You won’t have to look far for excellent breweries in San Diego. This California city is widely recognized as the craft beer capital of the U.S.
I’m a San Diego local and can confirm that the breweries here are incredible. In fact, going on a microbrewery tour is one of the top things to do in San Diego.In this guide, I’ll introduce you to the breweries you can’t miss.
I’ll go over some of the industry’s most well-known and respected breweries along with several smaller names that remain hidden gems. Here are San Diego’s best breweries!
Notification: Travel Lemming is an independent reader-supported blog. You can support us by purchasing via the affiliate links on this page, which may earn us commissions. See our Advertising Policy for further explanation. Thank you!
16 Best Breweries in San Diego
Pizza Port Brewing Co.
Grab a brew and a pizza at this family-oriented brewery.
📍 Google Maps | 🍻 Pizza Port Brewing Co. Website | 🍽️ Food Served | 📞 +1 760 707 1655
Pizza Port is a community favorite, both for its pizza and its great brews. But what draws the crowds is the welcoming, family-oriented atmosphere.
All of the locations have family-style tables for large groups to sit and enjoy a pizza and cold beer. The Carlsbad location even has arcade games which kept me entertained for hours as a kid while my parents socialized.
Not only is the atmosphere awesome, but the brewery is a Great American Beer Fest award winner. This proves that Pizza Port is both pretty on the outside and quality on the inside. My favorite beer is Pizza Port Swami’s, a West Coast IPA.
Burgeon Beer Co.
Burgeon’s superb craft beer list and inviting brewery draw tons of beer fans to Carlsbad.
📍 Google Maps | 🍻 Burgeon Beer Co. Website | 🍽️ Food Trucks Thursdays – Sundays | 📞 +1 760 814 2548
Burgeon Beer Co. is a Great American Beer Festival award winner and has three wonderful locations in Escondido, Little Italy, and Carlsbad. The latter is a full event space where the beer-making magic happens.
Each location brings the outside in with a natural, earthy atmosphere. But most importantly, they all serve fantastic, award-winning brews – Invita is a fan favorite.
Blue Fire Brewing
Visit this welcoming, up-and-coming brewery in San Marcos.
📍 Google Maps | 🍻 Blue Fire Brewing Website | 🍽️ Food Vendors Tuesdays and Thursdays – Saturdays | 📞 +1 760 804 9899
Blue Fire Brewing is an up-and-coming local craft brewery with brewing operations and a tasting room in San Marcos.
The family-operated brewery creates a welcoming atmosphere that makes everyone feel like a part of the family… a family united by beer!
Blue Fire prides itself on making crisp, fresh beer that can be enjoyed by all. I highly recommend trying any of its IPAs.
Fall Brewing Co.
Embrace punk rock vibes and grab a beer at Fall Brewing’s tasting room.
📍 Google Maps | 🍻 Fall Brewing Co. Website | 🍽️ Food Trucks On Site | 📞 +1 619 310 5101
Fall Brewing is just as trendy as the South Park neighborhood where it’s located. The atmosphere of the tasting room is a unique blend of punk rock and hipster that makes it both cool and inviting.
In addition to great beer (I recommend the Plenty for All California Pilsner), there are also food trucks on site, plenty of indoor seating, and occasionally featured artist displays.
Viewpoint Brewing Co.
Enjoy a beer with a view of Del Mar’s beautiful wetlands.
📍 Google Maps | 🍻 Viewpoint Brewing Co. Website | 🍽️ Food Served | 📞 +1 858 356 9346
Viewpoint Brewing Co. is everything its name implies – a great brewery that offers its guests fantastic, front-seat views of the 110-acre San Dieguito Lagoon wetland area.
As if incredible scenery and high-quality brews weren’t enough, Viewpoint’s food menu is also noteworthy, including a comprehensive brunch menu.
Want the best way to experience Viewpoint? Go for a hike around the San Dieguito Lagoon and then hit up the brewery for a post-hike beer (my favorite kind).
👉 Love beer and hiking?: Check out my list of hikes around San Diego for more ideas of places to hike before hitting up the breweries.
Coronado Brewing Company
One of the oldest craft breweries in San Diego with top-notch, quality beers.
