Beer MARCH 5, 2020

Women Brewers Celebrate International Women’s Month In March

Several local breweries plan to participate in collaborative brew days to benefit women working in beer

Women Brewers Celebrate International Women’s Month In March
courtesy of Eppig Brewing

Women make up less than 8% of all brewers in the United States’ independent beer scene, according to the latest gender demographic study released by the Brewers Association. But every March, ladies who work as brewers, beertenders, and in other roles across the beer industry converge in brewhouses across the world to celebrate International Women’s Month.

San Diego is no exception. Breweries all over the county are planning brew days to commemorate the celebration, including Home Brewing Company in North Park, Eppig Brewing Company in Vista, Duck Foot Brewing Company in Miramar, and Second Chance Beer Company in Carmel Mountain Ranch (who is collaborating with Mujeres Brew Club as part of the annual Pink Boots Collaboration Brew Day).

“International Women’s Collaboration Brew Day (IWCBD) is one of my favorite days of the year,” says Stephanie Eppig, co-founder and head of marketing at Eppig Brewing Co. “This will be our fourth IWCBD—we participate every year, and plan to always.”

Pink Boots Collaboration Brew Day and International Women’s Collaboration Brew Day are actually separate initiatives with similar goals. Pink Boots Society (PBS) is an international 501c3 nonprofit helping “women beer industry professionals to advance their careers through education,” according to their mission statement. #PinkBootsBrew Day is their biggest fundraiser of the year, and proceeds go toward scholarships and other educational opportunities for members. All brews under the Pink Boots umbrella use the same proprietary hop blend provided by Yakima Chief Hops; this year’s blend contains Azacca®, El Dorado®, Idaho Gem™ and Loral® hops.

IWCBD is not tied to one specific organization, although its origin in 2014 was boosted by PBS. Homebrewers and professional brewers are invited to participate in a collaborative brew day every March 8 for International Women’s Day. Each year, the overall “Unite” theme expands with a new subtopic and 2020 is “Unite: Tribute,” which participants can interpret however they like to create a unique brew. Some breweries bundle both campaigns into one beer, and either way, it’s a once-a-year opportunity for the beer industry and drinkers to tangibly—and financially—support women who work year-round to move beer forward. Since 2018, Yakima Chief Hops has been able to donate over $140,000 to the PBS scholarship fund as a direct result of Pink Boots Collaboration Brew Day.

San Diegans can expect these girl-powered brews to start hitting taps en masse around the end of March and beginning of April. Some breweries, like AleSmith Brewing Company, will have their releases ready on or before March 8 for day-of festivities. AleSmith’s 10% ABV rye triple IPA dubbed “Who Rye The World,” also brewed in collaboration with Mujeres Brew Club, will be featured during a free pop-up event on International Women’s Day. Women artisans, craftspeople, and musicians will be on hand from 11 AM through 3 PM to “celebrate female empowerment”, according to the event page.

Click here and here for maps of participating breweries and keep an eye on draft lists for additional #PinkBootsBrew and IWCBD special releases.


[email protected]

thedelightedbite @delightedbite

International Women’s Collaboration Brew Day 2018

courtesy of Eppig Brewing

Beth Demmon

About Beth Demmon

Beth Demmon is an award-winning writer and podcaster whose work regularly appears in national outlets and San Diego Magazine. Her first book, The Beer Lover's Guide to Cider, is now available. Find out more on bethdemmon.com.

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Food & Drink JULY 28, 2025

Despite National Beer Declines, Good Pressure Brewing Remains Hopeful

Longtime San Diego beer veteran Erik Fowler and his wife, Shannon, will open their first brewery by end of year

Despite National Beer Declines, Good Pressure Brewing Remains Hopeful
Courtesy of Good Pressure Brewing

“You’re opening a brewery? In this economy?”

This is the question I posed to Erik Fowler, executive director of the San Diego Brewers Guild. He and his wife Shannon just announced they’re opening Good Pressure Brewing Company in Allied Gardens at the end of the year. 

Don’t get me wrong—this is fantastic news coming from great people. But I’m sure I’m not the only incredulous inquirer. The latest Brewers Association report says more breweries are closing than opening across the country, and craft’s overall volume has dropped 5 percent since 2024. Even San Diego, the self-proclaimed “Capital of Craft,” isn’t immune.

