Brewery Recommendations for San Diego

Discussion in 'Pacific' started by SlightlyAwake, Sep 11, 2017.

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  1. SlightlyAwake

    SlightlyAwake Initiate (0) Sep 8, 2017 Connecticut

    Hey everyone!

    New Englander (CT) visiting some family in San Diego for a week, next week (Sept 16-23). Going to be staying in OB/Point Loma area. I haven't been out there in 8 years. I was old enough to drink then, but clearly things have evolved in the craft beer world, including my palate.

    I'm looking for some breweries (and/or craft beer shops) to visit and I'm hoping to bring back some beers. I'm trying to avoid growler fills since I'm only going to be out there temporarily. Big lover of IPA's and sours. I've done some light research and I understand that there are over 100 breweries in SD, so I'm trying to narrow it down to the best of the best.

    So far I know I want to check out Modern Times. Pure Project seems pretty dope but it looks like they don't do cans very often. Trying to avoid breweries like Stone and Ballast only because I can readily find their beer here.

    Thanks!
     
    #1 SlightlyAwake, Sep 11, 2017
  2. SDReaper

    SDReaper Pooh-Bah (2,174) Aug 15, 2013 California
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    #2 SDReaper, Sep 11, 2017
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  3. Recce

    Recce Initiate (0) Aug 8, 2013 California

    For beer shopping:
    Bine and Vine (lots of singles available, and Pliny)
    Barons Market (near you)
    Bottlecraft (multiple locations, lots of singles)
    Chris' Liquor and Deli (go for a sandwich, see what beers are there, often a sleeper cell of tasty)

    For actual breweries:

    Bay City (does crowlers too, near Modern Times)
    Bitter Brothers (small and tucked away)
    Societe
    Burning Beard
    Monkey Paw
    Automatic Brewing (served at Blind Lady Ale House, which is near Bine and Vine)
    Fall Brewing (also not far from Bine and Vine)

    Some places do crowlers these days, so you could get some take home stuff that'll never ever be canned or bottled regularly.

    Good luck, have fun.
     
    #3 Recce, Sep 11, 2017
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  4. HopHead89

    HopHead89 Pundit (752) Oct 20, 2016 California

    TWO WORDS Modern Times
     
    #4 HopHead89, Sep 11, 2017
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  5. ayearetee

    ayearetee Initiate (0) Nov 23, 2016 California

    Modern Times
    Abnormal Brewing Co
    Pure Project
    Alesmith
     
    #5 ayearetee, Sep 11, 2017
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  6. SDReaper

    SDReaper Pooh-Bah (2,174) Aug 15, 2013 California
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    Agreed, except for Pure Project. Winslow is a fantastic brewer but there is usually nothing on the board that screams "come drink me!". Now I will admit, I am spoiled in that I have to drive past Mikkeller and Alesmith to even get to PureProject....so there is that.

    So I would swap in Mikkeller instead of Pure in your list. They also just got a crowler machine. While they aren't doing crowlers for public yet (viking members only and only 1 beer), I expect that to change relatively soon.
     
    #6 SDReaper, Sep 11, 2017
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  7. SlightlyAwake

    SlightlyAwake Initiate (0) Sep 8, 2017 Connecticut

    Thanks everyone! Lots of great information here, I'm excited.
     
    #7 SlightlyAwake, Sep 11, 2017
  8. Porphyry

    Porphyry Aspirant (251) Jun 20, 2017 California

    The guide that SDReaper linked too is dead on the money.

    Of the breweries named upthread, a lot of them are great, but I have to shout out more love to Societé and Modern Times, in particular.
     
    #8 Porphyry, Sep 12, 2017
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  9. ChazMania

    ChazMania Savant (1,028) Jun 13, 2006 California

    Also in OB you have PizzaPort with house and guess taps, and that string of like 5 other tasting rooms which can vary in quality when the gravitational pull of Modern Times only 2 miles away must pull you in!!
     
    #9 ChazMania, Sep 12, 2017
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  10. InfiniteJester23

    InfiniteJester23 Initiate (0) Apr 26, 2017 Norway

    You should definitely stop by Societe. But right down the street from them is Council. I love their sours, and this Tuesday is their "Talk like a pirate day", where they release a bunch of variants on their Imperial Oatmeal Stout. If you like sours, its a must visit in the area; even if you aren't big on those, though, with the stout variants I'd still say its worth stopping at.
     
    #10 InfiniteJester23, Sep 16, 2017
  11. swolepeer

    swolepeer Initiate (0) May 23, 2013 California

    I work at Stone in Liberty Station and make sure to visit Modern Times at least twice a week. MT rules. Pizza Port OB rules. Sunset Cliffs rules. Just hang out in OB, bruh.
     
    #11 swolepeer, Sep 16, 2017
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