Visiting San Diego - Winter 2016

Just hit rip current, was really excited to try them, what a huge disappointment. Tried 3 of their top rated ipas, bourbon rescue, and saison... The ipas all tasted pretty old. The rescue was straight booze, the saison was ok. it made me sad. Lol. Off to try other places.

 

My wife and I will be making a trip to San Diego over Easter weekend. I feel like we have a good idea of the breweries we'll try to visit, thanks to this thread @Xul, but I had a few questions for locals:

1. We'll be driving from Irvine in the afternoon on Good Friday. Other than Pizza Port, any recommended lunch options along the coast with a nice view? Doesn't have to be a beer spot.
2. I'm looking for suggestions for a dinner option with good cocktails/beers and better-than-a-bar atmosphere. My wife is not much of a drinker but enjoys sours, if that helps at all.

We're staying in North Park but will have a car. Thanks in advance for any replies.

 

For either of those options, I highly recommend George's Ocean Terrace in La Jolla. If the weather is nice, it's an awesome view and the food and drinks are both pretty good.

 

Doesn't have a view, but Bankers Hill Bar and Restaurant has excellent cocktails, great food, and solid, yet concise, draught list. Pretty reasonably priced, too.

 

We made a trip to SD last weekend (half day), and it was even better than my previous experience. The funny thing is my favorite spot last time, was the "worse" this time. (the council)

Alesmith - my favorite. Port BA wee heavy was incredible. Hammerhead, quite potent espresso ! ( I missed the peanut butter Vietnamese stout by one hour, very sad about that)

Green Flash Cellar 3. Was sort of our of our way off the highway, but took a chance. Had their BA Silva Stout w/ coffee. I was going to go with the regular BA, but they all suggested the coffee. I went with the coffee, and it was great. Very mild coffee (maybe some prefer strong coffee presence) and it was quite smooth for a BA. Two of their sours were great as well. I asked for their best fruity IPA, and it was an IPA w/ tangerine. A great finish after the BA & sours.

Toolbox. Their sours were my favorite of all of this trip.

Rip Current. Enjoyed their BA.

The Council. I expected to love the Mango Sour, but that didn't happen. Wish they had one of the berries on tap.

Gotta research and decide what other breweries to visit next ime.

Thanks for the list again Xul.

 

Any decent bottle shops near Petco? Or is the best bet an Uber to Bottlecraft in lil Italy

 

Krisp in downtown is easily walkable from petco.

 

Exactly what I was looking for, many thanks!

 

Any recommendations on bottle shops that may have a decent stock of Russian River? Looking for Supplication and Temptation. I'll take some Pliny too if it's available. I'll be staying in Old Town but will definitely devote one day to the zoo so I'll be in that area.

 

Appreciate the thread - going to spend 4 nights over labor day in the greater San Diego area. Was thinking of structuring it with 2 nights in San Diego (probably north beach area) and 2 nights somewhere further north off 78 between Escondido and the Coast. This is a suds-centric trip. Does that sound like a reasonable way to play it?

San Marcos seemed like a reasonable spot to set-up shop, but there are like zero airbnbs. Any advice on interesting lodging options up that way?

 

Making the long trek down from Northern CA to SD on Saturday. Does anyone know how bad or good the traffic between OC and SD is mid afternoon/early evening on Saturdays?

 

The 5 South gets quite busy on weekends. Depends on where exactly you are going to/from but I'd say 1-2 hours.

 

@IQBlue, would air on the high side just to CYA. Took me four hours just to get from Costa Mesa to Carlsbad this past Saturday... That's the miserable upper limit of how bad it could get. But if you allow for 2 or 2.5, might be a good compromise to make sure you're there with plenty of time to enjoy SD.

 

Thanks guys. Staying in Anaheim. Have to get to Modern Times to pick up my League hoodie. I really wished I could go Sunday because in my experience, traffic is better going down there in the evening but Council isn't open. It's in the contract with the wife that anytime we hit SD she gets a Council trip out of it.

 

wow you're a lot more tolerable of traffic than I am... me and my buddy had planned on going down to SD last sat also. we made it as far as Irvine before we said screw it and turned around lol

 

Considered it. But with a hotel booked and a dogsitter already set up, felt the beer was very much worth it.

 

Maybe take the 91 to the 15? Should be about 2 hours from say, Noble to Modern Times.

 

Not sure if this post is allowed, I have lived local since 2001. Not an AirBnB guy but I travel frequently from my 2 bd/2.5 ba condo right on the beach in North PB/Bird Rock. The spare room is typically available as well. Not the most centralized location for beer geeks, but biking/walking distance to many fun places (Amplified being my local favorite). If any friendly BA are looking, I'd be happy to host for a fair exchange, and depending on my availability can stock the fridge with your favorites before arrival, take you for a quick tour (only Friday/Saturday), or sit around and share story. This is not a business just a happy beer drinking guy. Email [email protected]

 

Not sure why everyone forgets about it but the Karl Strauss brewery off of Santa Fe is worth at least a mention, the have solid beers plus some interesting experimental ones every time I go.