Exterior of new San Diego Mexican restaurant Uno Más opening on Adams Avenue in University Heights

Goal Brewing pulled out of the Brewery Igniter space in North Park in March. Little Miss Brewing shuttered all nine locations earlier this year. Half Door Brewing sold to Villains Brewing Company. Division 23 Brewing closed in May. The owners of Jacked Up Brewery retired. Border X Brewing tried launching a GoFundMe before closing up shop in Barrio Logan. It feels a little bleak out there.

But Fowler is far from a naive beer newbie. On the sensory side, he’s a certified Cicerone and BJCP beer judge with sommelier training. He’s studied beer at UC Davis, and gone through the San Diego State University Professional Certificate in the Business of Craft Beer program. He worked in wine retail before managing the taproom and distribution for ChuckAlek in Ramona. He was a taproom lead at Stone Brewing, head of education and hospitality at White Labs for nine years, and the executive director for the Guild for two years. He just had one more thing to cross off his beer bucket list—open his own brewery.

“I’ve always wanted to own a business in the beverage space,” he says. “That’s been a goal since I turned 21. I’ve always had the entrepreneurial mindset, and I’m at an age and an experience level where the leap and the risk makes sense.” 

The Fowlers had been looking for a space to realize their dream for 18 months, hoping to stay close to their home in East County. Of all of San Diego’s 150-plus breweries, less than 10 percent of them are in East County. El Cajon, La Mesa, Valley Center, and Ramona have one apiece; Julian and Alpine each have two; there are three in Santee; and a couple production facilities that aren’t even open to the public.

“There’s still a lot of opportunity there, especially for underserved neighborhoods,” he explains. 

But after a year without any luck, they decided to expand their search slightly. When they saw the former Poochie’s Hooch Urban Cidery space in Allied Gardens that came with two patios, a cellar, existing tasting room, infrastructure for a kitchen, and a wine license, it just fit. “It’s in a great neighborhood that doesn’t have a whole lot to offer,” says Fowler. “We wanted a spot that could be family-friendly, and it just ended up working out.”

Despite an address in the city of San Diego, Fowler says they plan to focus heavily on serving the eastern side of the county, both in distribution and in their marketing approach. As residents of East County, the San Diego stereotype of beaches and surfing doesn’t always resonate with them.

“San Diego to a lot of people is the beach, but from growing up and being in East County, the San Diego that we know and see isn’t that at all,” he explains. Shannon works for the Escondido-based nonprofit Center for Plant Conservation, which inspired them to incorporate a more nature-based, plant-inspired motif for the brand that better reflects the San Diego East County locals might feel more attuned to. 

They’ll initially launch with food trucks and mostly beer, but hope to expand to other beverages like wine and cider and eventually build out an in-house food program. Fowler says they want to first and foremost be a place for families, and an approachable destination for people who aren’t beer experts.

“I want somebody like my mom to be able to come in and feel comfortable, and be comfortable ordering, and just be focused on themselves and having a good time,” he says. He already took the tests at beer school—guests won’t need to feel like they’re taking a quiz to place an order.

“We never want anybody to have to pull out a phone to look something up,” he says. “We want people to come in and have a good time… we want to be the brewery that people are wrapping up their kids’ soccer games.”

Good Pressure Brewing Company will open in late 2025 at 7559 Mission Gorge Road in Allied Gardens. 

Courtesy of Taste of College Area

San Diego Restaurant News & Food Events

The Second Annual Taste of College Area Arrives This September

For decades, College Area has been more defined by fast-casual concepts and taco shops than as a serious dining destination. (I totally get why—who else remembers being a broke college kid without a car?) That’s completely changed over the last couple of years, and the College Area Business District is showing off the restaurants, bars, coffee shops, and other eateries along El Cajon Boulevard—like Scrimshaw Coffee, The Luau, The Mesa Bar & Grill, and more. The second annual Taste of College Area  starts at 11 a.m. on Sunday, September 28, with stops between 54th Street and 73rd Street. Don’t want to walk? Hop on the free trolley that runs until the event ends at 3 p.m.

