Our September 2014 issue is out around town and available online! Check it out by clicking here.
Busy Times @ Twisted Manzanita
In addition to putting the finishing touches on their Pacific Beach tasting room, the Twisted Manzanita team is also working on variations of their Witch’s Hair Pumpkin Ale, brewed in August. At time of print, the brew crew was looking to create more than 10 variations on the seasonal beer, buoyed by the fact that they’ll now have two tasting rooms at which to empty kegs. Be on the lookout especially for nitro versions, which the brewery is looking to do more of all around.
New Breweries in August
Several new breweries began brewing in August. Now operational Ballast Point’s new Miramar expansion, Beer Brewing Co. in Oceanside, Bagby Beer Company and Bolt Brewery. None of those breweries are open to the public yet, save for Bagby – which is in soft opening mode with beers on tap. The total count of operational breweries as of late August is 93.
In addition, West Coaster is tracking 42 breweries that are planning on opening in San Diego County. Knox Corners in El Cajon, Belching Beaver’s brewpub in Vista, Bay City Brewing in Loma Portal, Green Flash’s Poway expansion, Jamul Town Brewery & Tap and 32 North Brewing Co. in Miramar all popped up on our radar in August. Check out westcoastersd.com/sd-brewing-industry-watch for info on current and up-and-coming breweries.
Barrel Republic Expands
Pacific Beach’s pour-it-yourself beer bar Barrel Republic is expanding to two new locations in Oceanside and Carlsbad. Carlsbad’s Barrel Republic will have 52 taps and a kitchen headed by former Churchill’s chef A.G. Warfield and is slated to open by San Diego Beer Week 2014. The Oceanside location is still TBD.
Oktoberfests
If you can’t make it to Munich, there are plenty local Oktoberfest celebrations in San Diego.
Fathom Bistro’s 2nd annual Octo-Bier-Fest is Friday September 26th and starts at 3PM. The Smokehouse Kings, an offshoot chef collaboration from Carnitas Snack Shack, will have their huge smoker on the pier cooking up sausages. The bar will serve 8 German & German-style beers on tap along with a glass giveaway.
Beer drinkers looking for authenticity should seek the German American Society of San Diego’s Oktoberfest which takes place September 26-28 & October 3-5 in El Cajon. Enjoy bratwurst, ox-on-the-spit, sauerkraut and, of course, German beer. More info: germanclubsandiego.org/events/oktoberfest
Perhaps the most SoCal Oktoberfest, Ocean Beach’s 10th annual celebration will be October 12 & 13. Gaze into the Pacific through the bottom of your glass, hear tribute bands jam in the Beer Garden Band Slam and cheer on the winner of the Ms Oktoberfest Bikini Contest. Pizza Port Ocean Beach will be serving beer, too. Buses depart to OB from Pacific Beach & Downtown. More info: oboktoberfest.com
New this year: South Park’s version of Oktoberfest will take place on October 11th from 11 a.m. – 10 p.m. Dubbed Parktoberfest, the event will be held in the Gala Foods Parking. There will be a beer tent featuring 10 local breweries, a kid’s carnival, live music and more. Search Facebook for Parktoberfest to get more info.
There’s also Oktoberfests in La Mesa, Carlsbad, Julian, Ramona and Encinitas. Visit sandiego.org/campaigns/fall-in-san-diego/oktoberfests.aspx for a listing.
More Drafts in OB
With the recent openings of OB Warehouse with 24 taps and Bar 1502 with 40 taps, there’s now even more good beer flowing in the eclectic seaside neighborhood. The two new locations strengthen the existing beer circuit present with Raglan Public House, OB Kebab, Newport Pizza, OB Noodle House, The Joint, Olive Tree Market’s tasting room, Wonderland and Pizza Port OB.
This post was edited slightly from the original printed version that appeared in our September 2014 issue.