📍 Google Maps | 🍻 Coronado Brewing Company Website | 🍽️ Food Served | 📞 +1 619 437 4452
Coronado Brewing was created in 1996 on Coronado Island. Its excellence in beer along with its nostalgic, coastal atmosphere have earned it a reputation as a well-loved San Diego brewery.
The timeless brews have earned Coronado Brewing Company’s beers multiple awards throughout the years. Yet the two tasting rooms have retained the laid-back, inviting vibe that makes it a favorite watering hole for locals.
All of the beers are great, but I recommend giving the Weekend Vibes IPA a try.
Eppig Brewing
Head to Eppig Brewing in Point Loma for sunset views while sipping beer.
📍 Google Maps | 🍻 Eppig Brewing Website | 🍽️ Food Not Served | 📞 +1 619 756 6825
Eppig Brewing’s skill at making great beer has earned the brewery tons of respect in San Diego. It also earned it a coveted award at the Great American Beer Festival.
Eppig specializes in lagers – the Eppig Brewing Special Lager is excellent – but has a huge variety of other beers as well.
The Eppig Biergarten in Point Loma sits on the waterfront and marina offering beautiful views, especially during sunset. The brewery does not serve its own food, but it’s within walking distance of a delicious fresh seafood restaurant, Mitch’s.
My recommendation? Grab a fish taco from Mitch’s and then walk over to Eppig to kick back and watch a sunset with a beer in hand.
Pure Project
Pure Project has both great brews and a gorgeous patio with tons of seating.
📍 Google Maps | 🍻 Pure Project Website | 🍽️Food Served | 📞 +1 858 727 3450
Pure Project quickly made a name for itself in San Diego’s beer scene. It prides itself on making beer for all palettes like the Japanese-style rice lager, I Choose Yuzu, and the chocolatey imperial stout, Chocosaurus Rex.
The Miramar tasting room is the original home of Pure Project, but a new location in North Park boasts a wonderful, huge outdoor patio garden. It’s a perfect spot for a pre or post-date drink!
Culture Brewing Co.
Nothing goes together better than a Culture beer, outdoor lawn games, and food trucks.
📍 Google Maps | 🍻 Culture Brewing Co. Website | 🍽️ Food Trucks | 📞 +1 858 345 1144
Culture Brewing Co has locations in both Solana Beach and Encinitas. You can’t go wrong visiting either!
Both locations include quaint outdoor patio areas with communal outdoor games for kids and adults. There are also occasional artist pop-ups. For beer, I recommend giving the Mosaic IPA a taste, but any of its beers are excellent.
North Park Beer Co.
Get cozy with a beer and friends at this small, local brewery.
📍 Google Maps | 🍻 North Park Beer Co. Website | 🍽️ Food Not Served | 📞 +1 619 255 2994
North Park Beer Co. is a tiny, local brewery that’s been around since 2016. Despite its small size, it used those years to make a name for itself, earning an award at the 2021 Great American Beer Fest.
The tasting room, located in the trendy North Park area, has a warm and cozy atmosphere made complete by a tasty brew. Its West Coast IPA, Hop-Fu!, is worth a taste.
Resident Brewing
Enjoy the bustling atmosphere of Resident Brewing, located in the Gaslamp Quarter.
📍 Google Maps | 🍻 Resident Brewing Website | 🍽️ | 📞 +1 619 717 6622
Resident Brewing is located in the historic and bustling Gaslamp Quarter, one of the many awesome neighborhoods in San Diego.
It stands out among the surrounding bars and restaurants because the brewery prides itself on creating a relaxed and inviting atmosphere. It achieves this with nostalgic, Americana vibes.
If I had to pick one beer to recommend – a truly difficult task – it would be Chasing Citra. But really, I’m certain any brew here will have you hooked.
Nickel Beer Company
Embrace the quaint mountain atmosphere of Julian while enjoying Nickel’s quality beers.
📍 Google Maps | 🍻 Nickle Beer Co. Website | 📞 +1 760 765 2337
Nickel Beer Company is located in the quaint mountain village of Julian, which is nestled in northeast San Diego County.
