Each year, I take time to look back at the new brewing companies that opened within the past 12 months (or so) and pick out the most exceptional additions to San Diego County’s craft beer scene. This year saw more breweries and brewpubs open than any before, making it the most difficult field to rate to-date. But after much thought, and even a bit of inner debate, the following are the finest rookies to draft their fermented wares in 2015. Fun side note: This is the first year that all of the top picks have come from within the actual City of San Diego.
Fall Brewing Co., North Park: There’s something to be said for having a veteran at the helm. Founder and brewmaster Ray Astamendi’s extensive life experience, brewhouse expertise, lessons learned at numerous craft breweries and ability to finally do things his way combined to produce a runaway success in the cinder-block shell of a former automotive repair spot on 30th Street. Lagers, Belgian-style ales, coffee beers, IPAs—nothing’s off limits and most of it is rather exceptional.
Second Chance Beer Co., Carmel Mountain: It takes guts to branch out on one’s own after a decade-and-a-half’s worth of security-laced tenure with one of the country’s largest brewpub chains, but that’s just what Marty Mendiola (another veteran…sensing a pattern yet?) did in opening his very own brewery in the suddenly beery North County inland area comprising Carmel Mountain and Rancho Bernardo. Straight out of the gate he’s shown mastery of uber-roasty and hoppy brews alike, and the best is likely still yet to come.
South Park Brewing Co., South Park: Running a single brewpub (including numerous service aspects) is hard enough, but handling two is a gargantuan undertaking. Yet, Cosimo Sorrentino continued to rock Monkey Paw Pub & Brewery while installing the brewery and developing kickass recipes at this sister spot next-door to Hamilton’s Tavern. In doing so, he earned his second Great American Beer Festival medal for one of SPBC’s inaugural beers, Scripps Pier Oyster Stout. Now that’s some impressive multi-tasking!
Bay City Brewing Co., Point Loma: Sorrentino’s former home- and pro-brewing partner Chris West may have left Monkey Paw in 2014, but 2015 saw him extending the “San Diego pale ale” campaign to earn our county ownership of the dry, restrainedly bitter yet hop flavor-heavy style of IPA that is quintessentially SD. He did this from his own brewery in the industrial heart of Loma Portal while crafting other exceptional, highly drinkable numbers ranging from a Vienna lager to entry-level sours.
Abnormal Beer Co., Rancho Bernardo: Brewing industry vet Derek Gallanosa got every beer geek’s dream-come-true in the form a shiny new brewhouse all his own in the swank confines of The Cork and Craft restaurant (which also houses a winery). Early struggles gave way to fine-tuned successes, including brightly hoppy IPAs and a variety of beers infused with delicious product from nearby sister business, Mostra Coffee.
Duck Foot Brewing Co., Miramar: Leading up to its open, this business meant to make gluten-reduced beers its bailiwick, but the popularization of White Labs’ gluten-nullifying Clarity-Ferm made that a far less relevant differentiator. Fortunately, the beer at this quirkily decorated but rather straightforward brewery doesn’t need niche dietary characteristics to stand out. It’s just good. That said, it’s pretty great that challenged imbibers can enjoy the beer, too!
A total of 20 newly established breweries were in contention this year and, to be honest, many were right on the brink of knocking off the half-dozen above. The following are the other businesses that vied for best new brewer op of 2015. Some businesses opened later in the year and will be in contention next year as they were too young to have been fairly considered this time around.
Contenders: Barn Brewery (North Park), Bay Bridge Brewing Co. (Chula Vista), Citizen Brewers (Mission Valley), Division 23 Brewing Co. (Miramar), Half Door Brewing Co. (East Village), Helix Brewing Co. (La Mesa), Home Brewing Co. (North Park), Kilowatt Brewing Co. (Kearny Mesa), Kuracali Saké & Beer Brewery (San Marcos), Magnetic Brewing (Kearny Mesa), Novo Brazil Brewing Co. (Chula Vista), Pacific Islander Beer Co. (Santee), Prodigy Brewing Co. (Grantville), Reckless Brewing Co. (Miramar),
Maybe Next Year: Bear Roots Brewing Co. (Vista), Guadalupe Brewery (Carlsbad), Kensington Brewing Co. (Mission Valley), Thr3e Punk Ales (Santee)
Previous Top-Ranked Breweries
2014: Bagby Beer Co. (Oceanside), Nickel Beer Co. (Julian), Council Brewing Co. (Kearny Mesa), URBN St. Brewing Co. (El Cajon), Toolbox Brewing Co. (Vista)
2013: Rip Current Brewing Co. (San Marcos), Benchmark Brewing Co. (Grantville), Amplified Ale Works (Pacific Beach), Belching Beaver Brewery (Vista), Modern Times Beer (Point Loma)
2012: Societe Brewing Co. (Kearny Mesa), Monkey Paw Pub & Brewery (East Village), Latitude 33 Brewing Co. (Vista)