BJ's Pizza (I know its not an SD Brewery)

So I am slow out of the gate. Some busy weekends have really put me behind the eight ball in this Brewery Challenge. I believe my wife is trying to sabotage me.  Looking at the Brewery Map, my work is really cut out for me. I think I am going to tackle some of the Restaurant-style breweries (Karl Strauss, Oggi's, etc.) over the course of the year. I can hit some of those spots during lunch but I dont believe my boss will be keen on me sampling 8 beers and then going back to work.

Another thing I have concluded, why am I only drinking the beers I know I like at breweries I have been to? That makes no sense. I am not doing this to drink the same beers as I always drink, I am doing this to expand my knowledge of beer, not drink the same things over and over. So THAT being said, when I go to a place I've been many times before, I am going to drink beers that I haven't had yet, probably in taster form.

This weekend, after a fun time at the Pumpkin Patch, we went to BJ's Restaraunt. Now while this is not a SD Brewery, I am counting it because they make their own beer (not on site) and I need to kickstart this thing again.

Here is the Beer List:

  

While I wanted to do tasters of all the beers (and pints of the better ones), I guess I am too old to get tossed at noon on a Saturday, surrounded by families. I do think that I could easily handle a taster of each, but I don't need the looks throughout my lunch. 

Also, as this is the beginning of Fall, I have to say. I hate Pumpkin Spice stuff. Not big on Pumpkin Lattes and definitely not big on Pumpkin beer. Now, if there isn't anything new or different, I'll break down and get the Pumpkin beer, but its probably my last choice.

Today, I got the following tasters:

BJ's Brewhouse Blonde: Not great. Tasted like a slightly better Bud Heavy.

BJ's HopStorm IPA: Not bad. It did compliment my Jalapeno Burger (which was really good).

BJ's Jeremiah Red: My favorite beer that they make. I can't go and not get a Red.

BJ's Nutty Brewnette: Good beer. Nutty and malty. Just good.

and for dessert...
BJ's PM Porter: Great beer. chocolatey and rich. Went great with the ice cream. So much so, I think next time I go, I am getting a beer float with this beer.

All in all, not a bad time. Hopefully this is the kick i needed to get out there and start drinking.

September 19, 2015

Mother Earth Brew Co.

Started the year out at one of the places I've been to most, Mother Earth Brew Co. Located in Vista, Mother Earth was the first brewery located in the revamped Main Street Vista area. The setup has an open, industrial feel (like most of the breweries in the Vista area) but there are a good number of tables. I'll try to remember to take a picture later.

One of the perks of Mother Earth is the fact that URBN Pizza is right across the street and will deliver to the brewery. If you haven't had their mashed potato and bacon pizza, you are missing out. Its amazing.

The BEERS:
Now having had most of the beers that Mother Earth brews, I mainly stick to what I like (which in this case is not their IPAs). Here is what I had:

 1. Cali' Creamin' Vanilla Cream Ale - I love Cream Soda. Love it. Back in college, I went a year where every day during the break in a 2 hour class, I would buy a cream soda and crumb donuts. Also back in college, I weighed a lot of pounds. I mean, like all the pounds. Regardless of that, I had cream soda all the time, never tired of it, and was always in the search for the best. This beer is a cream soda with a small kick. It's very enjoyable, especially during a warm day.

2. Cali-Tax - This hybrid consists of the Cali' Creamin' Vanilla Cream Ale (above) and the Sin Tax Imperial Peanut Butter Stout (a chocolate-y, peanut butter beer that tastes like dessert). Now, I like both of these beers individually, but together they are great. The cream ale makes the richer Stout smoother and the flavors meld together nicely. More alcoholic than it tastes, so watch out.

3. Imagination Land Golden Coffee Milk Stout - This one was new. Sounded interesting, so I had to try it, and now that I have...it was ok. Looked like a Boddingtons and had a faint flavor of lightly roasted coffee. Probably won't get it again, but wouldn't turn it down if offered.

Well, that is it. There are approximately 75-100 breweries in SD (though there are a number of duplicates) so in order to get this done, I am going to have to average 1-2 a week. Suggestions are always welcome.

Thanks for listening, cheers.

September 18, 2015

The Beginning

San Diego is the home to an obscene number of breweries and I feel its about time I try to visit them. In the next year (starting last weekend with my birthday), I am going to try to visit all of the breweries in SD and take note of the various beers I drink.

First and foremost, I want to apologize for the terrible writing that is sure to follow. My goal is to update this page as I go along but as absent-minded as I am, that is quite the lofty goal. Also, while I have a grasp of various beers and love drinking them, I am in no way an expert. I will make mistakes. I will more likely not catch the chocolate notes in ______ Brewing's Stout. I will try my best to be comprehensive but listen to me at your own risk.

As for the structure of the posts...I dont know. I will discuss what I had to drink and the spot at the least. If there is anything that you would like to know, let me know and I will try to incorporate.

My beer tastes (take this into consideration when I discuss various beers):
- As most San Diego beer drinkers can say, I am a fan of India Pale Ales (IPAs). San Diego has created some of the best IPAs out there and while I may stray from them every once in a while, IPAs are a nice security blanket I can always fall back on.
- Stouts and Porters are really good. Took a while but I am finding myself gravitating to these beers .
- Not the biggest fan of Belgians, Sours, or Wheats but can and will drink them. Lagers are here and there.

Lastly, if ANYONE wants to hit a brewery...let me know. Drinking alone is sort of sad, always better with friends.

Cheers.