Beth’s Bites

  • If I’ve said it once, I’ve said it a thousand times—San Diego needs more pupuserias. It seems the Salvadoran food gods have heard my prayers, and opened FiveO3 Pupusas at Fashion Valley Mall. It’s the second location for the Cathedral City-based restaurant, and if the business license is to be believed, another is on the way to Las Americas Premium Outlets. May all our pupusa dreams continue to come true!
  • You don’t have to work in the beer industry to attend the 2025 Craft Beer Con at Mira Costa College’s San Elijo campus, but you should probably be a pretty big beer nerd. The annual half-day conference kicks off at 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday, August 5 and offers multiple education tracks for attendees to learn about how beer competitions operate, what makes a wet hop beer, how alcohol distribution works, and more. And don’t worry—after a day of learning, there is a happy hour at 4 p.m. 
  • Breakers in Encinitas is officially open! Pro surfer Benji Weatherley revived his family’s former restaurant in Hawai’i, bringing Hawaiian-inspired drinks and food to the coastal neighborhood as an all-day respite for locals (and I’m sure plenty of visiting surfers, as well). I’m on my way for a midafternoon Mai Tai

Listen Now: The Latest in San Diego’s Food and Drink Scene

Have breaking news, exciting scoops, or great stories about new San Diego restaurants or the city’s food scene? Send your pitches to [email protected].

Beth Demmon

About Beth Demmon

Beth Demmon is an award-winning writer and podcaster whose work regularly appears in national outlets and San Diego Magazine. Her first book, The Beer Lover's Guide to Cider, is now available. Find out more on bethdemmon.com.

Beer Food Near Me
Beer MARCH 18, 2025 (Updated Jun 13, 2023)

18 Must-Try Breweries in San Diego

From sours to stouts, pilsners, and porters, here are our top breweries across the county

18 Must-Try Breweries in San Diego
Courtesy of Pure Project Vista

San Diego is the craft beer capital of America—and that’s not just my opinion, it’s a fact. Already home to hundreds of breweries across the city, San Diego’s beer scene is ever-changing with new breweries emerging, old favorites experimenting with bold flavors, and local tap lists continuing to surprise even the most seasoned enthusiasts.

We all have our favorites, and that’s okay. No two beer drinkers are the same, and consensus in the craft beer world is almost as rare as a bad pint in San Diego. (Though we can probably all agree that Keystone Light belongs nowhere near a tasting flight.)

So, let’s lower our inhibitions and take a tour of San Diego breweries, with a brew worth ordering from each. From sours to stouts, pilsners, and porters, here are our top breweries in San Diego.


Best San Diego breweries and beer  featuring the interior of the North Park Beer Company
Courtesy of Hauck Architecture

North Park Beer Company

Yes, everyone should have their own opinion, but anyone who doesn’t also include North Park Beer Company in their own personal shortlists is wrong. With consistently high-quality brews and 360-degree approach to hospitality, those who wish to see how to run an award-winning brewery need only glance in North Park’s direction.

Locations in North Park, Crown Point, and Bankers Hill

Best wine bars in San Diego featuring
Best San Diego breweries and beer featuring AleSmith Brewing Company
Courtesy of AleSmith Brewing Company

AleSmith Brewing Company

AleSmith has been a giant in San Diego beer for decades, and there’s no sign of them slowing down. Their mammoth tasting room and brewery should be on any beer lover’s pilgrimage list, but don’t just stop your wanderings at the bar. Meander around the Tony Gwynn museum, pop into their not-very-hidden speakeasy Anvil & Stave, and grab a few packs of their housemade Cheesesmith cheese curds on your way out.

9990 AleSmith Ct., Miramar

Best San Diego breweries and beer featuring Nickel Beer Company in Julian
Courtesy of Nickel Beer Company

Nickel Beer Company

After 10 years, Nickel Beer Company is still going strong. Helmed by local beer pioneer Tom Nickel, his reach extends to a number of beer-centric businesses around the county, but this rustic outpost is a lovely oasis smack in the middle of cider and wine country, offering a wide variety of both esoteric and traditional beers on tap.

1485 Hollow Glen Rd., Julian 

Best San Diego breweries and beer featuring Societe Brewing in Old Town and Kearney Mesa
Courtesy of Old Town San Diego

Societe Brewing

Societe takes its time, focusing on perfecting what they’re doing before moving onto the Next Big Thing. That’s why it took them 10 years to open a second location, and yes, it was worth the wait. Hype chasers may be left wanting, but those who value consistently excellent beer without gimmick will be more than satisfied.

