The Best Craft Beer Breweries in San Diego, CA

Are you heading to San Diego and looking for the best craft beer breweries? From local favorites to some of the world’s most rated beers, San Diego is a must visit for craft beer lovers. In this guide, we’ll tell you the top breweries to check out while in San Diego.

San Diego’s booming craft beer industry continues to bring people to its city streets. From local breweries to some of the most renowned national breweries, it’s never been a better time to save yourself a cab ride and hit up some of the nation’s most well-known beer havens. So, here’s our guide to some of the best craft beer breweries in San Diego.

San Diego Brewing Company

The San Diego Brewing Company is a great place for any craft beer connoisseur. Having grown from one location in the North Park neighborhood of San Diego, the brewery has since sprouted additional locations downtown and in Mission Valley. All locations feature a rotating selection of 3-4 IPAs, plus a few on-brand lagers and session ales.

The downtown brewery has a full kitchen and restaurant that serves up some excellent pizzas and ale-house meals. They also boast a well-rounded patty melt and breakfast selection as well. The Mission Valley location is more of a “grab-and-go’ kind of place, although you might find an invitation to their special brewing events.

One can’t head to San Diego Brewing Co. without trying the award-winning San Diego Pale Ale, or SDPA for short. For an extra curated beer drinking experience, check out their custom built cold case for a selection of IPAs, Pale Ales, and Lagers to-go.

Stone Brewing Co.

Stone Brewing Co. is one of the most recognizable names in craft beer. Founded in 1996, its Escondido location is one of California’s largest craft breweries. It features a restaurant and garden atmosphere with enough room to accommodate up to 1,200 guests at a time.

It’s here that you can make your own tour of Stone’s lineup of world-renowned craft beers. From hop-centric, bitter beers like its all-time popular Arrogant Bastard, to fruit-forward beers like its Go To IPA and Berlin Kolsch — there’s something for everyone’s taste buds. Plus, at Stone Brewing Co., visitors can find exclusive casks beers releases and other specialties available only here.

If you want to pair your Stone beer with something deliciously snacky, the Escondido taproom offers anything from burgers to pretzels and vegan options like tempeh tacos. Don’t miss the brewery tours and paired cheese plate, designed for the full tasting experience.

AleSmith Brewing Company

Miramar is becoming quite the craft beer hub, as take AleSmith Brewing Company for example — one of Miramar’s favorite stops for local craft beer aficionados. Home of the world-renowned Speedway Stout —AleSmith has been hailed by beer drinkers and critics alike as one of the world’s best breweries with over 100 perfect scores on BeerAdvocate.

From IPAs and Porters and Stouts to seasonal releases, you’re likely to discover something new every time you visit this brewery located just 20 minutes from downtown San Diego. The venue features both indoor and outdoor seating areas where you can sample its lineup of freshly brewed beers. Plus, you can opt for a tour of AleSmith’s new automated brewery system for a behind the scenes look at how it makes its signature beers

Societe Brewing Co.

Spread across 10,000 square feet in Kearny Mesa, Societe Brewing Co. is known for making some of San Diego’s most distinct craft beer. Boasting an impressive and growing roster of hoppy ales and barrel aged beers, this brewery has become one of the most sought-after destinations for both locals and visitors alike for its food and quality brews alike.

Psyched about finding an IPA with ABV on the lower side? Look no further than the Pupil, one of Societe’s best sellers that sports just the right level of tropical hops flavors in an IPA sessionable enough for both summer barbecues and light social gatherings. Or pick up Societe’s award winning barrel aged beer series featuring barrel aged stouts, saisons and wild ales aged in whiskey barrels which bring out complex flavors that make this a must do tasting experience….not to mention that these beers are vegan!

Conclusion

San Diego is now becoming known as one of the USA’s top beer drinking destinations and it’s not hard to see why — from IPA’s to barrel aged beers there’s something from every corner of the nation finding a home in glass here. When looking for a craft beer experience in San Diego one simply needs to look no further than choosing from one or all of these four great breweries mentioned in this guide; you won´t regret it! So now you know where to find your favorite brew when in San Diego – happy tasting!