I have managed to get into the US to see my daughter, two granddaughters and son-in-law. Beer drinking is also part of the visit. I will be here (hopefully) until the end of February 2022, planning to visit as many bars/brewpubs/taprooms as I can in between Grandfather duties and ‘stuff’.
Arrived today Sunday 5th December. I intend to update my beery antics each week, so please pop back to see how I am getting on. Total US rates on arrival sat at 1665, with 962 coming from California.
I haven’t set any target, but those numbers wouldn’t take too long if I was on ‘a mission’. Popped out to a place last night for less than two hours and managed 10 new rates, 7 from California and 3 from Nevada. Obviously flights help, but I wont be doing that every day/evening, apparently!
I’ve got a Costco (all German, I think) Advent Calendar to plough through too, so it’ll not all going to be fun and frolicking’s with American beers.
If you get bored with California beers (if that’s even possible) there are a number of ethnic markets that might have interesting beer selections. Of course Asian & Mexican markets are plentiful, but I found some tasty Basque ciders (and cheeses, olives etc) at Pata Negra Market in San Diego, and there’s a Balkan market there too.
If you plan to visit San Diego it’s easy to park on the US side of the border and walk to Tijuana in Mexico. You can take a very cheap Uber to any of the two dozen or so brewpubs there. Many collaborate with San Diego brewers and have solid beers and awesome food. Flights of seven were the equivalent of about a dollar when I was last there a couple years ago. Tijuana has made great strides in leaving behind its reputation as a place for college-age partying.
Cheers my friend, are you back on RB again, or just visiting?
I don’t think we’ll be risking crossing any borders while here this time around, not with Covid, but San Diego has been a happy hunting ground for me in the past.
I moved back up north about 6 years ago, otherwise I’d try to meet up for a beer.
I’m assuming you’re familiar with the long time places like Bootleggers, Taps, Noble, etc. in Orange County, but some of the newish places that I really like:
Beachwood (in SteelCraft in Garden Grove)
Chapman (Orange)
Green Check (Orange and Costa Mesa)
Modern Times (Anaheim)
Radiant (Anaheim)
Windsor (homebrew shop and bottle shop in Costa Mesa, tasting room and bottle shop in Anaheim)
Monkish’s Anaheim taproom is still in progress but should be opening soon-ish. I’ve heard good things from friends about Docent in San Juan Capistrano, but haven’t been. Similar with Unsung in Anaheim (also right next to Modern Times and Monkish Anaheim).
If you rate one beer I believe it’ll update your region count to include all the new ones that were added. Your at only124 which I’m sure is not real.
I’ll watch this thread my new job has an office in Temecula that’ll go to a few times a year. Possibly early in new year. Interested in Tijuana brewpubs for sure, as well.
To just show you what is out there in and around Southern California, here is the beer list in a supermarket (Rocket Pizza and Taproom, inside Whole Foods, Laguna Niguel). And just to show you I’m picky, I didn’t use it because that list is pretty shitty compared to what Whole Foods normally have to offer.
Sorry it’s slightly out of focus and a bit too small, but I can’t seem to mess with it size wise, etc, etc.
The same supermarket chain has a larger store in Tustin and I hope to go there today (Thursday 9th Dec), they have a better tap list and even a Mexican Lager from a new region for me to tick (Baja California Sur).
UPDATE: Didn’t make it to Tustin today, but will get there at least once when over here (hope that Mexican Lager is still on when I make it).
I am the only person on RB to have reviewed the Docent brewpub, I am also their highest rater of different beers; I can echo your friends views, they brew some good stuff and their little set up is fun and friendly. I hope to re-visit them on this trip too.
I’ve been here a full week now and have managed to rate 33 new beers already. Our second granddaughter had her first birthday in that week and we’ve been very busy being grandparents. Only been to two bars so far, the excellent https://www.ratebeer.com/p/taps-brewery-barrel-room-tustin-tustin/86535/97853/ and an Outback (it’s an Aussie style chain, not unlike Walkabout in the UK).
The Costco Advent Calendar and a trip to a Trader Joe’s has helped with ‘in house’ drinking and my son-in-law also bought some beers for me to try.
24 of the beers were from the US and 9 from the Germany (that Costco Advent Calendar).
I will hopefully post some photo’s as the trip evolves.
Only had a couple of beers, no food, didn’t notice the Bloomin’ Onion on the menu either!
My good lady and I were taking our 1 year old granddaughter for a push in her wheelchair (stroller for my American readers) and a local Mall just happens to have an Outback in it, never ventured in before. It was a bit overcast and beginning to drizzle with rain, so we popped in to take a look. Got a Golden Road and Dogfish Head rate while the wife had a coffee.
They stock another Dogfish Head bottle I’ve never had before, so I may go back just for the tick!
