The San Diego area thread

[rcubed1]

One thing I love about great beer cities like San Diego is that even in the touristy downtown areas like around the convention center there's a lot of random spots with solid taplists. Makes it really easy to grab a beer while doing some work during free time.

Hell fresh Stone IPA is really good and you can find it just about everywhere.

 

[rcubed1]

A new spot to check out downtown: https://sandiego.eater.com/2018/1/11/16873634/the-bell-marker-brewpub-cocktail-bar-downtown

Noah was killing it at PPSC back in the day. Not sure about the ownership though.

 

[JulianB1]

Hell fresh Stone IPA is really good and you can find it just about everywhere.

Now I've got the urge to walk down to the Stone location at the ballpark and grab a pint of Stone IPA. Might do it...

 

[Brent212]

Whoa, that's a name I haven't heard in YEARS

Would you say it's a...
sound blast from the past?

 

[Sage1]

Not sure about the ownership though.

Golden Road cofounder. Weee!

 

[cquiroga]

A new spot to check out downtown: https://sandiego.eater.com/2018/1/11/16873634/the-bell-marker-brewpub-cocktail-bar-downtown

Noah was killing it at PPSC back in the day. Not sure about the ownership though.

"Not sure" meaning you don't know what to think about them? Or meaning you don't really know who they are? Or both?

Tony Yanow, formerly behind Golden Road Brewing, still behind Tony's Darts Away/Mohawk Bend/a growing empire of craft beer bars in and around LA, is taking Big Beer's money from the Golden Road sellout and funneling it back into "small beer" endeavors.

I don't really know what to make of it myself. Tony has never done wrong by me, and in the limited personal interaction I've had with him he has been professional, cordial, and even generous (full disclosure-- we considered hosting a Woodshop at Chloe's at Golden Road several years ago before we ultimately held it at The Hermosillo). I know many people who know him a lot better than I do (people who have worked for him, peers in the craft beer industry), and he has rubbed a few of them the wrong way for various reasons (I don't mean to be super-vague about this, but it's not really my place to say).

My intent by saying this is not to slag on him or take sides, but instead to convey that he holds a complicated position in the industry-- as evidenced by the rapid development of Golden Road, the sellout, and the fact that he is seemingly still interested in being a part of the craft beer industry *after* the sellout. My general sense is that he seems a pretty savvy businessman, and he has become a pretty major player in the craft beer world in Southern California at a time when things went from hunky-dory days to a more complicated, corporate, and even cutthroat world. So I would say that, naturally, he is going to rub some people the wrong way. And while I certainly trust and support my friends, I am also hearing only one side of the story.

I guess my overall hope with this place, like any other nowadays, is that they make great beer and operate their business in a way that adds value to the community. It's obviously not great that Tony has this history of opening-and-selling Golden Road, and there's reason to be skeptical about his motives and intentions... but having Noah involved certainly adds some credibility and curiosity as far as the quality of the beers are concerned.

 

[Original Fake]

"Not sure" meaning you don't know what to think about them? Or meaning you don't really know who they are? Or both?

Tony Yanow, formerly behind Golden Road Brewing, still behind Tony's Darts Away/Mohawk Bend/a growing empire of craft beer bars in and around LA, is taking Big Beer's money from the Golden Road sellout and funneling it back into "small beer" endeavors.

I don't really know what to make of it myself. Tony has never done wrong by me, and in the limited personal interaction I've had with him he has been professional, cordial, and even generous (full disclosure-- we considered hosting a Woodshop at Chloe's at Golden Road several years ago before we ultimately held it at The Hermosillo). I know many people who know him a lot better than I do (people who have worked for him, peers in the craft beer industry), and he has rubbed a few of them the wrong way for various reasons (I don't mean to be super-vague about this, but it's not really my place to say).

My intent by saying this is not to slag on him or take sides, but instead to convey that he holds a complicated position in the industry-- as evidenced by the rapid development of Golden Road, the sellout, and the fact that he is seemingly still interested in being a part of the craft beer industry *after* the sellout. My general sense is that he seems a pretty savvy businessman, and he has become a pretty major player in the craft beer world in Southern California at a time when things went from hunky-dory days to a more complicated, corporate, and even cutthroat world. So I would say that, naturally, he is going to rub some people the wrong way. And while I certainly trust and support my friends, I am also hearing only one side of the story.

I guess my overall hope with this place, like any other nowadays, is that they make great beer and operate their business in a way that adds value to the community. It's obviously not great that Tony has this history of opening-and-selling Golden Road, and there's reason to be skeptical about his motives and intentions... but having Noah involved certainly adds some credibility and curiosity as far as the quality of the beers are concerned.

To be fair, all indications were that Tony didn't want to sell Golden Road but had no choice as a part of the group of owners.

 

[reidjoshua1]

A new spot to check out downtown: https://sandiego.eater.com/2018/1/11/16873634/the-bell-marker-brewpub-cocktail-bar-downtown

Noah was killing it at PPSC back in the day. Not sure about the ownership though.

The spot looked close to opening when I walked by a couple weeks ago. Will check it out when back in the country and report in. Tacos El Gordo construction on the other hand looks to be stopped, even with graffiti on the windows.

 

[arren]

Now I've got the urge to walk down to the Stone location at the ballpark and grab a pint of Stone IPA. Might do it...

