San Diego celebrates beer at CityBeat
By Noah Davis • Apr 8th, 2009 • Category: Beer Events
Occasionally, we consider moving to San Diego. It’s warm. All the time. It’s beautiful. All the time. The people are attractive. All the time. Honestly, what’s not to like? Then you visit, however, and realize it’s essentially a city devoid of culture, unless you consider being a stop on the way to Tijuana an important cultural experience. We don’t.
This might be changing as the city will host its second annual CityBeat Festival of Beers on May 17. Over 20 local breweries will take part in the festivities, as well as tons of restaurants and bands. You can get tickets here.
There’s definitely a new reason to head to Southern California. For at least one day.
With the likes of Stone, (Pizza) Port, Ballast Point, Green Flash, and many others, San Diego merits much more time than just a day or two. I spent a week there last fall and didn’t get to half the brew spots I had on my list. If you go for the fest, better plan on several days to truly enjoy the local brews.
This festival looks terrible. A) If you look at the descriptions of the breweries, half of them are about one of their beers and nothing is said about the actual brewery.
Second, this is a festival in San Diego. The list is missing Alesmith, Alpine, Ballast Point, Back Street, and I’m sure I’m missing something else. This festival is not inclusive of a real San Diego beer fest and really should be criticized more than touted as something good.
This event could have been good if the organizers weren’t so cheap. $30 got you 5, 4 oz tastings, a couple of hack bands and the feeling of being trapped in an over crowded bar. If you had a pair of breasts and acted like a ditz, you got a couple freebies here and there but overall a very stingy event. Will never go to this again and I recommend you don’t either. The Beerfest downtown is mucn better run and not nearly as shiesty, plus far more space allocated for it.
Ballast Point I believe attended.