The Unofficial SD Craft Beer Fest 2013 (First Round)

Living in one of the best cities for local breweries, I decided to setup a taste test for a few friends. Inviting over two close bar room beer buddies, Million and Natalie, the stage was set for the First Round of the Unofficial SD Craft Beer Fest 2013.

The four contenders

Purchased at the local overpriced liquor store up the street, I picked up four 22 ounce bottles of San Diego favorites: Orange Avenue Wit from the Coronado Brewing Company, Trippel Ale from the Green Flash Brewing Company, a Double IPA from Ballast Point, and a tried-and-true standard IPA from the good folks at Stone.

Million showed up about twenty minutes before Natalie, so I decided to reward his punctuality by cracking open the Orange Avenue Wit. From the beginning, we both noticed a strong citrus aroma that was overwhelming to the palate. The spices that accompanied every sip were greatly appreciated; however, the taste of orange was too much to ignore. Rather than subtle hint of the fruit, like in a bottle of Shock Top, the raw citrus blast insisted upon itself. We polished off the bottle and gladly moved onto the next contender.
Million: 6 out of 10
Chris: 4 out of 10

Natalie finally showed up and we poured out the Trippel Ale. Within the first few sips, it was clear we were no longer on Orange Avenue. The hops were strong from start to finish, leaving a slightly bittersweet aftertaste at the end. Both Million and I loved it, though it took Natalie everything she had to finish off her glass. For a casual drinker like her, the Trippel proved not to be her cup of tea.
Million: 7 out of 10
Natalie: 5 out of 10
Chris: 7 out of 10

Moving onto our third San Diegan beer of the night, I topped off everyone's glass with the Double IPA. Natalie immediately felt a return to normality as she guzzled down her glass, citing that this beer was more of her speed. I must admit that the Double IPA felt familiar; like a stronger Bud Light, but with more flavor. Million did the opposite of what I was expecting and claimed it had a 'weird aftertaste.'
Million: 6 out of 10
Natalie: 7 out of 10
Chris: 7 out of 10

The final drink of the night was a standard Stone IPA. Renowned for its simplistic yet satisfying taste and wide variety of flavors, Stone is the premier San Diego Brewery (in my humble opinion). By the first tasting, however, my cohorts agreed that we had arrived at the king of the competition. The beer was flavorful without being pungent; strong without being overwhelming. We all arrived at the same conclusion by the last drop... Stone had satisfied our thirst!
Million: 8 out of 10
Natalie: 9 out of 10
Chris: 8 out of 10

The final verdict is in...!

By the end of the Unofficial SD Craft Beer Fest 2013, we were ready to reward ourselves with a case of Stella Artois. The night was a success as we all agreed that the winner was the Stone IPA. We ended the night responsibly as everyone fell asleep on the couch. The group vowed for another round in the near future, with the Stone IPA making another appearance and three brand new contenders.

Pizza Port and the Ocean Beach Experience

Ocean Beach Pizza Port
1956 Bacon St.
Ocean Beach
619.224.4700


My rumbling stomach lead me to the shores of San Diego last Tuesday. The sleepy sublets of Ocean Beach are known for their laid back attitudes and mellow moods. For some, however, the neighborhood is host to the southernmost premier pizza parlor around - Pizza Port.

Known for supporting local grog and a bevy of small town breweries, Pizza Ports are peppered up and down the coast. While I've visited most of them, the Ocean Beach Pizza Port remains my favorite due to its cozy dining area and proximity to Newport Avenue.

On this particular night, a friend named Athena joined me for a slice. A proud Mexican woman with a fiery temper, Athena has a refined pallet for good cheese and wines. And while Pizza Port does carry a selection of wines, their main bread and butter remains to be beer.

"Two OB Chronics please. Leave the tab open."

Brewed right there in Ocean Beach, the OB Chronic is an amber ale with a synchronized blend of English malt and American noble hops. The mahogany mixture gives off an earthy taste, similar to the aftertaste of its namesake.

Or so I'm told...

With brew in hand, there was little left to do than order our pies.

Pizza Lahaina

The Pizza Lahaina has always been a staple for me there; pineapples, Canadian bacon, bell peppers, and onions can't go wrong. The size of the small is perfect for enjoying while savoring your suds. By the time you finish your last bite, the foam of your second pint should be resting quietly at the bottom of your empty glass.

Athena took my suggestion at the small Pizza Vallarta, which marries the ingredients of bacon, olives, onions, and jalapenos together perfectly. However, she balked at the outrageous amount of jalapenos on the pie and wound up scraping most of them off.

"This is probably the least Mexican thing about me but I hate jalapenos." Athena said.

"Is it possible that I'm more Mexican than you when it comes to food?" I laughed.

The woman shot me a death stare and sipped her beer.

"Don't push your luck, jerk." She warned.

We laughed and talked about life for the remainder of our meal. The great thing about Pizza Port is the lack of official dining area. It's first-come-first-served style with elongated picnic-esque tables translates into long hours drinking and eating amongst friends. While this lackadaisical attitude may not fly in downtown San Diego, the patrons of Ocean Beach Pizza Port welcome the opportunity to kick up their feet and enjoy their pie.

OB: Always A Good Time

Though I finished my pizza rather quickly, Athena declined her last slice and left it to return to the kitchen. It seems that when it comes to the appetite of a five-foot-three Latina, even a small pizza is a bit much.

It may not be the best pizza in the land, but the Ocean Beach Pizza Port remains my go-to spot for great beer and good pizza at a decent price. You'll definitely find my there once more touting a pint of the Chronic and a slice of the good stuff.


RATING: 8 out of 10