Anaheim (2020)

No on flights. You can do half pours or full pours and the half pours are pretty pricey compared to just getting a full pour. Cans to go for sure, I was pretty sure you could do crowlers too. There was a price for crowlers at least.

 

Half pours are usually half the price plus .50. They do crowlers and growlers. Bonus....there open on Mondays! Finally.

 

Not getting tons of hype? Huh? Every time I drive past that place it’s packed to the gills. They pull crowds as big as the Golden Road next to Angel Stadium without being next to any stadiums or anything notable. I’m actually kinda impressed and also perplexed at how popular it has become in such a short period of time.

 

I wasn’t trying to knock Brewery X. I’ve never had a bad beer there but also haven’t had one that’s blown me away either. I’m a WCIPA guy and really enjoy grass blaster and dipa by the minute over any other WCIPA in the area besides Green Cheek.

 

Instead of making a new thread, I figured I'd piggy back onto this thread for some Orange County advice.

• Background: I will be staying in Dana Point, CA for a conference next week (Feb 11-15).
• Breweries: I'm already planning to stop by Bottle Logic to pick up some RFI bottles and a few beers, probably that Friday afternoon. Also looking at checking out Green Cheek. Are there any other beer-related spots I should be checking out in during my 1-2 free evenings and 1 free afternoon during the conference? Transportation won't be an issue.
• PtY: Any ideas if there are any Pliny the Younger tappings happening in LA/OC/SD during that week/weekend? I'd love to tick this one if the opportunity is there.
• Eats: And while I'm at it- what are your favorite restaurants in OC? I have a daily per diem and greatly appreciate tasty food- farm to table, sushi, ramen, etc. Doesn't have to be beer centric in any way.
• Trades: Certainly open to bringing over some midwest bottles if anyone wants to meet up in OC for a local trade -- doesn't have to be anything too crazy.

Thanks in advance!

 

Dana Point is in South Orange County which really isn’t the best spot for beer. That being said there is Pizza Port in San Clemente. I actually haven’t been to that location, but I’ve heard good things. Your best bet is Central and North OC. Green Cheek (two locations now - Orange and Costa Mesa. Orange is bigger and has more GC offerings, while Costa Mesa has food and guest taps). Bottle Logic (of course), and then there’s The Bruery, and The Bruery Terreux (the best bottle shop in OC, Mr. K’s, is down the street from The Bruery. In North OC is Beachwood and Riip. To me, the best food (and a great tap list) is at Playground in Downtown Santa Ana (they change their menu daily. Check it here: https://www.playgrounddtsa.com/). Also, across the street is Native Son Alehouse, a rooftop bar, that has great beers and is open to bottle shares.

Good luck!

Oh yeah. My favorite sushi is at Ohshima in Orange (start with omakasi) and insane, thick/rich broth ramen is at Hiro Nori in Irvine.

 

Let me add...
In Costa Mesa up the 405 for ramen go to Mitsuwa Market Plaza, there is Santouka Ramen. In the same area up Bristol and right on Baker you have the new Green cheek Too (which has very good food). since you'll be up at Bottle Logic you can visit the Orange GC location. I would check both locations out if you have the time. I think GC has the best prices in OC as far as pours. Beachwood Brewery has the best prices for to go cans. Back to Mituswa area. Nearby GCToo across the street is Windsor Homebrew for to go cans/bottles. I like both Mr K's (Mike) & Windsor (Scott). Both are some of the best guys in the industry. Very helpful. Closer to you in Dana Point is Gamecraft Brewery. Fairly new. Good brews. And they have food too.

 

Not sure of their dates, (you might just miss them) but Hollingshead Deli and Beachwood usually do PtY tappings.

 

Hamilton's Tavern in SD outside of downtown will have Pliny the younger on 2/13. Great bar that always has a bonkers taplist.

 

One excellent place close to your conference is The Brewhouse.

The Brewhouse
31896 Plaza Dr
Ste D3
San Juan Capistrano, California

No food, but there is always a diverse tap list.

 

best kolsch in socal hands down!

 

Beachwood Younger should be a raffle again.

 

I think they did away with the raffle. They're using the sales of their fried pickles as the charitable donation now.

 

You just made my day! I'll start looking at how to incorporate one or both into the agenda..

Santouka-- they have one at the Mituswa in Chicago-- love that place. I think you and Raul above have convinced me that Green Cheek OC and Bottle Logic are the two places to hit in that area. I haven't been to the Bruery in years, I'd forgotten that they were in the area. I'm 50/50 on them, but if there's time, I may pay them a visit again.

Dangit, Hollingshead is tapping that next Monday for President's Day. I'll keep an eye out for Beachwood.

Awesome, thanks for the heads up-- I don't think I can get there until late that evening, probably 9pm at best, due to conference events and stuff. Does PtY usually kick quickly? I could maaaaaaaaaaybe ditch the conference after lunch to get there at open if it's the only possibility of ticking this beer when I'm in town.

Sold- I'll check it out one of these evenings!

Thanks again to everyone for your helpful recommendations! This is plenty and I am really looking forward to my visit. Cheers!

 

They will probably have it on tap for a couple days. I know last year it lasted at least 3 days from initial tap

 

Your right. Dang. Valentines Day tapping at Beachwood. I be flying out to SFO for some bottles hopefully.

https://hoppedla.com/blog/plinywatch-2020

 

Well dang, that is perfect. Thanks for the heads up!

 

There are a handful of breweries in South County. Pizza Port, Artifex, and Lost Winds are in San Clemente. PP does PtY every year. They announce it on their Facebook or Instagram the morning of and I think it goes pretty fast. You also have Docent in San Juan Capistrano. There are also some close spots with good food and respectable tap lists. Check out Project Social in Dana Point and La Sirena in South Laguna.

 

Those are good tips - even though Green Cheek Too has good food, that area is a treasure trove of great Japanese restaurants. Izakaya Hachi is around the corner (only open for dinner) and is one of my favorite restaurants in OC, or for something different, Tenkatori Karaage is walking distance as well and is great fried chicken (don't miss the tendon and gizzards!). Or pretty much across the street from Green Check (right next to Windsor) is Ikko Sushi which is great (and the ramen place next door is a hole in the wall and is also good).

 

Taco Maria in Costa Mesa is hella expensive but their's a reason why it has received numerous accolades for its food: because the shit is tasty.

Kensho in Westminster has quickly become one of my favorite sushi joints whenever I'm visiting some people down in Orange County and, believe it or not, it's entirely vegan. Try it to believe it.

If you're staying in Dana Point you can driver further down south to San Clemente and try the burgers they have at the Riders Club. Always delicious, always ask for the pickled beets.

Jack's Bakery is a good hole-in-the-wall place in Garden Grove if you want a tasty shawarma sandwich or some baklava.

If you're in Orange County get some pho. Plenty of spots to choose from but you can go to Pho 86 which have two locations, one in Westminster and another in Garden Grove. Avoid places that use Pho as part of a pun in its name like Pho King or Pho Sho.

Want Korean food? Garden Grove has a vibrant Korean district, you can't go wrong with places like Cham Sut Gol if you want BBQ or BCD Tofu House. There's also KoKo Chicken if you want Korean Fried Chicken.

Cortina's Italian Market in Anaheim has delicious pizza and sandwiches. The Cortina's Special? One way ticket to a good nap.