Blind Lady Ale House & Automatic Brewing Co.

Blind Lady Ale House & Automatic Brewing Co.Blind Lady Ale House & Automatic Brewing Co.
Blind Lady Ale House & Automatic Brewing Co.Blind Lady Ale House & Automatic Brewing Co.
Brewery, Bar, Eatery

3416 Adams Ave.
San Diego, California, 92116
United States

(619) 555-1234 | map
blindladyalehouse.com

Automatic Brewing Co. is a nano-brewery of sorts brewing in the back of Blind Lady Ale House. http://automaticbrewingco.com
BEER STATS
Average:
3.76
Beers:
35
Ratings:
61
PLACE STATS
Average:
4.18
Reviews:
52
Ratings:
81
pDev:
8.61%
View: Beers | Place Reviews
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by trytoketchup:
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Rated by trytoketchup from Colorado

4/5  rDev -4.3%

Dec 10, 2013
More User Ratings:
Photo of Roguer
Reviewed by Roguer from Connecticut

4.43/5  rDev +6%
vibe: 4.25 | quality: 4.75 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4.5
Absolutely on the "must-visit" list for San Diego. Great beer lineup, not just local offerings, and fantastic food - seriously. We had a pizza that was phenomenal. Mondays feature additional vegan options for those interested.

The interior is certainly loud, giving it more of a club feel at times.
Mar 05, 2024
 
Rated: 4.46 by DVMin98 from North Carolina

Mar 01, 2023
 
Rated: 4.18 by slasich from Pennsylvania

May 18, 2020
Photo of Oh_Dark_Star
Reviewed by Oh_Dark_Star from Washington

4.4/5  rDev +5.3%
vibe: 4.75 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.25 | selection: 4.25 | food: 4.5
This place had real charm and good food. They knew and could talk their beer. Staff was otherwise helpful and the food was pretty good. They had crowler canning also.
Apr 16, 2019
Photo of WillieThreebiers
Reviewed by WillieThreebiers from Connecticut

4.13/5  rDev -1.2%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4.25 | selection: 4.25 | food: 4
Lively pub atmosphere at this store front pub/brewery/pizza joint. Small service bar and many communal picnic tables. About 20 beers on tap, more guest than their own, but good variety. Service was efficient. Food tasty though on the pricey side.
Dec 08, 2018
 
Rated: 4.18 by cryptichead from Illinois

May 18, 2018
 
Rated: 3.99 by Gagnonsux from Texas

Mar 12, 2017
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Reviewed by mactrail from Washington

3.69/5  rDev -11.7%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4 | service: 3.25 | selection: 4 | food: 3.25
Generally excellent selection of beers with a good variety of southern California brews. Often some oddities, barrel aged, and wild brews. Prices mostly reflect what you would expect for the rarities. Nothing is a deal but you'll find something new. Usually a couple of the Automatic Brewing products, which are also interesting in an unpredictable variety of styles.

The room is wide and crammed with tiny tables and some of the usual picnic benches. Place is very loud and it's always packed in the evenings, even on drizzly winter nights. So afternoon is best if you're looking for thoughtful beer tasting. Families, young couples, and beer tourers are the usual crowd. I have found the food to be interesting but small portions and expensive. Most people seem to have pizza and burgers so maybe that's why.

One of San Diego's classic places if you like the crowded pizza joint style. Parking is simply impossible during prime evenings so bus or bike are happy alternatives.
Dec 31, 2016
Photo of mrcraft
Reviewed by mrcraft from California

4.11/5  rDev -1.7%
vibe: 4.25 | quality: 4.25 | service: 4 | selection: 4
Blind Lady is located in the Normal Heights area in San Diego, across the street from another craft beer establishment. This place has been here a while from my understanding. The atmosphere is nice. They had skateboards attached to the walls everywhere, looked like bunch of vintage ones. Very cool.

You order your food and beer up front after you enter. The service was fine. I grabbed my glass of BLAH Berliner Weisse. It was a solid beer.

