My friends and I are traveling from Indianapolis to Carlsbad On Aug 7th thru 10th. This will be a guys weekend that will mostly revolve around beer. Since I have never been to the area, I would like some help. What are the must try breweries? Is there anything going on this weekend in southern California? Any local insight would be appreciated.
Carlsbad has Pizza Port. I'm not a fan of the food or the place in general but on occasion 83 Degrees will have a good keg. Oceanside to Escondido (Hwy 78) you have Bagby, Rip Current, Lost Abbey and Stone. Coaster to Solana Beach for Pizza Port Solana Beach and then the horse races. https://www.dmtc.com/calendar/2015/08 Padres are in town so you can take the Coaster to Downtown. Monkey Paw, Acoustic, and Modern Times are all down that way. Would need to use the trolley, cab or Uber to get to all those. Eat at Neighborhood. Miramar/Mira Mesa - AleSmith, Ballast Point, Council, and Societe. But my biggest suggestion is plan on leaving Carlsbad an hour before Alpine pub opens and go there followed by some bottle purchases or growler fill at the brewery which normally opens an hour later. If you take it easy you can work in either the Miramar group or Hwy 78 group on your way back.
Who goes to Pizza Port for the Pizza? It's average at best. The beer however... I'd recommend the downtown PP over Bressi Ranch.
I spent a couple of weeks out in Carlsbad last fall for work, & there are enough really good breweries in the area that there's no need to drive down to San Diego unless you have a specific destination in mind (like Alpine, which is a damn good excuse). Around Carlsbad, as a non-native, I'd put Rip Current Brewing at the top of your list - their hoppy beers are simply astounding. Pizza Port is always a good idea, with plenty of options beer-wise & amazing pizza! Churchill's Pub is another destination place. I was impressed by the taps at the local Karl Strauss, though that's certainly not a commonly sought-after place to stop. The Lost Abbey is an obligatory stop, but they didn't have anything you can't buy in a bottle when I was there. Toolbox had just opened as I was leaving, & their initial set of beers was impressive. I believe I was only in a single brewpub I felt "meh" about the entire time I was out there; really, you can't go wrong.
Agree with @maximum12. You have PP Carlsbad (great house beers & guest beers), Texas Wine & Liquor (a little overpriced but excellent selection). You can hop the bus to Oceanside where you have Bagby Beer Co which has some really good house beers and a great guest beer list. Down the street from Bagby you have Local Tap House and Breakwater Brewing Co and Stone Co Store. Between the 4 in Oceanside you can get almost anything San Diego has to offer. Even Alpine (Green Flash version) beers. Go to Alpine Beer Co in Alpine for the real deal. Each place mentioned has a website you can check out to see whats on tap. Bagby is usually spot on. Foodwise I would go to Colima's (near Stone Co Store) if your want some excellent mexican for cheap $. Otherwise Bagby has some really good eats and desert's.
If you don't drive it during rush hour, that's pretty much true - maybe even faster: https://goo.gl/maps/VJghX I prefer the 52 option, as it is a bit more scenic than 8.
They aren't open yet. I'm sure a few of the insider gang have checked it out, but I haven't heard any reports.
PP Carlsbad is awesome! But head North to oceanside a few minutes away and hit up Stone pour room, Breakwater Brewing, and a few other spots within a short walk from the train station. I would at least try and hit up ALpine Beer Company(not brewing Co. ) if you can! They have the best hoppy beers in California if not all around
