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Some may argue beer is better from a can, but nothing can quite compare to drinking malty liquor from a cold glass that brings out the crisp flavor of the frothy rim. Luckily for San Diegans, there hasn’t been a better time to love beer because they don’t have to travel far for a quality draught.
San Diego county has become a diverse hub for beer connoisseurs as it is home to 33 different breweries. It may not be Munich, Germany, but Men’s Journal has ranked San Diego the number one beer town in the U.S. Some breweries have even mastered the art of pairing liquor with meals. Here are some of the native, home-crafted breweries that have become San Diegan favorites.
Stone Brewing Co.
Cheap, commercial beer pales in comparison to beer from Stone Brewing Co. With the menacing gargoyle logo and bold beer flavors, Stone is a favorite among beer enthusiasts. As the winner for the best brewery of 2008, Stone beers’ rich colors, thick density and ferociously hoppy ales make even beer snobs grovel at its greatness.
Founded in 1996 by two men with a passion for beer, Stone has become known for making the San Diego brewing industry a classier business, as it continues to perfect the art of beer making. Stone’s flavors range from light pale ales with minimal hops to robust India Pale Ales.
With seven house ales available year-round (including the local favorite Arrogant Bastard Ale), specialty ales for every season and 32 beers always on tap, Stone Brewery’s Escondido location is the place to be on weekends. With two bars, a lovely pond and garden, Stone Brewing impresses even those who don’t drink alcohol.
Uniquely enough, most of Stone Brewing’s food uses ale as a base, cooking it in with the food and making the meals and beer a match made in heaven. Free beer can be sampled at the daily tour, making the trip to Escondido more than worth it. For more information, visit www.stoneworldbistro.com.
Pizza Port
Pizza and beer is a typical staple of a good party, as it is probably one of the best combinations that has gone hand-in-hand since milk and cookies. Pizza Port has perfected the formula since 1987 when it first opened in Solana Beach. It has since expanded by opening other popular locations in Carlsbad and San Clemente.
Pizza Port may not be the fanciest joint given its wooden, picnic-style tables, but this family-friendly eatery serves mean wings and scalding pizza with excessive amounts of cheese and sauce.
With more than a dozen house ales on tap, they complement the pizza very well. The signature beer is Sharkbite Red, a robust red ale made with Centennial and Cascade hops that lends a spicy finish to the beer, according to its Web site. However, a word for the wise, Pizza Port’s darker beers tend to be bitter and detract from the pizza’s taste. For more information on daily beer, call 858-481-7332.
AleSmith Brewing Co.
For those trying to escape hoppy flavors, AleSmith’s ales have rich and malty flavors. For those who don’t need the whole experience of food paired with beer, AleSmith is a hidden gem in the San Diego County for those who want an alternative. The Nautical Nut Brown is the most popular beer at this brewery, which is an English-style ale that has a dark, rich, chocolate-malt flavor and a dosage of hops, minus the bitterness.
Take a tour in AleSmith’s warehouse to enjoy the strong and complex flavors of the beers and their humorous names such as Old Numbskull, Horny Devil and My Bloody Valentine. Each sample is $1, but they are generously proportioned. For more information or tour times, call 858-549-9888 or visit www.alesmith.com.
Additional notable breweries
Ballast Point Brewing Company has craft-made, specialty ales with a San Diego attitude. For more information about tours call 858-695-2739 or visit www.ballastpoint.com.
San Diego Brewing Company has greasy and finger-licking good food to complement its seven house beers readily on tap. More information can be found on its Web site at www.sandiegobrewing.com.
Gordon Biersch may not be from San Diego, but one can’t miss this brewery’s delicious pairing of excellent food and rich beers that have a German flair. Visit www.gordonbierschrestaurants.com for more information.
Whether desiring specialty lagers or just a beer on tap, San Diego is a hot spot for those longing to test their taste buds at many local breweries.
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