Next time, I'll try to get some food here. Looked good.
Jul 29, 2016
 
Rated: 5 by deniserat from California

Jun 16, 2016
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Reviewed by RLM15 from California

2.98/5  rDev -28.7%
vibe: 3.75 | quality: 3.75 | service: 1 | selection: 3.5 | food: 3.5
Overrated and overpriced. There are so many better options in San Diego. I can't stand a place that charges $8 for local pints. Go to monkey paw, hamiltons, toronado or small bar instead.
Apr 28, 2016
 
Rated: 3.86 by Devman171 from Maryland

Nov 15, 2015
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Reviewed by BillRoth from Maryland

4.14/5  rDev -1%
vibe: 4.25 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4.25 | food: 4.5
Had BLAH on my short list for next time I was in SD to see my son. Was pleasantly surprised to find it more of a hole in the wall throw back to the 70's...even saw my old early 70's beer cans on the wall. Don't get me wrong it was fairly big inside, communal tables, fun, friendly and everyone was having a great time. Good music pumping...and food and beer were solid top flight. Guess I had a misimpression from some web based photos that made it look at bit more hipster. Not the case!
Went back next day during Adams Ave street fair...and place was hopelessly packed. Definite crowd fav.
It had plenty to make it a winner. Won't replace Hamilton's for me, but don't think that's their goal. Just a great beer and food place that is also a great place to just have fun for a few hours.
Oct 19, 2015
 
Rated: 3.96 by SDRedDevil from California

Aug 01, 2015
 
Rated: 3.98 by EdrickCS from California

Jul 15, 2015
 
Rated: 3.4 by JohnCassillo from California

May 29, 2015
 
Rated: 4.4 by aquazr1 from California

Mar 17, 2015
Photo of DoubleJ
Reviewed by DoubleJ from Wisconsin

3.64/5  rDev -12.9%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 3.5 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4
It took me six years, but I made it! After a long anticipation, the Blind Lady Ale House received its long overdue visit from me. I parked between Blind Lady and Beer & Vine, so the walk was quick in either direction. After a bottle buying spree at two bottle shops, what better way to recover than a nice lunch and homemade beers?

Walk inside and you'll swear that 1973 hadn't left the place. An oddball phone booth (with no working phone) off to one side. A large mural of a Hamm's advert (and the Hamm's bear to go with it) at the other end. At the back end was a long display of old, stacked beer cans. It's a large place with plenty of available seating, especially during the lunch hour.

Order at the bar and go for food and drink. The beer and food menu are legible from the counter. I was excited to count 26 taps, although 7 were homemade beers of Automatic Brewing. There was a working cask too, plus a handful of canned beers. Pouring from draft were Craftsman, Firestone Sucaba, Echte Kriek, Logsdon, Figueroa Mountain and Chimay. Of the house beers, all seven were listed as an anniversary ale, although they did come in different styles (Belgian blonde, brown ale, IPA, etc). Pours were healthy, glassware went beyond the standard shaker pint, and prices were fair.

A few things disappointed me. I was hoping to have some mussels and fries for lunch, but they were out of mussels. I struck out on one beer too, as the 6th Anniversary Brown was tapped out and only available on cask. The two anniversary house beers were pleasant enough, though neither rocked my socks off.

Blind Lady is a pleasant place for beer, but wouldn't jump onto my "must visit" list. Seeing it listed as a Top 100 beer bar in the world according to one competition made me wonder if it would place in my personal Top 100 list of establishments I've visited.
Feb 21, 2015
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Reviewed by Ucsbrandon from California

4.63/5  rDev +10.8%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4 | food: 5
Great pizza, great beer and very family friendly. Can get a bit crowded at nights and parking in the surrounding neighborhood can be a hassle, better to ride your bike if that's an option.
Feb 18, 2015
Photo of Thirsty_In_Chicago
Reviewed by Thirsty_In_Chicago from Illinois

