may cali trip for this east coaster.

So Temecula is in the middle of no where. There are some breweries out there but nothing amazing.

From there I think the closest drive is down to Diego area. Down there my must hits are Lost Abbey, Stone (The venue is amazing), Ale Smith, Ballast Point and Modern Times. The first 4 of those can easily be done in a day. If your really into IPA's you can always go to alpine as well but it is super far out of the way.

In OC the must hit spots are all close to each other. Hands down the Bruery is the must go place, followed by bottle logic and noble ale works. The Bruery has an amazing bottle shop not far from it called Mr K's.

As for LA, I would hit smog city brewing and El Segundo for sure.

 

go to beachwood on your way from the bruery to thousand oaks, yes its a slight detour, yes its worth it. should def be higher on your list than phantom carriage.

 

Skip Mission in SD and hit up Rip Current near Lost Abbey and Stone.

 

If you have time in Thousand Oaks go to Ladyface (like 5-10 min drive) or Institution in Camarillo (Probably 10 mins in the other direction). Also, Figueroa Mountain may have a taproom open in Westlake around then which could be cool to visit.

 

The mission rootbeer is exceptionally sweet and did not make for a great float the few times I have tried, but to each their own.

If you do make it down to petco for a Padres game most of our big named breweries are inside pouring a good selection of their beers. Obviously bring money since, you know, ballpark beer prices.

As for your Alpine bottles during the summer, I will apologize now, but I seriously hope bottles of Alpine won't happen. I know eventually GF will bottle it and distribute it but I can be hopeful that it won't happen since they are already putting out shit-versions of Alpine beer..if it also went into bottle form then well....damn. But that is another discussion.

The other posters above gave some solid info, there is also this:
http://www.beeradvocate.com/community/threads/visiting-san-diego-spring-2015.275421/
for when you are in San Diego.

 

You're missing antacids, a little known San Diego treat that goes hand in hand with sours and carnitas. Enjoy!

 

If you/your cousin have an affinity for sours, you may want to consider Toolbox:
http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/36523/

Also, Council's tart saisons are pretty great and usually rotating on tap:
http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/34734/

If you've got room in your luggage for additional OEC, I'd be interested in setting up an IP trade. BM me.

 

They help, but only so much. Get on Prilosec OTC or some other proton pump inhibitor a few days before the trip and take it daily until a few days after the trip. You may still need an occasional antacid, but this will help a lot.

 

If your going to the dodgers game then stop by the melody lounge in chinatown before.

 

If your staying in the Temecula area then you may just want to stick with brewery's near Stone Escondido (including Stone of course). You have Rip Current, Lost Abbey & Belching Beaver all in the general area. You could go a little further south and hit up Societe & Council (less than 5 minutes from each other). But if you go at Societe, then your only 30 minutes from Alpine (brewery closed Sun/Mon, brewpub closed Mon). But as per SDReaper said it's a hit or miss on which Alpine beers they are serving at Alpine. Bottles may be okay. I don't think GF is doing bottles yet. Got word from Bud that the bottles were still Alpine brew'd. But Nelson keg (GF) recently hit Alpine brewery and it wasn't up to par. Call ahead.
Temecula has a bunch of brewery's all in the same general area. You could do a day in Temecula. Haven't been yet. Maybe others who have can chime in on Temecula brewery's.
If your coming from Temecula area on the way to LA/OC then your probably going to take the 15 to 91 into OC. You got Bottle Logic right off the 91. Noble isn't that much of a detour from BL. Then you got The Bruery and Bootleggers (man, I haven't heard or had their beers in a loooong time). You can always swing down to Beachwood Long Beach and hit up Phantom Carraige. Hell, if your going to Phantom then your not that far from Beachwood LB. If your into the sours then Phantom is a good choice. But now you got Smog City, Absolution, Dudes and Monkish all in the area of Phantom.

 

HA! Bootleggers! I completely forgot about that place! Literally no one mentions them anymore.

I remember at beer fests 3-4 years ago, they would have lines for days. Now you go and no one is in line for them.

Its the old saying, Bootleggers has the best tasting room in OC...but you have to drink Bootleggers.

 

The fact that you don't have Toolbox in that group takes away your San Diego beer cred. LOL