Bagby Brewing in Oceanside

http://www.beeradvocate.com/communi...ng-bagby-beer-co-so-long-to-get-going.149521/

 

So yesterday we (12 total-4 beer drinkers) took the MetroLink from the OC to Oceanside for a day of just exploring the city. For those who don't know already you can hop on the MetroLink for $10 all day long, R/T, anywhere on the weekends(Sat or Sun). I figured this would be a good time to finally hit up Bagby Beer Co. for the first time. After a great mexican lunch at Colima's (near Stone Co Store) we the 4 beer drinkers headed to Bagby while the others walked the pier and beach. Oceanside Station is about half way between Stone Co Store and Bagby. I was pretty surprised how big Bagby was. The front was full already so we headed out to the back where there is another bar and outside patio area. After the rest of the non beer drinkers arrived we had moved to the inside just behind the front area. What a great brewpub. Had a flight of 4 Bagby's beers. and then it was off to the races with the guest beers. Had 2 from brewery's I never had before. Apparently kegs left over from their BagbyFest, the Columbus Bohdi and Boneyard Bone-A-Fide both were excellent. Also had Lupulin Lust from Rip Current and a surprise Alesmith Speedway Stout Double Hammerhead. The snacks and desert we had their was equally as good as the beers. But that Alesmith was the Bonus!!
We all did a quick stop at Stone Co Store for some Enjoy By on tap just before catching the MetroLink back to OC.
I will definitely be going back to Bagby's sooner than later.
For those in the OC or LA area this is very doable on a Sat or Sun. And for only $10. It takes about the same time to drive to Oceanside (without the SD traffic in south OC on the 5 frwy). But most of the time there is traffic on the 5 going in the am and heading back north in the pm.
This is definitely a must for those whose never been to Bagby. And you could take the bus over to Carlsbad and hit up PP.

 

Interesting ... didn't know that. Bummer it stops in Oceanside ... that said, any breweries north of OC that are "MetroLink friendly"? Still need to check out Highland Park, Phantom Carriage, Smog City, Monkish and some others ... but I don't think those are near any MetroLink stations without a bunch of transfers.

 

Yea it's a bummer the MetroLink only goes to Oceanside. If you want to go down to Old Town SD you would have to take Amtrak Surfliner which cost extra either from Irvine or Oceanside. Or you could take the Coaster from Oceanside to SD (extra $$) and you wouldn't have much time to spend in SD if your there for the day. LA public transportation is still bad compared to Chicago or NYC. But if you want to spend a day in Oceanside it is def worth it on the weekend.
Near the Anaheim station you can bus it air walk it to Noble. Or close to the Fullerton station you have Bootleggers.

 

Looking "north" ... seems both Golden Road and & Highland Park are fairly doable from the Glendale Metro Station + Uber.

 

I thought it was excellent - we stopped by a few weeks ago on the way home from Stone. While the "grounds" weren't as nice as Stone, I enjoyed it better and thought their house beers I tried were great (both IPAs were excellent and I also really enjoyed the Saison). The food was decent as well, but sounds like I might want to check out Colimas which sounds worthwhile.

 

Yes….I highly recommend Colima's. It may look like it's nothing from the outside but I noticed a lot of locals going inside. The food is definitely very good. Been to Colima's every time I stop in Stone Co Store. And for those into menudo they serve it every weekend.

 

One last note on Bagby, they do fill blank and other brewery's growlers (swing tops only). But the label has to be covered or they will charge $1 extra to cover the label themselves. I did not know this. But noted for next visit.

 

No growler fills on guest beers. Really too bad. A lot of killer guest beers.

 

Bagby's is my spot! I've been 15-20 times, I live directly between Bagby and PP-Carlsbad.

The latest batch of Goon Brigade is a killer 7+% IPA.

 

I think I've been there about a dozen times. The house beers offer a solid variety and are all done really well. I don't think he's brewed a gimmicky beer here yet. Like the reasoning for the name of Dork Squad and how he's kept that going with the other IPA and the DIPA. Good food as well and normally a great guest beer tap list. Last week had Oude Tart with Cherries on tap and had Pure Hoppiness the time before that.

If you take the Metro down and do Bagby and Stone don't forget to walk by Breakwater. They usually have a couple good guest beers. And hopefully in the near future Urge will be located in South Oceanside halfway between Bagby and Pizza Port.

 

I work directly across the street from Bagby and I love the place. I haven't had the food in awhile (Local Tap House a couple blocks down has insanely good food) but the Bagby crew is cool, you'll be hard pressed to find a cooler place to hang out and I really enjoy the full line-up of beers.

 

The transformation of the O'side food scene over the last 4 years or so is phenomenal and definitely give Babgy part of the credit for that.

 

I have free Metrolink tickets I need to use before July. Can you walk from the Metrolink stations to beer spots?

 

Google map from Oceanside station to Bagby Beer Co. Then to Breakwater and finish up at Stone Co Store. The train station is a 10 minute walk to Stone and 10 minutes to Bagby.

 

He's one of the taller brewers in the county.

 

Not too many guys that look down on Tom Nickel, but he's one.

 

I'm excited to check this place out for the first time this coming weekend.