The Best San Diego Breweries to Enjoy a Cold One With Friends
With over 150 breweries scattered throughout San Diego County, deciding where to pop in for a fresh beer on tap can be overwhelming, especially if you have decision paralysis or are what we like to call a beer snob!
But who says you have to pick just one? We’ve curated a list of the best breweries in San Diego, and recommend that you explore them all.
And while we understand that taste is subjective (and we aren’t trying to pick any fights here…we KNOW everyone has their very strong opinions on this topic!), we’re confident you’ll appreciate this selection.
Whether you lean towards crisp lagers amidst lively surroundings with buzzing music or you’re a fan of sour beers and love enjoying them over a game of sack toss and checkers, we’ve got just the place for you.
Or perhaps you prefer the serene atmosphere of a low-key brewery where you can unwind with a good book or catch up on the news while sipping on a snickerdoodle stout. There’s something out there for every beer lover!
Heck, maybe you’re not into beer at all and only get down on hard kombucha or cider. No matter, San Diego offers options beyond beer, including kombucha and cider breweries.
Whatever your vibe, we have you covered! So, without further ado, here are our picks for the best San Diego breweries—listed alphabetically.
AleSmith Brewing Company
AleSmith is one of the most well-known micro-giant breweries in San Diego that has been creating a name for itself in the industry over several decades.
This Miramar brewery sports a tasting room with a rotating draft menu and a small, quaint speakeasy called Anvil & Stave. Anvil & Stave’s rustic, brick wall and wood vibe almost feels like you’ve been transported from San Diego to the inside of a wooden beer barrel!
Coffee lovers will be delighted to try the Barrel-Aged Speedway Stout: Coffee Cake Edition, and diehard San Diego State fans will be pleased to know they have an SDSU-branded ale.
AleSmith offers a dog- and kid-friendly atmosphere with rotating food trucks to accompany your hoppy beverages, making it the ideal setting to spend a Saturday afternoon with the whole family.
After a couple of brewskis, you can hit the Miramar Memorial Golf Course or the Great Room Escape San Diego for some extra excitement. Don’t forget to grab some homemade CheeseSmith cheese curds – a great way to cleanse the palate.
📆 Mon – Thu, 11 AM – 10 PM | Fri – Sat, 11 AM – 11 PM | Sun, 11 AM – 9 PM
📍 9990 AleSmith Ct, San Diego
ℹ️ More info here
Ballast Point
Ranking among San Diego’s top 10 largest breweries, Ballast Point delivers tasty brews and well-paired eats.
Their Little Italy location – with a ginormous outdoor patio perfect for people watching and watching the airplanes overhead – features private cabanas and a casual chic atmosphere.
Make sure to try their newest release: Speedboat Salt and Lime Blonde Ale. A bright, brilliant brew modeled after Koln-style ales, this beer is lightly hopped with citrusy, floral noble hops and finished off with a touch of Himalayan Sea salt and lime.
Munch on some truffle fries, wings, or birria street tacos, or try their unique Beer Float – a dessert with your choice of Piper Down Scottish Ale with Cinnamon-vanilla gelato or Aloha Sculpin IPA with pineapple gelato – a true treat you won’t find at any other brewery.
This stunning setting will have you feeling like you’ve been teleported to Europe. They also offer to-go kegs, so if you’re looking to supply for a party, you know where to go!
📆 Sun – Mon, 11 AM – 9 PM | Tue – Thu , 11 AM – 10 PM | Fri – Sat, 11 AM – 11 PM
📍 2215 India St, San Diego
ℹ️ More info here
Belching Beaver Brewery
We had to include this one because the name is just too dang adorable.
But seriously, Belching Beaver Brewery carries tons of unique beers on draft, including a Mexican Style Lager and a Peanut Butter Milk Stout Nitro.
For non-beer lovers, they’ve got a supply of hard seltzers, including Passion Fruit & Guava, Raspberry Lemonade, Dragon Fruit & Orange, and Tropical Punch.
The atmosphere is casual and inviting, with wooden barrels, benches, and heaters for those cold nights.
Their brewhouse in Oceanside has tons of game nights with local rotating eateries to pair with your beer, including bingo night, poker, trivia night, and live music.
They have a tavern and grill at their Vista location if you fancy a hearty meal and some impeccably flavorful beer to wash it down.
Their North Park tasting room also hosts trivia every Thursday night, accompanied by local restaurants, Radio Bingo, and Taco Tuesday.
No matter which location you choose, we know you’ll have a “Dam Good Time.” (We love a good pun!)
