El Cerrito - Worth the Drive?

It's a little shady, but boy do they have a great collection of beers. Trouble is the more limited runs sell out quick since they are notorious for their craft beer. But if you're in search for a good selection of American brews it's a good stop.

And really, what are the possibilities of something bad happening? Pretty slim and could happen anywhere.

 

The area is not that bad. I would say yes, worth the drive. Call ahead and set up a time when Jazz is there. You won't be disappointed.

 

every time i walk into el cerritto liquor i drop atleast 200 bones. Only problem is i see beer nerds rolling around fully torqued bumping into my hip.

 

It's one of the better shops between LA and SD. Worth a stop. It's a known shop though, so don't expect new limited releases to sit around.

 

I havent been there in a while but it is the best shop I have been too.

 

Could depend on what time you'd be flying in/driving down. The detour from LAX out there could be absolutely brutal with traffic. Probably won't find anything crazy, but it's a good store sure.

 

I've gotten some goodies there but since you're a visitor, unless you happen to be driving down the 15, I'd say hit up any of the other shops along the way from LA to SD. Southern California is a huge place and driving to El Cerrito would take up a significant portion of your limited time here especially if you're driving during peak hours (even during non-peak time, a drive to el cerrito from LAX would take 1.5 hours). Along the way from LAX, you can check out Whole Foods El Segundo, Adam's Fine Wine (in redondo beach), Select Beer (redondo beach), Hi-Time Wine Cellars (costa mesa), and Pizza Port Carlsbad.

Yeah man, don't waste your time driving all over the place if you don't have to.

 

I stopped in on the way out to Mojave desert 2 months ago. First time. And I'm coming from hb. Selection is better than most. Yes, worth it for me on the way out to the desert. Worth the stop for you? Depends. What are you looking for? From LAX you have Whole Foods El Segundo with a huge bottle selection. Take the 105 to the 605 and exit South St east to Cerritos Market & Liquor. Back on the 605 head south to 405 north to Lakewood Blvd (south) to Stearns Liquor with a very nice selection and a state of the art walk-in cooler. Ask for Danny. Back on the 405 south to SD you have 2 choices. Take 22 east to Hollingheads Deli in Orange or stay on 405 south to Hi Times in Costa Mesa. Before making that decision I would take a detour to Seal Beach and stop in Beachwood BBQ. Well worth it. Alpine is a must while in SD.

 

What are you looking to get out of the trip? Is it just about beer? Coming from Alberta, I think you'd be missing out on a lot of food destinations. I guess if there was a place you shouldn't miss out on, I'd probably say Beachwood BBQ Long Beach. It's hard to find a place that serves both good food and their own beer and Beachwood's one of those places. Hi-Time in Costa Mesa has a great walk-in cooler for beer and they also have an awesome selection of spirits and wine.

 

If you are looking for rare beers, you might not find anything too special in LA, OC, or the IE that you wouldn't find in San Diego. There are a few great bottle shops in San Diego that you will be able to find great socal and West Coast offerings. Save your money and time for San Diego. El Cerrito is a great bottle shop! But making the drive from LA to there then to SD would take probably take 4 1/2 plus hours(assuming there is no traffic). The trip from LA to SD without traffic would take 2 1/2 hours.

 

add El Cerrito on Facebook. Maybe you'll luck out and at least get some Cantillon.

 

I'm going to guess that he can probably get Cantillon (and not just classic, kriek, & rose) where he's from.

 

MIND. BLOWN.

 

i think you are probably able to get the same beers in sd that you can get there without going out of your way...