First time to San Diego, any tips?

http://www.beeradvocate.com/community/threads/heading-to-san-diego.173614/

After you read through that and the other references given, please feel free to ask any specific questions. Will you have a car?

Pliny is not a San Diego beer, but you can often find it on tap in Toronado and O'Brien's, as well as probably a few other beer bars.

 

http://www.beeradvocate.com/community/threads/underrated-so-cal.169383/
http://www.beeradvocate.com/community/threads/first-time-in-cali.170534/
http://www.beeradvocate.com/community/threads/heading-to-san-diego.173614/

These are good reads to get you started

 

Stop into the Stone Brewing Tap Room (a block from Gaslamp) and say hi, we usually have one or two things on tap you can only find at Stone locations. Make sure to say hi or feel free to ask if I'm around.

 

A stop at Lost Abbey for some Red Barn is a must.

 

I went out to San Diego for work last november and heading back out there at the end of the month and I have two stops the one is stone world bistro and the second is Societe Brewing Company. Societe was amazing and i can't wait to go back there.

 

I'm from VA also and just got back from my first SD trip yesterday & I used a lot of the helpful info in the threads above. If you have a car & make it up north I found Pliny in a bottle shop in Escondito (Our Stone server gave us the heads up) and it just happened to be on draft at a pub called Churchills. Obv doesn't mean it's still there but I had a relatively easy time finding it.

Additionally we visited Lost Abbey, a Pizza Port, but were especially impressed with Modern Times and Societe - both the beer and the (friendly) atmosphere. Also I have to throw this out there, we debated on driving to Alpine after reading some mixed thread comments but I was so glad I did, the 3 big IPAs were definitely worth it and a few bottles made it back home in my suitcase for this weekend.
And if you don't have a car, then disregard my ramblings and get one next time.

 

I agree, add Alpine to that and you have the triple crown.

 

O I do plan on throwing Alpine into that mix as an early morning drive out there to get lunch and a few bottles then head back to san diego for whatever else i missed.

 

Early morning? You could leave San Diego at 10:30, get to the pub just after it opens, and after a leisurely lunch go over to the brewery after it opens to get your bottles.

Well, I guess 10:30 is early for a lot of people. [grin]

 

Go to the bottle release party on Saturday at Alesmith. These events always feature an impressive tap list.

 

My issue was I woke up at 4am every morning, damn eastern standard time zone.

 

Too bad Alpine doesn't have a beer breakfast.

 

What conference are you attending and where in VA. do you live? Feel free to bring some Williamsburg Alewerks and we can set up a trade

 

I stayed at the gaslamp a couple weeks ago and learned next time I'm going to stay at the Lafayette Hotel in North Park. There's a better night scene there it seems. If you do hit up Gaslamp the Neighborhood had the best beers on tap IMO. The best decision I made on my trip was going to Stone world bistro and gardens at Liberty Station. Not too far from Gaslamp. It's amazing.

 

I'm up for whatever you can get, I miss having access to them. Send me a PM if you wanna go for it and I can pick up some stuff around here for you if you want.

 

I'll be staying at the Lafayette in a few weeks, other than Tiger Tiger, and the Toronado, what other spots would folks consider to be walking distance from the hotel?