Forget zombies.  Craft beer is about to take over San Diego. 

Friday, Nov. 6 through Nov. 15, breweries, bars, restaurants and hotels will celebrate the first-ever San Diego Beer Week with tons of awesome events all around town.

From beer dinners, cask nights and barrel-aged tastings, to learn-to-brew classes and beer education seminars local brewers plan to show off the goods that recently earned San Diego the honor of being named the top beer city in the country by Men’s Journal.

The kickoff event is the San Diego Brewers Guild Festival on Friday at the World Beat Center in Balboa Park.  The festival will feature 80 beers brewed in San Diego – admission includes 10 samples, complimentary food, live music and a souvenir tasting glass.  

Festivities wrap up on Nov. 15 with a Chef Celebration of San Diego Beers in La Jolla.  The event will feature 16 local chefs and eight San Diego breweries. Admission includes a souvenir tasting glass, live music, all you can eat pairings and beer seminars presented by local brewers and chefs. 

During the 10 days in between, there are more than 200 fun San Diego Beer Week events. 

You heard me right, that’s two full weekends of pints, pours and parties. 

Plus, if you’re considering a last-minute trip, hotel packages and special rates are still available.  Come and raise a glass with us!

Tags: craft beer, dining, drinks, festival, food

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Looking for something to do this weekend?  Consider:

1. Look to the sky this weekend during the MCAS Miramar Air Show at the Marine Corps Air Station Miramar. The event showcases several types of aircraft, including vintage biplanes
   

   sunset at the air show, but the fun is just beginning...

   and stealth fighter jets, as well as simulated combat demonstrations, amazing areal performances and a nighttime show with the Great Wall of Fire and a firework grand finale.  I’ve heard that the wall of fire is AMAZING so I’ll be there to check it out this weekend.

2. Bratwurst, beer gardens and oompapa bands can only mean one thing—Oktoberfest! This weekend, check out celebrations of this German holiday during Oktoberfest in La Mesa, the largest festival the U.S. West Coast and Octoberfest in El Cajon. As the German’s would say, “Prost!”
3. Head to Julian this Saturday and Sunday for the 100th Apple Day celebration at the Menghini Winery from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days. The event includes apple displays, music and dancing, children’s games and activities, gold panning demonstrations, a beer and wine garden, food and merchandise vendors and of course, Julian’s famous apple pie.  The event costs $5 for adults and children ages 12 and under are free.
4. SeaWorld gets a little spooky this Saturday with the unveiling of the park’s Halloween Spooktacular featuring new shows and festive entertainment. Come see Clyde and Seamore’s Trick or Treat, Sesame Street’s Countdown to Halloween musical and enjoy special Halloween activities and photo opportunities with characters in costume.
5. Get your grub on this Saturday during Taste of North Park from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Enjoy yummy food samples and refreshing microbrew tastings at restaurants, galleries and boutiques throughout the neighborhood.  Tickets for the event are $30 with advanced purchase or $35 day of.

Tags: 5 to try, craft beer, food, Halloween, Julian, San Diego Events, seaworld, things to do, what to do

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Need something to tide you over until San Diego Beer Week in November?

I just found these cool videos on DRAFT Magazine’s website of behind the scenes tours they took at Karl Strauss and Stone - two of the biggest names in San Diego craft brewing.

Tags: craft beer

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My dad is coming to visit me this weekend and I couldn’t be more excited! I decided to turn our weekend plans into a special “5 to try,” which includes some of our favorite things to do and some new places we’re going to check out. 

I think we’re going to have a great time this weekend and maybe I’ll see you around?

1. Our first stop will be the Fish Market for oysters and cheesy garlic bread, a little tradition of ours. It’s located right next to the airport and since he arrives in the afternoon, the outdoor patio will be a perfect spot for lunch. The restaurant is located right along San Diego Bay and has awesome views of military ships, sailboats and pelicans. I think this will be a great start to the weekend.
2. The Del Mar Races are in full swing every Wednesday – Sunday until September 9, we’ve never been but we’re going to try our luck this Saturday. Gates open at 11:30 a.m. and tickets cost $6 for stretch run seating and $10 for clubhouse seats. Wish us luck! In addition to the races, this Saturday at the racetrack is the Craft Microbrew Festival from noon to 6 p.m. The festival will have live music from local bands and tasty taps form over 25 of San Diego’s finest breweries; admission to the festival is free with racetrack tickets. Can’t wait!
3. Of course no trip to San Diego would be complete without a visit the beach. We’ll probably head over to my favorite, Ocean Beach, on Sunday morning to hang out and walk around. It’s a great location for people watching, something my dad and I both enjoy, as well as grabbing a quick bite and shopping…Hmm, I wonder if I can talk my dad into getting me a new pair of shoes??
4. The first time my dad came to visit me in San Diego, we went to Busters Beach House & Longboard Bar in Seaport Village. We had such a great time, that we’ve gone back every time he’s visited and this weekend is no exception. We’ll be there sometime between 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. for the daily happy hour specials, $1 fish taco and $3 Pale Ale, yum! Before we leave, we’ll probably walk around Seaport Village and stay for some of the live music and entertainment.
5. This weekend is the Latin American Festival and Mata Ortiz Pottery Market in Old Town. This free festival takes place Friday through Sunday at Bazaar del Mundo and will showcase really neat, authentic Mata Ortiz pottery, art, music and live art demonstrations. Since my dad has never been to Old Town, this will be a great stop before dinner on Sunday evening. The event runs from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday.