Do it, and then grab sandwiches at Rare Form next door. Legit food there.

 

[jwacky]

Uh, no thanks: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/blackbeards-crew-2018-tickets-41856571131

 

[arren]

Uh, no thanks: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/blackbeards-crew-2018-tickets-41856571131

The fact that they're doing this while simultaneously begging for investors because they can't sell their beer is a ******* travesty. Who thought this was okay?

 

[ButlerinSD]

The fact that they're doing this while simultaneously begging for investors because they can't sell their beer is a ******* travesty. Who thought this was okay?

Someone please set up a 'Death Pool' for San Diego breweries.

 

[sdreaper]

Someone please set up a 'Death Pool' for San Diego breweries.

Hehehe, we did this last year, I managed to win with Magnetic.

 

[JonathanAmes]

Unless you’ve been personally wronged actively rooting for the demise of a small business is bad form.

 

[sdreaper]

Unless you’ve been personally wronged actively rooting for the demise of a small business is bad form.

Agreed, and I was. The owner and I did not get along. Verbal harassment from him followed, online harassment shortly after that. I wasn't rooting for his business to fail, just him because the couple employees Magnetic had were pretty nice. I can only hope they found better jobs.

Also, Magnetic did that whole crowd-funding thing to get a piece of the brewery and then folded up shop. The guy has had ppl file in court to get their money back claiming fraud.

 

[blackzag05]

whatever happened to talking **** about people to their face? Lost art.

 

[JulianB1]

Rando downtown observations:

-Neighborhood has great food, a solid beer list, and a good vibe.

-Half-Door makes some very nice hoppy beers (haven't got to any of the other styles yet) in a really cool location.

 

[Sage1]

Rando downtown observations:

-Neighborhood has great food, a solid beer list, and a good vibe.

-Half-Door makes some very nice hoppy beers (haven't got to any of the other styles yet) in a really cool location.

Any chance you’re planning to escape downtown at some point within the next few days?

 

[davemont]

Really like Half Door. Always recommended for downtown along with Resident (quietly making some of the best beers in San Diego.)

 

[JulianB1]

Any chance you’re planning to escape downtown at some point within the next few days?

Yeah definitely. Yesterday and today were my two busy work days, should be much more free Friday-Sunday.

Really like Half Door. Always recommended for downtown along with Resident (quietly making some of the best beers in San Diego.)

I really enjoyed Resident last night.

 

[Sebowski1]

Agreed, and I was. The owner and I did not get along. Verbal harassment from him followed, online harassment shortly after that. I wasn't rooting for his business to fail, just him because the couple employees Magnetic had were pretty nice. I can only hope they found better jobs.

Also, Magnetic did that whole crowd-funding thing to get a piece of the brewery and then folded up shop. The guy has had ppl file in court to get their money back claiming fraud.

Man. Sounds like he put some people in the poor house.

 

[Sebowski1]

I really enjoyed Resident last night.

No place better for a frosty bud lite and the game, in my imo.

 

[SDBeerInsider]

Trying to gage interest in a (mini?) bottleshare this Saturday afternoon (~2pm?) at the Lafayette Hotel.... planning to crack a bottle of Izzy and some other whalez (b1 DDG? b1 FO?) for my 40th before heading out to North Park for a night of debauchery.... need some #TalkBeer nerdz to geek out with me, msg me (or reply) if u like to drink #rarebeer with complete strangers during the daytime

 

[SDBeerInsider]

Can you BYO to Grand Ole BBQ? I feel like I’ve seen posts of people doing bottleshares there in the past.... not sure if that’s just on the down low, or they have a cappage fee, or just don’t give AF...

 

[nanobrew1]

Can you BYO to Grand Ole BBQ? I feel like I’ve seen posts of people doing bottleshares there in the past.... not sure if that’s just on the down low, or they have a cappage fee, or just don’t give AF...

ZF given. Bring what you want.

 

[sdreaper]

Can you BYO to Grand Ole BBQ? I feel like I’ve seen posts of people doing bottleshares there in the past.... not sure if that’s just on the down low, or they have a cappage fee, or just don’t give AF...

Once you are on the parking lot you can even crack a line beer or get your share started while waiting to order food. The only new rule I have seen imposed was you have to wait until you round the corner, or your party does, in order to go and grab a table.

 

[Tyrsis]

Once you are on the parking lot you can even crack a line beer or get your share started while waiting to order food. The only new rule I have seen imposed was you have to wait until you round the corner, or your party does, in order to go and grab a table.

They actually have a sign now that says "No outside alcohol." When I asked the guy about it, he said it's to discourage it. But since we were all there and we had beer, he was like "Yeah go ahead."

I doubt it will be BYOB for very much longer.

 

[chemman141]

They actually have a sign now that says "No outside alcohol." When I asked the guy about it, he said it's to discourage it. But since we were all there and we had beer, he was like "Yeah go ahead."

I doubt it will be BYOB for very much longer.

Who ruined this? They should burn.

 

[Sage1]

IIRC, I think Grand Ole has plans to serve draft beer (don’t ask me about logistics), thus why they’re trying to discourage BYOB.

 

[Abigigail]

IIRC, I think Grand Ole has plans to serve draft beer (don’t ask me about logistics), thus why they’re trying to discourage BYOB.

They’re putting in a draft system and having been planning on it for quite awhile. The byob was never a long term plan.