What’s Tapping (3/9/23)

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. 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!

• Abnormal Beer Co. (Rancho Bernardo): Barrel-aged Mud Pie Mocha Stout w/ Oreos, Cacao, Coffee, Lactose, Vanilla, Marshmallow & Almonds
• AleSmith Brewing (Miramar): Session .394 Pale Ale, 4.9%
• Arcana Brewing (Carlsbad): Bonzer German-style Pilsner, 4.5%
• Arcana Brewing (Carlsbad): Centennial Smash Small-batch Pale Ale, 5.5%
• Ataraxia Aleworks (Kearny Mesa): Hazy Vision Quest IPA, 7%
• Athletic Brewing (Miramar): SUped Up Non-alcoholic Coffee Ale, < 0.5%
• Ballast Point Brewing (Miramar, Little Italy, Morena): Satin Walnut American Amber Ale, 6%
• Barrel & Stave Brewing (Vista): Aus-zea Hazy IPA, 6.3%
• BattleMage Brewing (Vista): Verses of Victory English-style Brown Ale, 5.6%
• Burning Beard Brewing (El Cajon): Dr. Gonzo Triple IPA, 10.5%
• Deft Brewing (Morena): DeftHopt Rustic Hazy-ish IPA, 5.4%
• Deft Brewing (Morena): Scrummy Suds British-style Dark Mild Ale, 3.1%
• Dogleg Brewing (Vista): Fore Wright Pale Ale, 5.5%
• Dos Desperados Brewery (San Marcos): Lager Magnifico Helles Lager, 4.7%
• Duck Foot Brewing (Miramar): Sour Cherry Limeade Beer Slushie

• Embolden Beer Co. (Miramar): Fragments of Reality Gose w/ Passionfruit & Curuba
• Embolden Beer Co. (Miramar): Pardon My French Toast Robust Porter w/ Maple, Cinnamon & Vanilla
• Five Suits Brewing (Vista): Planet Nectaron Hazy IPA, 7%
• Harland Brewing (Scripps Ranch, South Park, Bay Park, Carmel Valley): Big Chick Energy Oatmeal Stout w/ Dulce de Leche & Coconut, 5.5%
• Helix Brewing (La Mesa): Stoned in Paradise Hop-hazed Tropical Session IPA, 4.2%
• Heritage Barbecue & Beer (Oceanside): Z^3 Foreign-style Stout, 7%
• Hopnonymous Brewing (Kearny Mesa): Life’s a Stage New Zealand-hopped Hazy Double IPA, 8.2%
• Kings & Convicts Brewing (Miramar): Oh Me, Oh Maibock, 6.5%
• Kings & Convicts Brewing (Miramar): PumperZwickel Rye Zwickelbier, 4.7%
• Mike Hess Brewing (North Park, Marina District, Ocean Beach, Imperial Beach, Alpine): Hooligan Irish Stout, 
• My Yard Live Beer Co. (San Marcos): Flight of the Kiwis New Zealand-hopped IPA, 7.2%
• North Park Beer Co. (North Park, Bankers Hill): NP Pilz Bavarian-style Pilsner, 4.6%
• North Park Beer Co. (North Park, Bankers Hill): TDH Art is Hard Triple Dry-hopped Hazy IPA, 7%
• Pizza Port Brewing (Carlsbad, Solana Beach, Ocean Beach, Imperial Beach): Plain Porter Irish-style Porter, 4.8%

• Poor House Brewing (North Park): Clusterfukk Double IPA, 8.1%
• Poor House Brewing (North Park): Live Life Simply Session IPA, 5%
• Poor House Brewing (North Park): Low Life Pilsner, 5.2%
• Poor House Brewing (North Park): Peeled & Pressed Hazy Double IPA, 8.2%
• Puesto Cerveceria (Mission Valley): Kind of Blue Mexican-style Pilsner w/ Blue Corn, 5.4% (collaboration w/ TapRoom Beer Co.)
• Pure Project Brewing (Vista, Carlsbad, Miramar, North Park, Bankers Hill): Valley of Abundance Smoothie Beer w/ Mango, Banana & Dragon Fruit, 6%
• Pure Project Brewing (Vista, Carlsbad, Miramar, North Park, Bankers Hill): Waking Moments Murky Double IPA, 8.3%
• Seek Beer Co. (North Park): Redefine Cold IPA, 7.7%
• Seek Beer Co. (North Park): Triumphant Journey Hazy Double IPA, 8.3%
• South O Brewing (Oceanside): R&D Batch 2 West Coast IPA, 6.8%
• TapRoom Beer Co. (North Park, Pacific Beach): Bread Van English-style Bitter, 4%
• TapRoom Beer Co. (North Park, Pacific Beach): Lush Imperial Sour Ale w/ Raspberry, Marionberry & Coffee, 6.5%
• TapRoom Beer Co. (North Park, Pacific Beach): Paw Manz Contemporary Pilsner w/ Spelt, 5% (collaboration w/ Lazarus Brewing)
• TapRoom Beer Co. (North Park, Pacific Beach): Positive Vibes Always Double Dry-hopped Hazy IPA, 7.2%
• Thr3e Punk Ales Brewing (Chula Vista): Tres Animales Triple IPA, 10%
• Wild Barrel Brewing (San Marcos): Big Chocolate Velvet Barrel-aged Double Oatmeal Stout w/ Fig, 10.4%

Gene Fielden | North Park Bottlecraft Manager

Mujeres Fruta Mágica | Fruited Hazy IPA (6.5%): This represents a milestone for Mujeres Brew House in Barrio Logan, being their first canning run! Demonstrably representing a distinct current within the wide world of craft beer, Mujeres is a women-run project under Latina leadership. Fruta Mágica is a hazy IPA liberally dosed with the ever-popular blend of passionfruit, orange and guava. The slim iridescent cans are emblazoned with a faceless figure whose headdress emits sheafs of barley. ¡Salud!

Wayfinder Older Gods | Maibock (6.7%): Continuing our journey of spring lagers (see: last week’s column), the inimitable Wayfinder Beer offers a lighter take on the Maibock. Sweetbread malts give off a golden-raisin vibe, followed by light-touch herbal Noble-hop character. The gently diminished ABV (alcohol-by-volume) avoids any ethanol burn on the finish. I, for one, welcome this renewed interest in lagers of all stripes for all seasons.

Societe The Pugilist | Irish-style Dry Stout (4.5%): The Pugilist is a longstanding draft-only ale from Societe Brewing, promoted to full can status just in time for St. Patrick’s Day. An Irish dry stout in style and temperament, expect roasty tones without any heaviness in the body. The forest-green cans depict Societe’s silhouetted prizefighter in an archway frame, ready to take on all challenges. Sláinte!

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