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Daycations: Beach Scenes and Frothy Microbrews…Craft Breweries of San Diego County
By Susan Somers
There’s just nothing quite like a frosty mug of suds. And for those who enjoy the experience of traveling for a fresh-made microbrew, one of the fastest growing craft brewery communities in the country is just a five hour drive away in San Diego County.
Craft breweries are defined by the Brewer’s Association as small, independent and traditional breweries that produce fewer than 2,000,000 barrels annually. Home to 24 of these delectable brew houses, each with their own distinctive character, San Diego County recently received 22 medals at the 2010 World Beer Cup™, the world’s largest commercial beer competition. Forget about fizzy, industrial beer. Move over bar food and soggy sandwiches. Hello San Diego, where tasty microbrews are served with eclectic menu options that will inspire even the most seasoned foodie.
Au Naturale
As you head into San Diego County, you’ll find beer with great character at the Stone Brewing Company. Tucked away in the rolling hills of Escondido, Stone is so well known among locals there is no signage on its 55,000-square-foot building. It was founded in 1996 and produces only malt beers without the addition of preservatives, artificial ingredients or adjuncts such as rice or corn. With so many popular favorites like the Stone Pale Ale or the Stone Smoked Porter on tap, you may want to order a sampler to taste them all. Prefer nontraditional flavors? The Stone brewing team also concocts special releases like the Vanilla Bean or the Bitter Chocolate Oatmeal Stout.
For true beer making enthusiasts Stone has one of the most popular tours in the county; a guided 45-minute walk through the working brewery where you’ll learn about the brewing process and crafted beer culture. After the tour make sure you schedule some time for lunch at the company’s World Bistro and Gardens where the food is prepared as meticulously as the beer. As the largest restaurant purchaser of local, small-farm produce in San Diego County, the bistro’s focus is on organic and indigenous ingredients. Try the Spicy Almond Tilapia served with a local organic honey butter sauce, or the Pancetta and Clams cooked Portuguese style.
After lunch enjoy a stroll through Stone Brewing Company’s gardens. Developed from a former storm drain, the organic beer garden offers a Zen-like experience to calm your wild buzz.
A Sports Lover’s Dream
If you like ales with a side of sports, kick back and enjoy NFL, college football or just about any sport on one of more than 20 TVs at the San Diego Brewing Co. Located a mile east of Qualcomm Stadium, it’s a San Diego Chargers tailgate hot spot and locals’ favorite that’s well known for their Indian Pale Ales (IPAs.)
Try the Trophy Wife, with its touch of floral hops, a bit of caramel and hints of citrus. If you prefer stronger beer, sip on the award-winning Hopnotic Double IPA with a 9% ABV. Just make sure you pair these potent puppies with the hearty Guacamole Pepper Jack Burger or the house special Pork Baby Back Ribs.
Old Favorite
Karl Strauss Brewing Company was San Diego’s first microbrewery since prohibition banned the concept in the 1930s. Founded in 1989 by two college friends, one whose cousin, “Uncle Karl”, was a world renowned master brewer and mentor, the company has grown to encompass six Southern California locations.
With classics like the award winning Red Ale Trolley, a medium bodied beer with a hint of dried raisins and currants, and seasonals such as the Oktoberfest made with Perle hops imported directly from the Hallertau region of Germany, Karl Strauss is a San Diego mainstay. Equally known for its diverse menu, Karl Strauss offers a special Oktoberfest beer and food pairing, with Potato and Linguica Tots–crispy potato nuggets, linguica sausage, jalapeños, fresh chives, gouda and cheddar cheeses–spicing up the combo.
Make sure you schedule time to check out “Cask” night at Karl Strauss. Cask conditioning is a process in which the ale undergoes a second fermentation process by maturing in small casks. Because it is dispensed directly from the cask through a siphon (as opposed to being pushed by CO2 as is draught beer) and stored at a warmer temperature, the result is a smoother tasting beer with more delicate flavors. This is the traditional serving technique found in pubs in the UK. “Cask” night is offered every Thursday night at all of the Karl Strauss San Diego County locations.
California Paradise
For some island flavor with your pint, Coronado Brewing Company (CBC) offers a casual California ambiance with great beer and friendly service. Located on Coronado Island, across the San Diego Bay from downtown San Diego, the company was founded in 1996 by two brothers and Coronado Island natives, Rick and Ron Chapman.
If you like crisp and refreshing you’ll love the Orange Avenue Wit, a California wheat beer with a citrusy blend of wheat, coriander, orange blossom honey, and orange zest; perfectly paired with the signature steamed mussels. If you’re a fan of red ales, the Mermaid Red is loaded with cascade hops for full flavor. Pair it with the delicious Mahi Mahi Fish Tacos, a pub favorite of locals, or the crab and shrimp melt sandwich served on sourdough bread. Grab your pint and relax around the outdoor fireplace while you enjoy the cool ocean breeze.
Feeling Altruistic
The Firehouse Brewing Company combines a passion for beer with a great cause by mixing some altruism in with their brews. Founded by third generation firefighters and inspired by the tragic events of 9/11, a portion of their sales goes toward both the firefighter’s widow and orphans fund and local fire departments to help buy safety equipment.
Located in the Mission Valley community of San Diego, the Firehouse Brewing Company is an up-and-coming brewery with some award-winning brews on deck. Their Firehouse Pale Ale, a classic American pale ale with a deep amber color and no after taste, was voted Best Beer by San Diego City Beat in 2008. Wheat beer fans can toast to the Firehouse Hefeweizen, offering a hint of tropical fruit with delectable banana notes.
Beer VIP
Need a designated driver for your beer touring? Another Side of San Diego Tours offers a VIP brewery package where you can visit up to four regional breweries in the comfort of a chauffeured Lincoln Navigator. You can tour local favorites or they can customize a package starting at $991 for two people. For details, call (877) 311-TOUR or go to www.anothersideofsandiegotours.com.
So in celebration of Oktoberfest or just for the love of a good beer, head west to San Diego County and tip your glass to one-of-a-kind brews and outstanding menus. For a list of San Diego County craft breweries go to www.sandiegobrewersguild.org/.
Where to stay
Relax from a day of tasting at the charming La Valencia Hotel in La Jolla. This European-style hotel has picturesque gardens, a pool overlooking the La Jolla Cove, and many rooms with ocean views. The property is a short drive to several coastal breweries, such as the La Jolla Brew House, Pacific Beach Ale House and Pizza Port. To book a reservation, go to www.lavalencia.com.
The Omni San Diego Hotel is a modern, centrally located hotel in downtown San Diego. Take a dip in the heated swimming pool and chill out on the 8,000-square-foot rooftop terrace after a day of tasting. The property is walking distance from Karl Strauss Brewing Company and a short ferry or water taxi ride to the Coronado Brewing Company. To book a reservation, go to www.omnihotels.com.
