Why San Diego Breweries would be the greatest Breweries in Southern California

With more than 75 breweries now making what's likely tens of thousands of different beers, it can help to focus your strategies slightly by geographic region and also by the kinds of beers you need to see. When there is one beer design that could be looked at quintessentially San Diego, it is got to be our India Pale Ales (or IPAs). And when it comes to IPAs, San Diego brewers do not skimp on the hops! That is why, in case you're an actual hop-head, and you have the opportunity to tour some San Diego breweries, you're certain to be one happy hopper.



If you want to take a brewery tour of San Diego here's one suggested roadmap for investigating Downtown San Diego and "jumping" from one great beer to the next:



First Stop: Karl Strauss



Where: 1157 Columbia Street



There are generally about 10 collections on tap here, which regularly include Pintail Pale Ale and Tower 10 IPA, each of which give a lot of hoppy goodness in a medium-bodied package that match nicely with food. If one of Brewmaster Paul Segura's special beers is accessible - such as Huge Barrel Double IPA or Tower 20 Double IPA - don't pass up them.



Second Stop: Mission Brewery



Where: time - walking from Karl Strauss: about 20 minutes



Moving up in intensity will be then and Mission IPA Shipwrecked Double IPA, which has become the brewery's most popular and best selling beer of late.



Third stop:



Here, you will not just discover a great variety of Monkey Paw brews that are superb, you will also have one of the finest tap lists of San Diego close at hand. Hooked on Chinook (a single hop IPA) and Bonobos (a San Diego Pale Ale that delivers lots of citrus, honey, and floral hoppiness) are both delicious. And, what's more, you'll be drinking in a gold medal winning brewery: Bonobos won gold at this year's GABF (Great American Beer Festival) in a busy field of 120 entries.



Elective Stop 4: Coronado Brewing Company



If you really wished to add another dimension to your own downtown hop tour, you could walk to the ferry at Seaport Village (only a 15 minute walk from Karl Strauss) and float on over to Coronado, where you will find Coronado Brewing Company. There, you can sip on four or three flavorful elixirs, including Idiot IPA, Islander IPA, or Frog's Breath IPA. And, if you are feeling Flemish, you can also try their appetizing Hoppy Daze, which will be a Belgian IPA.