RB and OB—what a difference one letter can make, both culturally and geographically. Much as I’d like to spend much more time in Ocean Beach more often, living in the inland North County Rancho Bernardo neighborhood makes my visits there far too infrequent. So, when a party for a friend bidding adieu to his OB residence came about, I used that as an excuse to check out a tasting room operated by Solana Beach-based Culture Brewing Company (4845 Newport Avenue, Ocean Beach). In doing so, I realized I wasn’t discovering something brand-new. Culture’s satellite space has been operational since November 2014, but it was new to me and my arrival there was long overdue.
A storefront hollowed out to provide unimpeded sights and sounds from inside the tasting room makes one want to be a part of the action. Inside, the square echo-y space is a tad dull, but livened up to some extent by colorful art lining one of the walls. With a good number of customers filling the place out, it is just fine, but were one to show up during a slow-period, it might seem stark. Most of the folks who were in the night I visited were standing, mostly because the seating options are extremely scarce. This seems like a bit of a miss, as does the configuration of the beer-board, which takes a bit of time to decipher—particularly if you’ve had a few. But the staff is nice and food delivery from nearby Newport Pizza and Ale House as well as next-door neighbor OB Warehouse is a fantastic bonus amenity.
I’ve historically enjoyed Culture beers, so for this visit I went with a spot-check, selecting one of my favorite of their beers, a style in keeping with current trends and San Diegans’ preferred tastes, and a beer that had just been put on the board and was being advertised at the counter. The latter was a Tart Cherry Wit that brought back a distinct flavor-memory from elementary school—cherry-flavored Now and Laters. The nose matched the candy exactly. The flavor was similar, but not as sweet. This was a good thing as it allowed the beer to remain refreshing. I’d imagine it’s quite the crowd-pleaser since this isn’t the first time they’ve offered the beer.
I was pleased that I enjoyed Sour Grape, a 3.8% alcohol-by-volume barrel-aged Berliner weisse of sorts with its fair share of funk. Big cherry and raspberry sweetness came through and lasted in the finish, and the body was just right for conveying all of that plus some nice, very faint grape mustiness.
Last up was Culture’s Mosaic IPA. Based off a very popular hop offering a great deal of tropicality, it’s a beer best judged directly against Karl Strauss Brewing Company’s Mosaic Session Ale. That beer is a hoppy standard-bearer that is arguably the best of Uncle Karl’s current portfolio. Culture’s is higher in ABV by about a point at 6.6%, which gives it a slightly thicker mouthfeel. It’s also much danker and down-and-dirty, but a bit muddled. The Mosaic doesn’t stand out for its individual merits, but the beer has a nice bitterness and will surely elicit smiles among the hop-head sect. All in all, the spot-check was a successful one. Culture’s quality is intact at its offshoot.
OB is also home to Pizza Port’s most southerly brewpub and a tasting room operated by North Park’s Mike Hess Brewing Company. And currently, at least three other brewing companies—Belching Beaver Brewery, Helm’s Brewing Company and an off-the-record nano—are closing on or searching for spots to install tasting rooms. And the long-awaited OB Brewery (a Newport Pizza off-shoot that’s been in the works for more than three years) looks to finally be close to opening (though ownership has neglected to answer press inquiries…for more than three years). Looks like I’m going to have to get down to this cool, quirky, coastal burg more often.