LOCAL HABIT
With a chef uprooted from Louisiana, it’s no surprise that Local Habit’s cuisine is a tad bit more flavorful than other organically-themed restaurants. Traditional California dishes are improved upon with additions pulled from the famously flavorful cooking of the South, and the result is what Local Habit likes to call “Cali-Creole” cuisine.
Executive Chef Nick Brune was raised among the spicy culture of Baton Rouge. His first experiences with food involved fishing and hunting for the evening meals of fried whole bream, speckled trout, and duck and turnip gumbo – all prepared by his self-taught Southern family. Chef Brune is constantly whipping up an array of whatever is currently in season and able to be locally sourced. He continues to develop his Cali-Creole cuisine and makes this zesty style the basis of the restaurant’s fare.
Once you have your first taste of Local Habit, you will realize that it is much more than your ordinary organic and sustainable eatery. From the strictest of vegans to comfort food lovers alike, Local Habit stands out as a dining option that serves all tastes and preferences. Everyone will appreciate Local Habit’s efforts to prepare and present home-made and local offerings with creative dishes such as House Smoked Pork Loin & Piperade pizza, Roasted Garlic and Tahini Chicken Sausage with Smoked Paprika Oil, and Chef Brune’s authentic Louisiana Gumbos.
Beer enthusiasts will delight in Local Habit’s rotating selection of California craft beers. Each tap pours forth a fine craft beer, and as the well runs dry, Local Habit quickly gets to work replacing the dry tap with a new variety to entice an entirely new range of tastebuds.
Local Habit is located at 3827 5th Avenue in Uptown Hillcrest and offers two hours of free parking in the lots at 6th and Robinson. Please see a manager for a parking validation ticket.
3827 5th Ave, San Diego, CA 92103 – (619) 795-4770
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CHEFS PRESS
The craft beer scene continues to explode in San Diego and throughout America. By the end of next year, San Diego county is expected to be home to more than 90 breweries. In recent years, tens of thousands of people all over the county and state have acquired an appreciation and taste for great craft beer. Now that all those people have learned to DRINK craft beer, it’s time for them to learn how to COOK WITH craft beer.
Brew Food celebrates the incredible range and versatility of beer and its adaptability to the home kitchen. The recipes in this book have been developed by an impressive collection of professionals, each deeply entrenched in the beer-and-food industry. The book highlights the culinary creativity of San Diego’s best chefs, dessertiers, pro brewers, brewery staffers, restaurateurs, and craft-beer-bar owners. It provides recipes that will inspire home cooks of all skill levels and interests–everything from Hefeweizen-Coriander Baked Sea Bass to Quad-Braised Osso Buco to Spicy IPA Burgers and IPA Mac-n-Cheese. No matter what your tastes are, if you love beer, you’ll love Brew Food!
San Diego first gained international notoriety as the new capital of craft beer, and now that the culture of beer has taken firm hold, the city is quickly becoming known for its cutting-edge beer-and-food scene. Special events showcasing local chefs and brewers are held every week all over town, and many kitchens regularly offer diners new and interesting menu items that incorporate and highlight the many beautiful flavors of beer. Brew Food boasts more than 90 recipes collected from pro brewers, craft beer bars, and top San Diego chefs, including Katherine Humphus, Ryan Studebaker, Jeff Rossman, Karl Prohaska, Bernard Guillas, Ron Oliver, Nick Brune, Kyle Bergman, Shane McIntyre, Brandon Brooks, and Matt Gordon.
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SUDS COUNTY USA
Curious as to how San Diego became such a booming beer county? It didn’t happen overnight! Director Sheldon Kaplan delves into the rich history of the century-old brewing industry of San Diego in his feature length documentary film Suds County USA. Through exhaustive research and interviews, Suds follows beer in San Diego from the pre-prohibition breweries to the established brands we drink today. Suds features interviews from AleSmith, Alpine, Ballast Point, Coronado, Green Flash, Karl Strauss, Port / The Lost Abbey, Pizza Port, Stone.
Suds also documents how the local homebrewing community is responsible for much of the great beer on tap today. Respected homebrew club QUAFF (Quality Ale and Fermentation Fraternity) is featured; many of the professional brewers in San Diego can trace their roots to this club.
