t think of any other brewery I’ve been to that has the selection that these two have day in and day out.

I love that MT and Pizza Port are always making new beers. While not all will be great, it makes going to the tasting rooms more exciting than getting the same beers that you can get at many bars (i.e. Societe).

For the remaining two spots, Societe is probably in there but I can’t decide on the fifth spot.

I’ll need to check NPBC out again. When I went there within the first few months that they opened, none of their offerings were that impressive, even the highly acclaimed Hop Fu.

 

[GhettoFabulous]

I think my barometer for San Diego breweries (specifically those who specialize in IPAs) has always been, "would I drink this over a Ponto or Swami's?" More often than not, that answer is no.

That's why I can't really stand behind Modern Times wholeheartedly. Their IPAs are great, but they're also overpriced and hazy, which makes regular consumption of them unsustainable in my eyes.

Further, as great as the imperial stouts produced by the likes of Alesmith and MT are, the insanely cheap pricing on six packs of Dusk til Dawn and Bacon & Eggs makes it easy to pass on $20-30 bombers of coffee-infused beer that is only marginally better than or, in many cases, inferior to the stuff that PP is canning.

 

[pugsandsuds]

Because I love making lists and about 80% of my coworkers are already on vacation:

Pizza Port - Hands down, my favorite. Whether it's quality across their board or the insane $/oz of packaged beer. The best
Modern Times - Most consistent in producing highest quality beers, wish they did fewer hazy IPAs and that they're sours were a notch or two better, but I'm cautiously optimistic this will improve
Pure Project - Kidding, atrocious beer
Societe - Easy to overlook consistency, and I'll still happily take down a growler of Heiress or Pupil
Resident - Bonus points for sneaking in the new saison prestige release before the end of the year, need a lot more beer like this in san diego. Negative points for being located downtown.
Eppig - $33 for 3 crowlers again just in time for Christmas!

 

[arren]

inferior to the stuff that PP is canning.

To go further with that point, PP cans simply last a helluva lot longer than even the clear stuff from MT. I've had six month old cans of Ponto that were surprisingly on point - and meanwhile, Booming Rollers fails to deliver just six weeks after can date.

 

[Tyrsis]

I’ll need to check NPBC out again. When I went there within the first few months that they opened, none of their offerings were that impressive, even the highly acclaimed Hop Fu.

I'm a homer for them, but even I will say their first three months were not stellar. Now they have some killer session stuff on usually (Covington is probably the best cream ale in SD) and oddly enough, he is making other IPA's that are better than Hop-Fu (Scolari's, Warped Plates.) His darker selections are good as well, and I would say he makes the best imperial porter I've ever had. Even his first BA beer was damn fine.

I still kinda wish it were some other food vendor than Mastiff, but whatever

 

[nanobrew1]

And that Chasing Galaxy...hhhnnnnnggggggggg

Should have come to a game night, i have it on tap.

 

[pugsandsuds]

Should have come to a game night, i have it on tap.

Damn, that's gotta be getting a little long in the tooth by now!

 

[JulianB1]

These lists are very helpful for planning my trip out next month.

As far as Alpine goes, is it not worth the trip out there anymore? I loved it pre-GF obviously. I know a lot of things have gone down in quality, but is the on-premise stuff mostly meh? I enjoyed the drive out there and the setting as well. Was thinking about taking some friends out there who are mostly newbies, but if it's not worth it I may nix it.

 

[arren]

These lists are very helpful for planning my trip out next month.

As far as Alpine goes, is it not worth the trip out there anymore? I loved it pre-GF obviously. I know a lot of things have gone down in quality, but is the on-premise stuff mostly meh? I enjoyed the drive out there and the setting as well. Was thinking about taking some friends out there who are mostly newbies, but if it's not worth it I may nix it.

IIRC, you can get most of the on-premise stuff at the GF tasting room anyway, so there's no real reason to visit. Even the restaurant's gone downhill too - the last time I went, it honestly felt like an Applebee's.

If you want a great food-and-beer experience, hit up North Park Beer Co. I like their beer, but I might like the food from Mastiff even more.

