The self-proclaimed (and accurately entitled) “hoppiest place on Earth,” O’Brien’s Pub, has been named the best beer bar, not in the city, the county or even the state, but in the entire country. This honor was delivered by fans of the establishment who showed up in a big way at the online polls for USA Today’s annual 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards. It’s understandable if you mistakenly believe you’ve stumbled upon an old article from the last year or two, but this is, indeed, a current story as this year, O’Brien’s three-peated, garnering this lofty title for the third straight year.
“It feels incredible to win for a third straight year,” says O’Brien’s co-owner Tyson Blake. “ We are humbled and honored.”
O’Brien’s Pub was opened in 1994 by original owner Jim O’Brien, long before San Diego had very many breweries or a reputation as a craft-beer mecca. Back then, O’Brien’s and its extremely limited list of beer-focused contemporary venues comprised the short list of places where enthusiasts were able to explore ales and lagers going beyond the widely available, mostly macro selection at grocery and liquor stores, restaurants and bars. In those early years, the pub’s list was made up largely of imports and as much craft beer as O’Brien could scrounge from local operations and other West Coast breweries.
When O’Brien retired in 2003, he sold the business to Tom Nickel, a local brewer and elite-level beer enthusiast. Under Nickel, the pub continued to offer an assortment of rare, interesting and wide-ranging beers styles the world over, while also leaning heavily into hop-driven IPAs, pale ales and American (read: hoppy) takes on all manner of Old World brews. O’Brien’s also became a haven for those sharing Nickel’s passion for soccer, to the degree U.S. Soccer bestowed the pub the title of Best U.S. Soccer Bar in 2011.
Following his acquisition of O’Brien’s, Nickel went on to win Brewmaster of the Year at the 2004 World Beer Cup while working for Oggi’s (he also worked at Home Brew Mart and Pizza Port). On the business front, he opened a pair of breweries in Julian – the predecessor to what is now Julian Beer Co. and the business he currently runs, Nickel Beer Co. – as well as beer-centric eateries West Coast Smoke & Tap House and The Pub at Lake Cuyamaca. The former is now owned and operated by Tyson and his wife, Kristina, who also have a stake in the latter along with Mission Valley brewpub San Diego Brewing Co. (SDBC).
The Blakes met while working at SDBC. Tyson moved on from that establishment (a storied local suds spot in its own right), when Nickel hired him to manage and head culinary efforts at O’Brien’s in 2015. Since then, Tyson has been a driving force behind the venue’s welcoming brand of customer service, specials-driven food program and rotating slate of beer-pairing dinners featuring breweries from San Diego and beyond. Nickel brought him on as a partner in 2017.
Passionate owners, dedicated and engaged staff and a robust, ever-changing selection of thoughtfully procured, high-quality beers have been key to the pub’s longevity, and have helped get out the vote in a big way for four straight years (O’Brien’s ranked fourth place in USA Today’s 2023 poll). To recognize their regulars and those who helped them extend their reign as Best Beer Bar in America, Nickel and Blake will hold a celebratory event featuring $3 pints of the pub’s two top-selling beers this Saturday, March 7, starting at 5 p.m. They are also working on a trio of monthly events – since it’s a three-peat after all – that will take place in April, May and June.
“100% pints in the air to our customers ‒ our pub family ‒ for their support and passion for O’Brien’s,” says Tyson. “We are excited to celebrate with everyone by keeping the party and thanks going throughout the year.”
O’Brien’s Pub is located at 4646 Convoy Street in Kearny Mesa