The craft beer movement has grown like the same foam in the last two decades throughout the US Only in the state of California there are more than 500 sparkling factories, all of them with different identity stamps and with a high variety, so it is possible to get beers for all tastes.
The city of San Diego is on the crest of the beer wave and these are some of the best and most recognized breweries you should visit in California's second largest town.
1. Ballast Point Brewing & Spirits
A small place but with a great beer tradition. Ballast Point is one of the newest breweries in Little Italy, San Diego's vibrant downtown neighborhood.
The place is fun and friendly, and its open-air atmosphere combines phenomenally with its delicious casual cuisine, making it one of the favorite beer haunts of young people.
You can't go through Ballast Point and stop trying the sublime Sculpin IPA, a highly consumed beer nationally and with a score of 4.39 / 5 that places it in the world place No. 247 in beeradvocate.
Another well-known sparkling wine of the house is Victory at Sea, a delicious invention that adds cold coffee to beer, as well as a rich touch of vanilla. Its enviable score of 4.39 / 5 keeps it at No. 252, not far behind its sister from home, the Sculpin IPA.
The podium trio is completed with the Dorado Double IPA, a unique beer with an orange color and floral aroma, characterized by its pleasant bitter taste.
Ballast Point is definitely an extraordinary place to try atypical proposals for daring beers.
Address 1: 2215 India St, San Diego, CA 92101, USA
Address 2: Miramesa 9045 Carroll Way San Diego, CA 92121
2. Stone Brewing
In 2017 it was awarded by Ratebeer as the best brewery in California and the best place to have a beer in the United States. As if that were not enough, Stone Brewing is also recognized as one of the top 100 breweries in the world.
The Arrogant Bastard Ale is perhaps the most famous beer in the place, due to the romantic and traditional touch that gives it having been the initial inspiration for the brewery. Arrogant Brewing.
Currently, the most sought-after beer in Stone Brewing is undoubtedly Enjoy by IPA, sparkling with an extraordinary score of 4.42 / 5 in beeradvocate, that positions it in the position N ° 202 of the planetary list. Other excellent beers from Stone Brewing are Stone Xocoveza and Russian Imperial Stout.
The place is designed with a modern architecture and its outdoor area is quite pleasant, so everything invites the consumer to enjoy a wide variety of classic and experimental beers, accompanied by excellent cuisine.
Direction: 2816 Historic Decatur Rd # 116, San Diego, CA 92106, USA
3. Karl Strauss
If you are looking for a place with an excellent food / beer combination, the best thing to do is visit the Karl Strauss. This friendly and trustworthy "old man" is San Diego's oldest brewery. However, his constant renovation, in which he introduced beers with dry hops, has kept Karl Strauss afloat during the new boom in craft beer, without losing his charming airs of a traditional and distinguished gentleman.
The varied gastronomic menu is atypical in places where the key is that the beer rolls in abundance. Our closed eyes recommendation would be a succulent salmon burger so that you can deliciously fill your stomach and be prepared for the next thing.
When it comes to beer, start with the Mosaic Session IPA, a respectable sparkling with a tropical fruit aroma, which has a rating of 4.14 / 5 in beeradvocate. The Big Barrel Double IPA and the Wreck Alley complete a podium of beers that you must try before leaving the premises.
Direction: 1157 Columbia St, San Diego, CA 92101, USA
4. Green Flash Brewing Company
Upon entering Green Flash, you are immediately enveloped by an industrial but cozy atmosphere at the same time. The guided tour leaves nothing hidden from the visitor, so you can visit all the facilities and, of course, taste various types of beer along the way.
The place is spacious, scrupulously clean and has a food truck so you don't think of starting to eat on an empty stomach.
Since the emergence of the craft beer movement at the beginning of this century, Green Flash was one of the successful pioneers in the art of incorporating notes of tropical fruits and flowers into the flavor and aroma of its beers.
Green Flash West Coast IPA is the local's flagship beer, known for its good load of hops, its delicate note of grapefruit and a pleasant harshness on the palate. Its rating of 4.22 / 5 places it in the position N ° 902 of beeradvocate.
Other renowned Green Flash beers are Paladar Wrecker and Double Stout. However, most of the comments from Tripadvisor, they invite you to think that there is no second beer in Green Flash since they are all first class and you can try each one for $ 1.25.
Direction: 6550 Mira Mesa Blvd, San Diego, CA 92121, USA
5. Pizza Port
The "Port of Pizza" began in 1987 as a small place and today its success is reflected in its 5 locations, 2 breweries and an extensive collection of medals from the American Beer Festival.
It almost goes without saying that in the place you can condition your stomach with a succulent pizza before starting to taste a large assortment of craft beers. Swami’s IPA is Pizza Port's most popular sparkling wine and enjoys a respectable 4.09 / 5 rating on beeradvocate. The Kook and Ponto Session IPA are also beers that you should consume to boast with full authority that you were on the site.