📆 Mon, 3 PM – 9 PM | Tue – Thu, 3 PM – 10 PM | Fri – Sat, 12 PM – 12 AM | Sun, 12 AM – 9 PM
📍 4223 30th St, San Diego
ℹ️ More info here
Craft Coast Brewing Company
Name a more iconic duo than Baja-style tacos and handcrafted cold beer!
What started as one relaxed, rustic indoor-outdoor Oceanside brewery has become North County’s hottest expansion story.
The original location on Mission Avenue still boasts that perfect combo of natural light and wooden accents that makes it ideal for kicking back with your friends, but now Craft Coast has grown to include their San Marcos production headquarters and a third location coming to Encinitas.
They’ve got a delectable selection of tacos, mulitas, and nachos, including birria, al pastor, pollo asado, and veggies, with a flavor explosion packed in every bite. And yes, they still serve those legendary birria tacos that had people lining up from day one.
Craft Coast has earned its reputation with standout beers from the area – Agua Baja Mexican Lager, Beeria Brown Ale, Galactic Dolphin American Hazy IPA, plus newer additions like Oscura (their dark Mexican lager) and The Sad Cowboy West Coast IPA.
Their success allowed them to take over the former Rip Current Brewing facility in San Marcos, where they now brew their core lineup and can their fan-favorite Agua Baja for wider distribution.
Whether you hit up the original Oceanside spot near the pier or check out their newer San Marcos location, you’re getting the same winning formula that’s made Craft Coast one of North County’s biggest success stories.
📆 Mon – Fri, 12 PM – 10 PM | Sat – Sun, 11 AM – 10 PM
📍 275 Mission Ave, Oceanside
ℹ️ More info here
Eppig Brewing
This award-winning independent San Diego craft brewery is situated right on the marina in Point Loma – truly a magical place to get comfy, kick off your shoes, and post up with your pup for some cold brews.
Bring your own board game, grab some fish tacos from Mitch’s Seafood next door, and post up for hours with a beautiful view of the marina. They allow outside food, although they do have some small snacks for purchase, too.
This dog-friendly beer haven is the ideal way to spend any afternoon, especially after a hard day’s work. Who doesn’t love a good brew paired with a good view?
They also host events such as waterfront yoga and a beer and social run club, as well as rum cake pairings, makers markets, and other fun events.
📆 Mon – Fri, 12 PM – 9 PM | Sat – Sun, 11 AM – 9 PM
📍 2817 Dickens St, San Diego
ℹ️ More info here
Harland Brewing
Harland Brewing gives off a simple yet sophisticated, beachy aura, really playing into the nautical theme with their branding, beverages, and brewery ambiance.
They offer tasting rooms in Bay Park, South Park, One Paseo, and Scripps Ranch – which is where their grand brewhouse is located.
Their brewhouse offers a more industrial feel than its other brick-and-mortar counterparts, with pool tables and surrounded by enormous steam-fired kettles, which they use to brew their excellently crafted beer. Their whole motto is to inspire others to live their lives and pursue their passions.
Featuring a spacious indoor setting adorned with open-air awnings and lush hanging plants, Harland Brewing’s atmosphere invites you to unwind and sip on suds in natural light.
Their standout brews include the Hazy IPA, Rumbler Pale Ale, and various seasonal offerings—surefire favorites that pair perfectly with a laid-back, chill experience.
📆 Mon – Sat, 12 PM – 9 PM | Sun, 12 PM – 7 PM
📍 4112 Napier St, San Diego
ℹ️ More info here
Kairoa Brewing Company
Beer enthusiasts who love a good rooftop will scream at the aesthetics of this modern industrial brewery.
With palm trees surrounding the perimeter, cutesy cacti, canopies, and tons of cushioned seating, you could really bask up here and enjoy the sunshine and sip on brews all day long!
This University Heights treasure incorporates tons of fruity flavors into their smooth beers on draft, including current beers with Kiwi-inspired names like “Tweaky Buggah,” “Back Paddock,” and “Boots + Stubbies”
This New Zealand-inspired outdoor oasis also features tons of delicious eats – a full brunch, lunch, and dinner menu, seafood and comfort food, sandwiches, salads, shareables, and more.
📆 Mon – Tue, Closed | Wed – Thu, 4 PM – 10 PM | Fri, 4 PM – 11 PM | Sat, 12 PM – 11 PM | Sun, 10 AM – 8 PM
📍 4601 Park Blvd Ste A, San Diego
ℹ️ More info here
Kilowatt Brewing
This small-batch, hand-crafted, funky Ocean Beach gem of a brewery provides a vibe that takes you back to partying in college dorm rooms – blacklight wall art and all.
