{"id":11179,"date":"2015-07-07T08:00:08","date_gmt":"2015-07-07T15:00:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/archives.csusm.edu\/westcoastersd\/?p=11179"},"modified":"2015-07-08T11:40:01","modified_gmt":"2015-07-08T18:40:01","slug":"new-san-diego-breweries-2015","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/archives.csusm.edu\/westcoastersd\/2015\/07\/07\/new-san-diego-breweries-2015\/","title":{"rendered":"Assessing the first half of the Class of 2015"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"A<\/a>
A flight of beers at RB’s Abnormal Beer Co.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

We\u2019re halfway through 2015 and already, a dozen new brewing companies (OK, 11 new brewing companies plus one reintroduced concept, Reckless Brewing Company<\/strong><\/a>\u2014the Internet can be such a nit-picky place) have come online throughout San Diego County.<\/p>\n

Unlike in previous years, these operations veer toward the smaller side and aren\u2019t the kind of projects that have been waited on with bated breath by craft enthusiasts a la Bagby Beer Co.<\/strong><\/a> and Fall Brewing Company<\/strong><\/a>. With the exception of three of the dozen members of the class of 2015, they barely had time to build anticipation.<\/p>\n

For the most part, all of them either flew under the radar during the planning stages or came online so fast that shortly after they became public knowledge, they opened their doors. Only East Village brewpub Half Door Brewing Co.<\/strong><\/a>, slow-to-construct Pacific Islander Beer Co.<\/strong><\/a> gluten-reduced operation Duck Foot Brewing Company<\/strong><\/a>, and foudre-enhanced Prodigy Brewing Company<\/strong><\/a> occupied the beer sect\u2019s consciousness for more than 12 months before becoming a reality.<\/p>\n

But did the extra time result in a better end result? Not necessarily. In surveying the field, there are as many hares as there are tortoises. This is how the best of this brewer\u2019s dozen shakes out\u2026<\/p>\n

\"The<\/a>
The bar gives way to the brewhouse at South Park Brewing Co.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

South Park Brewing Co.<\/a>:<\/strong> There\u2019s a certain expectation when a bar as respected as Hamilton\u2019s Tavern<\/strong><\/a> takes over its next door space to insert a brewpub. Thus far, brewers Cosimo Sorrentino <\/strong>(also of sister spot Monkey Paw Pub and Brewery<\/strong><\/a>) and Adam Carbonell<\/strong> are churning out well-made session beers built to pair with an inventive array of seafood-centric dishes.<\/p>\n

Duck Foot Brewing Co.:<\/strong> Reducing gluten in his brewery\u2019s offerings was big for Matt Delvecchio<\/strong>, not because of dietary fads, but because he is legitimately gluten-intolerant and doesn\u2019t want others who are to have to forego craft beer. Fortunately, stripping away the gluten has zero effect on the flavor, texture or aroma of this Miramar company\u2019s beers, which tackle nearly every style around..<\/p>\n

Abnormal Beer Co.<\/a>: <\/strong>Built within Rancho Bernardo\u2019s The Cork and Craft<\/strong><\/a> restaurant, brewer Derek Gallanosa<\/strong>‘s balanced beers toe the line with conventional styles and modern-day drinkers\u2019 taste preferences. Early brews were low on body, but subsequent batches have shown improvement in this area. Bonus: The Cork and Craft throw outrageously good monthly beer-pairing dinners.<\/p>\n

Half Door Brewing Co.<\/a>:<\/strong> A homey, heartfelt refuge a block from Petco Park<\/strong>, this family-run operation leans on knowledge Brewmaster Dan Drayne<\/strong> picked up at the Siebel Institute<\/strong><\/a> and Coronado Brewing Co.<\/strong><\/a> before taking the reins of his own two-story brewery. Beers celebrating the Draynes\u2019 Irish heritage are solid and backed ably by ales paying homage to San Diego\u2019s hop addiction.<\/p>\n

\"Division<\/a>
Division 23 Brewing Co.’s brewery<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The other brewing operations to open in the past six months are:<\/p>\n