What’s Tapping (11/30)

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!

• Aztec Brewery (Vista): FulaBula Pineapple-Mango Blonde Ale, 4.1%
• Barley & Sword Brewing (North Park): From the Ashes American Porter on Cask, 5.1%
• Burning Beard Brewing (El Cajon): Atlas Complex Brown Porter, 8%
• Burning Beard Brewing (El Cajon): New Damage Hazy IPA on Nitro, 7%
• Burning Beard Brewing (El Cajon): Stupid Sexy Flanders Sour Red Ale w/ Cherry, 7%
• Carlsbad Brewing (Carlsbad): Kokua Session IPA
• Chula Vista Brewery (Chula Vista, Eastlake): CV West Coast IPA, 6.3%
• Deft Brewing (Morena): Deft & Witty Belgian-style Witbier, 5.4%
• Deft Brewing (Morena): DeftHopt FreshHopt Fresh-hopped Amber IPA, 5.8%
• Division 23 Brewing (Miramar): Groundbreaker Pale Ale
• East Village Brewing (East Village): Intrepid Extra Dry Cider, 7.3%
• Eppig Brewing (Vista, Point Loma): Helles German-style lager, 4.8%
• GOAL. Brewing (North Park): Same Squad Imperial Stout w/ Coconut, Vanilla & Coffee, 10.7% (collaboration w/ J. Wakefield Brewing)
• Harland Brewing (Scripps Ranch, South Park, Bay Park, Carmel Valley): Creamsicle Milkshake IPA, 6%
• Harland Brewing (Scripps Ranch, South Park, Bay Park, Carmel Valley): Lunar Maps West Coast IPA, 6.5%
• Harland Brewing (Scripps Ranch, South Park, Bay Park, Carmel Valley): Momiji Maple Stout, 8%

• Helix Brewing / Sourworx (La Mesa): Candles in the Dark Tart Cherry Dark Sour Ale, 6%
• Jacked Up Brewery (Escondido): Chocolate Milk Stout, 8%
• Jacked Up Brewery (Escondido): Feel My RASP Raspberry Pale Ale, 5%
• Jacked Up Brewery (Escondido): Hazy Talk Hazy IPA, 6.5%
• Mcilhenney Brewing (Alpine): Bestest Buds West Coast IPA, 6.3%
• Mcilhenney Brewing (Alpine): Bourbon Barrel-aged Molotov Special Imperial Stout, 13.5%
• Modern Times Beer (Point Loma, North Park, Encinitas): Chaos Grid: Banana Cabana Edition Imperial Stout Blend, 13.4%
• Modern Times Beer (Point Loma, North Park, Encinitas): Cloak of Shadows Imperial Stout, 14.5%
• Modern Times Beer (Point Loma, North Park, Encinitas): Monsters’ Park Aged in Madeira Barrels, 14.2%
• Modern Times Beer (Point Loma, North Park, Encinitas): Nectarnomicon Peach Sour Ale, 3.8%
• My Yard Live Beer Co. (San Marcos): McLock’N West Coast Pale Ale, 5.2% (collaboration w/ Santa Fe Brewing)
• New English Brewing (Sorrento Valley): Raspberry Sour Ale, 5.5%

• North Park Beer Co. (North Park, Bankers Hill): An Alvarado Street Collab?? Heck Yeah!! Triple Dry-hopped Hazy Double IPA, 8.5% (collaboration w/ Alvarado Street Brewery) – PURCHASE ONLINE
• North Park Beer Co. (North Park, Bankers Hill): Halberd German-style Pilsner, 4.7% (collaboration w/ Schilling Beer Co.) – PURCHASE ONLINE
• North Park Beer Co. (North Park, Bankers Hill): Memento Mori Double Dry-hopped West Coast IPA, 7% – PURCHASE ONLINE
• Pizza Port (Ocean Beach): Golden Eggs & Ham Imperial Coffee Porter, 8.5%
• Pure Project Brewing (Vista, Carlsbad, Miramar, North Park, Bankers Hill): Bonsai – Tamarack West Coast Double IPA, 8.2% – PURCHASE ONLINE
• Pure Project Brewing (Vista, Carlsbad, Miramar, North Park, Bankers Hill): ONe of My Favorites Murky IPA, 6.5% – PURCHASE ONLIN
• Resident Brewing (Downtown): The Void Imperial Black IPA, 8.2%
• Societe Brewing (Kearny Mesa, Old Town): Just the Two of Us West Coast IPA, 7.1% (collaboration w/ Alvarado Street Brewery)
• South O Brewing (Oceanside): Crumbling Castle Extra Pale Ale, 6%
• South O Brewing (Oceanside): Shadows of Tomorrow Imperial Stout, 14%
• South O Brewing (Oceanside): Year 2 Double Dry-hopped IPA, 6.9%
• Wild Barrel Brewing (San Marcos, Temecula): Cranberry Sauce’d Fruited Sour Ale, 5.2%
• Wild Barrel Brewing (San Marcos, Temecula): Hops for the Holidays IPA, 6.2%
• Wild Barrel Brewing (San Marcos, Temecula): White Nectarine Velvet Gose, 5.4%

Gene Fielden | North Park Bottlecraft Manager

Kern River Citra | Double IPA (8%): An iconic cult-favorite beer. Once upon a time, enthusiasts had no choice but to make the arduous drive up the twisty mountain roads northeast of Bakersfield to reach Kern River Brewing and pick up this annual release. To see the beer in cans on the shelf at the shop (16-ounce cans, no less!) is really astonishing. Though the eponymous varietal Citra is predominant, this is no single-hop IPA. There is also bright, orangey Amarillo hiding amidst. The real danger with this beer is its drinkability. Despite firm DIPA (double IPA) status with an ABV (alcohol-by-volume) of 8%, the texture and finish imply a beer far lower in alcohol.

Urban Chestnut Czech Pils | Czech-style Pilsner (5.3%): Hailing from St. Louis, Urban Chestnut Brewing is committed wholeheartedly to lagers, and we are all better off for it. Previously profiled in these virtual pages was the brewery’s seasonal fest bier, “Oachkatzlschwoaf”, which was inspired by Bavarian dialect and recipe. Now meet a Pilsner with roots over the border! With the soft breadiness and herbal bitterness inherent to a Czech-style Pils, this beer does exactly what it says on the tin. I personally consumed a welcome pint of this beer the night before Thanksgiving after a very busy shift at Bottlecraft and do solemnly swear to do so again before the week is out!

Heater Allen Sandy Paws | Baltic-style Porter (7.8%): Every year as winter approaches, Oregon’s Heater Allen brews another batch of its beloved Sandy Paws. The advantage to this often-overlooked style is the perception of roast without undue bitterness or acidity and a clean finish. Unlike some annual releases, the recipe changes subtly from year to year, yet always remains a stronger black lager. The can art, too, is specific to the year, with the photograph of a different cat or dog on the label. These are real animals, the pets of friends and fans of Heater Allen! The 2023 Sandy Paws memorializes “Daisy”, a black Lab whose visage looks off to the distance in profile, with a dedication by her human, Emily.

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