San Diego harbors everything I love in this world. Here are a few reasons why I am in a love affair with this city.
1. Beer Everywhere
Brandon Hernandez of San Diego Reader keeps his fingers on the pulse of everything beer in this town, and he just wrote about 3 new breweries on the way. As if we don’t have enough of them to cover the streets in 1 foot of beer, I welcome the addition of new players in the industry (if done right). I hate when businessmen looking to make buck take advantage of the burgeoning craft beer scene and produce shitty beer that’s not a result of love. I want people seriously committed to the craft.
That’s why I’m excited for these 3 new ones to hit San Diego soon. They all come from homebrewers or experienced brew masters who want to launch their own venture. Keep your eye out for Belching Beaver Brewery, Butcher’s Brewing and Saint Archer. Full article here.
2. Beautiful Scenery in My Backyard
I live in Crown Point and every morning I pass over the bay on Ingraham St bridge to a beautiful sunrise over the mountains on my left and a clear blue sky / water scene to my right. Heading down the street I can ride my bike to small but crisp waves and enter an empty lineup looking back at the cliffs of Bird Rock.
I’m just going to quickly say I obviously love the food scene in San Diego. Here is an example that you can get your hands on today from 5pm to close at The Linkery. Deep…fried…bacon. Need I say more?
It’s funny how some places take you back. Whether that’s back to home or just good memories, there’s something about the familiar that makes me enjoy a place more. The Lost Abbey is one of those places and it reminds me of when I first turned 21 – a great time in life for someone who enjoys beer. I was like many other 21 year olds and I only knew mixed drinks but I had made a trip to Four Peaks, my favorite brewery in Arizona and it changed the game for me completely. When I saw those big tanks and hoses on the ground right next to my table, I felt a part of the process that went into the beer I was drinking.
The Lost Abbey brings me back to that day with their barrels, tanks and whole operation right next to the bar. In fact, it’s a part of the bar since the whole area is basically the brewery with no chairs or tables. It’s part of the charm to this place because you get what you see – no frills, good beer and honest people. Every person behind that bar or in the back knows their stuff and is happy to answer questions. Sure some places like Stone Brewery are nice with tons of established beer and a huge (expensive) food menu, but this place doesn’t serve food and doesn’t even have seating. Plus, the beers on draft are all $5 or less!
Take a trip up to San Marcos and sample some of their brews like we did: with $1 tasters. This way you can work down the menu (just make sure you have a driver!). Operating in the same space, Port Brewing and Lost Abbey share a facility and are both owned by Port Brewing Company. What does this mean for you? Double the craft beer selection! And for us, this meant a lot of dollar tasters and a great afternoon with friends. If you like barrel aged beer or just a good atmosphere, give these guys a visit. Cheers!
Ro and I enjoying some quality beer.
Barrel aging in process at Lost Abbey. Some of these were marked 2008.
Carnevale – Best of Show at San Diego International Beer Festival 2012.
San Diego will be host to 3 great events this week that should please anyone calling themselves a foodie or beer geek.
A Taste of Summer
Hosted in Liberty Station this Friday, June 22nd, 10 of San Diego’s best chefs will be in attendance serving some of their best small plates and hors d’oeuvres. Chefs from Sea Rochet Bistro, Carnitas Snack Shack and Alchemy among others will be serving tasty bites using local and organic ingredients. Click the image for more details.
San Diego International Beer Festival
The San Diego County Fair has been drawing people all week to Del Mar (which you’ve probably noticed if you’ve drove on the 5 North last weekend). This weekend is sure to bring even more though when they host the 6th Annual Beer Festival showcasing more than 300 beers from almost 140 breweries. Friday and Saturday both have great sessions lined up but Sunday will have a San Diego beer focus. Visit San Diego Beer Festival for more details.
SausageFest
13 chefs will compete this Wednesday, June 20th for best sausage in town at LOUNGEsix in Downtown San Diego. Featuring a contest alongside Lost Abbey’s “Road to Helles” beer release, a golden German lager, this event will definitely be one I’ll be attending. If you wind up going, be sure to find me and help me take good photos of sausage and beer! Click image for more details.
This Saturday Stone will be hosting an annual homebrew competition and AHA rally where one local winner will get their beer brewed at Stone and distributed nationally. Pretty cool prize for a homebrewer looking to make it big. 40 contestants were chosen from those who submitted their beers and this Saturday you can go to vote on which beer you like best. You will also get a Stone tasting glass and prizes will be raffled.
Price: $33 , Location: Stone Wold Bistro and Gardens, When: Saturday, 1 pm
Head over to Blind Lady Ale House in Normal Heights for CityBeat’s 4th Anniversary Beer Club event where tickets get you the choice of 2 flights of six 5 oz tasters from the following beers.
ALESMITH FLIGHT:
Nautical Nut Brown
X
Little Devil
ESB
IPA
Horny Devil
FOPPY AS HUCK FLIGHT:
New English IPA
Drakes 1500
GreenFlash West Coast IPA
Cismontane Coulter IPA
Hangar 24 Columbus IPA
Port Mongo Double IPA
BELGIAN FLIGHT:
Ommegang Witte
Russian River Damnation
Duvel Single
Rodenbach Grand Cru (sour)
LaChouffe
Maredsous 10
Price: $35, Location: Blind Lady Ale House, When: Monday, 7-11 pm
Posted by Shawn | Posted in Craft Beer | Posted on 02-03-2012
0
Here are your Weekend Plans for this sunny weekend in San Diego, March 2nd 2012 – an ongoing list of craft beer events each weekend.
Churchill’s Renaissance Rare Beer Fest 2012 – Saturday, March 3rd
As Brandon Hernandez from San Diego Magazine wrote:
“One such event is taking place this Saturday (March 3) at San Marcos’ Churchill’s Pub and Grille (887 W. San Marcos Blvd). Owner Ivan Derezin, who works like a man possessed to procure and archive some of the choicest brews in the world, is holding his annual open-that-bottle event. It’s an all-day affair called Renaissance where he stocks his 50-tap tower with the best he has to offer from his immense cold storage archives.
Renaissance’s drool-inspiring line-up includes gems like The Bruery Sour in the Rye, Dogfish Head 120-Minute IPA, Karl Strauss Queen of Tarts, Mikkeler Sur Munk, Russian River Consecration Batch 2 and Port Brewing Ad-Lib; aged versions of Rodenbach Grand Cru (2008), Firestone Walker Parabola (2010), Deschutes The Abyss (2008), Great Divide Chocolate Yeti (2010), The Lost Abbey Angel’s Share (2011), New Belgium La Folie (2010), Russian River Temptation (2011) and Ballast Point Victory at Sea (2011); plus the aforementioned Pliny the Younger.”
Hess Brewing w/ MIHO Gastrotruck – Friday, March 2nd
MIHO Gastrotruck will be out at Hess Brewing today starting at 5pm slinging out some seriously good food next to great beer. Hess will be tapping their Special Edition Grazias Induresco to pair with some favorites like Banh Mi.
Ro and I enjoying some quality beer.
Barrel aging in process at Lost Abbey. Some of these were marked 2008.
Carnevale – Best of Show at San Diego International Beer Festival 2012.
$1 Tasters are the way to go.
Open seating!