From Blondes to Belgians to Doppelbocks, this groovy brewery has a well-rounded menu and an adorable little outdoor patio for you to enjoy your beverages in the sunshine.
Kilowatt has an additional, more discrete location in Oceanside – The Space Pad – as well as a tiki-inspired speakeasy – The Forbidden Cove – in Kearny Mesa. Their Oceanside speakeasy is just as psychedelic as their OB location, having you feeling like you’re on the inside of a retro neon lava lamp.
📆 Sun – Thu, 12 PM – 11 PM | Fri – Sat, 12 PM – 12 AM | Sun, 12 PM – 11 PM
📍 1875 Cable Street, San Diego
ℹ️ More info here
Modern Times
Coffee addicts and beer gurus will love this beloved San Diego craft brewery and roastery that’s been reimagined for a new chapter.
After closing their original Midway District brewery in late 2024, Modern Times has focused on what they do best – creating exceptional beer and coffee experiences across their remaining locations.
You can still find their signature brews (now contract-brewed with AleSmith Brewing right here in San Diego) and their in-house roasted coffee at two fantastic tasting rooms.
Their North Park Flavordome remains a hub in the heart of San Diego’s craft beer scene, while their Encinitas Far West Lounge offers a laid-back coastal vibe. Both locations continue to showcase Modern Times’ stunning retro branding and personality-packed beer names that have made them local legends.
Modern Times still roasts its coffee in-house, so you can pick up small batch roasts or ready-to-enjoy cold brew in various styles. Their coffee program remains as strong as ever, proving they’re masters of both hops and beans.
Plus, they’re expanding again – Modern Times is taking over a downtown space on 4th Avenue that will serve coffee, wine, mixed drinks, donuts, and pizza from morning to night, bringing their unique vibe to yet another San Diego neighborhood.
While the brewery landscape has shifted, Modern Times continues to cultivate community through fun, inviting settings and maintains their League of Partygoers and Elegant People for access to limited-release beers. The spirit that made them a San Diego favorite lives on, just in new forms.
📆 Sun – Thu, 12 PM – 9 PM | Fri – Sat, 12 PM – 11 PM
📍 3000 Upas St, San Diego
ℹ️ More info here
North Park Beer Company
Does a TDH Art Is Hard IPA sound good to you? How about an Infinite Content Hazy IPA? Or maybe a Synapse Saturation? North Park Beer Company’s creatively named brews are as bold and inventive as their titles suggest!
If any of those made your mouth water, you’re in for a real treat because North Park Beer Co. offers some of the best in the biz! Their Hazy IPAs are not only hoppy, bold, and refreshing with a delicious aftertaste, but they have a gorgeous color to them.
There’s a reason they won 2022 GABF Brewery of the Year – these folks know what they’re doing.
This brewery giant has high ceilings and an outdoor patio and is a hop, skip, and jump away from Target, in case you’re feeling like doing a little tipsy shopping (yes, we know this is dangerous!).
But they’ve grown way beyond just their original North Park flagship – they now have three locations including a Crown Point pizza shop serving New York-style pies alongside their 24 taps.
If you want to switch it up from the hops and suds, North Park Beer Company also has a great selection of wine, hard kombucha, and cider.
And come hungry! Mastiff Kitchen, located inside the space, has evolved far beyond their original sausage truck roots to offer everything from their famous smash burgers and made-from-scratch sausages to seasonal salads, brussels sprout hash, and inventive appetizers.
Whether you hit up the original North Park location, their Chula Vista spot, or the Crown Point pizza shop, you’re getting award-winning beer and excellent eats from this homegrown San Diego success story.
📆 Sun – Thu, 12 PM – 10 PM | Fri – Sat, 12 PM – 12 AM
📍 3038 University Ave, San Diego
ℹ️ More info here
Nova Easy Kombucha
Ocean Beach is home to some of the coolest breweries on the block, and Nova stands out as a premier supplier of delicious hard (and soft) kombucha, gaining significant recognition in recent years.
This brewery specializes in naturally fermented, probiotic beverages, offering both alcoholic and non-alcoholic kombucha with delightfully balanced flavors and aromas.
Nova’s vibrantly colored branded cans add to the playful experience of indulging in their beverages. They have also mastered the art of pairing distinct flavors to craft exceptionally flavorful beverages, such as Watermelon Lime, Watermelon Mint, and Peach Passion Fruit.
