Introduction

February 1, 2011 | Author: Jamie
Toronado San Diego bottle cabinet and cask taps

Cask taps and bottles at Toronado San Diego

Welcome to San Diego Beer Tourism!  Though there are a lot of great web resources about San Diego beer, I wanted to put together something oriented toward visitors to our fine city and folks who live here but are new to the beer scene.  Comments and suggestions are welcome!

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The Regal Beagle

February 6, 2011 | Author: Jamie
Address: 3659 India St. Suite 101, San Diego, CA 92103
Beer selection: 24 taps, all strong choices; a "can closet" with some craft cans standard domestics
Other drinks: No
Menu:
Atmosphere:
Prices:
Outdoor seating: No
Kid-friendly: Yes
Dog-friendly: No
Website: http://www.regalbeaglesd.com/
Yelp: http://www.yelp.com/biz/the-regal-beagle-san-diego-2
Beer Advocate: http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/23732
Tap Hunter: http://sandiego.taphunter.com/location/The-Regal-Beagle

Description:
One of San Diego's newest craft beer havens, the Regal Beagle already has loyal following evidenced by their Yelp profile. A solid selection of beers that should satisfy heavy malt fans, hop fans, and Belgian fans. I haven't tried the food yet, but it gets great reviews. Expect crowds on weekend evenings.

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Downtown Johnny Brown’s

February 6, 2011 | Author: Jamie
Address: 1220 Third Ave San Diego, California, 92101
Beer selection: About 17 taps, but always a great, varied selection
Other drinks: Full bar
Menu: Great sandwiches (including fish-of-the-day) with a few other items
Atmosphere: Relaxed, open, kind of sports bar-ish.
Prices: Very good for being in downtown
Outdoor seating: Yes; large patio with plenty of seating and a few heat lamps.
Kid-friendly: Yes. Older kids can play pool or the shuffleboard
Dog-friendly: Yes, lots of space on the patio for dogs
Website: http://downtownjohnnybrowns.com/
Yelp: http://www.yelp.com/biz/downtown-johnny-browns-san-diego
Beer Advocate: http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/13600/?view=beerfly
Tap Hunter: http://sandiego.taphunter.com/location/Downtown-Johnny-Browns

Description:
Though DTJB's has a fraction of the taps of the nearby Yard House, Johnny's selection is top notch and usually has more beers that I'm interested in than the Yard House. (I don't dislike the Yard House; in fact, I love their food). In addition to the great beer selection and tasty grub, the bartenders and waitstaff are always friendly and helpful here. DTJB's can be criminally emtpy on weekends; the patio is a great place to have a few drinks on a warm summer afternoon. Peak times are weekday lunches and happy hour, as well as pre-Civic Center events. DTJB's is my favorite of the downtown watering holes.

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Hamilton’s Tavern

February 6, 2011 | Author: Jamie
Address: 1521 30th St, San Diego, CA 92102
Beer selection: About 27 taps; expect to be wowed by the selections. Reasonably-priced selection of bottles
Other drinks: No
Menu: Eclectic and adventurous spin on bar food
Atmosphere: Very laid-back, very dark. Gets crazy-crowded most weekend nights and some weekday nights.
Prices: Quite reasonable, usually from 4 to 7. There are usually some great specials for the penny-pincher.
Outdoor seating: No
Kid-friendly: Maybe in the afternoon at a table.
Dog-friendly: As long as it's not too packed inside, you can bring dogs in (since the food is served through a window from a technically different establishment. Or something like that.
Website: http://hamiltonstavern.com/
Yelp: http://www.yelp.com/biz/hamiltons-tavern-san-diego
Beer Advocate: http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/14797
Tap Hunter: http://sandiego.taphunter.com/location/Hamiltons-Tavern

Description:
Always an excellent selection of beers, one of the largest and best in San Diego. Two pool tables and a shuffleboard add to the fun. I'd go here more often were it not for heavy crowds most evenings. Nonetheless, should be on the shortlist for any serious beer drinkers visiting San Diego.

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Neighborhood

February 6, 2011 | Author: Jamie
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Toronado San Diego

February 6, 2011 | Author: Jamie
Address: 4026 30th Street San Diego, CA 92104
Beer selection: Excellent; 50 taps with a wide variety of solid choices, plus three cask handles; lots of bottles
Other drinks: No, though they almost always have some sours or lambic that might please a wine person
Menu: Lots of sausage choices (including turkey and vegan) with a few tasty sandwiches and other entrees
Atmosphere: Classic pub, casual. Clean, open, punk and rock-oriented jukebox
Prices: Lots of good crafts typically $5-$6, as low as $3; Belgians tend to be $7-$8.50
Outdoor seating: Yes; a fenced-in back patio with five picnic tables and a couple of small high tables
Kid-friendly: Kids are welcome at the tables as with most pub/restaurants.
Dog-friendly: No; the patio can only be accessed from the bar
Website: http://www.toronadosd.com/iWeb/Site/Welcome.html
Yelp: http://www.yelp.com/biz/toronado-san-diego
Beer Advocate: http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/17832
Tap Hunter: http://sandiego.taphunter.com/location/Toronado

Description:
The SoCal sister bar to San Francisco's wonderful Toronado has all the great beer you'd expect from the original, with a bit more space and bonus outdoor seating. Though it doesn't have the charming divey quality of the SF original, San Diego's Toronado has it's own charm; a handsome bar, a great rock/punk oriented jukebox, and a nice little back patio. Draft beers are reasonably priced. Attracts a wide array of beer connoisseurs as well as local North Park hipsters.

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Pizza Port Solana Beach

February 6, 2011 | Author: Jamie
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Small Bar

February 5, 2011 | Author: Jamie
Address: 4628 Park Blvd San Diego, California 92116
Beer selection: 42 taps; excellent selection, always surprises
Other drinks: Full bar, with an excellent selection of single-malt scotches
Menu: Tasty and eclectic selection
Atmosphere: Lots of dark colors and wood inside, but open front balances; popular with local hipsters
Prices: Quite reasonable; ranges widely depending on beer
Outdoor seating: Two picnic tables in front
Kid-friendly: Somewhat, though I don't think I've ever seen kids here
Dog-friendly: Yes, on the small front patio
Website: http://smallbarsd.com
Yelp: http://ww.yelp.com/biz/small-bar-san-diego
Beer Advocate: http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/21664
Tap Hunter: http://sandiego.taphunter.com/location/Small-Bar

Description:
Sister bar to the venerable Hamilton's, Small Bar was a welcomed addition to the University Park neighborhood. True to it's name, it is a bit small, and as such, can get crowded nights and weekends. The Sunday brunch is also quite popular and features some truly delicious choices (I love the chilaquiles!) A short drive (or 1.7 mile walk) from the 30th street "Beer Row."

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