Three cheers for 20 years of Live Wire
"Back in the day." People usually utter that when conjuring fond memories from the past. But for craft beer drinkers, “back in the day” holds little appeal. Two decades ago, there were very few options beyond standard macrobrews for fans …
Sneak Peek: Brothers' Provisions
In Rancho Bernardo, the trio is known as “the brothers.” For two of them, Nate and Zack Higson, this makes perfect sense. They’re brothers, after all. But for Grant Tondro, who met Zack many years ago in driver’s ed, inclusion …
Rocker helming new Kearny Mesa brewery
Helm’s Brewing Company (5640 Kearny Mesa Road, Suite C/N) is a small, upcoming industrial park brewery I’ve had on my radar for the past six months. When I heard a rumor that they would be holding their soft open last …
Vista fest to fuse blues and brews
Beer festivals can be very inspiring events. In fact, some inspire the establishment of other beer festivals. Bluesapolooza, an annual beer-and-music extravaganza held in Mammoth that's a favorite among local brewers, was the driver for Daniel Love, owner and brewer …
Great American Beer Festival San Diego Winners
Held annually in Denver, the Great American Beer Festival is the largest craft brewing competition in the country. Gold, silver, and bronze medals are awarded in 84 different beer styles. Awards were announced at the 2012 GABF earlier today. The …
The Great American Beer Festival
It’s that time of year again. San Diego’s brewers just made their annual easterly migration toward the Rocky Mountains. Their destination: Denver, Colorado. Their mission: bring back as much hardware as possible from the largest annual craft brewing competition in …
Neighborhood 5th anniversary street fest
It seems like only yesterday I met Neighborhood owner Arsalun Tafazoli. As the young and ambitious owner of a regularly empty gastropub, he had a lot of time on his hand to converse with me about his hopes of delivering …
Chapter 11 for El Cajon Brewing Company
Yesterday, I reported on a brewing company I thought was doing something right, recapping an early QA session where Modern Times Beer owner Jacob McKean put himself out there, allowing a group of ten beer enthusiasts to critique several of …
Modern Times Beer employs beer geek QA
Some upcoming brewing companies are easier to keep track of than others. Despite the fact the company has yet to even find a facility, Modern Times Beer is firmly cemented on my radar screen. Not surprising when you consider the …
Julian Brewing Company lives on
Back in July, I reported that the business partners behind Julian’s The Bailey Wood-Pit BBQ (2307 Main Street) had decided to part ways, leaving Vince and Gina Marsaglia, who also own San Diego County’s Pizza Port chain, solely in charge. …
Brick+Mortar replaces Hotel Hell's MerK Bistro
Last month, I speculated about the future of MerK Bistro, the restaurant associated with (but oddly not attached to) downtown’s The Keating Hotel after both businesses were ripped apart then cobbled back together by chef Gordon Ramsay on his FOX …
Tales from the north: Inland Empire Brewing
It was a classic case of while I’m in the neighborhood. I was headed to Riverside County to visit family, so why not check out local breweries I’d been meaning to get out to? And since one of those breweries …
Tales from the North: Kat Daddy Brewery
You meet the nicest people at beer festivals. Acknowledgement to those who read that statement and, recalling bumping into some belligerent, drunken, alcohol-blunted Neanderthal, doubt the validity of that statement: yes, this, too, is a prominent suds fete scenario. That …
Tales from the north: Barley & Hops
Yesterday, I provided the lowdown on Ironfire Brewing Company, a newly installed microbrewery in Temecula. While interviewing the business’ owners, we chatted about the small but promising craft beer scene developing in that wine-driven burg. Up until then, the tone …
Tales from the north: Ironfire Brewing
I have family in Riverside County. For years, before driving up for visits, I loaded down the trunk with six-packs, 22-ouncers, and growlers of good beer to sustain weekend-long stints in what used to be a largely craft beer-less county. …
Sevilla celebrating veinticinco años
A quarter century is a long time—especially in the restaurant industry, and especially in San Diego’s eats scene. Definitely something worth celebrating, and a business that’s hitting the big two-five will be doing just that. Downtown’s Sevilla (353 Fifth Avenue)—formerly …
Dîner en Blanc: White the heck?
You know an idea has merit when somebody copies it. In May, a group did just that with a concept called Dîner en Blanc, bringing their Le Dîner à San Diego to America’s Finest. It created a bit of controversy …
My fave pickle prep found in the Gaslamp
I love all of my friends, but I’d be lying if said I don’t harbor just a smidge more affection for those who feed me well. One such friend of mine is a warm-hearted Boston transplant who teams with her …
Tasty mobile pizza oven surprise
Two rapidly growing business types that, in taking flight, have dovetailed together nicely over the past few years are brewery tasting rooms and food trucks. They make for a perfect match. Breweries draw a large volume of patrons, but aren’t …
RBI's annual Beer Vs. Wine melee
Back in May, I reported El Bizcocho, the fine dining spot at Rancho Bernardo Inn, was closing in order to undergo a two million-dollar renovation and return as a completely different restaurant. But before that happens, El Biz will play …