SD next week (30-3rd) from Boston, poss IP, few Q's

Biking is another possibility from downtown to Ocean Beach (nearest Pizza Port), I have done this a few times. It is flat and there are paths along the bay. Otherwise I would suggest a cab over renting a car if just going to Pizza Port in Ocean Beach, probably cheaper and don't have to worry about drinking a few too many. Also in Ocean Beach is Newport Pizza, the Harp (will have an Alpine on tap sometimes), Raglan House, and Olive Tree Market (great beer store, plus a tasting room Th-Sat 4-9:30pm). There are also a good number of random bottle shops in the area that hold onto some limited releases a little bit longer than OTM.

 

You could take the Coaster to Solana Beach or Carlsbad.

http://www.gonctd.com/coaster?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=coaster schedule&utm_campaign=brand

Also consider taking the ferry to Coronado to hit Coronado Brewing. No car needed. The #2 Bus takes you up to South/North Park to hit Hamiltons and Toronado (among many other places)

 

I agree with the Coaster to Port Carlsbad or cab it to OB. Not much else in Carlsbad besides Port. In OB you could hit the places Nanobrew mentioned and make a day of it.

While downtown you should check out Neighborhood, Monkey Paw, and Downtown Johnny Browns. Be sure to try some Societe and Rip Current beers, two of the newer places that are kicking ass.

 

A combination of TapHunter and Untappd will usually yield clues about what's on tap at various locations, never used BeerMenus so I can't comment on that. If you're specifically looking for Alpine on tap, Toronado and O'Brien's are usually the safest bets, but no guarantees on any specific beer from Alpine's lineup. Toronado would be an easy cab or bus ride from Downtown, O'Brien's would get a bit more expensive.

 

You have to go to Bottlecraft in Little Italy and Toronado in North Park.

If you do not go to Bottlecraft (10 minute cab ride from your hotel), you're a moron. Truly.

 

Funny you say that. Every time I've walk out of Bottlecraft carrying at least twice the amount of beer I had planned on buying, I think "man, I was a moron for coming here".

 

Yeah, you're damned if you do, and you're damned if you don't..

 

Here is the Bottlecraft bottle list. Absurd.

http://bottlecraft.myshopify.com/pages/master-bottle-list

 

How many of those bottles are stored cold or at cellar temps?

 

Maybe 25%?

 

Was just at Bottlecraft on Sunday, and if you pre-plan correctly they will throw a room temp bottle in a bucket of ice water for you and it takes about 20 minutes to get it cold. You know you'll be shopping there longer than that anyway

Also, I'm pretty sure if you were coming and wanted a bottle chilled, you could just call ahead. The guy there was cool. I'm a big fan of that place.

 

If you go to the North Park location, they are probably 50/50 in terms of room temp to fridge temp. But you can't drink there, so...

 

If you want to try something different, there is a "Beer & Bugs" event at the Natural History Museum in Balboa park on the evening of May 1. A few top SD breweries pouring beer, some food (including some with bugs), and entrance to see the current exhibit. Easy to get to from downtown, and relatively inexpensive ($20-$25), it is a change from the usual bars and spots you can go to.