At only a couple months into 2015, San Diego is delightfully awash in more craft beer, with a number of new breweries, fresh releases, developments at two La Jolla venues and sudsy events bubbling through the pipeline.
Last year ended with a milestone. The number of breweries that call San Diego County their home exceeded 100.
For Jon McDermott, who runs Brewery Tours of San Diego, the continued proliferation of fermentation tanks around town equates to solid headcounts boarding his beer bus, which makes daily pickups at the Mission Bay Park Visitor Information Center and the Old Town Transit Center.
“We’ve been in business for eight years, but we’re still growing because of the prolific beer scene,” says McDermott, who takes beer aficionados on tastings to two or three breweries per tour.
Depending on the day of week, those stops include Pizza Port, Ballast Point, Green Flash, Stone, The Lost Abbey and more. The tours last up to five hours and range in price from $65 to $95 per person. Private, customized tours that pick up guests from their residences are also available. Details on public and private tours are available on the web site: brewerytoursofsandiego.com.
For those navigating the local beer scene on their own, below are several highlights worth toasting.
La Jolla Brewing Co. recently celebrated its one-year anniversary on Jan. 29. Since taking over the space formerly occupied by La Jolla Brew House at 7536 Fay Ave., the company has crafted seven different beers named after La Jolla landmarks. More recently, it introduced a seasonal IPA called Neo Sesh, touted for its balanced and medium bitterness. The brewpub also spotlights more than a dozen rotating drafts from other local craft brewers amid a full bar featuring wine and spirits. lajollabeer.com.
Brewers at Rock Bottom Brewery in La Jolla hope to win the gold again at this summer’s San Diego International Beer Festival, scheduled for Friday, June 19, to Sunday, June 21, in The Arena at the Del Mar Fairgrounds. The brewery stole the high honors last year for its Longboard Brown English-style ale, Cerveza de Mayo Vienna Lager and Catcher in the Rye. The event attracts breweries from more than 15 countries. Tickets are $58 or $100 for VIP admission. sandiegobeerfestival.com.
Culture Brewing Co. out of Solana Beach recently opened a satellite tasting room at 4845 Newport Ave. in Ocean Beach, featuring a dozen taps designated exclusively to their brands. Choices rotate regularly, with a new cherry sour and barley wine ale entering into the mix in February. In addition, the company will celebrate its second anniversary on Feb. 20 at the Solana Beach brewery and feature limited releases for the occasion. culturebrewingco.com.
Amplified Ale Works, at 4150 Mission Blvd., recently announced a couple of new January rollouts: a crisp session IPA called Electrolite and the deep-golden Belgian-style Treble Tripel. The two-year-old brewery features an oceanfront beer-garden patio and a kebab restaurant. amplifiedales.com.
AleSmith Brewing Co. is moving two blocks west on Miramar Road this spring, into a grand 105,000-square-foot facility at 9990 Empire St. The new digs will quadruple the amount of space for tastings, storage and beer-making. In addition, the company recently released San Diego Pale Ale 394, brewed in collaboration with San Diego Padres right fielder Tony Gwynn before his passing last June. The product is currently available in six-pack bottles in the tasting room. alesmith.com.
Kilowatt Brewing is gearing to debut in February at 7576 Clairemont Mesa Blvd. Touted as a “nanobrewery,” its beers are handcrafted in three-barrel batches. The product line includes Goji Mountain Honey Ale, Agave Pale Ale and Cascadian Black. Look for a taproom rigged with custom LED lighting and works by local artists. kilowattbeer.com.
The San Diego Winter Brew Fest is scheduled from 7 to 10 p.m. on Feb. 20 and 21 at the Hall of Champions in Balboa Park. The event features more than 40 craft brewers from throughout California and beyond as well as food and live music. Tickets are $40 in advance and $50 at the door. sandiegobrewfest.com.
The Best Coast Beer Fest arrives on March 7 at Embarcadero Marina Park South in downtown San Diego. More than 100 brewers from along the West Coast will offer samples of their latest and greatest releases from noon to 9 p.m. The grounds will also make way for a “food truck alley” and stages for live entertainment. Tickets are $20 to $125. bestcoastbeerfest.com.