I'll be in town June 5-12. Not sure what days I'll be available for beers yet.
Staying here. Pretty sure we'll have at least one rental car and my BIL has his Jeep there.
Place looks awesome. And as I mentioned, I love OB. Let me know if you want any tips on local spots or suggestions.
Any place close to there that is good to hang out at wouldn't hurt. Decent food and a good tap selection would be ideal. My MIL is a DIPA fanatic, so I'll have to find her some good ones on tap around town.
Lots of great food and taps in OB. I think that Pizza Port is just shy of 50 taps. Their new head brewer (old Carlsbad head brewer) is focussing on IPAs right now. I hope that continues. Always a great tap list. I'm in there 2-3 times a week.
Corner of Niagra and Bacon are a couple god food spots. Pomas has the best Meatball sub I've ever had. Awesome Turkey and Roast Beef subs as well. More of a takeout place then dine-in. Catty corner from there is Raglan Public House. They specialize in burgers. Organic grass food New Zealand, blah blah blah. Good stuff. I actually always get their Grilled Chicken Sandwich "Dirty Jerz" though. One of my favorite sandwiches in town. Half off whole menu on Sundays after 8. All craft beers on tap. Drank a Sucaba there last time I was there.
Bottom of Newport Ave (main drag) are two cool spots. Newport Pizza and Alehouse. Smallish tap list that can be hit and miss, but when it's a hit it can be awesome. You get a little more of the hippy street kids hanging out here though so some people don't like the place. That means the good stuff stays on tap longer. They had '08 Angel's Share on tap for over a week. Their Younger keg lasted all night on a Friday. Awesome bottle selection too. NY style pizza. Across the street from there is South Beach. Very famous in San Diego for their fish tacos. I take all my seafood friends there when they visit and they all love it. I don't eat seafood so can;t give the personal approval. They have an awesome late night happy hour. All tacos and taps are $3. Not a great tap list, but they always have Sculpin and a couple other IPAs on. Sometimes have special release Ballast Point stuff.
Up Newport a couple blocks you have my favorite soccer bar, The Harp. They were one of Alpine's first accounts so they tend to have an Alpine tap. It has been less and less frequent though. A couple years ago they always had two Alpine taps going. Now they sometimes have one. Decent bar/Irish food. Live music most nights. A couple doors down is my favorite Italian restaurant, Ciao Bella. Best Gnocchi I have ever had, and I've had them everywhere that I've them on the menu. Made in house. Melt in your mouth. Great pizza, pasta, and risotto dishes as well. No quality beer though.
The Joint on Newport and Bacon also has a decent tap list. I have some friends that love the place. Eclectic menu focussed on sushi.
Wednesdays are the busiest nights in OB. One block of Newport gets closed off for the Farmer's Market. It has evolved more into a fair of sorts. Lots of street food and some live music. Sometimes Lama rides. Great OB people watching.
On the North side of town OB Noodle House has 50 taps. Some are uninspired, but most are quality. They have the best Happy Hour in town. Half off all drafts until 6. Place gets REAL crowded though. Go right around 4 to beat the rush. Great Pho, Fried Rice, and Short Ribs. Real nice sake selection as well.
You also have one of the best bottle shops in San Diego a few blocks from you, Olive Tree Market. Thursday-Saturday from 4-10 they have a cool little tasting room. 3 beer flights and 2 wine flights (a red and a white). Different menu every week. Real cheap (flights from $4-6. 4oz pours?). A receipt from the tasting room gets you 10% off the bottle shop. They also have great deli with Boars Head meats, nice steaks, marinated kabobs, and fine cheeses.
