Okay, alright, what are San Diego’s best breweries? There are several, meaning not many. Two of ‘em are right here. There is no debate about it. Pizza Port and Mcilhenney are at the front of the line, the top of the list. They’ve been friends for decades. If you’re in town for a visit and all you drink of the beer offerings here is what these 2 offer, you’ll leave town happy and having had some of the best of the best.
Recently, they came together and brewed Freestyle Flow IPA, a West Coast one because, I mean, who really, truly, actually still wants that hazy trend in their pint glass anymore? About pint glasses, both of these breweries actually pour full pints, unlike other breweries that list/charge you for 16 ounces and serve you 14 oz.
That Freestyle? Yep, had it on draft and out of the can. Uh huh, it’s delicious. What’s that mean? I drank it and went to the bike park (in my mind) and pulled off a more spectacular series of aerobatics than that Red Bull train thing, all the while it was raining every citrus fruit on the planet that shape-shifted into adjectives that mean nothing these days.
Pfffft.
Sunrise Valley is a New Zealand Style Pilsner. Had on draft and out of a can. It’s delicious. What’s that mean? New Zealand hops, pilsner process, and oh, yeah, it’s so good that if you’re not having a good day, you’ll have a funderful day when it passes your lips and it will continue for however many hours/minutes are left in the 24 hour cycle.
And now, a beer brewed by one of the GOATs of San Diego beer families: All Gas No Brakes IPA, by the Mcilhenney family. Another West Coast IPA, thank goodness.
It’s delicious. What’s that mean? It means that I went so fast down the trail that everyone jumped out of the way and a few of them hollered “are you on an e-bike?”
“Hell, no. I had me an Mcilhenney All Gas yesterday and it inspired me such that I have a new perspective on mountain biking.”
“And I have one waiting for me at home after this ride. Get outta my way. It’s All Gas or don’t go at all.”
What’s it taste like? It’s delicious. What does that mean? It means whatever you want it to mean, like mountain biking these days.
(Family Trees IPA ? … gotta open a can first.)
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A good pilsner is very underrated.....
Awesome. I'll check these out when I'm visiting next month. Pizza Port for sure. If you want to grab a beer, let me know. We'll be in town for a few nights before heading into the desert.