Despite being a large and well-known franchise, Pizza Port has a very informal and relaxed atmosphere, very much in the style of San Diego. You will certainly have a very pleasant time here.
Direction: 135 N Hwy 101, Solana Beach, CA 92075, USA
6. Modern Times Beer
The little place is known for its clever decor. Decorative art can be seen on the ceiling, with a large number of hanging geometric shapes; on the walls lined with book sheets, and on the tasting bar made with VHS tapes and books. Michael Jackson's post-it mural is the icing on the cake of an exquisite style that lives up to the name of the place.
At Modern Times Beer they are also specialists in the art of craft beer and for added charm they have their own roasted coffee. The exquisite aromatic combination of coffee / beer gives the environment a special feeling from the first moment.
The varied selection of fruit-based beers, the relaxed atmosphere and the first-rate service are other strengths that make the cozy Modern Times Beer, located in the industrial zone of San Diego, essential.
Direction: 3725 Greenwood St, Point Loma, San Diego, CA 92110-4441, USA
7. Coronado Brewing Company
While many of the best breweries in San Diego emerged with industrial and commercial expansion, primarily to the Miramar area, in 1996, Ron and Rick Chapman selected their small hometown, nearby Coronado, to complete their consolidation. roots with this establishment.
More than twenty years later, Coronado Brewing Company remains true to its original goal of staying on the coast by brewing beers with citrus and tropical notes, such as orange and guava. Coronado made his big hit on the table in 2014, when he won two honors at the World Beer Cup.
Coronado beers are known by their unusual names. Idiot IPA is the beer that rules the place, with a tropical fruit flavor and a firm bitterness that is a delight for the palate.
Stupid Stout is a dark and slimy drink, with a delicious touch of chocolate, highly valued in the local. Sock Knocker is the sparkling wine that completes Coronado's podium, a yellow and citrus beer that will explode your senses.
Definitely do not miss visiting this excellent Californian bar.
Direction: 170 Orange Ave, Coronado, CA 92118-1409, USA
8. AleSmith Brewing Company
AleSmith has gone from being a promise to become a recognized beer temple and its two consecutive awards at the San Diego International Beer Festival certify it.
Its main letter of introduction is the Speedway Stout, a beer that has become a true sparkling symbol; not for nothing is it the best-selling house in the last 10 years. In addition, its score of 4.38 / 5 in the prestigious portal beeradvocate, ranks it in the 273rd place among the best beers in the world.
Not far behind are other delicacies such as Horny devil and Horny granny, and it seems that there is no AleSmith craft beer that resigns itself to the role of being second on the list.
This, combined with the pleasant modern industrial decoration and the first-rate service in its tasting room, make the AleSmith brewery a sure option to have a great time in San Diego.
Direction: 9990 AleSmith Ct, San Diego, CA 92126, USA
9. Societe Brewing Company
The short time that the Societe Brewing Company has been in operation, inaugurated in 2012, has not prevented it from rapidly climbing positions in the Sandieguino and Californian world of craft beer and its two West Coaster's Best Brewery awards won in 2014 and 2016 as well they certify it.
The welcoming venue exudes friendliness and helpful courtesy from its staff. The house's powerful craft beers are known for their strong Belgian-style flavor and lack of atypical ingredients.
Among the premier beers at the venue is The Coachman, a hoppy gold winner at the 2015 Great American Beer Festival. Not far behind are other sparkling wines such as The Pupil and Beer Advocate.
In Societe Brewing Company it is also possible to do the typical tour to learn everything related to the process of making craft beer. Later you can go to a large tasting room in which you are powerful and tasty beers waiting for you.
Direction: 8262 Clairemont Mesa Blvd, San Diego, CA 92111, USA
10. Alpine Beer Company
The letter of presentation of this Sandieguina brewery is its sixth place among the best craft breweries in the world in 2015 according to the well-known portal ratebeer.com.
There is nothing to complain about in this place in the style of a modern pub. The Alpine Beer has an excellent atmosphere and first-class service, as well as a varied and exquisite gastronomy that is well above the average for locals in its style.
Its varied selection of beers does not have any waste. Among the most requested sparkling wines, we can name the Duet, an excellent IPA beer made from Simcoe hops. Nelson IPA is another great beer with a hint of European rye and malt flavor.
Alpine Beer's most famous beer is the Keene Idea; not for nothing it maintains a high score of 4.58 / 5 in the world position N ° 458 of beeradvocate.
Direction: 2363 Alpine Blvd, Alpine, CA 91901, USA
11. Oggi’s Pizza & Brewing
What began as a pizza bar in the 1990s is today one of San Diego's most famous beer establishments. The Oggi’s Pizza & Brewing has received more than 45 awards since it opened its doors and among the awards is the recognition as the best small beer company obtained in the World Cup of Beer in 2004.