4.75/5  rDev +13.6%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 4 | selection: 5 | food: 5
I moved away from San Diego in 2012, and this is the place I miss most. Aside from their consistent great beer lists, the food (specifically pizza and charcuterie plate) is fantastic. Service at the bar sometimes got a little surly, but in general nothing to complain about. Can't wait to go back some day!
Jan 23, 2015
 
Rated: 3.8 by LADaveBN from California

Dec 14, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by double2chin from California

Dec 14, 2014
 
Rated: 4.5 by SAEmick from Illinois

Dec 12, 2014
 
Rated: 4.25 by Drink_LocalSD from California

Dec 05, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by Kalenm

Nov 26, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by HopHead84 from California

Nov 26, 2014
 
Rated: 4.5 by fito1212 from California

Oct 04, 2014
 
Rated: 4.25 by ThePaleRider from California

Aug 10, 2014
Photo of sharkboy
Reviewed by sharkboy from California

4.19/5  rDev +0.2%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 3.75 | food: 4.5
A different kind of place than I'm used to.
It kind of has the feel of a German beer hall. You walk to the front counter, where the beer menu is listed, order food/beer, and have a seat at community style tables. You may be forced to interact with others (gasp!).
The food menu isn't very large, mainly focusing on snackage and pizza. The quality is nothing to baulk at though! The Breakfast pizza is a stand out.
The selection isn't as large as some places like Hamilton's and only focuses on taps and no bottles. Not to say they don't have a few gems always rotating, including the occasional cask!
Overall it's a fun little place ideal for stopping in for a weekday dinner or to begin a pub crawl.
Aug 08, 2014
 
Rated: 4.5 by EJosesA from California

Jul 22, 2014
 
Rated: 4.25 by _morandi_ from California

Jul 15, 2014
Photo of chinchill
Reviewed by chinchill from South Carolina

4.08/5  rDev -2.4%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.25 | service: 4 | selection: 4
Visited on 4th of July a/m/ when the BLAH nicely opened early to allow viewing of the World Cup match. About 24 beers on tap, including one cask from Stone. Good variety with the selection favoring Calif. beers (including Alesmith's Speedway and Horny Devil as well as RR Pliny [Elder]) but also including a number of internationals. Food has a very good reputation but the kitchen was closed due to the holiday.
Jul 04, 2014
 
Rated: 4.25 by the_encinitan from California

Jul 04, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by antoines15 from Indiana

May 30, 2014
Photo of Shindoverse
Reviewed by Shindoverse from California

4.83/5  rDev +15.6%
vibe: 4.75 | quality: 5 | service: 4.75 | selection: 4.75 | food: 4.75
This is my favorite beer-oriented place in San Diego. Automatic Brewing's revolving eclectic brews are featured, but they bring in some good stuff from other brewers and collaboration. The atmosphere reminds me of the best of what is offered in an English pub without trying to be British. The food is fantastic and my faves are the Belgian Frites and the Bacon and Egg Pizza. I never get bored of the beers or anything else here.
May 02, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by CapnTrav from California

Mar 06, 2014
 
Rated: 5 by jedschlueter from California

Feb 26, 2014
 
Rated: 4.5 by fitius5150 from Oregon

Dec 02, 2013
Photo of sisterthelonious
Reviewed by sisterthelonious from Wisconsin

4.44/5  rDev +6.2%
vibe: 4.75 | quality: 4.75 | service: 4.25 | selection: 4 | food: 4.75
Blind Lady is great for anyone looking to have some great beers and pair them with delicious wood-fired pizzas. Best pizza I've ever had there was the Chorizo pizza, and paired it with a flight of Ballast Point beers on Nitro.

Really couldn't recommend this place more. The brewery is in the back, and sometimes you can take a peek.
Nov 06, 2013
Blind Lady Ale House & Automatic Brewing Co. in San Diego, CA
Brewery rating: 3.76 out of 5 with 61 ratings