Locations in Kearny Mesa and Old Town

Interior of new San Diego brewery bar Bock in South Park
Best San Diego breweries and beer featuring Fall Brewing in North Park
Courtesy of Fall Brewing

Fall Brewing

It’s rare to find a place that self-identifies as “punk rock” that doesn’t end up either seeming pretentious or for posers, but Fall Brewing manages to embrace edginess without either. Whether you’re in Doc Martens or docksiders, all beer lovers are welcome at their two Mid City locations. Come for the IPAs, stay for the stout on nitro.

Locations in North Park and South Park

Best San Diego breweries and beer featuring Kairoa Brewing Company in University Heights
Courtesy of Kairoa Brewing Company

Kairoa Brewing Company

San Diego doesn’t have nearly as many rooftop patios as it should, but what it lacks in quantity it makes up for in quality. Perch yourself above University Heights with a pint in hand, but don’t forget to come hungry—Kairoa’s kitchen is as good as their brewhouse.

4601 Park Blvd., University Heights

Dog at San Diego brewery Hopnonymous Brewing Company located in the Convoy District
Courtesy of Hopnonymous Brewing Company

Hopnonymous Brewing Company

Located in the heart of the Convoy District, Hopnonymous is the perfect post-KBBQ wind-down spot. With 18 beers on tap, highlights include the Two Amigos Lime Mexican Lager—a refreshing alternative for Pacifico and Buenaveza fans. If you’re looking for something richer, Leaving Without Saying ‘Goodbye’ is a red ale that pays homage to the classic Irish goodbye with a hint of caramel. Whether you’re capping off a feast or looking for a dog-friendly brewery, Hopnonymous is the place to be.

7705 Convoy Court, San Diego

Best San Diego breweries and beer featuring Pure Project
Courtesy of Pure Project

Pure Project

Pure Project opened in San Diego in 2016, but it seems like they’re been a part of the local brew scene for far longer than that. With 150+ breweries in the county, achieving icon status of this magnitude is no small feat, and I for one am thrilled that they keep opening new spots to make grabbing a pint (or two) easy.

Locations in Carlsbad, Bankers Hill, Miramar, North Park, and Vista

Best San Diego breweries and beer featuring the exterior of Craft Coast Brewing Company in Oceanside
Courtesy of Craft Coast Brewing Company

Craft Coast Brewing Company

Good tacos deserve good beer, and both can be found at this Oceanside hot spot. With Pizza Port brewing alums at the helm and amazing birria coming out of the kitchen, this divine duo is a can’t-miss stop along the coast. Try Craft Coast Brewing Company‘s award-winning Old West IPA alongside a couple of tacos for a meal that’s hard to top.

275 Mission Ave., Oceanside

Best San Diego breweries and beer featuring Eppig Brewing lagers
Courtesy of Eppig Brewing

Eppig Brewing

Beer FEBRUARY 18, 2025

After 10 Years, Half Door Brewing Company Says Goodbye

Owner Stacy Drayne looks back at a decade in East Village and shares why the brewery is to shutting its doors

After 10 Years, Half Door Brewing Company Says Goodbye
Courtesy of Half Door Brewing

All good things eventually come to an end, and San Diego’s craft beer scene is no exception. 

The beer industry is far from out of business—there are still about 140 breweries operating today, with thousands of employees—but around a dozen have closed in the last year alone. This may be the first time local brewery closures and acquisitions outpaced openings in the current craft beer era, and many have cited increasing costs of real estate, ingredients, and labor as reasons for shutting their doors forever.

Small portion on plate illustrating the effects of Ozempic on restaurant culture

That’s not the case for Half Door Brewing Company. Siblings Stacy and Daniel Drayne opened Half Door Brewing in 2015, leveraging their experience running nearby Irish pub The Field with their parents. Daniel brewed the beers, Stacy ran operations (splitting her time between The Field and Half Door), and business has boomed for a decade, especially during baseball season. 

So why are they closing Half Door and selling their iconic, 1906-era, two-story building in East Village to Anaheim-based Villains Brewing Company?

View of Petco Park from San Diego brewery and restaurant Half Door Brewing which closed
Courtesy of Half Door Brewing

It’s precisely because the business has been so successful that the siblings decided to get out while they’re ahead. “I feel a little overwhelmed doing two places,” Stacy explains. “The industry is changing, [and] it just kind of felt like the right time.”

