I look at most of our big beer festivals as an opportunity to check in on — and revisit — the quality, variety, and creativity of San Diego breweries. Some festivals, however, offer such a great lineup of non-local producers that it’s nearly impossible to pass up the opportunity to taste their wares. The Stone anniversary celebrations, which are invitational events, offer a unique venue (always impeccably curated) in which to taste dozens of great breweries from all over the country (though the vast majority are from California) and to expand one’s appreciation for what excellent non-San Diego brewers are doing these days.
This past Saturday, more than 60 breweries participated in Stone’s 21st Anniversary Celebration on the campus at Cal State San Marcos. The brewers were from numerous Stone locations and many San Diego locations (AleSmith, Fall, Rip Current, South Park, Abnormal, Mother Earth, Oceanside, Mikkeller, Second Chance, Bitter Brothers, Bay City, Bear Roots, Pure Project, Societe, The Lost Abbey, Pizza Port, Burgeon, Mason Ale Works, Bagby, and Mike Hess). In addition to the locals, more than 35 other brewers came to celebrate, including 21st Amendment, Drake’s, Victory, Refuge, The Bruery, Smog City, Firestone Walker, Avery, Phantom Carriage, Great Divide, Devil’s Canyon, Bear Republic, Kern River Brewing, Russian River Brewing, Bottle Logic, Ska, Noble, Knee Deep, Mammoth Brewing, Three Weavers, El Segundo Brewing, Eel River Brewing, Lord Hobo, Garage Project, Boulevard, Brewery Ommegang, Beachwood, Fremont, Maui Brewing, Oskar Blues, Magnolia, MadeWest, Sierra Nevada Brewing, and Libertine.
Now, the San Diego breweries that participated are some of our very finest — and the beers they were pouring were all very good — but most were pouring beers that I was already very familiar with. So, I decided to focus my afternoon on tasting beers I hadn’t tasted before, from breweries I rarely get a chance to see. Which brings me to the “best of the best” summary that follows here. It’s my hope that you are already well familiar with the local breweries on the list, so a quick run down of the best beers from the non-locals may be of more value. It may also come in handy when your San Diego options are limited or (God forbid!) non-existent.
Stone Brewing Turns 21 in Style
More than 60 breweries participated in the celebration at Cal State San Marcos | Photo: Bruce Glassman
The Top 10 Best Non-Local Beers from Stone’s 21st Anniversary Celebration and Invitational Beer Festival:
10. Bruery Terreux: Frucht Peach (Berlin-style tart wheat aged in oak foeders). Big, fresh peach aromas and a rich, chewy mouthfeel were extra impressive for such a light and refreshing beer.
9. Avery Brewing Co.: Liliko’i Kepolo (Belgian-style white ale with passion fruit). Wonderful fresh fruit aromas integrated into a light, clean, slightly spicy wheat ale with mouth-filling body.
8. Smog City Brewing Co.: Southbay Lager (Helles). Aromas and flavors of corn flakes and toasty bread are at the forefront of this perfectly balanced light lager with a slightly sweet finish.
7. Three Weavers Brewing Company: Hold the Lime (Kölsch). It was hot, and this light, crisp, and refreshing lager-style ale really hit the spot. Great lime flavor (and just the right amount of it) mixed with the slightly sweet, bready character of the beer satisfied in a way that no Corona or Pacifico can.
6. Knee Deep Brewing Co: Man Juice (Mandarin juiced IPA). Fresh mandarin fruit aromas and flavors were the perfect companion for the juicy, citrusy hops and medium-bodied beer that delivered nice concentration without being too heavy.
5. Boulevard Brewing Co.: Hibiscus Gose (Sour ale brewed with sea salt, coriander, and hibiscus flowers). Beautiful floral aromas and a mix of slightly tart, briny, and spicy flavors made this perfectly balanced beer a crisp, quenching treat.
4. Brewery Ommegang: Fruition (Dry-hopped wheat ale with mango, kiwi, and passion fruit). Tropical fruit flavors and aromas make the perfect foil for the slightly spicy and yeasty elements of the wheat beer. A surprisingly well-integrated package.
3. Beachwood Brewing: Careful With That Cherry Eugene (Belgian-style sour ale aged in oak barrels with cherries). Wow. So much going on with this beer; medium tartness is integrated with thirst-quenching cherry flavors that blend beautifully with the lighter-bodied structure of the base beer. The barrel character adds amazing complexity without adding overbearing heaviness.
2. Fremont Brewing: Rusty Nail (Bourbon-barrel-aged imperial stout with licorice and cinnamon). Thick, rich, and decadent, this beer is a meal in itself. Molasses, coffee, chocolate, cinnamon, and bourbon flavors all play together perfectly, in just the right balance.
Stone Brewing Turns 21 in Style
Top pick of the day: Mash & Coconut Imperial Brown Ale Aged in Bourbon Barrels from The Bruery. | Photo: Bruce Glassman
1. The Bruery: Mash & Coconut (Imperial brown ale aged in bourbon barrels). After a hot day in the sun — gravitating toward the lagers, Berliners, and wheat beers — this bold, delicious beauty actually won the day. Perfect levels of coconut and bourbon were wrapped around a full-flavored brown ale that struck just the right balance — not too heavy, big on malt and chocolate, and so drinkable it was frightening. If you see this beer anywhere, I implore you: Don’t pass it by.
A final note: Major kudos to Stone for its continued support and promotion of the best that American craft beer has to offer. Their inclusion of many of San Diego’s most talented brewers, along with their mission to embrace high-quality producers from all across the country, is both admirable and appreciated. Thanks to Stone’s 21st, fans got to enjoy a virtual beer wonderland that showcased everything that’s exciting and delicious in the world of great craft beer today.
Stone Brewing Turns 21 in Style
Stone’s 21st Anniversary Celebration and Invitational Beer Festival was held this past Saturday. | Photo: Bruce Glassman
