The Winners Of Our Annual Reader’s Poll

Best #SDBeer: EPPIG 10:45 TO DENVER IPA

This 7.0% ABV IPA is described as having a “resinous dankiness with citrus notes” backed by Mosaic and Cascade hops. The name references a fun trip to the Great American Beer Festival for brewer Nathan Stephens, a Ballast Point alum, who used to work as a structural engineer; brewing allowed him to use his imagination.

Best IPA: 10:45 TO DENVER

It seems fitting that the best beer in town was also judged Best IPA. This West Coast-style IPA is one of the top sellers for the company, which just celebrated two years in business in late November. In that time, they’ve branched out from their Brewery Igniter spot in North Park to open a satellite “Waterfront Biergarten” tasting room in Point Loma.

Best Lager: EPPIG SPECIAL LAGER

Eppig Brewing tops three categories with this Japanese-style dry lager that clocks in at 5.5% ABV. It’s a clean and balanced beer, pale straw in color, with subtle aromas of sweet, starchy sushi rice, light pilsner malt, and lemon blossoms. This beer also won gold medals at the Los Angeles International Beer Competition and the California State Fair in 2018. 

Best Brewery: MODERN TIMES BEER

Now a three-time winner of the category (2015, 2017, 2018), Modern Times Beer is one of San Diego’s fastest growing brewing companies. Their new restaurant is open in Encinitas, with locations in Santa Barbara and Anaheim in the works. In other news, Modern Times debuts their first cider on January 10.

Best Barrel-Aged: MODERN TIMES MONSTER TONES

This beer is a 50/50 blend of Monsters’ Park and Modem Tones, both aged for 7 months in bourbon barrels which had previously housed maple syrup. Following the blend, the beer was conditioned on freshly-roasted coffee beans, toasted coconut, and vanilla. The result? Flavors and aromas of tiramisu, coffee, chocolate, and roasted marshmallows.

Best Brewer: KELSEY MCNAIR

North Park Beer Co.’s Kelsey McNair made waves this year, especially on social media, where the activated charcoal and edible glitter beer made its rounds. But we don’t think that’s why he won — Kelsey’s abilities in a wide variety of beer styles impressed drinkers inside the beautiful brewpub, and led him to a bronze for Bird Park Pilsner at GABF.

Best Hazy IPA: NORTH PARK BEER CO. ART IS HARD

Simcoe, Citra, and Motueka hops express juicy tangerine, orange, pineapple, and guava flavors in this IPA. Malted oats and heirloom Halcyon malt give this beer a smooth mouthfeel, and it still has a clean, dry finish.

Best Beertending Staff: BURNING BEARD

Led by tasting room manager Shannon Lynnette, El Cajon’s Burning Beard was reader’s choice for favorite place to visit because of the folks working behind the bar. Lynnette’s standard crew includes Christina O’Grady, Dylan Brown, Nikki Kojima, Stephanie Laughery, and Alex Morris. Beertenders that help fill in occasionally include Torry Morris, LeAnna Christopher, and Kali Frederick.

Best Brut IPA: BURNING BEARD BRUTALITY

The Brut IPA style came on to the scene this past year thanks to Kim Sturdavant, the brewmaster at Social Kitchen and Brewery in San Francisco. Burning Beard’s take on the style is effervescent and dry as a bone, just as a dry Champagne, or brut, is. The El Cajon brewery’s beer features Citra and Mosaic hops, reaching 6.5% ABV and 20 IBU.

Best Brewpub: PIZZA PORT

The Pizza Port family of brewpubs has been brewing since 1992 in Solana Beach, followed by Carlsbad (1997), San Clemente (2003), Ocean Beach (2010) and Bressi Ranch (2013). Additionally, a bottle shop was added adjacent to the Carlsbad brewpub in 2008. Upcoming events: Bacon & Eggs Coffee Porter Release: January 12; 6th Annual Golf Tournament: February 20.

Best Tasting Room: ALESMITH

The expansive Miramar tasting room of AleSmith Brewing features daily food trucks, a Tony Gwynn Museum, a “speakeasy” for barrel- aged specialties, and a second floor mezzanine

with its own bar. Soon, the county’s first local creamery will offer cheese for sampling and purchase, and a new 10-barrel pilot brewhouse will provide tasting room-only beers. Mark your calendars for the second Art & Beer Night Market on February 6.

Best Bottleshop: BOTTLECRAFT

Winner of Best Bottleshop three years in a row, Bottlecraft now boasts five county locations, with the latest arriving (with a big patio) in Sorrento Valley in May 2018. The company also runs a Bottlecraft in Virginia Beach, and they’re working on another in Long Beach.

Best Beer Bar: HAMILTON’S TAVERN

This South Park spot, now twelve years young, has been named Best Beer Bar three years in a row, as well as in 2014 (Toronado slid in for 2015). This past year, Hamilton’s hosted monthly “Second Saturday” featuring breweries from around the country, big Oktoberfest and Christmas-themed blowouts, and a wide variety of Firkin Fridays.

Best Beer Restaurant: URGE GASTROPUB

For the fourth year in a row, Rancho Bernardo’s URGE Gastropub is our top Beer Restaurant, calling themselves “the American reinterpretation of the traditional English Pub.” Their comfort foods by Executive Chef Adam Griffin go great with a huge tap and bottle list.

Best Event: COLLABAPALOOZA

Two years and two wins in this category for Karl Strauss’ big Beer Week event that displays a dizzying array of collaboration beers from around San Diego County. Proceeds from the event benefit both the San Diego Brewers Guild and the North Park Main Street Association.

Best Homebrew Supply: THE HOMEBREWER

This North Park supply spot also won the inaugural American Homebrewers Association “Homebrew Shop of the Year” award in 2018. The company’s space also includes the tasting room of commercial brewery Home Brewing Co., which recently installed a new patio. Look for the release of Resilience IPA (benefiting Camp Fire victims) on February 1.

Best New Establishment: LATCHKEY

Brewing in the historic Mission Brewery Plaza, Latchkey took over from Acoustic Ales, hosting a grand opening in April 2018. Since then, they’ve produced an impressive array of styles, and they’re now constructing a small kitchen and a new private event space.

Best Brewery Improvement: KILOWATT

In the summer of 2017 brewer Brian Crecely joined Kilowatt from AleSmith. At AleSmith, Crecely worked his way up from cellarman to brewer, eventually managing the barrel- aged sour program and brewing specialty, one-off batches. Readers feel Crecely’s experience and knowledge — completing the American Brewers Guild’s Brewing Science and Engineering Program — have paid off for Kilowatt’s portfolio.

The above article appeared in a West Coaster Special Edition for January 2019. Please pick up a copy when you are at a better beer spot around the county, or click below to read with mobile/web reader. Happy New Year!