Karl Strauss
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San Diego Local Beer Breweries
San Diego's microbreweries are getting more respect with each award that they get at national competitions. The growth of the local brewery scene is directly attributed to the collaborative spirit of the brew masters and the enthusiastic support of the locals. In 20 years, the brewery count has gone from a few to more than a dozen.
Breweries are nothing new to San Diego - starting in the late 1800s, San Diego was home to: the San Diego Brewing Company, City Brewery, Mission Brewery, Aztec Brewery, Philadelphia Brewery, and the San Francisco Brewery.
When you visit a brewery, you also have the option of taking some home with you. According to the Alcohol Beverage Control Division, every brewery must dispense their beer in their own growler (which is a 64 ounce glass refillable bottle). For the consumer, this means that you have to make a one-time purchase of each brewery's growlers in order to come back and refill them. Since there is no growler-fits-all, the consumer has to have shelf space to store all those little brown or clear jugs!
We have divided this article on breweries into two (2) parts: breweries we have visited and breweries that we will be visiting in the near future. It's a tough job, but someone has got to do it!
Breweries We Have Visited
Alesmith
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Alesmith (9368 Cabot Drive, San Diego) - Located in an industrial park in the Miramar area, Alesmith can be a bit tough to find your first time out. Alesmith's tasting room can be accessed from the front of the building or from the back where the beer tanks are. The tasting room is nothing fancy - this is a brewery that produces to sell its beer, plain and simple. Alesmith does a good job of holding special events in their brewery to showcase new and seasonal releases. Their loyal following, consistent quality, and clever branding (names like Horny Little Devil) makes them one of San Diego's finest breweries.
Coronado Brewing Company (170 Orange Avenue, Coronado) - The Coronado Brewing Company combines beer making, pizza, calzones, and burgers in a sports bar- type setting. Coronado Brewing Company is the only brewery on the island. Coronado restaurants support their island's brewery by featuring it on their menus. Coronado Brewing Company's beers are consistently good and we like their food enough to feature it in our restaurant listings for Coronado. The restaurant also features covered outdoors dining which sets it apart from many of the other brewery/restaurants.
Karl Strauss (various locations) - The microbrewery that really put San Diego on the microbrewery map in the 1980s was Karl Strauss himself. The original brewery location at Columbia & B Street is our favorite - it is located in a beautiful old brick building not far from the Santa Fe Depot (train station). Many downtown denizens and workers frequent this brewery on a regular basis - some of these regulars have their own personalized schooners hanging above the bar.
Karl Strauss has multiple locations in town and all of them (except for the wholesale brewery) offer food to go along with their beer. The beer tenders are always willing to give patrons small samples of their beer before they commit to a pint or a pitcher. Be sure to ask for samples so that you can try something different.
Oggi's (various locations) - This award winning brewery began in Del Mar and has sprouted like its hops into multiple locations. Oggi's provides its patrons with beer and food at all of its locations so bring your appetite in addition to your thirst!
Pizza Port
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Pizza Port (various locations) - We LOVE Pizza Port and have been to all three of their locations (Solana Beach, Carlsbad, San Clemente). Simply put, their beer rocks and it knocks your socks off! There is nothing fancy about any of their locations - picnic tables, paper plates, self-serve soda machine, and video machines for the 'kids.' All of Pizza Port's locations serve delicious pizza, pizza buddies (pizza crust drizzled with olive oil and garlic), salads, and sausage sandwiches. The beer styles and types vary from location to location so be sure to check their website to see what is being served when.
Pizza Port Carlsbad also has a Bottle House next to its brewery where you can buy single bottles of beer from all around the world and even six-packs of Olympia Beer and Pabst Blue Ribbon. It is a great new addition to the brewery scene and we hope to see more bottle houses around town.
Lost Abbey (155 Mata Way, Suite 104, San Marcos)- A division of Pizza Port, Lost Abbey is located in Stone Brewing's former location at Mata Way. Lost Abbey specializes in Belgian style ales which carry a heftier punch in alcohol content. Please keep this in mind when you sample their beers. The tasting room also includes Pizza Port brews since Lost Abbey is also the location for Pizza Port's bottling operation.
