Mcilhenney Brewing Company
Damn Good Beer Without Pretense
For more than eight years now, when I drive on the 8 going to or returning from San Diego’s mountains and desert in east county, I regularly stop in Alpine to have a pint of beer brewed by the Mcilhenney family. Sometimes, I fill a growler or two to take home, or to camp, and I occasionally fill them up to take on road trips. Renown for their IPAs, which is what I order most often, they offer a little bit of everything at their tasting room. Basically, they have a beer for everybody’s preference.
If you note on the board, there is a collaboration beer. Nickel’s up in Julian, a popular weekend spot for city people to stretch their legs, eat apple pie, breathe in mountain air. It also says West Coast IPA, in more than one spot. The Mcilhenney’s are masters at brewing West Coast IPAs, arguably the best; there’s no argument about them being one of the best. What’s more, the collaboration with Nickel speaks to the spirit of camaraderie that exists in craft brewing and east county San Diego is no exception to that kind of positivity.
On a recent visit, a few locals were having a good time inside, gregarious and good-natured, and the vibe out back was on the quiet side, conversations over beers being the soundscape. People stopped in, filled crowlers and growlers, and exited back out the front door. The “kicker” in that visit, like all of them over 8+ years, is that they pour beer without pretense. The truth is, if you want beer that is brewed with respect for the process, with the results being beer styles that don’t get any “better,” and not have the brewery team/brewers tell you how great their beer is, or beat you over the head with beer geek talk, then Mcilhenney Brewing is the place to get your beer.
There’s no flash. It’s beer. Drink it. If you don’t like it, order a different one until you find one you like. Drink another one. Take some home with you. Go to bed.
A few notes …
Crowlers: if you’re heading to the mountains and thinking a post-ride beer would be nice, fill a crowler and toss it in your cooler. Maybe stuff it in your pack and enjoy the mountains-to-ocean view up on Los Gatos.
Growlers: they’ll fill any/all growlers. Bring ‘em in.
Food: they sometimes have a food truck on weekends at Mcilhenney’s. Check their social media for updates. No food truck? No problem. Walk down the sidewalk to Tapatio’s and get your favorite Mexican fare to go. Walk back up the sidewalk and order a beer. Yes, you can take your food inside or out back on the patio/porch area.
Mark your calendar: Saturday, December 18, 2021. They are releasing 4-packs of 12 oz cans at the brewery. Canning there? Yep. What’s going to be in the cans? Bourbon-barrel aged Molotov Special, bringing the ABV to 13.5%. How do you get it? Show up. Wait in line. You know, like the old days. No brown paper tickets b.s. here.
100% family-owned and family-and-friends-operated, long-time supporters of various causes/efforts around San Diego county, including the mountain biking community’s events and fundraisers, Mcilhenney Brewing Company in Alpine, CA is home to 100% True Family Craft beer that has decades of elite award-winning knowledge in every pint, crowler, can and growler. Make yourself happy … go get some.
Mcilhenney Brewing Company: https://mcilhenneybrewing.com/