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San Diego County Distillery History
This is a work in progress. Timeline of known San Diego distilleries and rectifiers. Note: personal home-use stills may be included, as regardless of volume, stills are required to be licensed by the California Alcohol Beverage Control Agency.
Early San Diego Brewery History--San Diego County Fair 2024
Brief historical overview of late 19th-early 20th Century San Diego breweries. Presentation developed for the SD Fair Beer Experience. Not used on site as the screen was outside and the sun too bright to project successfully.
Tap Handle Exhibit Introduction
Introduction to tap handles and role they play in identity and marketing breweries using San Diego region items.
Thematic tap handles
Being in the San Diego region with beaches and ocean nearby, nautical or beach-themed motifs are popular. Examples are Ballast Point (1996, sold to Kings and Convicts Brewing but continues this brand line), Karl Strauss (1989-present), and Helm’s…
Choosing an identity
Identity is an important to inform and attract consumers. The founders of Stone Brewing (1996-brand continues following mid-2022 sale to Sapporo) considered various designs including versions of gargoyles. Early keg handles were etched beach rocks as…
Brewery merchandising.
Tap handles are only one element of advertising a brewery’s identity and ethos. Bottle labels, merchandise for sale or giveaway, coasters, glassware and growlers, as well as the brewery’s architectural/interior design are all part of the identity.…
Preserving their stories
Not every San Diego craft brewery founded in the 20th century survived into the 21st. The stories of Baja (1991-1996), ChuckAlek (2012-2018), and Iron Fist (2010-2020) are partially preserved through their handles. Some breweries had few or no…
Wooden tap handles
BNS (2013-present), Manzanita (2010-2018), O’Sullivan Brothers (2014-2017), and Second Chance Beer (2015-present)
Wood is a popular tap handle material subject to different treatments such as painting, turning, burning/etching, etc. It recalls…
Wood is a popular tap handle material subject to different treatments such as painting, turning, burning/etching, etc. It recalls…
1897 Beer keg and handle patent
Image of an 1897 beer keg with tap handle and cooling system.
Tap Handle Exhibit-Right case
Photograph of left hand exhibit case on 5th floor of Kellogg Library.
Tap Handle Exhibit-Center
Photograph of center of exhibit featuring Green Flash tap handles on 5th floor of Kellogg Library.
Tap Handle Exhibit-Left Case
Photograph of left hand exhibit case on 5th floor of Kellogg Library.
Tap Handle Exhibit
Photograph of exhibit cases on 5th floor of Kellogg Library. Click on navigation buttons at bottom of screen for closer views and descriptive text.