Lost Abbey hosts a very popular Friday night and Saturday afternoon beer tastings at their brewery. For only $2 or $3, you can sample their ales as you sit on bags of hops that are plopped on top of empty kegs. Be sure to say meow to the two resident mouse catchers who will inevitably make their way around you to check you out.
Stone Brewery
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Stone Brewing (1999 Citracado Parkway, Escondido) - Stone is one of San Diego's other pioneer breweries. Stone started small and was able to achieve national success with their cleverly worded ale, Arrogant Bastard Ale. Stone has been able to distribute their beer successfully in San Diego and outside of San Diego. Their Arrogant Bastard beer can even be enjoyed on an Amtrak train - how good is that?
Stone's brewery is located in the North County city of Escondido and it is absolutely gorgeous. The expansive brewery and restaurant gives you the impression that you are, in fact, not in a brewery. Many of Stone's beers as well as guest brewery beers are served in elegant glasses, not your typical pub pints. The restaurant serves gourmet Slow Food which means that there is no fast food here. The food is organic, local and sustainable. It is also not cheap pub fare, so be prepared cash-wise. We really loved the large sitting area outside that is beautifully landscaped. Stone does a good job of obscuring their patrons' view of the Palomar Power Plant which is just up the street.
Ballast Point (5401 Linda Vista Road, Suite #406, San Diego) - One of the early local breweries, Ballast Point has been producing microbrews near the University of San Diego for many years. A number of restaurants carry and have carried Ballast Point. Their small tasting room is located in the back of the storefront called HomeBrewMart. If you are passionate about beer and want to learn how to make your own stout, be sure to check out the brew mart on your way back to the tasting area.
A large chalkboard of the daily beer samples is located directly above the tasting bar. After a few samples, be sure to steady yourself and you gaze up to see the list. Ballast Point charges a nominal fee for tastings. Do not let this discourage you because you will want to be sure exactly what kind of ale you want before you ask them to fill up your little brown jug with your favorite one. If you ask, they will show you their small brewery. It is amazing that they have been able to produce as much beer as they have over the years from this small facility. Do not be shy about asking for recommendations from the very knowledgeable brewery staff.
La Jolla Brew House (7536 Fay Avenue, La Jolla)- Located in the village of La Jolla, the La Jolla Brewhouse has the distinction of being one of two (the other is Karl Strauss)in this lovely seaside community. This brewery has food, outside seating, and lots of space to move about. This has become a neighborhood bar and restaurant which attracts many loyal locals. The staff is friendly and accomodating so ask for samples of beer before you commit yourself to a pint or a pitcher.
Rock Bottom Brewery (401 G Street, Gaslamp)- Located in the Gaslamp Quarter of San Diego, Johnny Oliphant, the brewmaster, keeps the beer flowing, fresh, and interesting. Attention to detail is important at Rock Bottom. One feature we like is that you can even sniff your way through their various hops and grains that are enclosed in spice jars. These are located right by the large window next to the beer tanks. We also found the presentation of their samples to be quite unique. We are not telling you, dear reader. You have to experience it yourself.
Rock Bottom Brewery has very good food and a very open, convivial atmosphere. It may sound cliche, but Rock Bottom is more than just a brewery. It is a great place to socialize, have lunch, happy hour, or dinner. They also have live music which brings in the crowds. Their staff is also very happy to make you feel right at home when you walk in the door. Sometimes, breweries are so busy making beer that their customer service could use a tune up. Rock Bottom makes a point to keep their customers happy and loyal. We love that.
More Breweries
Alpine Beer (2351 Alpine Boulevard, Alpine)
Firehouse Brew (10306 San Diego Mission Road, San Diego)
Green Flash (1430 Vantage Court, #104A, Vista)
Lightning Brewery (13200 Kirkham Way, Suite 105, Poway)
Oceanside Ale Works (3800 Oceanic Drive, Suite 105, Oceanside)
San Marcos Brewery (1080 W. San Marcos Blvd, San Marcos)
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