Suds doesn’t focus on how beer-crazed our county has become, but rather how it came to be – serving as a reference piece that gives context to the present-day beer boom. More importantly, it shows the faces and names of people who have worked very hard to create San Diego’s brewing industry. This film is a must-view for any serious beer geek in town! Click to sudscountyusa.com to watch a preview, purchase the movie download or buy the DVD.
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CRAFT BEER GEAR
Looking to get a gift for the beer geek in your life? Craft Beer Gear offers a variety of fun, creative and affordable options online. For the ladies: earrings made right here in San Diego from the bottle caps of her favorite brewery starting at just $5. And for the gentlemen: a Wild-West style beer bottle holster (handmade in Austin, TX) for his next beer fest – only $25.
Visitors to “America’s Finest City” know it is almost impossible to not make at least one brewery stop – a rare few have the opportunity to see all of them. Launched in 2012, Craft Beer Gear carries an increasing number of logo merchandise branded with craft brewery names – making for a perfect keepsake that you can order online anywhere and anytime.
To view the growing inventory or to purchase something in time for the holidays, visit craftbeergear.net. See Craft Beer Gear’s Facebook page or website for upcoming events where you can purchase in-person. For West Coaster readers, CBG is offering free shipping through December 31, 2012. Use coupon code FREESHIP at checkout.
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SCAVENGERS
Looking to try a different kind of brewery experience? Scavengers offers unique tours starting at $89 per person. Ideal for groups of 2-24 people, Scavengers provides guided tours to world class breweries in San Diego by way of the Pinzgauer (pronouced pinz-gow-er). A Swiss Military 6×6 safari vehicle with seating for 12 and an open-air design, this 6 wheel drive BEAST is the perfect mode of transportation when you’re on the road to drink great beer from the source.
A company comprised of avid homebrewers, Scavengers has developed a passion for hand-crafted beer. This passion has inspired the creation of a quality brewery tour service that highlights San Diego’s scenic beauty, awesome food, and most of all – radical micro-breweries. With free pickup in North County, the tour heads off to three breweries and includes a meal. Tours can be public or private, great for meeting like-minded folks or focusing entirely on your private party. Breweries on the tour map include Stone Brewing Company, Iron Fist Brewing Company, The Lost Abbey, Port Brewing, Ballast Point Brewing Company, and Green Flash Brewing Company, among others. Scavengers also offers mixed beer and wine tours – great for couples split on what beverage reigns supreme.
Exclusively for West Coaster readers, mention you heard about Scavengers in this issue and get 10% off your next tour. Some restrictions apply; valid until 12/31/11, limit one per customer.To book your tour, please call (760) 717-2551 or visit brewerytoursandiego.com
(760) 717-2551
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LIGHTNING BREWERY
The Lightning Brewery was the ninth brewery in San Diego when it opened in early 2006. With about 60 breweries now around the county today, the brewery continues to maintain a roster of enjoyable beers that are often unfairly overlooked by the overall beer community – despite their uniqueness and quality. Two founding, core beers, Thunderweizen Ale and Elemental Pilsner, are both remarkably popular at bottleshops in San Diego. To meet demand, Lightning has purchased a capable bottling line and will start offering 6-packs of both Thunderweizen & Elemental beginning in early 2013! If you are looking for special holiday brews, you may want to consider the warming Electrostatic Ale or robust Black Lightning Porter. Electrostatic Ale is a high gravity farmhouse ale that pairs very well with all holiday meals. Black Lightning Porter is a great top-off to any evening, particularly ones with chocolate or coffee desserts. Lightning Brewery is open for tasting and growler fills Friday 1:30-5:30PM and Saturday 1:00-5:00PM.
13200 Kirkham Way, Poway, CA 92064 – (858) 513-8070
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BREW HOP
With a fleet of luxury vehicles that includes SUVs, stretch limousines and party buses – let Brew Hop treat you to the ultimate brewery tour offered in town. With guided tours to San Diego’s best breweries, the size of your party determines your ride; vehicles range from Lincolns to Limo Buses. Additionally, every Brew Hop vehicle is permitted so that you can enjoy adult beverages on the road from one brewery to the next. Brew Hop is ready to deliver you and your friends to the world’s best breweries in style.
