Staff Blog Entries

Amplified Ale Works ups volume

California Kebab’s anniversary happening amid brewhouse flux

If you’d have told me one of the best new breweries of the past year would be a nano operation ...

Beer of the Week: Mother Earth Big Mother IIIPA

India pale ale? family-run Vista brewery says, "make it a triple!"

Last year was the first in which triple IPAs like Russian River Pliny the Younger and Dogfish Head 120-Minute IPA ...

Urge: Craft Alley hires brewer

Vet of The Lost Abbey, Boulevard to helm upcoming Vista brewpub

Earlier this week, I reported that the owners of Urge Gastropub and two other Rancho Bernardo businesses would be going ...

Add' adds new wine director

The Grand Del Mar's Addison replaces stand-out sommelier

There’s no use crying over spilled milk, but I’ll shed tears over vino. I nearly did last March, when I ...

Taking the monkey by the paw

A first taste of new brewmaster's wares at Monkey Paw Pub & Brewing

In February, Monkey Paw Pub & Brewery (805 16th Street, East Village) brewmaster Derek Freese unexpectedly gave notice at the ...

Urge bowling into Vista

Urge: Craft Alley to bring brewpub, bottle shop, bowling alley to North County

Looks like my burger buds are on to their next project. The owners of Rancho Bernardo’s Urge Gastropub, a trio ...

Beer of the Week: Green Flash West Coast IPA

Celebrating the winner of a recent San Diego India pale ale challenge

Last week, I put out the word that I’d be judging a San Diego IPA challenge at Hotel Solamar’s LOUNGEsix. ...

So long La Jolla Brew House

Why parting is sweet minus the sorrow

Faye Avenue brewpub La Jolla Brew House has closed and will reopen under new ownership in several months. Under the ...

Birds, bees & oysters are out at Brooklyn Girl

Exemplary spring fare and a new oyster bar in Mission Hills

Last month, I was asked by U-T San Diego for my idea of a perfect spring meal. I noted lamb ...

Downtown TailGate on hold

SDSU alum's brewpub delayed but it's full steam ahead for new beer series

Awhile back, I reported that TailGate Beer, a business owned by SDSU alum Wesley Keegan, was working on putting in ...

ALERT: Wooden Nickel

Identity thief impersonating local publican, Tom Nickel

Back in 2009, I went to dinner at Azul La Jolla. Upon arrival, I provided my name to the hostess ...

Beer of the Week: Rough Draft Barrel-aged Emboozlement Tripel

Miramar brewery producing Bourbon and water's beery doppelganger

Ever uncapped a special bottle of liquor barrel-aged beer, taken a sip then said, “Wow, that’s really boozy!” This is ...

Saffron stalwart making TV debut

Savor San Diego with Su-Mei Yu airing first episode tonight

I’d known of Su-Mei Yu, the talented chef and owner of popular Thai eatery Saffron (3731 India Street, Mission Hills) ...

Cinco de Drinko: Best of the West IPA Fest

San Diego breweries vying for "Best Coast" IPA supremacy at LOUNGEsix

Last week, I wrote about my visit to the new San Diego Brew Project, a venue serving beers from nearly ...

New chef rocking Bird Rock

Neighborhood eatery Beaumont’s looking good under new chef

I live nowhere near Bird Rock and, though I think it’s a nice little community, it takes a lot for ...

Beer of the Week: Rip Current Rail Grab German Rye

Homebrewers turned pros revive a near-dead German rye ale in San Marcos

Like many a craft beer fan, when I learned that the 2011 National Homebrewers Conference champion (winning this award earns ...

Ballast Point expanding to Little Italy

Local brewing company going big by going small in niche metro community

Last year, I broke the news that local company Ballast Point Brewing & Spirits was searching for a large building ...

Tusk and Grain nixed by 'Nado

Coronado Brewing Company unexpectedly shuts down WIP artisanal line

After nearly two years spent realizing the idea to expand its offerings via an extra-artisanal second line of beers, including ...

Game On: Karl Strauss Pro-Am Competition

Annual competition gives amateurs a taste of pro brewing

At a recent SDSU Alumni Association panel discussion on the business of craft brewing, AleSmith owner and brewmaster Peter Zien ...

San Diego Brew Project a noble experiment

57 Degrees adds on bar and store devoted to local craft beers

It’s no secret. San Diego beer is a cut above; something to both enjoy and celebrate. Everybody in the imbibing ...