The tasting room embraces its surroundings with an eclectic, warm, cabin atmosphere. There’s indoor and outdoor seating and communal games.
Julian is one of the best weekend trip destinations near San Diego and you shouldn’t come here without stopping for a beer at Nickel. Nickel’s beer makes a great addition to Julian’s famous apple pies! Grab a slice of pie at Mom’s then head to the brewery for the perfect beer.
Societe Brewing Company
Societe welcomes all beer lovers to its large brewery in Kearny Mesa.
📍 Google Maps | 🍻 Societe Brewing Website | 🍽️ Food Served | 📞 +1 858 598 5409
Societe Brewing is the brainchild of brewmaster Travis Smith and brewery curator Douglas Constantiner, and it’s been around for over a decade.
In its many years, Societe has managed to brew some award-winning, well-loved beers such as the brewery’s Pupil IPA. The brewery is big on creating and fostering community and has focused on pushing for equality in the beer and brewery scene.
The tasting room in Kearny Mesa offers both outdoor and indoor seating in its warm and welcoming beer hall.
Mcilhenney Brewing Co.
Take a trip to Alpine to try beers brewed by award-winning brewing brothers.
📍 Google Maps | 🍻 Mcilhenney Brewing Co. Website | 📞 +1 619 612 2207
Mchilhenney Brewing is a family-owned and operated brewery in Alpine, which is 30 miles east of San Diego. While the small brewery only has a few years on the beer scene, it has decades of behind-the-scenes brewing expertise.
Shawn and Jamie Mcilhenney, sons of Pat Mchilhenney, the creator of Alpine Beer Company, carried on their father’s legacy with this award-winning operation.
Take a little day trip from San Diego out this way and try the Brite Lites Helles, Honey Hill, or any of its West Coast IPAs to see what all the fuss is about.
3 Punk Ales Brewing Co.
Fantastic beer, punk rock vibes, live music, artists, and food trucks… this Chula Vista Brewery has it all.
📍 Google Maps | 🍻 Thr3e Punk Ales Brewing Co. Website | 📞 +1 619 271 4853
Like punk rock, live music, Manchester United, and great beer? 3 Punk Ales is the brewery for you!
The quirky tasting room is located in downtown Chula Vista and has both indoor and outdoor seating. Occasionally the brewery will host live musicians and featured artist displays. Try its lagers and stouts for something delicious to get you started.
Stone Brewing Co.
Share a beer with friends at one of San Diego’s most well-known and world-famous breweries.
📍 Google Maps | 🍻 Stone Brewing Co. Website | 🍽️ Food Served | 📞 +1 619 269 2100
Stone Brewing is a beloved local institution created in 1996. It’s world-famous thanks to its incredibly skilled brewing team.
Arrogant Bastard Ale put Stone on the map, but in the years since, the brewery has produced some excellent new brews. I recommend trying the Stone Buenaveza Salt & Lime Lager.
Stone has 6 locations all over San Diego, the largest of which is the Stone World Bistro and Gardens in Point Loma. The indoor and outdoor space is massive and constructed with beautiful stone architecture.
The fantastic beer and extensive menu make Stone a favorite local eatery. It even made McKenna’s list of the best breweries in California.
👉 Read Next: Check out my article breaking down the best areas to stay in San Diego.
FAQs About San Diego Microbreweries
What is the most popular brewery in San Diego?
Stone Brewing Co. is the most popular brewery in San Diego. It has 6 different locations in San Diego and a huge selection of excellent beers.
Is San Diego known for breweries?
San Diego is widely considered a pioneer and frontrunner in the craft and microbrewery scene. Many of its breweries continue to create boundary-pushing brews. The San Diego favorite West Coast IPAs consistently win awards at international beer festivals.
How many breweries are in San Diego?
There are over 150 breweries in San Diego County. Each creates distinctive specialty beers and provides unique tasting experiences in their tasting rooms, restaurants, and breweries.
👉 Read Next: 23 Top Beaches in San Diego County
***
It’s no easy task to identify the best breweries in San Diego, but these are some of my favorites. They’re great places to start on a beer crawl. Leave a comment to let me know where you’re headed first!
