Reports from the trenches of the San Diego beer scene

Beer & Sandals

San Diego is home to some of the finest beers, breweries and brewmasters in the world.

We relish the opportunity to be your companions in navigating these glorious waters.

Field Report: The Neighborhood

 

Before heading to 4th and B for comedy night with Craig Gass, the wife and I decided to stop at a place called The Neighborhood.  Located on the corner of 8th and G, Neighborhood offers a 4-page menu with only 1-page dedicated to food and the rest to their extensive lists of beer and wine.  

Upon entering The Neighbor hood you are welcomed by a unique atmosphere with parallelogram shaped tables, leather chairs, pictures of Jesus eating a sandwich, a long row of beer taps, bottles of wine on the walls and a mosaic of the San Diego skyline.   Read the rest »

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Specialty Brew Battle @ Ballast Point

Where: Ballast Point, Scripps Ranch (Map)

When:  Thursday March 12, 2009

“It is on like Donkey Kong!  Our first ever brew battle is set to take place this Thursday, March 12 at our Scripps Ranch brewery.  As some of you may remember, a few months ago we brewed an Imperial Stout we called the Sea Monster.  This beer is so big and strong, it spawned a second runnings beer, The Power of the Schwarzbier.

Thursday afternoon you will have the opportunity to sample both brews side by side.   Who will be victorious?  The mighty Sea Monster with it’s massive flavor and alcoholic strength.  Or it’s diminutive progeny, un-obtrusive with a balanced flavor and smooth drinkability.  You will decide!” – Ballast Point


While your there you can pick up 22oz bottles of Victory at Sea and Dorado Double IPA

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Stone’s Google Calendar

 

Stone recently unvieled, on their website, the ability to add their calendars to your google calendar.  

Simply visit stonebrew.com/calendar and the available calendars are located near the top.  Here you can add all or you can choose between the 5 available calendars (Events at Stone, Growler Fills, Bistro Beer Lineup, Brewery Tours and Special Releases).

Now go sign up for Google Calendar, if you haven’t already, and add Stone so you never miss an event.

*Incase you forget to check your calendar, configure the events to send a reminder via email.

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Blind Lady Ale House Beer Unveiling

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AleSmith “My Bloody Valentine” on cask at Hamilton’s

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BOTW: Lost Abbey’s Avant Garde

“Avant-garde means “advance guard” or “vanguard”. The adjective form is used in English, to refer to people or works that are experimental or innovative, particularly with respect to art, culture, and politics.
Avant-garde represents a pushing of the boundaries of what is accepted as the norm or the status quo, primarily in the cultural realm.” – Wikipedia.com

Beer of the Week:  Lost Abbey Brewing – Avant Garde

Serving Type: 22oz. Bottle

Price: $7.99

ABV:  7.0%

Style: Bière de Garde

Avant Garde was suggested to me as a beer that had turned one friend into a craft brew fanatic.  He said, “This beer will change your thoughts on everything you know on beer and you will not be dissapointed.”  Well, I was dissapointed. Read the rest »

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Head-to-Head: Ballast Point Big Eye IPA vs. Blue Frog Grog & Grill Big DIPA

This week we’re pitting a local favorite against an out-of-town challenger.  Blue Frog is a brewpub in Fairfield, north of San Francisco.  We’ll see how they’re double IPA fairs against the tried-and-true quality of Ballast Point’s offering after the jump.

Read the rest »

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Cask Night: Ballast Point Sculpin @ Hamilton’s Tavern

Website: www.hamiltonstavern.com

Where: Hamilton’s Tavern (map)

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Cask Night: AleSmith Nautical Nut Brown @ Ritual Tavern

“AleSmith’s interpretation of this classic English-style ale is smooth, dark, and rich. A variety of specialty malts produce a brilliant dark brown color and a wonderful malt complexity. A light dose of East Kent Goldings and Styrian Goldings hops from England balance the malt sweetness without adding bitterness to the flavor profile. Reintrodcued at AleSmith in 2002, Nautical Nut Brown ale has quickly become one of our most popular beers.”  -AleSmith

Website: http://www.ritualtavern.com

Where: Ritual Tavern – North Park (map)

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Ballast Point Night @ The Live Wire

Just a friendly reminder that tonight is Ballast Point Night at the Live Wire!  They’ll be tapping kegs of the always popular Yellowtail Pale Ale, the refreshing Wahoo Wheat, a reserve keg of Fathom India Pale Lager, and an extremely limited release keg of one of the finest India Pale Ales to come out of Southern California, Sculpin. (Only 7 kegs were released in San Diego and they’ve got one of ‘em!)Plus, the local Ballast Point brand rep will be throwing down some serious barbecue for the BP faithful. Live Wire will be serving up Ballast Point brews all night long in keeper pint glasses for $4 until they disappear.”  -Ballast Point


Website: www.ballastpoint.com, www.livewirebar.com
Where: The Live Wire(map)

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