Greater San diego Area
San Diego, like most large west coast cities, has a very good craft beer community. There are some large and well known breweries as well as smaller more local brewpubs. Some of the top or most recognized breweries in the area include AleSmith, Alpine/Green Flash, Ballast Point, Lost Abbey, and Stone Brewing. A large variety of brewery tours are available from different companies in San Diego, which provide information tours at multiple breweries.
Council Brewing
A very nice place located in the same area as Killowatt. Council has a great eclectic menu of beers. In addition to common craft beer types, they have built a wonderful collection of sours, funky/wilds and various barrel aged beers. These are not traditional ales but full flavored, taste bud adventures. Crazy fun beer list. Only a short walk away from Kilowatt Brewing and Societe Brewing. Location: 7705 Convoy Court, San Diego Updated: Dec '17
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Council Bar
Council Brewing Beer List
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Kilowatt Brewing
This is a nice small brewery in a warehouse area. They have a single 3-barrel brewing system providing a large variety of small-batch options. I was impressed with their large and broad beer selection - 18 beers on tap and another 6 in 22 oz. bottles. Eclectic, bottom-lit blue bar counter is quite unique. Very friendly place and I had a great chat with the bartender about the craft beer community in San Diego. Only a short walk away from Council Brewing and Societe Brewing. Location: 7576 Clairemont Mesa Boulevard, San Diego, CA Updated: Jul '17
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Kilowatt Brewing
Barrel-aging
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Belching Beaver Brewing
They have to get a little credit for the crazy name. This visit was to their taproom in San Diego. This place has the classic craft beer taproom feel; wood, steel and concrete. They have an interesting setup where much of the front walls raise like garage doors opening up to the sidewalk, giving the place a open air feeling. These guys are known for their P-nut Butter Stout, which is available in a nitro version as well. Location: 4223 30th Street, San Diego Updated: Jul '17
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Belching Beaver Bar
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Karl Strauss
Karl Strauss is very well establish in the San Diego area with 8 brewery/restaurant locations in southern California. I believe they have been around since 1989. The restaurants have a nice atmosphere with indoor and outdoor seating. Many of the restaurants, if not all of them, have cask night once a week. The bring out a special version of their beer in a small cask at a designated time, parade it around the bar to big fanfare, then tap it on the spot. Small samples are provided, but for a better experience, buy a pint. Locations: Multiple in San Diego and Southern California Updated Jun '15
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Karl Strauss - Sorrento Mesa
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Green Flash
This is a nice and somewhat unique place. They have a large indoor bar space that is in the same area as the all their brewing activities. So as you drink you are looking at the vats, kegs, barrels, and everything they are shipping to their customers. There were tall bar tables to stand around and talk (note, there are not any chairs to sit). The bar tenders were very polite, talkative, and very knowledgeable on beer. We had some great discussions on barrel aging of beers. Also note, they do not serve food indoor. However they have a large patio area outside with tables and chairs. This area is serviced with food from a food truck. Green Flash bought Alpine brewing in 2014 so you can get a few of their beers on tap, as well. Location: 6550 Mira Mesa Blvd. Updated Mar '16
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Green Flash
Green flash
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Ballast Point
The Ballast Point brewery and restaurant were huge. There is a large bar area with large TV for sports an even larger dining area with a big outdoor patio area. They had about 20 beers on tap and a full restaurant menu. There is parking available in their lot and on the street. Location: 2215 India Street Updated Jun '15
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Ballast Point
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Coronado Brewing
They have 3 locations in the San Diego area. I visited the location out on Coronado Island. They had about 15 of their own beers on tap. Location: 170 Orange Avenue, Coronado Updated Jun '15
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Coronado Brewing
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AleSmith
This is a new location which opened in 2015. They're still working on final landscaping and some interior features. No food is served from the brewery, however, food is available from the permanent Tony Gwynn food truck. Large interior and plenty of outdoor seating available. Good selection of their great beer, but what was missing, at least on the day I was there, were specialty beers which can't be found in many cities. Location: 9990 AleSmith Court, San Diego Updated Mar '16
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Alesmith Flight
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Modern Times Beer
Modern Times has a couple locations in San Diego - a tap room in the heart of San Diego and the brewery tap room a little farther north. I went to the main brewery - the Lomaland Fermentorium. This tasting room has 32 taps which includes some tasting room only special releases and experimental beers They is also a small retail shop which sells a small selection of bottles and cans. No food is served here but there is lots of good beer to be enjoyed! The wall art in the picture on the top left is made with post-it notes. Very unique. Location: 3725 Greenwood Street, San Diego Updated Dec '17
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Tap Room
120-bbl Fermentors
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Alpine Beer Company
Alpine Beer Company is about a 30-minute freeway drive east of San Diego in the city of Alpine. You will find both the brewery/tasting room and the pub located within a mile of each other. The tasting room is now located in a separate location to the left of the brewery. Here you will find a good selection of Alpine beer along with perhaps a special release and a couple Green Flash options as well as some merchandise. The pub offers a lot of options from both Alpine and Green Flash along with a good BBQ pub menu. The hours between both locations are different so be sure to check in advance. Tasting Room: 2363 Alpine Boulevard, Alpine Pub: 1347 Tavern Road, Alpine Updated Dec '17
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Alpine Tasting Room
Taplist
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Societe Brewing
Societe Brewing focuses on 3 categories of beer - Out West (think California IPAs), Old World (Belgian) and Stygian (dark, roasted malts). They will soon add a 4th category (Feral) of barrel-aged beers. I enjoyed the variety and flavor of the beers I drank. The taproom is nice and large with beer hall-style seating and is in full view of the brewing system and barrel-aging room. Food is available via food trucks parked outside the door most days they are open. Societe is in very close proximity to Council and Kilowatt, both mentioned above. Location: 8262 Clairemont Mesa Blvd, San Diego Updated Dec '17
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Brewing and Taproom
Societe Brewing
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