Downtown SD Bottle Shops

Discussion in 'Pacific' started by breadwinner, May 19, 2014.

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  1. breadwinner

    breadwinner Initiate (0) Mar 6, 2014 California

    Hey all --

    Spending some time in downtown SD in a couple weeks and wondering if anyone has any favorite bottle shops other than the standard stuff like BDBS and Bottlecraft. Usually stay closer to OB/PB when in San Diego, and I've got my favorite spots there, but not as familiar with the offerings downtown. Looking for anything from RR sours to Evil Twin to Prairie, etc. Any help would be much appreciated!
     
    #1 breadwinner, May 19, 2014
  2. Eriktheipaman

    Eriktheipaman Pooh-Bah (2,303) Sep 4, 2010 California
    Pooh-Bah

    Sounds like you might have a car? Try Bine and Vine
     
    #2 Eriktheipaman, May 19, 2014
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  3. breadwinner

    breadwinner Initiate (0) Mar 6, 2014 California

    Hey Erik -- yeah, do have a car, though was hoping to keep it within walking distance. We're smack dab in the middle of downtown and was hoping to just be able to sneak off for one morning to get some beer stalking done. Will obviously be hitting BDBS and Bottlecraft, as they're all within walking distance, but didn't know if there were any other spots worth popping into.
     
    #3 breadwinner, May 19, 2014
  4. HeavySpeedway

    HeavySpeedway Initiate (0) Jul 8, 2013 California

    Downtown - I don't think so.
     
    #4 HeavySpeedway, May 19, 2014
  5. thatinvisibo

    thatinvisibo Initiate (0) Sep 5, 2005 California

    I think the 2 you said are your best bets, though they're definitely not walking distance from each other.
     
    #5 thatinvisibo, May 19, 2014
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  6. breadwinner

    breadwinner Initiate (0) Mar 6, 2014 California

    Thx, guys. We're in between the two, closer to BDBS, and I'm a sucker for a nice walk, so figured I'd make it work.
     
    #6 breadwinner, May 19, 2014
  7. ManaKarma

    ManaKarma Initiate (0) Dec 24, 2012 California

    San Diegan's are lazy. The two shops are less than 1.5 miles apart no more than 30 minutes walking - with beer. Any other city and its no big deal... especially when you're on vacation and exploring a city, though carrying cases of beer and bombers might slow you down!
     
    #7 ManaKarma, May 19, 2014
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  8. thatinvisibo

    thatinvisibo Initiate (0) Sep 5, 2005 California

    Ha! I actually hadn't realized they're that close. It's a similar distance from my house to Bine & Vine, and I've done that walk a few times. It's not bad at all, though the walk back can definitely get a bit tricky
     
    #8 thatinvisibo, May 19, 2014
  9. Blackmamba24

    Blackmamba24 Initiate (0) Mar 6, 2014 California

    Best damn beer store is tits bro and you can also hit up toronado for a night cap, and tiger tiger for some good food Alpine is about 30 minutes away and a must try place.
     
    #9 Blackmamba24, May 20, 2014
  10. cocoapuph

    cocoapuph Pundit (793) Mar 4, 2011 California

    Bottlecraft has two flowing taps and allows you to drink in house as well any bottles purchased there. Grab a sandwich from Mona Lisa a block down and eat it at BC while tippin one back.
     
    #10 cocoapuph, May 21, 2014
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  11. Drunken_Master

    Drunken_Master Crusader (444) Mar 6, 2014 California


    Tits? They closed shop however, I have a feeling you're not referring to the one i recognize.
     
    #11 Drunken_Master, May 21, 2014
  12. Blackmamba24

    Blackmamba24 Initiate (0) Mar 6, 2014 California

    Yeah they are still open cause I was down there a couple of weeks ago. And yes tits or bad ass how ever you want to put it
     
    #12 Blackmamba24, May 21, 2014
  13. thatinvisibo

    thatinvisibo Initiate (0) Sep 5, 2005 California

    If you're by Toronado and Tiger! Tiger!, why not just go to Bottlecraft North Park instead of BDBS?
     
