The Original 40 Brewing Company

I checked out The Original 40 while visiting San Diego a little over a week ago. It's not really a sports bar, but there were a couple TVs showing football and most of the crowd was watching, so it was a bit loud. The place itself is kinda industrial (with the whole brewhouse right there in the taproom -- love that), but also welcoming. Service was friendly enough, though there wasn't any bar seating, just tables.

There were 10 beers on tap on my visit, plus a couple ciders and setzers and a kombucha. The styles included helles lager, Mexican lager, Märzen, black lager, BBA stout, a "West Coast pilsner", two WC IPAs, a cold IPA, and a DDH hazy. So, a nice mix of lagers and hops, but nothing too outside the box. I thought the beer was decent, but not remarkable.

 

Large warehouse space, but a gastropub/restaurant vibe. Lots of tables and good seating, good attention to aesthetics.

Beer included a wide variety of styles, not just standard IPA/stout fare. Great quality overall.

Food was great, this place is definitely recommended if you are looking for beer and food combo.

 

 

 

Located down the street from North Park Beer Company (See My Review), Original 40 Brewing is a newcomer to the already overwhelming North Park brew scene. Upon entering, you find a large airy and well-lit room: tables to the side, large windows open to the street and a small bar with wire seats. The tanks are in the back - you pass them on the way to the bathrooms. Excellent beer (18 taps) in several styles, which include several IPAs, a brown ale, dry stout and two superb pilsners. While the menu is limited, the burger I enjoyed was savory and succulent. NP is a magnificent area for craft beer, but the decisions one must make. Glad I decided to hit Original 40.

Shiny new brewery on the main drag in North Park. Straight bar to the left of the entry has a service area in the center and 3 or 4 stools on each side. About a dozen tables and booths share the remainder of the room with the brew house which is partitioned off from the seating area by a knee wall. There is also sidewalk patio seating in the front. 20 well-assorted beers on tap, and the 3 I had were very nice - my favorite being the Passively Aggressive. Very friendly and personable bartender. I did not try the food.