Much more than a pretty face, Brew Hop offers two tour packages: The Beer Connoisseur tour is a 5-hour party experience that stops at 3-4 breweries with tasters at each. The Beer Tasters tour is a 2.5 hour session to 1-2 breweries, including tasters. Each tour group is led by a Brew Hop tour host, and at each brewery there’s a VIP private tour of the facility, a chance to meet the brewery staff to ask questions about your favorite brews, and, of course, taster flights of beer.
Brew Hop was founded in San Diego and also operates in Seattle, with future sights set on Portland, Oregon. Since November 2011, the company has maintained a 5-star average on Yelp.com and TripAdvisor.com. Brew Hop was recently featured in Time Magazine UK.
Mention West Coaster and receive 10% off your next booking (tour must be booked by 12/31/12, some restrictions apply). Contact Summer for a customized party proposal and browse BrewHop.com for more information.
(858) 361-8457
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IRON FIST
Celebrate the season with an Iron Fist! For the month of December, Vista’s Iron Fist Brewing Co. is offering a 15% discount on cases of beer purchased at the brewery. Mix and match bottles of Spice of Life, Hired Hand, or Uprising for your next holiday party. Be sure to check out the brewery’s new apparel, which now includes hoodies and long-sleeve t-shirts.
Don’t forget growlers! Now in stock, Iron Fist’s glass growlers are German designed with a sturdy pewter handle and are filled with 2 liters of fresh beer (pictured). Reusable and stylish, a full growler is a great way to not arrive empty-handed. After the initial cost of the glass, growlers provide an economical way to enjoy a large helping of beer.
New expansion in 2012! If you haven’t been by recently, Iron Fist has grown its tasting room into the adjacent industrial suite. The extra space affords more room for beer tasting as well as increased beer production. Expect more draft, bottled, and barreled beer in 2013!
1305 Hot Springs Way, Vista, CA 92081 – (760) 216-6500
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THE HOMEBREWER
80+ Grains, 60+ Hops, All White Labs Yeast, and a selection of wine & distilling yeast. Starter kits & mucho, mucho mas! Holiday Special: one gallon “Brew In A Box” kit – a perfect gift. Ideal for trying out the hobby for the first time, or experimenting on new recipes. Very little space required! Includes everything you need to brew a one gallon batch of beer: recipe, ingredients (grains, hops, yeast), one-gallon Jug, thermometer, air lock, sanitizer, nifty instructions, & tubing. The Homebrewer also offers brew classes for both beginning and experienced brewers. Go online, call to check the schedule, and read our reviews on Yelp!
2911 El Cajon Blvd, San Diego, CA 92104 – (619) 450-6165
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PUBCAKES
Only available in December: Winter Seasonal PubCakes! This year marks the return of the AleSmith YuleSmith Gingerbread PubCake. New for 2012, the special Irish Carbomb PubCake aka “Christmas Carbomb” (pictured) is made with Peppermint Schnapps and candy canes.
Simply put, if you’re hunting for gifts for the craft beer drinker with a sweet tooth – there’s nothing better. Perfect for entertaining: purchase PubCakes with their corresponding beers and create an easy and decadent pairing for the holidays. Or, come by and pick up a gift certificate for a great stocking stuffer. In addition to the previously mentioned Winter Seasonal PubCakes, don’t forget the year-round ‘Cakes such as the Irish Carbomb, Stoned Portzilla, Beer Breakfast and Punkin’ Vegan. If you mention West Coaster, you get 10% off your next PubCake purchase! Visit pubcakes.com or the PubCakes storefront at 7229 El Cajon Blvd., San Diego, 92115. Hours are Wednesday through Saturday from 10am-6:30pm and on Sunday from 10am-4:30pm.
7229 El Cajon Blvd, San Diego, CA 92115 – (619) 741-0530
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BREWERY TOURS OF SAN DIEGO
With so many breweries in San Diego county, it’s tough keeping track – let alone physically visiting each one. After just one tasting flight at one brewery, you are probably legally intoxicated. Driving to multiple breweries is a definite risk. While working at the tasting room of Ballast Point in 2006, Brewery Tours of San Diego Co-Founder Mindy Eastman noticed many customers were attempting to taste at multiple breweries – often while noticeably intoxicated. Inspiration struck, and shortly after, San Diego’s original brewery tour company was born.
