Looking for a short list to visit while in CA

Replace Oggi's with Noble Ale Works.

 

Skip Mike Hess, add Societe and Council to your list (they're right near each other). Ritual also isn't an essential stop - good spot and convenient location near Toronado, but not what I'd consider a big destination for a visitor from out of town.

 

Agree, forget you even have heard of Oggi's. Brewpub franchise chain and the house beers are below average. Love the pizza though.

Breweries -- Societe, Modern Times, Pizza Port, and toss up between Stone Liberty/Ballast... maybe think about St. Archer or Green Flash.

(As for Council.... being a new brewery and good people, my assessment is they are up and down. When I was there I thought their Saison was very good, their Imperial Red fantastic, the Saison w/ Lactobacillius was excellent, Oatmeal stout pretty good, however, of 3 IPAs, 1 was very mediocre, 1 was oxidized, and 2 of them were too malty. The Saison with brett was a beer that no brewer should EVER release, it had a MAJOR Ethyl Acetate/nail polish character [brett got too much oxygen]. Why that decision to serve it to their customers was made worries me).

 

Grap some tongue tickles (double IPA) from noble. Awesome beer. They are releasing it on draft and bottles tomorrow.

 

Pizza and pazookie are always good. Beers there, well, there are definitely better ones widely available but they aren't like horrible by any means.

 

If you've already been to Stone, there is no reason to make Stone Liberty Station a must stop. Cool place, but in a beer sense it isn't that much different than Escondido.

 

I liked that Juicy Fruit taste in the Saison with Brett. You just have no appreciation for chewing gum flavors.

 

Replace Oggis with Noble.

Replace Ritual and Hess with Societe and Council. Or add Tiger!Tiger! if you want food.

 

Which Oggi's is it at? The one in Orange on Tustin Ave.? If so, they also have guests beers on tap as well. I've seen some pretty decent CA beers on tap there. If you want to check out a bottle shop close by Oggis, there is Bevmo and the Wine Exchange close by. I would try and get down to Alpine Beer Company if you have a car! They are in deep San Diego, but are really worth it! Valiant and Bottle Logic Breweries are close by as well!

 

and also, bring maryland beers to us.


please.

 

If your driving , take the 30min detour and stop by alpine . I promise it will be worth your time .

 

just note if you do this, do it tuesday. they are closed mondays.

 

Skip Oggi and go to Noble. Tongue Tickle should still be available, fingers crossed. Damn fine DIPA from Noble. Bootleggers is close by but........its been a hit or miss lately. If you like the high ABV's then Valiant is just down the road from Bottle Logic. But them peoples are closed on Sunday!! Why? For bottles Provisions is near Valiant in Old Orange district (circle).
But.....if you have a car I would drive the 30-40min to Beachwood BBQ n Brewing in LB. Hit the Bruery, Noble then Beachwood. Very do-able.
If your going to be in SD on Monday & Tuesday Alpine is closed on Monday. Do all that you can do that Monday in SD then Tuesday head east on 8 and get to Alpine Brewpub at 1130 when they open, have lunch (very good BBQ & Tuesday Tacos is on the menu) and some pours at $4-4.5 of some of the best IPA's on this planet. The brewery opens at noon. Grab some bottles and growler fills and head north back to OC area. If you haven't hit Societe on Monday then on the way back would be a good time.

 

I suggest taking the oppurtunity, while your here, to try the smaller breweries that have small to little distribution. You have already have some good ones, and I do agree with many others are on adding Societe, & Alpine as well if you can (but Alpine will be out of your way, fyi) Modern Times and Pizza Port are also great stops.

I disagree with so many suggestions to skip Mike Hess, in fact, I say go there and make up your own mind on them since you already had them on your list. There Umbris Rye RIS is one of my personal favorites, their distribution is rather small, (unlike say Stone or Ballast Point) They also recently won a Gold at the World Beer cup for Habitus. The Mike Hess North Park location is also walking distance from Toronado, Tiger! Tiger! , and Belching Beavers tasting room, so you have 4 options in a small area too. Enjoy SD.

 

Hey Dave, you going to Noble today?

 

Planning on it right now. But that might change by time I get out of LAX area. Depending on traffic. If not today saturday at opening for sure. Still haven't heard on bottle limits. the Pupil was spot on yesterday. BT's is great!!

 

I wanted to go, but there was OT available and I had to take it!