Brewery Guide: Kearny Mesa & Serra Mesa
With its many industrially zoned properties, epicurean-destination status and close proximity to numerous local freeways, Kearny Mesa has long been a hot spot for entrepreneurs looking to get into the craft-beer industry. As such, it is home to a bevy of breweries producing a wide variety of local, independent ales and lagers.
KEARNY MESA
Embolden Beer Co. / New Motion Beverages – Kearny Mesa
Matcha Cafe Maiko / Ramen Station, 8068 Clairemont Mesa Boulevard, San Diego, CA 92111
After teaming together to hold popular events celebrating Japanese culture, the owners of Embolden Beer Co. and the owner of local Matcha Cafe Maiko stores took their partnership to the next level. A line of Japanese-inspired beers called Shogun came first, followed by a bar and eatery connected to Matcha Cafe Maiko’s Kearny Mesa location, featuring a self-serve ramen featuring more than 100 varieties of the quick-hit snack, and a 27-tap bar serving Embolden beers and New Motion Beverages, along with wine, sake, Korean soju and shochu (Japanese distilled spirits) cocktails.
Hopnonymous Brewing
7705 Convoy Court, San Diego, CA 92111
In 2019, an entrepreneur took over the former home of Council Brewing to install Hopnonymous Brewing, a business designed to primarily contract-brew white-label beers for local restaurants. It was a concept that never came to fruition, not because it wasn’t feasible, but because beers brewed for Hopnonymous’ tasting room were so well received that they built the business a fast and lasting following. Today, it’s a bona fide craft-beer cult fave behind a variety of hoppy beers, lagers, plus inventive sours, stouts and seltzers, all of which are served amid a rotating stock of local art.
Ketch Brewing
7889 Ostrow Street, San Diego, CA 92111
In 2018, The Brigantine Restaurant Group put excess warehouse space at its Kearny Mesa headquarters to good use, installing not only a brewery to handle production of house beers served at its local eateries (Brigantine, Miguel’s Cocina, Ketch Grill & Taps, The Fish Market). They also opened a taproom serving popular plates and R&D dishes in tandem with Ketch’s portfolio of largely sunny-weather-friendly beers (Mexican and Japanese-style lagers, a blonde ale, Pilsner, hazy IPA and San Diego-style IPA), a number of which have garnered high-profile awards.
Kilowatt Brewing / Forbidden Cove
7576 Clairemont Mesa Boulevard, San Diego, CA 92111
Black-light art and inventive lighting installations make for a psychedelic, far-out taproom vibe reinforced by playful small-batch beers, like a briny pickle beer, watermelon-lime gose, pineapple-coconut blonde ale and chocolate-macadima stout. Those unconventional creations share space with IPAs, Belgian ales and seltzers. Crave a side of tiki culture with your beer? Make a reservation at on-site speakeasy Forbidden Cove, where torches, totems, pu pu platters and a palapa bar serving beer and Polynesian-style craft cocktails await.
Quantum Brewing
5375 Kearny Villa Road, Suite 116, San Diego, CA 92123
A theme blending art, science and astronomy looms large at this strip-mall nanobrewery. A low-frills spot that’s half bar, half living room, it features games such as giant Jenga and a chalkboard running the length of the east wall, where visitors are encouraged to leave their signature (or a signature piece of art) with a beer in-hand. House beers are largely sessionable, bucking tradition for oddity, as exemplified by a barrel-aged sour Irish-style brown ale and a “hybrid seltzer” mimicking the flavors of red velvet cake.
Societe Brewing
8262 Clairemont Mesa Boulevard, San Diego, CA 92111
A favorite among industry professionals in particular, Societe Brewing crafts one of the widest arrays of beers of any local brewery. The beer board is packed with highly acclaimed core, seasonal and one-off IPAs of all ilks, Belgian ales of all shades and strengths, stouts, lagers, sours and a rotating family of hard seltzers. All of the above can be enjoyed in an expansive tasting room with Gangs of New York-inspired mid-nineteenth century décor or a shaded patio that’s home to a resident food truck serving tacos and other Mexican delights.
SERRA MESA
Hodad’s Brewing
9726 Aero Drive, San Diego, CA 92123
In 2018, the general manager of legendary local burger joint Hodad’s sited, built, plumbed and launched the business’ in-house craft-brewing side hustle in Serra Mesa. In the years that followed, he developed a variety of straightforward beers – IPAs, brown ale, Mexican-style lager – which have not only gone on to slake the thirst of visitors to Hodad’s locations in Ocean Beach, downtown San Diego and Petco Park, but also win awards at numerous regional and international brewing competitions. (NOTE: The Serra Mesa location is not open to the public.)