With a fleet consisting of buses, shuttles and vans, Brewery Tours of San Diego puts an emphasis on beer education (rather than just inebriation!). A typical session runs 5 hours, stops at 3 breweries, and includes tastings at each. Also included is a guided tour behind-the-scenes at one brewery with an introduction to commercial beer production.
Both private and public tours are offered, seven days a week. Private tours allow you to choose which breweries to see and reserve the vehicle exclusively for your use. Public Tours follow fixed routes and are open-seating – a great way to save a few dollars and make some new friends. Brewery Tours of San Diego also provides transportation to and from beer festivals, concerts, and more!
To book your next tour, go to BreweryToursofSanDiego.com!
(619) 961-7999
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ALE TRAILS AMERICA CALENDAR
2013 San Diego Craft Beer Calendar by Ale Trails America™
Looking for the perfect Holiday gift for your craft beer lover? One that keeps on giving for the whole year? No, it’s not a Brewery! The 2013 San Diego Craft Beer Calendar takes you on a monthly pictorial journey to 12 of San Diego County’s best breweries – and at under $15, it’s way more affordable.
Including an Ale Trail Map and Craft Beer Timeline of important milestones on San Diego’s way to becoming the “Napa Valley of Craft Beer,” the monthly Ale Trail starts at San Diego’s original Beer Pioneers, Karl Strauss, and then treks over the Bay Bridge to idyllic Coronado where CBC reigns supreme.
Turning North along the historic El Camino Real brings us to La Jolla’s Rock Bottom, Sorrento Valley’s New English, Carlsbad’s Pizza Port and the “pride of the ‘side”, Oceanside Ale Works. Heading East through the hotbed North County area leads us to the newest spots on the trail, Iron Fist and Stumblefoot.
From here it’s a short hop over to Stone to rest and replenish before the final leg south to Ballast Point, AleSmith and the big finish at Green Flash! So leave your car in the garage and take a brew tour the easy way – with the 2013 San Diego Craft Beer Calendar!
This unique gift idea is sure to please any Hop Head on your list! Published by Ale Trails America – a North County San Diego-based company devoted to promoting better craft beer experiences – it’s available at the featured breweries, craft beer bottle shops and other beer-centric outlets around San Diego’s brewing community, or by contacting Steve Mayer at stevem@aletrailsamerica.com or (760) 803-0691.
(760) 803-0691
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BOTTLECRAFT BEER CLUB
The inspiration behind Bottlecraft began with the simple idea of exploring the flavors of well-made beer and sharing that experience with a like-minded community. Out of this same founding spirit, the Bottlecraft Beer Club was born.
The goal of the monthly beer club is to not only put together a package of great beer, but also tell the stories behind those beers. To accomplish this, we’ve invited some distinguished members of the San Diego beer community—Beer Curators—to select a few of their favorite beers, and tell us why they love them.
A Beer Club membership includes 6 bottles of hand-picked beer each month with the curator’s tasting notes and reflections on the beer. Other perks include members-only events, discounts, first dibs on rare beer and more.
Join the Bottlecraft Beer Club today and join us in the continual appreciation of craft beer!
The First Six Curators Include: Dr. Bill, Mel Gordon, Scot Blair, Colby Chandler, Chuck Silva, Juan and Kevin from MIHO.
2161 India St, San Diego, CA 92101 – (619) 487-9493
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BEST DAMN HOME BREW SHOP & BEST DAMN BEER SHOP (LOCATED INSIDE KRISP BEVERAGES + NATURAL FOODS)
Now is a great time to visit downtown San Diego’s only home brew supplier, Best Damn Home Brew Shop. Located inside Krisps Beverages + Natural Foods, this store has everything you need to make excellent beer. Shop a variety of specialty grains, hops, brewing books and more. Once you have your ingredients, be sure to browse Best Damn Beer Shop’s insane bottle selection located inside the same store. Between the bottle selection and brew supplies, this is the Best Damn one-stop beer shop in downtown San Diego. Mention West Coaster and receive 10% off all starter kits for the month of December (expires 12/31/12).
1036 7th Ave San Diego, CA 92101 – (619) 232-6367