While she understands why other breweries have had to close due to economic factors, she says, that wasn’t one of the problems Half Door faced. Plus, she’s quick to add, the transition to Villains is in progress, but won’t occur for at least a few weeks, if not months (permits and license transfers permitting). “Everything is business as normal,” she adds. “I’m preparing for St. Patrick’s Day; I’m preparing for Opening Day. I’m assuming we’ll be here for the start of baseball.” 

She also notes that only the property is for sale, not the Half Door name or trademark. “You never know what the future holds,” she laughs. 

San Diego women-owned business Native Poppy flower shop featuring owners Natalie Gill and Meg Blancato

It’s a bittersweet moment for the pair, and one they didn’t initiate. Stacy recalls that, in the summer of 2024, another business reached out to them to see if they’d be interested in selling their space. That particular deal fell through, but it sparked a conversation between her, Daniel, and their father. “It was kind of like ‘What do we think?’” she says. “The seed was planted.” They decided to put the property on the market, and, after a couple of bids, Villains won out. 

This is the second San Diego entity Villains has acquired. During the excruciatingly slow fall from grace for Modern Times Beer (which is still in progress and, frankly, painful to watch), Villains took over the brand’s former 33,000-square-foot Leisuretown location in Anaheim to launch a brewery and food hall concept. Until they hand over the keys, however, Stacy says they look forward to continuing to brew and serve their house beers to loyal customers as long as they can.

“It’s just a super special place,” she says. “I hope Villains does it justice.”

San Diego Restaurant News & Food Events

Romanissimo Opened This Week in Gaslamp

What’s the difference between Roman food and Italian food? Glad you asked. Italian food encompasses a wide variety of regional cuisines (think Sicilian, Milanese, Tuscan, and so forth) while Roman food hails from Rome (obviously). Roman cuisine’s signature dishes include fresh pastas like cacio e pepe and carbonara; meats like oxtail and seafood; vegetables like artichokes and fresh herbs; and thin, foldable pizza slices. Now San Diegans can get a new taste of the Old World at Romanissimo, which opened at 565 Fifth Avenue this week. 

It’s the latest endeavor for restauranteurs Vincenzo Loverso, Alessandro Minutella, and Giovanni Gargano, who also each have stakes in Roman Wolves, Allegro, and Vincenzo Cucina & Lounge. Minutella tells me their goal is to give guests another opportunity to try the unique culinary traditions of Rome, using traditional ingredients and preparation methods. “We like to say ‘Eat as the Romans do,’” he adds. I say, if Romans are serving a one-pound meatball, then I’m on my way.

Beth’s Bites

Beth Demmon

About Beth Demmon

Beth Demmon is an award-winning writer and podcaster whose work regularly appears in national outlets and San Diego Magazine. Her first book, The Beer Lover's Guide to Cider, is now available. Find out more on bethdemmon.com.

Studio S JUNE 12, 2026

Nominations Open for the San Diego Business Impact Awards

The annual event honors middle market companies creating jobs, scaling up, and investing in the region

Nominations Open for the San Diego Business Impact Awards
Photo Credit: Kimberly Motos

San Diego is known for its startup culture and innovation economy, but what happens when the company moves beyond its early-stage years? The San Diego Business Impact Awards aim to answer that question, spotlighting the middle market businesses helping drive the region’s economy.

Hosted by San Diego Regional Economic Development Corporation (EDC) and JPMorganChase, the second annual awards celebration takes place on Thursday, July 23, from 4:30 to 7:00 p.m. at Scripps Research Auditorium. More than 200 executives, entrepreneurs, and business leaders are expected to attend the networking and cocktail event honoring some of San Diego County’s fastest-growing companies.

Businesses headquartered in San Diego County that have operated for at least two years are encouraged to submit their nomination by Thursday, June 18 at 4 p.m. Companies across industries—from technology and life sciences to tourism and consumer products, as well as pre-revenue startups—are eligible for recognition.

For EDC President and CEO Mark Cafferty, the event is as much about building connections as celebrating success. “We’ve had a longtime partnership with JPMorganChase; their work aligns with our efforts to support underserved communities and drive talent development,” says Cafferty. “And the networking was invaluable last year. I’m still in touch with people I met at last year’s awards.”

Photo Credit: Kimberly Motos

EDC is an independently-funded nonprofit that works directly with San Diego companies to help them grow the local economy, make the region as a whole more competitive, and attract and retain top-tier talent with quality jobs. Through EDC, companies can get help starting or expanding their business with support for things like site selection, permit navigation, and regulatory guidance, plus connections to local resources and potential business collaborators.

