Founders - San Diego

thanks for the heads up. The reason Founders is available is because they brought a bunch of beer during WBC held in San Diego. Lots of places had Founders and it stayed on for a long time at a lot of places. A few of the places I saw and had some were Toronado, Hamilton's, Reagle Beagle, plus a few more I know I am forgetting

edit: With the large amount it appears they brought in I wonder if they are wetting the palate for distro to Cali (or at least SoCal) or if they were just being super nice to us deprived of their beer?

 

There was another recent thread about this. Word was that since they were also pouring at the FW invitational, they got a 2 month license, and so could distribute here during that time period. At this point, so much has been reported at popping up all over, there seems to be credence to this, and not just left over kegs from festivals.

Edit: Here's the thread. http://beeradvocate.com/community/threads/founders-in-so-cal.18495/

 

if they are serving just because they got the temp license, my question is what is wrong with all of the other breweries that made a special appearance?

 

Haha, yeah seriously. I wouldn't mind some Three Floyds or Bells offerings around town myself either. Even Yo Ho offerings from Japan were all solid session beers, would love to see them on the shelf or in sushi restaurants.

Not sure what type of licences other breweries got at the festival, and while I don't monitor Founders facebook page, in the theard posted, they apparently have CA as a "potential" market. (As I'm sure many breweries do) but as you know, CA is pretty far outside their current distribution chain, & a tough market to crack given how many great local breweries we have, so, it would seem they are just testing the waters right now. Perhaps other breweries don't yet have the means, or desire to do so what Founders is testing. All speculation on my part.

In any event, I certainly hope this pans out, Founders is in my (& many others) top ten, if not top 5 breweries outside CA that we would love to have here.

 

agree. I bet breweries would love to get into Cali, but it is a hard market, being large and having that big void to travel across. Though I am surprised at some of the breweries we do get (and have gotten for a while) like Jolly Pumpkin and Pretty Things, and surprised we don't get things like Odells and Left Hand. I also wouldn't be shocked if Bells makes it here in the next year or two, They are already next door in AZ and they are expanding their brewery, though this could just be a fantasy more than reality.

 

I'm sure it's a haul from Northridge, but IIRC Far Bar in Little Tokyo near downtown LA had a solid selection of Yo-Ho cans the last time I was in.

I would love to have Founders or Bells in my life on a more regular basis. I've done the beer trip to Michigan a couple times, and it's always struck me as a real shame given their staggering number of top-notch breweries that we get literally just one MI brewery (JP) here in California. Especially since they get so many of ours!

 

I've seen YoHo in SoCal.

 

If they would just bring out some more of their stouts and strongs id be happy. We have enough hops right now.

 

Wally's has them too.

 

Admitedly, I hadn't been seeking out Yo Ho specifically before, so might have passed right by it in the past, (since I don't generaly puruse for craft beer in the Japanese beer section, guess it's time to change that) but good to hear it is available here, since I did enjoy all three offerings they had at the FW fest.

To NanoBrew, I agree about Left Hand & Odell's. Always struck me a bit odd they were in AZ & not CA, why stop that short from such a huge beer market, but hopefully at some point that changes, would love to get regular 6 packs of their nitro milk stout.

Bell's seems like it could enter the market here & do well also. I've been to the Total Wines in Arlington VA, & they carried the majority of their line, so Total Wines Northridge could in theory carry it too...lol.

 

I was surprised to see Founder's Porter on tap at Ritual last Wednesday. Pretty decent, I thought.

 

I've seen cans of Yo Ho (Tokyo Black and another one, can't remember) for sale at Palm Springs Liquor in La Mesa.

 

I had a Founders Dirty Bastard scotch ale at Blind Lady last week. I don't typically like the style, but I had to try it since it was a chance to try Founders. I actually liked it. Not overly sweet, nice flavor. I believe the board said "7 hop varieties" or something to that effect.

 

There were six Founders beers on tap yesterday during lunch at Slater's 50/50, Liberty Station.

 

I just made a thread about this. I am a fucking idiot.