Welcome, Craft Brewers Conference attendees!

This week over 4,000 brewing industry professionals will descend upon our fair city for the 29th annual Craft Brewers Conference & BrewExpo America.  It's a great week to get out to local craft beer destinations and rub elbows with industry leaders from breweries and brewpubs across the country.  Let's show some San Diego hospitality and prove that we are not just a great craft beer destination, but the craft beer destination!

Who said that?

"I only take a drink on two occasions: when I'm thirsty and when I'm not."
- Brendan Behan

The Bruery's fourth anniversary

The Bruery knows how to throw a party.  In previous years they have celebrated their anniversary at home in Orange County.  This year they are spreading the cheer by hosting 10 different events throughout Los Angeles, Orange, and San Diego counties.  Check out the list of festivities here.  Let's join in wishing The Bruery a happy fourth anniversary!

The Brewery Project: El Cajon Brewing Co.

This week my brewery excursion took me to El Cajon Brewing Co.  Clicking on the link to their website reveals nothing more than an image of their logo.  The page is as barren as their bar.  I got to the brewery restaurant shortly after 4:30pm Thursday afternoon to find 10 people sitting in the spacious bar area.  After almost an hour of sampling various brews and snacking on sub-par nachos the total rose to 17, which included my group of 3.  This is not the first time I've seen this bar so sparsely filled, and from what I saw the restaurant wasn't much busier.  Is this a bleak sign of the future of this 6-month-old endeavor?  I hope not!  I've chronicled the progress of this brewery since the original "Hollywood Video" sign came off the building.  I find owner/brewer David to be a bit arrogant, which in brewing can be a positive and a negative.  The staff is not yet a solidified, cohesive team.  The food, in my opinion, is average.  The beer, however, is excellent!  When it's available, that is.  On this particular visit they had only 3 house beers on tap, not even enough to fill their $5, 4 beer sampler.  Their El Cajones IPA, not currently pouring, is one of the best I've ever had.  They did have El Cajones IIPA, which was a fantastic representation of the style.  However mediocre I may find the whole establishment, I truly love the beer they put out.  For that reason alone, I hope they pull things together and make El Cajon home for years to come.  After all, where else could they go?

It can't come soon enough!

I must be losing it!

White Labs tasting room?

Being from San Diego I am very familiar with White Labs.  I have used their world-class brewers yeast for a long time.  It was news to me, however, that they now have a tasting room!  Read about it here.  The tasting room is apparently in its soft opening, with a grand opening set for June 15th.  It looks like another stop has been added to The Brewery Project.

Thanks, Cyrus & Sarah!

My brother & sister-in-law got this for my 20th anniversary, which I've been wanting since last year's Great American Beer Festival.  Thanks guys, you rock!

Six-pack abs?

The Brewery Project: Monkey Paw

I kicked off The Brewery Project at a spot I'd heard a lot about and driven past many times, but never been to.  Monkey Paw Pub & Brewery was opened in downtown San Diego on August 23rd, 2011 by local craft beer bar legend, Scot Blair.  All of the brewing is done out of sight of the pub, which has a welcoming, familiar feel to it.  I counted 30 taps and 3 beer engines.  The bottled beers are stored in a brightly lit cooler, and looked extensive.  As I sat sipping my first brew, their Rich Man's IIPA, I was overtaken by the complete atmosphere of the place.  It was the ultimate visceral experience.  The aroma of beer mixed with a strong smoke smell pouring in from outside.  The roar of patrons enjoying their beer and nosh overpowered the music playing from the pub's self-themed jukebox.  The patrons themselves were very diverse, from a guy sitting at the end of the bar wearing a "Got Satan?" t-shirt to a great number of people wearing Padres attire, most likely going to the game later on that evening.  As I sipped on my second offering from the fledgling brewery, Sweet Georgia Brown, my eye was drawn to an "IPA" tattoo on the arm of one of the bartenders.   This is the all-in-one craft beer bar package, complete with an in-house brewery in the back.  The beer was great, and I can't wait to try more of their concoctions.  The IIPA and Brown were both recognizable for their individual styles, yet different enough to stand out on their own.  With 11 beers in their current repertoire, additional visits will definitely be a must.  Rumor has it they will be canning some of their beer soon, as well.  I highly recommend a stop by one of San Diego's newest craft beer establishments, and will be keeping an eye out in stores for them as well.

500

In honor of my 500th post, I'll share an Irish drinking toast to kick off your weekend.  A special thanks to The Beer Runner, who always seems to have an endless supply of little goodies like this one.

Here's to a long life and a merry one;
A quick death and an easy one;
A pretty girl and a true one;
A cold beer, and another one.

Where's Waldo?

I know a place, do you?  Let's compare notes!

BrewMaster: The Craft Beer Game

Grab a few choice craft beers and tuck in for the evening with this game.  I haven't gotten it yet, but plan to.  Let's play!

Who am I?

The Brewery Project

I love to visit breweries.  I make it a point to visit different ones while traveling, particularly when visiting family in Colorado where they are almost as abundant as 7-Elevens or Starbucks.  I find, though, that I often take local breweries for granted.  I visit them when I can, but rarely get to those not within my immediate, daily radius.  I used to consider myself well-traveled among local breweries, but with around 40 breweries now calling San Diego home and more on the way, I realize that I have barely scratched the brewery-circuit surface.  That said, I have now launched "The Brewery Project".  I plan on visiting a different brewery each week.  It could be one I already frequent such as Ballast Point, or one I that have been wanting to visit but not made it to yet such as Green Flash.  It could be just a brewery such as AleSmith, or a brewery restaurant like one of the many Karl Strauss locations.  Regardless of brewery, location, or format, my goal is to visit each and every brewing establishment the county has to offer.  I'll keep you updated along the way, and may even open your eyes to local spots you weren't aware of.  Who knows, I may even see you there!

Funny, but true

Happy National Beer Day!

"I think this would be a good time for a beer."
- Franklin Roosevelt

Who said that?

"For a quart of ale is a dish for a king."
- Shakespeare

You'll be humming this all day!

This annoyingly catchy song will haunt you all day.  You have been warned.



Click here if you don't see the video.

A beer for your heart!

Check out this article on drinking after a heart attack.  Drink up!

What is the date today?