The San Diego Business Impact Awards began as an idea with one of EDC’s longtime strategic partners, JPMorganChase. The two organizations share a commitment to San Diego and are dedicated to bolstering middle market businesses.

“We’re blessed with a robust innovation economy and startup community,” says Aaron Ryan, San Diego Region Manager for JPMorgan’s Commercial and Investment Bank and vice chair of the firm’s’ San Diego Market Leadership Team. “But one of the segments of the business community we felt was overlooked was emerging middle market companies—the businesses that are no longer small but not yet large.”

Ryan says supporting those companies is critical as they scale and decide where to invest, hire, and grow.

San Diego’s high cost of living remains one of the region’s biggest business challenges, making talent recruitment and retention increasingly competitive. But local leaders point to the region’s quality of life, climate, and collaborative business community as advantages that continue to attract employers and workers.

Photo Credit: Kimberly Motos

“In order to support thriving households, there has to be enough high-quality jobs for people to be able to afford to live here,” Cafferty says. “Once a company grows and excels past that middle market point in their growth cycle, they become much more likely to pay higher wages and compete globally.”

Both Cafferty and Ryan proudly tout the unique collaboration that exists among San Diego County businesses. Bringing together top universities producing high-quality talent, cutting-edge research institutions, a robust military and defense presence, leading ocean science and environmental organizations, and a binational, cross-border identity creates a distinct business ecosystem that defines and strengthens the San Diego region. 

Last year’s San Diego Business Impact Awards celebrated nearly 60 honorees from 49 industries, representing a total of 8,232 jobs across eight sectors, including: software and technology, healthcare and life sciences, consumer goods, professional services, finance, construction and manufacturing, defense, and hospitality and tourism. On average, honoree companies doubled their revenues over the previous year, employed more than 145 San Diegans each, and offered an average annual compensation of $192,415.

Top honorees included defense contractor Innoflight, environmental consulting firm Bancroft Construction Services, life sciences startup Element Biosciences, defense technology contractor GALT Aerospace, organic grocery store chain Jimbo’s, and biopharmaceutical company LENZ Therapeutics. During the event, Innoflight Founder and CEO Jeff Janicik held a fireside chat offering his insights on investing in the community and embracing San Diego culture.

This year, organizers hope to continue highlighting the middle market players driving economic impact across the region. Nominations are now open through June 18 at 4 p.m. Get your tickets to the San Diego Business Impact Awards celebration to enjoy drinks by Snake Oil Cocktail Co., light bites, live music, and networking.

Beer OCTOBER 8, 2024

7 Of The Best Local Beers to Try This Fall (That Aren’t Just Oktoberfests)

From pumpkin beers to amber ales, here are some of the best craft beers to enjoy around San Diego this autumn

7 Of The Best Local Beers to Try This Fall (That Aren’t Just Oktoberfests)
Courtesy of Hopynonymous Brewing Company

Move over summer beers, it’s time to embrace the flavors of fall.

There are no strict seasonal guidelines when it comes to beer styles, but certain recipes just taste better during different times of the year. Light, crisp, refreshing lagers hit all the hot spots during summer—both literally and figuratively—while rich, full-bodied, malt-forward brews tend to warm us up during the chilly winter months. But autumn remains an especially unique season for beers, thanks in large part to Oktoberfest celebrations that usually start in late September and run through October. 

Lots of places that celebrate Oktoberfest tend to offer the classic trio of fall beers—Oktoberfests, Marzens, and Festbiers. Don’t get me wrong—all of these are deservedly iconic styles that are some of my favorites to drink. But there are many, many more fall-centric beers out there to discover. Here are a few options from around San Diego that may expand your mind and please your palate this fall season. 

Best fall beers in San Diego featuring the Smoked Maibock from Kilowatt Brewing in Kearny Mesa
Courtesy of Kilowatt Brewing

Smoked Maibock

Kilowatt Brewing

This 7.0 percent ABV beer has already earned both gold and silver medals at the Great American Beer Festival, and for good reason. It’s complex and crisp, highlighting both a malty backbone and balanced smokiness from beechwood smoked malts and a hint of Vermont maple syrup. Ironically, the word maibock actually translates to “May beer” and is typically brewed at the start of spring, but this smoky take on the seasonal style makes it an ideal option for the increasingly shorter San Diego days. 

