Brewery Visits

Pizza Port opened their doors in 1987 in Solana Beach as a pizza restaurant and added their craft beer to the menu in 1992. They now have eight locations in Southern California. Hoppy visited the location in Ocean Beach.

While there, he enjoyed some pizza and a Crooked Tree Red IPA, which was brewed at that location. It is simply described as having pine and citrus notes. 6.8% ABV.

Hoppy’s next visit took place in Alpine, CA at Mcilhenney Brewing. It was founded in 2021by the McIlhenny family which had previously run Alpine Brewing, in the same location, until it was acquired by Green Flash Brewing, also in 2021. More information on their history can be found here.

During his visit, Hoppy drank four-ounce samples of seven different ales. Each of them was rated more than four points on Untappd! They were as follows:

Family Trees – A West Coast IPA brewed with New Zealand Cascade, Citra, DynaBoost Citra, Nectaron, Chinook,, and Lupomax HBC 586 hopos. 6.5% ABV.

All Gas, No Brakes (Collaboration with Yakima Chief Hops & New Zealand Hops Ltd.) – West Coast/New Zealand IPA w/Simcoe, Nectaron, DynaBoost Citra, Superdelic, Cryo Nelson Sauvin, Cryo Riwaka, Cryo Nectaron & Cryo Superdelic hops. 6.6% ABV.

Parallel Paradise – DDH West Coast IPA w/Strata, Mosaic, Simcoe, Citra, Cryo Mosaic, Cryo Citra, Cryo Simcoe & CGX Strata hops. 6.9% ABV.

Wizards Wand – West Coast IPA w/Strata & Mosaic hops. 6.7% ABV.

Alpha Therapy – Mega-hopped IPA w/Simcoe, Mosaic, Nectaron, Cryo Nelson Sauvin, & Citra Incognito hops. &% ABV.

M.A.S. Hops – West Coast IPA w/Mosaic T90 & HyperBoost, Anchovy T90, Simcoe T90, Cryo & DynaBoost. 6.4% ABV.

Wild Child 2xIPA – West Coast Double IPA w/Columbus, Citra, Mosaic & Amarillo hops. 8.4%ABV.

Pictures from the visit follow:

Hoppy also dropped by a second Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens location in the Liberty Station neighborhood of San Diego. Due to weather and time constraints, this visit was much shorter than his prior visit to Stone.

While there Hoppy enjoyed an Arrogant Bastard Ale. This is a strong American Ale that Stone lists as Classified. 7.2% ABV, 100 IBU.

Pictures follow:

Hoppy’s next stop was at Coronado Brewing. They opened their doors in 1996 as one of only five craft breweries in the San Diego area, at the time. It was their desire to be the kind of place where friends could enjoy great beer and a good meal in a laid-back atmosphere. They use the slogan, “Stay Coastal.”

During his visit, Hoppy quaffed an Aloha Warrior West Coast IPA. It is brewed in honor of the C4 Foundation. It is described as being brewed with Chinook, Simcoe and Columbus cryo hops to give this beer a dank and OG character with some notes of fresh pine. It has a dry finish with a firm bitterness.

Pictures from the visit follow:

While on a trip to the Rose Bowl, Hoppy stopped by Stone Brewing in Escondido, CA. Stone began brewing in 1996 and quickly became one of the largest craft brewers in the country. In 2022 they were purchased by Sapporo USA. While at the Bistro and Gardens Hoppy enjoyed tasting the following beers:

Stone Citragato IPA – Described as a West Coast IPA with Cryo Fresh Citra and Krush hops. 7.7% ABV.

Stone Delicious IPA – Described as an intensely citrusy, beautifully bitter beer worthy of its simple-yet lordly title. El Dorado & Lemon Drop hops combine to bring on a magnificent lemon candy-like flavor that’s balanced by hop spice. It is crafted to reduce gluten. 7.7%, 75 IBU.

Stone Delicious Double IPA – Described as having serious depth of flavor and an explosive aroma of lemon & tropical fruit from Centennial and Amarillo hops, all with less bitterness than a typical double IPA. The result is extra fruity, extra satisfying and extra Delicious. 9.4% ABV, 55 IBU,

Stone Enjoy By 01.01.26 Double IPA – Described as packed with a ludicrous amount of hops for maximum tropical fruit, peach and resiny goodness, this beer is as crisp as the evening air and as dazzling as a midnight fireworks show. 9.4% ABV, 90 IBU.

Stone Imperial Zombie Love Potion – This is an Imperial Chocolate Pomegranate Poter. It is described as having chocolaty richness, balanced nicely by the fruity notes of pomegranate. 9% ABV, 60 IBU.

Hoppy also imbibed full glasses of the following ales:

Stone Green Buds IPA – This is a West Coast IPA headlining Anchovy and Citra hops, harmonizing with vibrant riffs of citrus, golden apple, apricot and melon. 7% ABV.

Stone Hop Squander IPA – Brewed with seven different hops! Described as being juicy with soft bitterness and having citrus, stone fruit, sweet fruits and tropical notes. 7.1% ABV.

Pictures from Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens follow:

Hoppy’s last stop in South Carolina was at Snafu Brewing. They were founded in 2016, and they opened their tasting room in February 2017. They are known for their sour beers, and they call themselves Charleston’s Sour Brewery.

While there, Hoppy quaffed a Keeping It Teal Sour-Fruited beer. It is described as brewed with oats and then conditioned on cotton candy and blue raspberry Italian ice. 5% ABV.

Pictures from the visit follow: