What’s Tapping (12/21)

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!

• Arcana Brewing (Carlsbad): Sol Mosaic IPA, 7%
• Ataraxia Aleworks (Kearny Mesa): Moon Cat Imperial Porter w/ Vanilla, 10%
• Athletic Brewing (Miramar): Blueberry Mosaic Non-alcoholic IPA, < 0.5%
• Barley & Sword Brewing (North Park): Bier von Bayern Hefeweizen, 4.3%
• BattleMage Brewing (Vista): Perception Czech Pilsner, 5%
• BattleMage Brewing (Vista): Summon Ifrit Red Ale,  6.1%
• Black Plague Brewing (Oceanside, Escondido, North Park): After Party Paloma Hard Seltzer, 5% – PURCHASE ONLINE
• Black Plague Brewing (Oceanside, Escondido, North Park): In My Darkest Sour Blueberry Pomegranate Sour Ale, 4.6% – PURCHASE ONLINE
• Black Plague Brewing (Oceanside, Escondido, North Park): Nyjah Hazy IPA, 7% – PURCHASE ONLINE
• Blue Fire Brewing (San Marcos): Electric Blues IPA, 7.8%
• Blue Fire Brewing (San Marcos): Mixed Berry Hard Seltzer, 6%
• Burgeon Beer Co. (Carlsbad, Escondido, Little Italy): Keep It Nelson IPA, 6.5% – PURCHASE ONLINE
• Burgeon Beer Co. (Carlsbad, Escondido, Little Italy): Timber! Double IPA, 8.1% – PURCHASE ONLINE
• Chula Vista Brewery (Chula Vista, Eastlake): Lavender Bee Honey Ale w/ Lavender & Lemon Peel, 4.8%
• Chula Vista Brewery (Chula Vista, Eastlake): Mountain Hawk Hazy West Coast IPA, 6.5%
• Creative Creature Brewing (El Cajon, San Marcos): Calibunga West Coast IPA, 6.5%
• Division 23 Brewing (Miramar): All in a Haze Work Hazy IPA, 6.8%

• East Village Brewing (East Village): Little Bear Helles Bock, 7.5%
• Eppig Brewing (Vista, Point Loma): Petunia Petite IPA, 5.6%
• GOAL. Brewing (North Park): Buko Pandan Haze Hazy IPA w/ Pandan Leaf, 6.4%
• GOAL. Brewing (North Park): Checkers Not Checks Hazy IPA, 6.4% (collaboration w/ Pizza Port Ocean Beach)
• GOAL. Brewing (North Park): Chicago Twos Hazy Double IPA, 8%
• GOAL. Brewing (North Park): Melo Twos Hazy Double IPA, 8%
• Gravity Heights (Sorrento Valley): Braxator Imperial Stout, 8.5%
• Harland Brewing (Scripps Ranch, South Park, Bay Park, Carmel Valley): Strawberry ShortJake Sour Ale, 5%
• Harland Brewing (Scripps Ranch, South Park, Bay Park, Carmel Valley): Twinzer Pale Ale, 5.8%
• Hopnonymous Brewing (Kearny Mesa): Christmas Countach Hazy Triple IPA, 10%
• Hopnonymous Brewing (Kearny Mesa): Euro Steppin Czech-style Pilsner, 4.5%
• Hopnonymous Brewing (Kearny Mesa): Let Them Eat Cake Anniversary Kettle Sour Ale, 7%
• Hopnonymous Brewing (Kearny Mesa): Life of Pie Bourbon Barrel-aged Imperial Stout, 11.5%
• Jacked Up Brewery (Escondido): Barrel-aged Chocolate Stout, 10%
• Jacked Up Brewery (Escondido): Red Rye Ale, 6%
• Jacked Up Brewery (Escondido): Saturday IPA, 6.3%
• Ketch Brewing (Kearny Mesa, Downtown, Point Loma): Harbor Frost Cold IPA, 6.9% (collaboration w/ Burgeon Beer Co.)
• Lightning Brewery (Poway): Biergarten Helles-style Lager, 4.4%

• Mcilhenney Brewing (Alpine): Dankster for Life Double Dry-hopped West Coast IPA, 6.7%
• Modern Times Beer (Point Loma, North Park, Encinitas): Business Oracle Hazy Double IPA, 8%
• Modern Times Beer (Point Loma, North Park, Encinitas): Impact Strategy Hazy Double IPA, 8%
• Nickel Beer Co. (Julian): Chocolate Vanilla Stonewall Stout, 6.5%
• Nickel Beer Co. (Julian): Let It Snow Winter Lager w/ Piloncillo Sugar, 6% (collaboration w/ Puesto Cerveceria)
• North Park Beer Co. (North Park, Bankers Hill): Chopped Greens Hazy Double IPA, 8.5% – PURCHASE ONLINE
• North Park Beer Co. (North Park, Bankers Hill): Happy Holidays, Pally!! Double Dry-hopped West Coast IPA, 7% – PURCHASE ONLINE
• North Park Beer Co. (North Park, Bankers Hill): Sense of Porpoise Czech-style Amber Lager, 5% (collaboration w/ Humble Sea Brewing) – PURCHASE ONLINE
• Northern Pine Brewing (Oceanside, Carmel Valley): Cruise Together West Coast Pilsner, 4.8%
• Northern Pine Brewing (Oceanside, Carmel Valley): Roam v4 Hazy IPA, 6.6%
• The Original 40 Brewing (North Park): Baja Negra Mexican-style Dark Lager, 5.2%
• The Original 40 Brewing (North Park): Big Tings West Coast Double IPA, 9%
• San Diego Brewing Co. (Mission Valley): 30th Anniversary Red IPA, 7%
• Seek Beer Co. (North Park): Same As It Ever Was West Coast IPA, 7.4%
• Seek Beer Co. (North Park): Warm Smile Tropical Punch-inspired Sour Ale, 5.%
• TapRoom Beer Co. (North Park): B.Lush Sour Ale w/ Boysenberry, Blueberry & Coffee, 6%

Gene Fielden | North Park Bottlecraft Manager

Enegren Christmas Bock | Winter Bock (7%): There’s no denying San Diego is a hops town, but as the morning fog creeps in and the sweatshirts go on, a malt-forward lager is exactly what is called for. This ruddy, maroon-hued bockbier provides delightful caramel aromas and bready satiation, tied off by spicy Hallertau and Herkules hops from Germany. The Tannenbaum festooning the label proudly proclaims the season. Frohe Weihnachten!

St. Bernardus Christmas Ale | Belgian Winter Ale (10%): With its signature cheerful monk sporting a Santa hat, the Christmas Ale from St. Bernardus instantly announces a festive demeanor. The (secular) brewery located in Western Flanders has real cachet, having worked for decades with the famed Westvleteren Trappist abbey the next town over. Based on their immensely popular Abt 12, a pitch-perfect quad by style, the Christmas Ale has a touch of spicing from their expressive estery yeast. This one is my personal favorite of the Belgian winter warmer category and an annual treat. Vrolijk Kerstfeest / Joyeaux Noël!

Cellarmaker Wreather Madness | Holiday Spiced Ale (7.5%): The Gingerbread Man sits snugly in his easy chair at home, the fireplace alit to warm his right foot while a curled-up cat snoozes at his left. He exhales smoke rings towards the decorated Christmas tree and everything is twinkly. Who could ask for anything more? Replete with cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and vanilla, this one is for those who crave winter spicing in their beer. Happy holidays!

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