Visiting SoCal in April... Must see breweries/bottle shops?

San Diego: Societe, Modern Times, Alpine, Ballast Point
LA: Smog City, Monkish

 

Alpine and Beachwood is a must IMHO.

 

Here's a pretty extensive list of spots to check out in L.A.: https://foursquare.com/johncassillo/list/los-angelesarea-beer-spots

As for specifics -- echoing Beachwood, Smog City and Monkish (the latter two are very close to one another), and would encourage a trip to Golden Road and Eagle Rock as well. Plenty of great beer bars worth hitting up for great local selections as well, including Library Alehouse, Father's Office, Tony's Darts Away and Mohawk Bend (among many others).

 

Holiday Wine Cellar
Bine and Vine
Sea Trader

 

The Bottlecrafts are often a worthwhile stop. Palm City Liquor (in La Mesa).

 

Depends on how much time you have to get over to Bottle Shops. The Foursquare list I put up has bottle shops as well, but if you're looking for some great CA-specific (SoCal-specific) selections of the non-"Whale" variety, Whole Foods Pasadena and Whole Foods Venice will have plenty at the right price.

 

Mr. K's Liquor is within walking distance of The Bruery, and is definitely worth a stop while you're in the area.

 

For the LA area, I would say Wally's in Westwood.

 

In the OC area, check out Noble Ale, the Bruery, Bootleggers, Bottle Logic (new) and Valiant. All within an esy driving distance from each other. Beach City Brewery in HB should be opened by then also. HB's first microbrewery. Otherwise Beachwood BBQ n Brewery in LB, Smog City and El Segundo Brew Co next to LAX. San Diego has a sh!te load of brewery's to check out. But my recommendation would be Alpine and Societe.

 

It's been years since my one and only visit. NOt sure how it is these days. I'm sure its all good.

 

If you go to Lost Abbey you will be near Stone/Escondido (the headquarters and original Brewery Gardens), the Holiday Wine Cellar (one of the better bottle shops in San Diego), Rip Current Brewery, Churchill's Pub, and dozens of other breweries in San Marcos and Vista. You also will be relatively close to Pizza Port Bressi Ranch. The point is, you could tie a number of things to that Lost Abbey trip and make it much more than a single destination stop.

In what part of San Diego are you staying?

 

The World Bistro & Gardens in San Diego is the actual brewery, so that's where you want to go (and believe me, you won't regret it at all).

As for hotels, either Hilton in the Gaslamp is fairly affordable and close to everything.

 

There are two World Bistro / Gardens. Stone's primary brewery is in Escondido, and that is also the location of their first restaurant/brewpub (World Bistro / Gardens). They also have a World Bistro / Gardens in Liberty Station (near the San Diego airport), but the brewery there is only pilot size. For the most part, the restaurants / brewpub / company stores are the same (though I think Escondido's tends to have a few more rarities on tap on any average day).

If you are at Lost Abbey, I'd link it a trip to the original/main Stone in Escondido. If you don't make it north to Lost Abbey, then you could always go to the Stone at Liberty Station (probably a 5 mile drive from the Gaslamp). You'll get 95% the experience.

If you are staying in the Gaslamp, you want to check out Neighborhood (a good restaurant with a good tap list). Mission Brewery (right by Petco Park) is walkable. Monkey Paw in East Village is a long walk, but walkable and close enough - if you go there, you won't be disappointed. The Best Damn Beer Shop (in Krisp Beverages / Natural Foods) is one of the best bottle shops in town, and just northeast of the Gaslamp. Downtown Johnny Brown's has a nice tap list. The Beer Company - not sure, they've been struggling lately, are right by the Best Damn Beer shot and it wouldn't hurt to at least walk in.

You'll have a rental car, right?

 

Lost Abbey doesn't have food. they have food trucks sometimes though

you should really hit up Beachwood on your way down to SD

and while visiting The Bruery you ought check out nearby Bootleggers and then Noble Ale Works on the way down. hire a driver heheh

 

I wouldn't count on Stone having too crazy of .rar beers.

Skip the long drive and hit up Stone Liberty Station, Modern Times, then Toronado (more likely rare beers on tap). This will give you a lot more time to enjoy your day and as said above both Stone's are pretty similar experiences (except for the Point Loma pause .