Best fall beers in San Diego featuring
Courtesy of Societe Brewing Company

The Debutante Amber Ale

Societe Brewing Company

Yes, their Festbier is an excellent pick for the season. But once you’ve had your Festbier fill, take a chance on Societe’s amber ale, The Debutante. While the style has largely fallen out of fashion over the past decade, amber ales are some of the most balanced brews out there (if you can even find one in cans or on draft nowadays) and Societe is wise to include one in their portfolio. It’s delicious, too—and at 6.5 percent ABV, it hits all the high notes without going too far. 

Best fall beers in San Diego featuring
Courtesy of Eppig Brewing

Meister Northern German Wheat Ale

Eppig Brewing

Wheat beers are another criminally underrepresented (and often very misunderstood) style that deserve much more of a spotlight. Eppig knows exactly how to handle their lagers, and with a beautifully round mouthfeel, clean finish, and pleasantly restrained 5.3 percent ABV, Meister goes down smoothly and tastes great the whole time. Try it with a salted Bavarian soft pretzel to contrast against the light sweetness, and please—don’t ask for an orange slice on the rim. 

Legion’s Revenge ESB

Deft Brewing

The name Extra Special Bitter can seem off-putting to those unfamiliar with the traditionally English style. Hop bitterness is held in check against a malt personality that’s full of biscuit and toast—a quintessential British brew. Deft’s founder Mo Nuspl is an expert in brewing traditional styles and often includes a rotating portfolio of uncommon brews like kellerbiers, altbiers, and dark milds. Even the most rabid hazebois will find something to salivate over. (Pro tip: if it’s available during your visit, try the ESB on cask for an ultra smooth and creamy pour.) 

Best fall beers in San Diego featuring
Courtesy of South O Brewing Company

Roll It Rauch Helles-Style

South O Brewing Company

Bamberg, Germany is the world capital of rauchbier (“smoked beer”) and this Bamberg-style helles lager is a true European-style crossover with all the smoky delight of a rauchbier and all the crispness of a helles lager. With smoked malts giving intense aromatics and Noble hops providing the Old World hop flavor, rauchbiers can be a bit of an acquired taste. However, if you’re at all interested in walking on the smoky side, this is a great place to start.

Best fall beers in San Diego featuring

Baesic Batch Pumpkin Ale

Helix Brewing

If you don’t like pumpkin beers, don’t drink them. But if you do, head to Helix Brewing’s La Mesa taproom and beer garden for their seasonal fall release, a 6.0 percent ABV easy-drinking ale packed with pumpkin spice flavor. It’s a fun, if not somewhat obvious, elixir that celebrates the changing of seasons, and I’m all for it. If you’re still on the fence, just know their beer garden is very dog- and kid-friendly, and you can count on food trucks, live music, trivia, or some combination of those three virtually every day it’s open. 

Clucktoberfest

Hopynonymous Brewing and The Crack Shack

Beth Demmon

About Beth Demmon

Beth Demmon is an award-winning writer and podcaster whose work regularly appears in national outlets and San Diego Magazine. Her first book, The Beer Lover's Guide to Cider, is now available. Find out more on bethdemmon.com.

Beer JUNE 21, 2024

Mission Brewing Takes Over Rough Draft Brewing

The acquisition includes a brewhouse in Miramar and two tasting rooms in Del Mar and La Jolla

Mission Brewing Takes Over Rough Draft Brewing
Courtesy of Mission Brewing

Craft beer isn’t nearly as cool as it used to be. 

Nationally, beer’s share of the alcohol market is down 5.1 percent as more drinkers diversify their imbibing between beverages like wine, hard kombucha, and spirits. Locally, there have been plenty of storm warnings over the past year: brand closures like Second Chance Beer Company, shutterings like Thorn Brewing’s Mission Hills taproom, and reshufflings like Ballast Point and Eppig Brewing. However, there have also been a few bright spots—Sunny Grove Brewing Company opened in Santee, North Park Beer Company expanded to Crown Point, and Protector Brewery entered The InterContinental San Diego. 