Tags: 5 to try, craft beer, del mar, dining, free, ocean beach, old town, san diego bay, seaport village, summer

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So much to see, so much to eat and so much to sip this weekend!

1. This Friday and Saturday check out the 3rd Annual San Diego International Beer Festival at the San Diego County Fair where beer lovers can sample more than 300 brews from 17 countries and 20 states.  Of course, some of San Diego’s finest craft brews will be there too; (see Kate’s Get Hoppy post below).  The event takes place in the fair’s Chevrolet Del Mar Arena from 4 -8 p.m. on Friday and noon-7 p.m. on Saturday. Ticket prices range from $20-$43 and include fair admission, a souvenir tasting cup and best of all, a wristband that provides unlimited one-ounce samplings of beer. (And you thought the fair food was something to talk about!)


chili here we come

 

2. The 30th Annual Ocean Beach Street Fair & Chili Cook-off kicks-off this Saturday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on OB’s main drag, Newport Avenue.  Here, you’ll find  live musical performances on 5 stages, 2 beer gardens, a skateboard exhibition, carnival rides, more than 200 vendors and so much more… oh yeah, and delicious chili!  I don’t know about you, but this is where I’ll be on Saturday.

 

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Tags: 5 to try, beach, birch aquarium, craft beer, cruise, festival, food, la jolla, live music, North Park, ocean beach, san diego bay, san diego county fair, snorkel, things to do

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Maybe you’re a hard-core hop head who wants the insider scoop on cult favorites.  Maybe you’re a newbie looking to broaden your beer horizons.  Maybe you just want to relax and enjoy without worrying about driving. 

If any of the above apply, I’d highly recomend a guided, chauffeured beer tour with Brewery Tours of San Diego  or BrewHop.

Recently, I spent an afternoon with the later touring a few breweries around town.  BrewHop is great because they do custom tours – just you and your group – with tons of personal attention and lots of craft beer insight from their expert guides.

I got to chat with the brewers, sip some blow-your mind beers and hip to barrel-aging, the technique San Diego brewers are using in the country’s most sought-after small-batch brews. 

Check out photos and all the details after the jump…

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Tags: craft beer, drinks, tour

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Last weekend, the Los Angeles Times and the Orange County Register both ran stories that will get you itching to hit the road. 

The Times wrote about seeking out great craft beer and specifically highlighted brewery tours in San Diego. 

The Register did a “choose your own” adventure story featuring everything from the Loews Surf Dog Competition to Fleet Week with a generous sprinkling of tempting eats and beach ideas.  This one has something for everyone!

Tags: craft beer, in the news, summer

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Last Sunday, I went to an amazing foodie event in La Jolla at The Grande Colonial.  The tasting soiree was called Meat! - and the exclamation point turned out to be more than just fancy punctuation.

There was lots of meat, naturally, but the excitement was all because the party was thrown by the Cooks Confab chefs. 

This group of friends just happen to be chefs at some of the most buzzed about restaurants around town and they regularly get together to cook on a theme (past events have included seafood, cheese, truffles and more).  This time, they focused on sustainably raised meat and the use of the whole animal.  

That’s how I found myself on a patio, overlooking La Jolla Cove, nibbling on Paul McCabe’s “Steak and Eggs” beef tartare with mini-toad in the hole and crispy bone marrow.  Paul just launched Kitchen 1540 - a complete renovation of his restaurant at L’Auberge Del Mar.  If I hadn’t been tempted to make a reservation before, I am now.  The tartare was melt-in-your-mouth tender and perfectly complemented by the rich, creamy egg yolk and crispy fried nugget of bone marrow. 

I was also taken with the “Tongue and Cheek” offered by Katie Gebrow (chef at downtown’s Cafe Chloe), Jeff Jackson and TK Kolanko (the team behind AR Valentin at the Lodge at Torrey Pines).  The adorable name was just the beginning.  They paired fresh pickled spring vegetables with beef tongue confit in butter (for six hours!) and a velvety beef cheek terrine.  Cheeks are already one of my favorite (sinfully rich) cuts of beef but, this perfectly spiced terrine was just beyond decadent and lovely.  Wow.

Now, it wasn’t all fancy French preparations.  Amy Dibase from Roseville served up some excellent little sliders, Brian Sinnot from 1500 Ocean at the Hotel del Coronado took the Philly cheesesteak to another level and Christian Graves from Jsixat Hotel Solamar handled dessert.  I was too stuffed to try his ”sweetbreads” cinnamon roll but I did have a sip of his homemade Kahlua.  (I’m swearing off the commercial stuff forever!)

Speaking of locally made drinks, I stuck to the San Diego craft beers being served by AleSmith.  My fave was their award-winning Wee Heavy, a darker Scotch Ale that definitely held up well to all the meat.

Foodies and craft beerlovers will be happy to hear that the next Cooks Confab event is already in the works.  The theme will be “Craft Beer” and, in addition to beer-inspired dishes from the Cooks Confab crew, it will feature brews from San Diego’s AleSmith, Ballast Point, Stone, Lighting, Green Flash and Lost Abbey. 

Mark your calendar for Aug. 9 at Stingaree!

Tags: craft beer, drinks, food

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The June issue of Food & Wine magazine (the one with the ridiculously tempting burger on the cover) highlights San Diego’s amazing craft beer scene.

The article follows the adventures and shares the insights of a beer lover visiting a handful of San Diego’s many amazing, award-winning breweries.

Let’s toast to that!

Tags: craft beer, in the news

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