San Diego and Vicinity (2023)

Harland Bay Park has a whole back section that is built for kids with some wood bleachers to climb on and some oversized games. Good burgers and fries from Rosemaries as well right outside.

 

Hello all,

I am staying in San Diego near sea world. Visited north park beer co yesterday, was great

have a question - I’d like to hit up a great beer bar, that has a tv or too to watch the lakers clippers game. Not really a crazy sports bar, but maybe a beer focused bar that has a tv or two. I’ve heard O’Briens is good? Any recommendations? I can Uber so ok so travel a reasonable bit

 

Yup, just go to O'Brien's.

Wing Night starts at 5pm

 

thank you!

Helpful. Second question tvs aside, any Rec for a beer bar with great food? Like a little more classy than typical?

 

I wouldn't have a good rec since I prefer dives and will take a burger&fries over something more classy any day of the week.

But....Stone @ Liberty Station would be nice, although their beer selection is primarily Stone beers. Could always goto Bottlecraft inside Liberty Public Market and then walk around all the various eateries that are there.

Could always try The Public House in La Jolla, a bit fancier food but still has most of the usual fare: https://www.the-publichouse.com/ I'm a big fan of their current/former/not-a-clue-how-they-are-related-anymore sister location Encinitas Ale House.

 

We will be heading down to San Diego (staying in Carlsbad) next week and staying for about a week. The brewery list is going to flexible as my second son and his girlfriend are going to fly in over the weekend. Here is the current proposed list:

• New
  • Pure Project (Carlsbad): have not been to any of the locations or tried their beer, but the beer list looks amazing.
  • Ballast Point - Little Italy: Not so much new as Ballast Point and Stone were two of the breweries that got me into craft beers over ten year ago. We have been to the Miramar location, but their current beer list in Little Italy looks interesting and try a blast from the past or
  • North Park - Bankers Hill?: A lot of good reviews on Beer Advocate for their beer. Does look more to be an IPA shop.
• Old
  • Alesmith - We will probably just drop by to pick up beer to stock the beer fridge at home. However, their prices are almost double what I paid for only five years ago. I know, I know. Prices go up, but really...and they are not the only ones.
  • Pizza Port - Carlsbad: Unlikely, but still may swing by.
  • Burgeon - I really like them, but wife wasn't wild about the tap room that last time that we visited.

The countdown has begun...

 

I'd prioritize North Park Beer Co. Banker's Hill if you're going to eat, because the food is great, or the original location in North Park if you're just going to drink. Either way, best beers in town.

 

If you don’t need hazy IPAs or sweet stouts then go to Bagby. Good food and great beer.

 

the prices for pours are insane at Alesmith. I usually only get some ( or all) of the Order of Anvil pours and buy a buttload of stuff to go.
Seriously tho...4 bucks for 4 ounces of speedway when a 4 pack of pints is 14 bucks...pffft nnooooo thankkkkkk you.

 

I'm not a big fan of Pure Project, but you could easily do Pure Project's tasting room and North Park's tasting room in Banker's Hill as they are like 5 minutes from each other.

I'd skip Ballast Point their quality is so low nowadays and go to Stone in Little Italy its a cute spot and never busy, there is also a Burgeon tasting room right up from there.

Eppig and Bagby are really good. I'd say North Park is the you can't miss brewery these days in San Diego.

 

If you like/love lagers, then Bagby and Eppig rule the area. Pure Project is primarily fruited/adjunct beers if that is your style. If you want the best tacos in North County, Craft Coast and Tacos in Oceanside is excellent.

 

I am going to toss this into the thread. This trip to Tokyo, Japan, has stretched my budget a bit.
It is not beyond the realm that I would enjoy registering for, and attending -as a member- the 2023 AHA NHC in San Diego at the Town and Country resort in the Hotel Circle in late June.
In 2015, the last time I was in San Diego -for AHA NHC-, I found a recently-converted-to Motel 6 on the light rail line east of the hotel circle. I have photographs. {My camera did not break on this jaunt.} I can't seem to find this motel anymore. If a hotel still exists at this address; I would investigate staying there again.
Does it still exist?
$140.00 | night hotel rooms on the Hotel Circle are allergic to me.
If it does not, is there anybody else willing to share their accomodation to me at the Town & Country hotel for three days during the AHA NHC?