However, none of these brewhouses have been around as long as Mission Brewing, officially launched in 1913. (Sure, it took a long break between Prohibition and the brand’s relaunch in 2007, but it’s still pretty OG.) Aside from taking over the former Kensington Brewing Company’s tasting room in August 2023, Mission has pretty much minded its own business in East Village, making IPAs, lagers, kettle sours, and even some hard seltzers. 

But now, the business is turning to expansion. Mission Brewing has officially acquired Rough Draft Brewing’s Miramar brewing facility and two satellite tasting rooms in Del Mar Highlands Town Center and on the UCSD campus. The announcement auspiciously coincides with the 17th anniversary of Mission’s relaunch this weekend. 

Aaron Long, vice president of sales and marketing for Mission Brewing, says this expansion was possible thanks mainly to Rough Draft founder Jeff Silver’s work over the past 12 years. “Jeff put together a special set of taprooms, and we’re beyond excited for the opportunity to take the torch and further expand Mission’s brick-and-mortar presence around San Diego,” Long says. “Every site has a unique community that will be super fun to integrate our brands and get involved in, [and we] can’t wait to show everyone what we’ve been working on.”

The acquisition officially finalizes at the end of June. Still, Mission has already begun taking over the Del Mar and UCSD locations and announced plans for special events at all locations in the coming months. Long also says that when Mission’s current lease inside the Wonder Bread building ends in October, the company will transfer brewing operations to the Miramar facility, adding that the Mission team plans to continue renting the East Village taproom space to keep that portion of the business open. 

Courtesy of Mixed Grounds Coffee

San Diego Restaurant News & Food Events

Mixed Grounds Coffee Opening a New Location in North Park

AAPI-owned Mixed Grounds Coffee will be a part of North Park’s AMP 30 building at 4555 30th Street when it opens later this year. The 202-unit infill development stretches between Madison and Monroe Avenues (right across from Fall Brewing Company and The Friendly). Still, coffeeheads don’t need to wait that long for one of Mixed Grounds’ specialty drinks, including Vietnamese iced coffee and lychee matcha lemonade—its Logan Heights location at 2920 Imperial Avenue is open daily. 

Courtesy of An’s Dry Cleaning

Beth’s Bites

  • USA Today’s 10Best list named Normal Heights scoop shop An’s Dry Cleaning the country’s number-one indie ice cream shop. It’s offering $1 gelatos on July 1 (until supplies run out) to celebrate. Scared of what promises to be a crazy line? Try your luck at the shop’s other location, An’s Hatmakers in Del Mar. Either way, you get ice cream! (Or gelato, whatever you want.)
  • Despite Sicilian Thing Pizza unceremoniously shuttering earlier this year, North Park doesn’t have to mourn a lack of ’za for long. Hillcrest standby Sisters Pizza is taking over the 30th Street space and says it hopes to launch this second outpost by the end of summer. 
  • The 23rd annual Taste of Adams Avenue kicks off at 11 a.m. on Sunday, June 30. It runs until 3 p.m., which means there are only four hours to try and taste everything from more than 40 restaurants, breweries, bakeries, and wine bars, including An’s Dry Cleaning, Hayes Burger, Trattoria Da Sofia, White Rice Bodega, and many more. Good luck!

Have breaking news, exciting scoops, or great stories about new San Diego restaurants or the city’s food scene? Send your pitches to [email protected].

Beth Demmon

About Beth Demmon

Beth Demmon is an award-winning writer and podcaster whose work regularly appears in national outlets and San Diego Magazine. Her first book, The Beer Lover's Guide to Cider, is now available. Find out more on bethdemmon.com.

Partner Content JUNE 10, 2026

New Options for GLP-1 Users

Scripps study shows that some patients may be able to taper their dose and maintain results

New Options for GLP-1 Users
Courtesy of Scripps Health

While glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agents have been used to treat Type 2 diabetes for more than 20 years, their recent emergence as weight-loss wonder drugs marked a new frontier in medicine. But their effectiveness has left some patients wondering what to do once they’ve reached their goal. Stopping the medication could mean regaining some, if not all, of the weight. A Scripps Clinic internal medicine physician recently conducted a small study of whether GLP-1 patients who had reached their goal weight could maintain that weight by taking their regularly prescribed injection every other week instead of weekly. Spoiler alert: 30 of 34 patients did. Read more about the study here and what that may mean as pharmaceutical companies roll out oral GLP-1s.

For more nutrition, wellness, and healthy living tips, sign up for the San Diego Health newsletter here.

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