The house specialty is a varied range of creative beers; with over 30 different beers made with fresh ingredients in their inventory. Your only problem at Oggi’s Pizza & Brewing will be choosing between a good beer and a better one.
Oggi´s Pizza is one of the best options to watch any sporting event in the company of friends, since its relaxed atmosphere and good food (not just pizza) will make you feel like you are on the couch at home.
Direction: 2245 Fenton Pkwy # 101, San Diego, CA 92108, USA
12. The Lost Abbey
Belgian-style beers are the specialty at The Lost Abbey and it is a low-key, relaxed place to quietly sip a sparkling special. The well-known and highly valued Duck Duck Gooze, is a craft beer with an incredible score of 4.62 / 5 that places it among the 30 best beers in the world according to the criteria of beeradvocate. Duck Duck Gooze combines the old and new in draft beers; in short, a beer without waste.
Now that if you're looking to experiment with new flavors, Deliverance has an unusual blend of bourbon and brandy that will make you say to the waiter I don't know what the hell this is, but give me another one! That's how good it is.
Less famous but just as delicious is the Framboise de Amorosa, ranked No. 397 in the ranking of beeradvocate. If you like raspberries and beer, here you have them both in one.
The only thing about The Lost Abbey is that it doesn't sell food. However, on the outskirts of the place there is a fast food truck that you can use as a prelude to the beer tasting and later as a reinforcement so you don't go to bed with the beers dancing alone in your stomach.
Direction: 155 Mata Way, # 104, San Marcos, CA 92069, USA
13. Amplified Ale Works
The combination of a terrace overlooking the Pacific Ocean, exquisite beers and good live music are more than enough reasons for you to visit this busy beer establishment. The Amplified Ale Works is one of those places you never want to leave.
The flagship of the establishment is Electrocution IPA, a tropical beer with a golden color with hints of tropical fruits. The Pig Nose Pale Ale is not far behind, dark in tone with a touch of malt, one of the most consumed beers in the establishment.
Finally, the ace up the sleeve of the Amplified is its sparkling Trois Cabrones, a double IPA beer fermented with a special yeast that produces a tropical flavor and aroma. This beer has a respectable 4.29 / 5 in beeradvocate, being the beer of greater recognition of the place.
Direction: Mission Beach Blvd, San Diego, CA 92109, USA
14. Benchmark Brewing
Benchmark Brewing is the place for beer in its purest form, without many atypical flavors and with more than 10 barrels available to supply you with excellent beers.
Most of the sparkling wines from this brewery are low in alcohol, consistent and high in flavor, although if you want a high alcohol content to warm up faster, they can also serve you.
The regular offer of the brewery consists of a Belgian table beer, Blond Ale, Brown Ale, a creamy Oat Beer and India Pale Ale, the sparkling reference of the place.
There is also a collection they offer as the brewing schedule allows, including Hop Chunks (Imperial IPA), Dubbel (Belgian type), RY RYE (a Red Rye), and Stargazer.
Likewise, the Alta de Tierra series is seasonally released, once a year, and includes Feisty Fleur (January), Hildegard (February), San Diego 71 (June) and Damn Stout (October).
The place maintains a pleasant family atmosphere and excellent attention from its staff, the perfect combination to relax while you taste a delicious India Pale Ale, the great star of the house.
Direction: 6190 Fairmount Ave, Suite G, San Diego, CA 92120-3463, USA
15. New English Brewing Company
We close this sparkling tour with this renowned brewery located in the San Diego industrial park. New English Brewing opened its doors in 2007 and already has more than 40 awards to its credit.
The offer of the house is very wide. Pure & Simple is an international-style IPA, 6.5% ABV, made with the British Golden Promise for the base malt, plus Viennese malt, carapils and crystal clear malts to add color and complexity to the drink.
The Zumbar Chocolate Coffee Imperial Stout was born out of a collaboration between New English Brewing Company and Zumbar Coffee & Tea, a renowned San Diego boutique coffee roaster. La Zumbar won the gold medal in the “Coffee Beer” category at the 2012 Great American Beer Festival.
It would take too long to list the attributes of the extraordinary New English beers, so it is best if you stop by. It is a place with simple but exquisite decoration, in which the tables supported by beer barrels stand out.
From the moment you enter New English it only causes you to consume the row of draft beers in the mere English style that are waiting for you.
Direction: 6190 Fairmount Ave, Suite G, San Diego, CA 92120-346, USA
In the United States there are about 9 thousand craft breweries and the 15 of this selection occupy privileged places in the consideration of the portals specialized in beers.Another reason for you to go out and have fun in San Diego!
Click here to book a tour of the San Diego breweries
Are you worried about breathalyzers in the city of San Diego?
Breathalyzers in San Diego have fines up to $ 2,300 and up to one year in prison for driving under the influence of alcohol.
Don't risk it, it's not worth it, get a designated driver, or Take a tour and avoid stress :).
[mashshare]