 

[sdreaper]

If you want a great food-and-beer experience, hit up North Park Beer Co. I like their beer, but I might like the food from Mastiff even more.

I would say hit up Bottlecraft Liberty station, grab some noodles, and pop a squat at the bar. If Lance is working, then even better.

 

[smithj21541]

I think my barometer for San Diego breweries (specifically those who specialize in IPAs) has always been, "would I drink this over a Ponto or Swami's?" More often than not, that answer is no.

That's why I can't really stand behind Modern Times wholeheartedly. Their IPAs are great, but they're also overpriced and hazy, which makes regular consumption of them unsustainable in my eyes.

This really mirrors my feelings on making a list like this. And MT has fallen out of my must have for the same reasons. I feel like they are really upping price point and while the beer has still been good I can't justify the money.

Because I love making lists and about 80% of my coworkers are already on vacation:

Pizza Port - Hands down, my favorite. Whether it's quality across their board or the insane $/oz of packaged beer. The best!

^What he said

 

[SerenityNow]

Interesting top 5s from everyone. I think I don’t emphasize IPAs as much as many of you do. I value barrel aged beers more and am getting my fix from MT, Alesmith, Mikkeller, Lost Abbey, & Rip Current. Also, I value novelty and experimentation, so taps that are always the same are a turn off.

I still kinda wish it were some other food vendor than Mastiff, but whatever

What? Mastiff is awesome!

 

[SerenityNow]

Even the restaurant's gone downhill too - the last time I went, it honestly felt like an Applebee's.

But they fail to live up to Applebees tho. They don’t have $1 Long Islands.

 

[rcubed1]

At Eppig right now getting my 3 for $33.

 

[rcubed1]

Also, I'm a big time homer on my list but whatever, my friends make excellent beer.

 

[Sebowski1]

LOL at Brandon Hernandez letting his personal grudge keep Modern Times out of his top 15.

My top 5:
Modern Times
Pizza Port Bressi (tie)
Pizza Port OB (tie)
Pizza Port Solana (tie)
Pizza Port Carlsbad (tie)

Why you hatin on Pizza Port San Clemente?

Edit: Oh yeah. This for for SD. Though It might be a quicker drive there than to Bressi sometimes.

 

[Sebowski1]

This really mirrors my feelings on making a list like this. And MT has fallen out of my must have for the same reasons. I feel like they are really upping price point and while the beer has still been good I can't justify the money.

Modern Times premium stuff prices me out of their base too, but I don't fault them for it. If they can get it, good for them. I also know how great they treat their employees, so that extra money is going to the right places.

 

[Phischy1]

But they fail to live up to Applebees tho. They don’t have $1 Long Islands.

Man, when I was in LA Mesa we'd drive up 70th to the 8, then it was left to PPOB or right to Alpine. Both 20mins. Always a tough decision.

 

[riko1]

Why you hatin on Pizza Port San Clemente?

Edit: Oh yeah. This for for SD. Though It might be a quicker drive there than to Bressi sometimes.

San Clemente might be my favorite PP location.

 

[rcubed1]

Welp, time for everyone's PP rankings. Mine:

Carlsbad
SC
Bressi
OB
SB

 

[Tyrsis]

Welp, time for everyone's PP rankings. Mine:

Carlsbad
SC
Bressi
OB
SB

OB
Carlsbad
Solana
SC
Bressi

 

[nanobrew1]

Damn, that's gotta be getting a little long in the tooth by now!

I AM ONLY ONE MAN







If i had to guess there is less than a gallon left. Not bad for taking down 10 gallons and being gone for 3 weeks.

 

[sdreaper]

It's friday night before a holiday weekend....it's that time

 

[arren]

Hope some of you caught the SpaceX launch earlier. It was ******* awesome.

 

[nanobrew1]

Hope some of you caught the SpaceX launch earlier. It was ******* awesome.

Ahhhhh that explains what that was. Had some neighbors nervously joking about North Korea.

 

[pugsandsuds]

I AM ONLY ONE MAN







If i had to guess there is less than a gallon left. Not bad for taking down 10 gallons and being gone for 3 weeks.

Worst wedding guests ever for leaving 10 gallons