    #13 thatinvisibo, May 21, 2014
  14. SpecialAgentDaleCooper

    SpecialAgentDaleCooper Initiate (0) Aug 27, 2013 California

    Mona Lisa is delicious, but call in your sandwich, if you can. Be prepared to wait an insanely long time for a sandwich. I actually like the subs from Grab-n-Go better. It's closer to Bottlecraft (not by much), cheaper, quicker, and tastier (in my opinion). You can't go wrong with either place, though.
     
    #14 SpecialAgentDaleCooper, May 21, 2014
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  15. breadwinner

    breadwinner Initiate (0) Mar 6, 2014 California

    Thx for the thoughts on this, ladies and gents -- was able to swing into BDBS Saturday morning and nab Pliny, Consecration, and Redemption, as well as Dogpatch Sour (anyone happen to see any older stuff like Barrel Noir or Brandy Peche still laying around?), and some HotD Adam and Fred. Kinda had to stop there due to budgetary/space issues, but there was plenty more to admire -- lots of Evil Twin (though ET's pricing always make me wary), some Prairie farmhouse stuff, Lost Abbey Track #8, and so on (plus a fine selection of glassware!).

    Had read a few reviews of BDBS that made it sound a little worn down, but it was clean as a whistle in there and looked great. Props to the gent who assisted us -- as I asked about Pliny/Consecration, he said he didn't think they had any, then as we shopped around, out he comes with bottles for me and my pals. Made my morning!

    Also have to shout out, as a good stop, Neighborhood. Hoppy Birthday fresh on tap, plus some nice Almanac offerings, and, though it kicked shortly before I arrived, Lost Abbey Framboise de Amorosa. Knowledgable staff, good grub, decent prices for craft stuff in the Gaslamp. Thumbs up!
     
    #15 breadwinner, Jun 9, 2014
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  16. SpecialAgentDaleCooper

    SpecialAgentDaleCooper Initiate (0) Aug 27, 2013 California

    That's weird someone said it was worn down. Maybe before the upgrade? I'd be curious to know when that review was written, as that place has looked really good for a couple years now. The neighborhood is a little run down, I guess.

    In any case, sounds like you had an awesome trip! Cheers!
     
    #16 SpecialAgentDaleCooper, Jun 9, 2014
  17. breadwinner

    breadwinner Initiate (0) Mar 6, 2014 California

    Yeah, I think they were older reviews -- I probably just wasn't paying attention to the dates on them. I didn't even think the neighborhood was bad, just standard downtown stuff, a few buildings that could use some love, a few homeless folks chilling on the sidewalk.

    At any rate, would definitely recommend the place to anyone staying downtown.
     
    #17 breadwinner, Jun 9, 2014
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  18. HeavySpeedway

    HeavySpeedway Initiate (0) Jul 8, 2013 California

    When I was in there a year or so ago picking up some beer, a homeless lady with body lice was in line. The person at the register asked her to leave the store. I think I felt itchy for hours after that.
     
    #18 HeavySpeedway, Jun 9, 2014
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  19. Carny77

    Carny77 Aspirant (283) Jul 20, 2005 Georgia

    Any other highlights in the area? I'll be staying at the Courtyard San Diego Downtown next week...
     
    #19 Carny77, Jun 9, 2014
  20. breadwinner

    breadwinner Initiate (0) Mar 6, 2014 California

    Man, aside from being literally around the corner from BDBS, I'd say check out Neighborhood (just several blocks easy walk) for a generally killer tap list and good eats and Downtown Johnny Brown's (just a couple blocks north of you) for another killer tap list. Both are on TapHunter (Downtown Johnny Brown's seems to be a bit better about updating theirs), so you can look ahead to see what's pouring.
     
    #20 breadwinner, Jun 10, 2014
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