San Diego is one of the biggest hotbeds of beer production in the US. The area is home to over seventy breweries and boasts a large population of beer aficionados. Whether you’re a pale ale fan, a stout lover or a hop head, San Diego has the right beer for your palate. It also helps that the weather seems to be perfect every day of the year. And nothing makes a warm, sunny day better than an ice cold beer.
From the hop-filled brews at Stone and Green Flash, to the Belgian-inspired offerings at Lost Abbey, to the perfect pint with a slice of pizza at Pizza Port, San Diego has the right beer for every palate.
Comic Con
As much as San Diego is known for beer, the city is also known for the annual migration of nerds, geeks and super fans that descend on the city every year to celebrate everything comic books, TV, movies and video games. The popularity of San Diego’s Comic Con has led to similar conventions in India, Romania, Russia, the UK, the United Arab Emirates, Canada and fifteen or so American cities following suit.
This year’s Comic Con will take place from July 9th-12th. The celebrate the giant gathering of nerds, we’ve decided to go the beer geek route and pick the most best breweries in San Diego where Comic Con revelers can go to quench their thirst after a day filled with cosplay and anime.
That being said, here’s the best breweries to visit during your trip to Comic Con this year:
The Best Breweries to Visit During Your Trip To Comic Con 2015
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Stone Brewing
Comic book fans should immediately love Stone. Their bottles are adorned with a stone gargoyle that could easily be the star of its own beer-fueled comic adventures. Located in San Marcos, the brewery was founded in 1996 by beer lover Greg Koch. Stone is the ninth largest craft brewery in the US and the biggest located in Southern California. They are most commonly known for:
- Stone Pale Ale
- Stone Arrogant Bastard, a 7.2% American Strong Ale that tells you on the label that “You’re Not Worthy.”
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Alesmith
Founded in 1995 by Skip Virgilio and Ted Newcomb, Alesmith is one of the most respected craft breweries in America. Brewmaster Peter Zien bought the brewery from the dup back in 2002 so that he could make the kind of beer he wanted without having to answer to anyone else. Zien is practially a Zen master when it comes to the art of brewing. A Grand Master Level 1 beer judge, Zien has propelled the brewery onto the national stage by winning myriad awards. The success has led to the production of a new facility to help accommodate the popularity of his beer.
Alesmith’s top beers include:
- Anvil ESB
- Grand Cru
- IPA
- ‘Lil’ Devil
- Old Numbskull
- Wee Heavy
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Green Flash Brewing Company
Located in the Mira Mesa area of San Diego, Green Flash was founded in 2002 by Mike and Lisa Hinkley and has quickly made a name for itself in the world of West Coast IPAs. If you’re a hop head, this is the place for you.
Distributed in seventeen states, Green Flash is well known for:
- West Coast IPA
- Hop Head Red Ale
- Green Bullet Triple IPA
- Palate Wrecker Double IPA
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Ballast Point Brewing & Spirits
In recent years, Ballast Point has become one of the most popular craft beers in America among beer geeks. Founded in 1996 by Jack White (not that Jack White), Ballast Point was the first micro distillery to be founded after prohibition. The brewery began in the back of a home brewing store White opened in 1992.
They are most known for:
- Ballast Point IPA
- Sculpin IPA
- Victory at Sea series
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Pizza Port
Although more than just a brewery, Pizza Port does produce its own beer. Founded in 1987 by siblings Gina and Vince Marsaglia, Pizza Port has been a Southern California Staple for almost thirty years. Originally just a solitary pizza shop in Solana Beach, Pizza Port has expanded to Carlsbad, Ocean Beach, San Clemente and Bressi Ranch.
Vince decided to try his hand at home brewing in his spare time. He quickly became very good at making his own beer and soon had more than he or his family could possibly imbibe. He decided that he should sell it and in 1992, Pizza Port became a brew pub.
Known now more for their beer than their pizza, Pizza Port employs in-house brew masters at each of its locations. If you visit a different location, you’ll find some different brews on tap:
- Carlsbad - Wipeout IPA, Revelations Belgian Gold, Port’s Porter, Port Pale Ale and others.
- Ocean Beach - Skidmark Brown, The Old Ball & Chain Pale Ale, No Surf Cream Ale and others.
- San Clemente - Trestles Golden, Way Heavy, Pier Rat Porter, El Camino India Pale Ale and others.
- Solana Beach - Swamis IPA, Ponto Pale Ale, Grandview Golden Ale, Cardiff Cream Ale and others.
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Lost Abbey Brewing Company
Lost Abbey has only been on the scene in San Diego since 2006, but they have already made a name for themselves as one of the best in the area if not the state. Located in San Marcos, Lost Abbey was founded by Tomme Arthur and Vince and Gina Marsaglia of Pizza Port fame. The brewery mainly produces Belgian-style, sour and barrel-aged beers and was named the small brewery of the year for 2007 at the Great American Beer Festival.
Lost Abbey is well known for their interestingly-named beers, such as:
- Deliverance Ale
- Duck Duck Gooze
- Witch’s Wit
- Serpent’s Stout
- Angel’s Share
- Ten Commandments
- Cuvee De Tomme