To tie this back in to this thread; On that jaunt to San Diego, I did not have a rental car. This was intentional. (As was my thrust to generate a published-in-print article about how to drink something other than an India Pale Ale in San Diego.)
There are lots of beerworthy venues in San Diego which you can get to which do not involve having a motor vehicle. Even in Coronado. (The route #901 bus is amazing for both its service, and the views you get riding it from downtown S.D. to Coronado.)

North Park, and the entire North Park neighborhood are available without an auto.

I hesitate to splice this in here; but on a weekday in 2015, when I spent the early afternoon hours viewing a U.S. Soccer match on TV at O'Brien's, there was the route #120 MTS bus running a route from near O'Brien's back to the Town & Country (and which runs through to downtown - $2.50 ~ buy the multi-day pass!).
This should help you. If you need more data, react to me.

 

Based upon feedback and changes in daily plans, we ended up going to the following:

• Karl Strauss (Carlsbad)
  • We were staying at the Hilton Grand and it was too easy to walk over after driving all day for dinner and a few beers.
  • While they changes the approach to serving (order and then they bring to the table), the food and services was good and we enjoyed the beer (Rye IPA and a BA Belgium Quad). I ended up getting a crowler for the BA Belgium Quad!
• Bagby
  • We ended up going over for lunch and a few beers while playing Sorry and Jenga with our youngest son.
  • Loved the atmosphere and staff. Food and beer varied (brown was average even though they won an award for it, but their BA Baltic Porter was outstanding).
  • A lot of beer styles and my wife liked. So, we will be back next time we are down.
• Ballast Point (Miramar)
  • We stopped by to pick up some Victory of Sea, but found out that they didn't have any to go. Ended up getting a crowler.
  • I had one beer and my wife had a flight of their blended beers. All were good. Friendly service.
• Alesmith
  • Busy. Once again, they reminded me why they are my favorite SD Brewery.
  • I had brown and one of the BA Speedway Stout (German Chocolate version).
  • Ended up buying a bunch of cans for the trip home.
• Pizza Port (Carlsbad)
  • My older sons in town for the weekend. Eight of us (including girlfriends) descended for a late lunch after strawberry picking.
  • Ok. The food was far better than I remembered.
  • Beer was outstanding. I tried a DIPA and drank a Belgium Triple.
• Modern Times (Point Loma)
  • My second son girlfriend wanted to stop for a beer before getting on the plane.
  • I had a Mosiac IPA. Chill place, not busy (late on Sunday afternoon).
  • I went to buy a four pack of the Mosiac IPA and a bottle of BA Sherry Stout. Since it was my birthday weekend, they gave me the four pack for free. Great service!

Great beer week in San Diego. Some oldies and some new breweries. Just missed Pure Project and North Park for this visit, but there is always next time!

 

You’ve got to try Burgeon Beer near little Italy, McIlheney Brewing(bit of a haul…it’s in Alpine but well worth it. They are the original owners/brewers of Alpine beer), Attitude Brewing in Barrio Logan, Rouleur Brewing in North Park and Pure Project also in North Park…and with somewhere in the vicinity of 150 breweries/tasting rooms I could go on forever! But this is a good start! Cheeahs!

 

I too am headed there in a few weeks. Any of the mentioned places dog friendly? I have a small yorkie. He just hangs in a bag and chills.

Thanks!

 

Most have an outside area / patio and allow dogs in that area.

 

Where can I buy a bottle of Fremont Brew 7000, please? Little Italy area or La Jolla preferred.

Also, how do I avoid La Jolla traffic? Go south on La Jolla Blvd?

 

Little Italy area, Bottlecraft might have them. If you can get to Miramar Rd. I know for a fact that San Diego Wine & Beer Co has them.

Avoiding La Jolla traffic is just as easy as not being in La Jolla to begin with =P but there isn't much you can do to avoid it.

 

Drive there during off hours? Otherwise you just have to eat it. Like SDReaper said, Bottlecraft at North Park/Little Italy/Liberty Station or SD Wine and Beer on Miramar road probably your best bets.

At least with SD Wine and Beer you don't have to get *too* close to La Jolla if you take 5 --> Balboa Ave or 52 -->805 and get off at Miramar Road.

 

Thanks! Glad you didn’t to use a boat!