For anyone that hasn’t heard, the San Diego craft beer scene is alive and thriving. The city is home not only to many breweries but also has many so called “beer-centric” restaurants and pubs. For people that appreciate good lagers, ales and stouts, finding the right place might only be difficult just because there are so many different choices.

The hometown breweries

People might think that the hometown choices here for beer are obscure and not well known outside of the area. The fact is that the oldest post-Prohibition craft brewery in the nation is here – having been founded in 1989 by someone with a fairly impressive brewing background.

San Diego has options in many different locations than range from Kearney Mesa to Little Italy to Downtown. The settings for these sites can be anything from a pub or restaurant to an industrial park. There are more than 50 craft breweries in this area.

Some surprises along the way

Many of the beer makers here have won some fairly prestigious awards. One received the “Best Beer” Award at the 2010 World Brew Cup. Another made #5 on Beer Advocate’s “Best on the Planet” list – no mean feat considering the number of competitors in this field. This kind of acclaim had drawn the attention of the world with many visitors to the area coming just to sample the beer.

Something different

Part of the appeal to many of the offerings is that these are often very different from what people might expect in a beer. Some brewers have crafted their own take on traditional recipes from around the world such as Belgian strong ale while others have focused on unique ingredients. It is not uncommon for many of these offerings to have flavors like coffee, dark chocolate, or citrus like oranges.
What to look for

Each year San Diego will host a variety of different beer-themed events. While some of these might be offered during October, many of these are held at other times of the year making a perfect opportunity for beer aficionados to enjoy.

Some events are ones that are primarily beer-only while others may be part of other festivals or events. Many of these have sampling events so people can try a good range of different flavors and styles. For people that want to know more about the history of beer and beer making, the ones that focus mostly on beer might be the best choices. To find out more of San Diego Craft Beer, visit SD City Beat.