When you think of San Diego, the first thing that comes to mind is the year round mild weather, beautiful, beautiful sandy beaches and the blue waters of the Pacific Ocean. You may be surprised to know that San Diego has become home to over 60 breweries and growing. These innovative brews are catching on quickly and have gained national and international recognition. The best way to sample these creations is to go directly to the source. If you want to enhance your experience there are numerous beer tasting tours and pub crawls available. This is a great way to sit back and enjoy several different brew pubs while leaving the driving to someone else. There are many different tours available for small and large groups, so gather some friends and make an afternoon or evening out of it. Here are a few of the many breweries in San Diego:
Ballast Point
Like many breweries, Ballast Point began with owner Jack White making beer at home in his backyard. This passion escalated and in 1996 Ballast Point was born. Since the owners loved beer and fishing, they decided to start naming the beers after fish. This award winning brewery includes favorites such as Yellowtail Pale Ale, Calico Amber and Big Eye IPA. Stop by for a taste or tour, the tasting room is opened 7 days a week and located at 10051 Old Grove Road in Scripps Ranch.
The Lost Abbey
Founded in 2006, The Lost Abbey was inspired in their crusade of good vs. evil beer, and even have their own version of the Ten Commandments and includes: The most imaginative beers are our crusades. With a commitment like that, it is no surprise that beers like Red Barn, Devotion and Judgement Day will satisfy any beer enthusiast. Stop by their tasting room 7 days a week and sample these unique, bold and delicious creations. The Lost Abbey is located at 155 Mata Way Ste. 104 in San Marcos.
Stone Brewing Company
The largest craft brewery in Southern California, Stone Brewery is a destination unto itself. In addition to tours and tastings, Stone offers a beautiful bistro restaurant and expansive gardens to explore. This well known brand has their sights on Europe too! Their award winning brews include Stone Pale Ale, Ruination IPA and Arrogant Bastard Ale.
Stop by for a taste or spend the afternoon enjoying all that Stone Brewing has to offer. They are located at 1999 Citracado Pkwy. in Escondido.
San Diego is sun, surf and sand, but there is one more claim to fame, San Diego is brewing!
This article was written by Carli Leavitt, the editor of SanDiego.com. Carli is a San Diego native with a wealth of knowledge about local attractions, hotels, beaches and nightlife venues in southern California.
