San Diego recommendations (so many options)

Kind of a crazy ask, but figured I would try this thread as everyone has been incredibly helpful and knowledgeable. Taking a day trip to SD next week from LA and planning on stopping at ONE brewery.

I was originally set on Modern Times, but since we'regoing to the DTLA location I wanted to try something different. I'm torn between Stone (for historic reasons even though I can get it in NYC), AleSmith or Pizza Port. We're mostly into IPAs (east or west coast) and would love to try something we can't get in NYC. If you could only choose one centrally located SD brewery, what would you pick?

Also, unrelated question, how is parking in the downtown area? We're planning on getting in early (leaving LA around 6am). I would like to park the car in one location and walk around all day, is that possible? We're planning on doing touristy stuff, La Jolla Cove, Old Town, Balboa Park and Coronado. Is it possible to drive to each of these locations and find cheapish parking, or should I just find an all day lot, pay to park it and walk/take public transportation?

 

Pizza Port

 

Agreed. as for the following:

" how is parking in the downtown area? We're planning on getting in early (leaving LA around 6am). I would like to park the car in one location and walk around all day, is that possible? We're planning on doing touristy stuff, La Jolla Cove, Old Town, Balboa Park and Coronado. Is it possible to drive to each of these locations and find cheapish parking, or should I just find an all day lot, pay to park it and walk/take public transportation?"

if you arrive early at each location you should be ok however, no guarantee. old town/balboa park if you're staying downtown, your friend lyft/uber will oblige to help you. if you want to walk around in coronado, best park at the beach & walk to hotel del & surrounding area. La jolla from downtown, either way but again, wanting to walk, early arrival.

In short:
old town/balboa = those ride buddies
la jolla/coronado = early arrival decent parking no problem

& if you want some good food, la jolla i suggest regents pizzeria or public house. coronado, surprisingly coronado brewing company has some good food. Have fun.

 

Thanks Aztec_Chris and Porphyry. Based on the feedback I've received here and elsewhere we're most likely going to rent a car and hit Stone Escondido, then a combination of either Lost Abbey/Wild Barrel/Rip Current or Lost Abbey/Toolbox/Burgeon. I really like Alpine's beers and would love to hit their brewery, but given that there doesn't seem to be much else out there, and we'll only have the car for a day or two, heading north makes the most sense. Thanks again for all of your help. Cheers!

 

Excellent choices there, a good mix of hops & sours either way. I will throw one other choice that hasn't been mentioned which is Churchill's in San Marcos. It's less than a mile from Rip Current and has plenty of taps, ranging from great local stuff to harder to find out-of-area brews (think Russian River, Kern, Beachwood). It's worth checking out their menu to see what's on since you will be around. The food is also solid in case you still have an appetite after Stone

 

Awesome! We'll keep it on our radar.

 

Going to be in the area for a few days for vacation starting the 12th, is there any news on Fresh hop releases?
I'll be staying in Ocean Beach and La Jolla.

 

https://westcoastersd.com/2018/08/23/wet-hop-beers-of-2018/