What’s Tapping (7/13/23)

Welcome to San Diego Beer News‘ weekly list of beers tapping for the first time or returning to beer lists at breweries throughout San Diego County, including links where you can find additional info or purchase the beers online. For more details regarding release/tapping dates, times and locations, consult the official website or social-media accounts of the brewing companies listed.

And keep scrolling for Bottlecraft staffers’ recommendations about beers they are excited about that can be found at their bottle shop locations in North Park, Little Italy, Point Loma and Oceanside!

• AleSmith Brewing (Miramar): Bourbon Barrel-aged Heavy Forge Imperial Stout, 13.6% – BUY ONLINE
• AleSmith Brewing (Miramar): Barrel-aged Speedway Stout: Black Forest Cake Edition w/ Cherry, Cacao Nibs & Vanilla, 12.8% – BUY ONLINE
• AleSmith Brewing (Miramar): Watermelon Gose, 5.5% – BUY ONLINE
• Arcana Brewing (Carlsbad): Cozy IPA, 7%
• Athletic Brewing (Miramar): Blackberry Non-alcoholic Berliner-style Weisse, < 0.5% – BUY ONLINE
• Black Plague Brewing (Oceanside, Vista, North Park): Afterparty Strawberry Lime Margarita Hard Seltzer, 5%
• Black Plague Brewing (Oceanside, Vista, North Park): Stay Chill Gluten-reduced Blonde Ale, 4.8% – BUY ONLINE
• BLAH Brewing (Normal Heights): You’re Pretty Good Looking (For a Beer) Hazy White IPA
• California Wild Ales (Ocean Beach): Hard Slushies, 8.5%
• Culture Brewing (Solana Beach, Encinitas): Appa Zappa Neomexicanus Lager, 4.5%
• Culture Brewing (Solana Beach, Encinitas): Desert Gose, 5%
• Division 23 Brewing (Miramar): UNITY 23 Grapefruit Kolsch, 4.8%
• Duck Foot Brewing (Miramar, Leucadia): Orange Creamsicle Beer Slushie, 5%
• East Village Brewing (East Village): IZOLA Ukranian-style Kvass, 5%

• Fall Brewing (North Park, South Park): Belly Flop Summer Hazy IPA, 6.8%
• Fall Brewing (North Park, South Park): Superbloom Kettle Sour Ale w/ Tea, 6.1%
• Groundswell Brewing (Chula Vista): First Date Blonde Ale, 4.8%
• Harland Brewing (Scripps Ranch, South Park, Bay Park, Carmel Valley): Guahan Punch Sour Ale, 5%
• Harland Brewing (Scripps Ranch, South Park, Bay Park, Carmel Valley): Parrot Dice New Zealand Double Dry-hopped West Coast IPA, 7% (collaboration w/ Horus Aged Ales)
• Helix Brewing (La Mesa): Galaxy Rye IPA, 6.4%
• Hopnonymous Brewing (Kearny Mesa): Torero Blonde Ale, 5%
• Hopnonymous Brewing (Kearny Mesa): Torero West Coast IPA
• Jacked Up Brewery (Escondido): Hazy Talk Hazy IPA, 6%
• Jacked Up Brewery (Escondido): Incognito West Coast IPA, 7%
• Jacked Up Brewery (Escondido): Pale for Breakfast Pale Ale, 5%
• Mcilhenney Brewing (Alpine): Muntz Nelson Rye IPA, 7.1%
• Mike Hess Brewing (North Park, Ocean Beach, Marina District, Imperial Beach, Alpine): 10 Min Easy Double Dry-hopped IPA, 6.8%

• North Park Beer Co. (North Park, Bankers Hill): Dankers Hill Double Dry-hopped West Coast IPA, 7.4% – BUY ONLINE
• North Park Beer Co. (North Park, Bankers Hill): Friends & Neighbors Vienna-style Lager, 5.3% – BUY ONLINE
• North Park Beer Co. (North Park, Bankers Hill): Sunny with Citra & Rakau Double Dry-hopped Hazy Pale Ale, 5.5% – BUY ONLINE
• Pacific Beach AleHouse (Pacific Beach): Crowd Pleaser Pale Ale (Homebrew Summer collaboration)
• Pizza Port (Solana Beach): Keep It Crispy Kolsch, 5%
• Pure Project Brewing (Vista, Carlsbad, Miramar, North Park, Bankers Hill): Chance of Sun Murky IPA, 6.7% – BUY ONLINE
• Pure Project Brewing (Vista, Carlsbad, Miramar, North Park, Bankers Hill): Paradise Tango Smoothie-style Ale w/ Blueberry & Banana, 9% (collaboration w/ Bottle Logic Brewing) – BUY ONLINE
• Pure Project Brewing (Vista, Carlsbad, Miramar, North Park, Bankers Hill): Riders of the Purple Sage Saison w/ Lavender & Sumac, 5.3% (collaboration w/ Roses by the Stairs Brewing)
• Resident Brewing (Downtown): Everyday California Coastal Ale, 6%
• Resident Brewing (Downtown): Robust Porter w/ Maple & Vanilla
• Second Chance Beer Co. (Carmel Mountain Ranch, North Park): Pride Pilsner, 4.5% 
• South O Brewing (Oceanside): Sea Rover New Zealand-hopped Pilsner, 4.9% (collaboration w/ Mission Brewing)
• TapRoom Beer Co. (North Park, Pacific Beach): Tango Time West Coast IPA, 7.2% (collaboration w/ Nickel Beer Co.)
• Three Frogs Beer Co. (Santee): Frog Nectar Hazy IPA, 6%

Gene Fielden | North Park Bottlecraft Manager

Finback Way Beyond | Fruited Hazy IPA (6.5%): Like the whales that gently drift across their labels, the beers of Finback Brewery only surface infrequently in Southern California. The Queens, New York-based brewery is known in the boroughs for excellence in all manner of styles, but it is the hoppy ones that seem to make their way in our direction upon occasion. Way Beyond is a hazy IPA with pineapple brewed specifically in honor of Pride, and a newcomer this year on our shelves!

Montucky Cold Snack | American Light Lager (4.1%): This lightest of lagers from the mythical land of Montucky has captured the hearts of many in the Western United States. Could it be the abstruse name? The outlined pale horse against a mountainous moonlit background galloping across the label? The incredibly affordable price? All of the above is true and more. Unlike some macro-beer brands who waver between embarrassment and open hostility towards LGBT folks, the owners of Montucky have shown nothing but acceptance and celebration. Each year during the month of Pride, 8% of all profits are donated to worthy causes therein, and in the lead-up to the festivities a special-edition label trumpets said support. The horse has grown wings and a single horn, and proudly prances over the rainbow against a sky-blue backdrop, lightened up from the usual moody twilight coloration.

Almanac Sunset Sherbet | Fruited Sour Ale (5.6%): Neither fish nor fowl, sherbet cannot accurately be called ice cream nor sorbet, preferring to inhabit a space in between. The rainbow iteration may be the most (in)famous, but variations abound! The Bay Area’s Almanac Beer Co. has always been both an ally and a talented brewer of oak-aged sours. This beer features a veritable cornucopia of apricots, nectarines, peaches, plums and pluots to delight the senses. Enjoy in Balboa Park after the parade as the sun sets on Saturday.

Click here to explore the quality beers at Bottlecraft’s four San Diego locations.