San Diego and Vicinity (2023)

Just got back to La Jolla from Bottlecraft Little Italy. I got my Brew 7000 and a PtE. Tried a draft Karl Strauss Squawk Box. Classic west coast dank!
Anyway, you were right about getting to La Jolla. I travelled mid afternoon on a Friday and the road construction on Torrey Pines is its own special form of hell.

 

Traffic everywhere! I lived on Prospect in La Jolla in 69-70 and traffic wasn't
bad. I haven't visited La Jolla since the mid 70s, 50+ years later . . .

 

Heading to SD next month. Anyone know if the AleSmith Anvil & Stave is accessible to the public, or do you need to book it as an event space?

 

It occasionally is open to the public on fri/sat but seems to mostly be used as a small event space.

I wouldn't worry too much since the beers that would only be on in there are on at the main bar, so you are only missing out on a small, quieter place to drink beer. I tend to get my beers and go upstairs (when there isn't an event going on) and either drink it staring out at the brewery or else drink it while on their outside patio.

 

Thats what i love about going to the taproom .
It's probably the only brewery that I'll order ( mostly) everything no matter what it is on the Anvil and Stave taplist.

 

Hey all! I'll be in San Diego at the end of the month for the National Homebrewer's Conference. I'm staying in the North Park area. I won't have a car, what breweries/beer bars would you recommend that are accessible by bike/walk/public transit?

I love lagers and west coast IPAs, and my wife loves lagers and hazy IPAs. I'll also gladly take any coffee/restaurant recommendations in the area. Also are there any breweries I should keep an eye out for that I might not be able to visit their brewery but could find their beer on tap at a beer bar? For example can you find any beers from McIlhenney Brewing outside their taproom?

Thanks!

 

North Park Beer Co and Seek, for sure. Bottlecraft, across the street from npbc. And then bine and vine bottle shop seems to have McIlhenny cans most of the time.

 

That's great to hear, thanks for the heads up!

 

NPBC and Bine and Vine for sure. I would add Fall, Live Wire and Cantina Mayahuel for North Park cant miss. Cheers.

 

If you go to the Cantina, do it during happy hour and enjoy some tequila or mezcal.

 

While in North Park, check out Swan Bar for happy hour (4-5pm daily. 5 dollar cocktails and some really good burgers), Mabel's Gone Fishing (oysters), and Kin Len (Taiwanese street food).

Little Thief right across the street from North Park Beer Co is awesome for wine, and also has some random OC taps sometimes as well.

Fairplay took over the Toronado space and has decent beers and food if you need somewhere to watch a game.

 

Whoa. I did not get the memo that Toronado San Diego had closed. Better edit that on my bookmark page.
I am not going to be there next week. I had a big bill associated with the abode here that I needed to pay. That eroded all the money that was planned for out-of-area beer trips this month. (I'm also having a snag with my Visa credit card holder. It is going to be cancelled when I get a replacement credit card assigned.)
It may take a little adaptation, but the last time I was in San Diego - it was also for AHANHC - was June 2015, and I managed to get out-&-about around San Diego with just a multi-day transit pass [I have photographs.]. The next time I do go to San Diego, I want to meet Mike Stax. {Yes, I know what he is organizing at the end of summer. Will I be financially fluid enough to go then?} (I need a little more time to acclime to $140 | night hotel rooms. {Bleep}ing hotels charging prices to try and make up for 32 months of no business?!)
With the transit pass, you can even get to Coronado (& Coronado Brwg.) cheaply from downtown on the route #901 bus (which is also quite scenic).

 

Clearly you havn't been here for some time. Shit's changed. And why do you want to find that techno hippie? Also, yes get a transit pass if you're willing to deal with public transportation. Hopefully you won't be too far off from your point of origin so choose your points wisely.

 

Anyone know of any other stores that carry Mcilhenney cans outside of Bine and Vine? Looks like they only have Wizards Wand and Muntz in stock at the moment. (Looking for Bestest Buds).

I might not have the time to drive out to Alpine next week when I'm down there.

 

Right now I think BnV has exclusivity. I would expect Bottlecrafts to start to carry them in the future though, but that is just a guess.

 

Headed to town this week and plan on hitting the following over the course of the trip. Any additions or other recommendations? Any must try food spots?

North Park (both locations)
Seek
Pure Project Balboa
Live Wire
Burgeon
Bottlecraft Little Italy
Modern Times Lomaland
Eppig (waterfront)
Alesmith
O'Briens
Electric and/or 8-bit after Temecula wineries

 

If you are here this upcoming weekend then Saturday is the opening of GOAL (Derek and Jayson's new venture) and it is in the same brewery igniter building as Seek.

 

What's their story? What style of beer and expected to be really good?

 

A long time ago.........

Beer styles will be basically across the board, but with Derek returning to San Diego (former Abnormal and then Moksa brewer) I would be expecting pastry stouts and collabs. Yes, expected to be quite good.

 

probably the most hyped brewery opening in 2023. definetely add it to your list although tap list this weekend looks pretty middle of the road to kick things off