For the gluten-free and vegan folks and those who just love sipping a refreshing beverage on an outdoor patio, Nova is a must-visit destination.
What’s more, this kombucha hotspot is conveniently located on Newport Avenue, with tons of restaurants nearby and the beach within arm’s reach, so you can continue the fun after your beverages are done and relish the lively OB atmosphere.
📆 Mon – Sat, 12 PM – 10 PM | Sat, 12 PM – 9 PM
📍 4845 Newport Ave, San Diego
ℹ️ More info here
Pizza Port
Since its inception in 1987, Pizza Port has made a name for itself in the worlds of pizza and beer.
Located in Ocean Beach, just a few blocks from the water, Pizza Port is a spectacular place to grab some melt-in-your-mouth pizza and delicious local beer.
Pizza Port’s great success reflects in their expansion to Solana Beach, Ocean Beach, Imperial Beach, Carlsbad Village, Bressi Ranch, Port Side, and San Clemente.
Aside from their Anti-Wimpy Pizzas with unique flavor profiles and tons of toppings, this pizza and beer mecca offers delicious buddies (their signature garlic bread bites), wings, and giant pretzels – plus arcade games.
Top tip: Their buffalo ranch sauce is to die for!
📆 Sun – Thu, 11 AM – 10 PM | Fri – Sat, 11 AM – 11 PM
📍 1956 Bacon St, San Diego
ℹ️ More info here
Societe Brewing Company
This saloon-style brewery in Kearny Mesa boasts woody, rustic features with abundant natural lighting and impressive exposed brew kettles to give you that true brewery feel. They also have a location in Old Town.
Societe offers a wide range of fun festivities and specials, such as Taco Tuesday deals, along with immersive activities like make-your-own mozzarella, Hoppy Yoga, Meet and Greets, and diverse pop-up markets.
This hip brewing company is renowned for its Out West IPAs, old-world continental ales, lagers, and feral barrel-aged wild ales, all crafted in-house.
At Societe, you can enjoy a delightful range of beers like The Pupil IPA, The Roustabout Double IPA, Sessions IPA, Hazy IPA, Bulbous Flowers, as well as lighter options.
Sit back, relax, and enjoy the western-inspired, old-town ambiance in their indoor-outdoor setting.
📆 Sun – Mon, 11 AM – 8 PM | Tue – Sat, 11 AM – 9 PM
📍 8262 Clairemont Mesa Blvd, San Diego
ℹ️ More info here
Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens
This mecca of a brewery provides a well-rounded experience, no matter the occasion.
Situated within Liberty Station, Stone Brewing offers year-round releases, one-batch dispatches, margaritas, seltzers, and special, limited-edition collaborations with other brands.
The atmosphere is welcoming and laid-back, and you can enjoy your suds around their wrap-around bar, one of their cozy tables, or on their expansive outdoor patio.
Stone Brewing is also the ideal venue for hosting events, providing a vibrant and accommodating setting. They even have a beer finder for the beer fanatics who are searching for something in particular.
Pair your delectable beverages with delicious eats, featuring enticing options like the Stone IPA pretzel, birria tacos, wings with Stone beer buffalo sauce, and kung pao cauliflower.
Whether you’re a beer snob, food lover, or both, Stone promises a memorable experience with its impressive lineup of craft brews.
📆 Sun – Thu, 11 AM – 9 PM | Fri – Sat, 11 AM – 10 PM
📍 2816 Historic Decatur Rd UNIT 116, San Diego
ℹ️ More info here
The Lost Abbey
Nestled away in Vista you’ll find an epic, casual Belgian brewery called The Lost Abbey. With ample picnic-style outdoor seating, this family-friendly spot offers a unique experience.
Their beautifully branded beers, like “Ten Commandments,” “Red Poppy,” “Serpent’s Stout,” “Ghosts in the Forrest,” and “Devil Went Down to Georgia,” accompanied by the rock music they often play, create a scene of conflicting realities between sinners and saints.
Their specialty is dark, rich beer, such as Belgian beer and Port Brewing’s beers, though they also carry seasonal, year-round, and non-denominational beers that are brewed to no particular style.
And foodies will appreciate the rotating food vendors they have on-site.
Explore their other unique spaces like The Confessional in Cardiff-by-the-sea, The Sanctuary in San Elijo, and The Church in East Village, where friendly beertenders are ready to guide you to the best beverages based on your preferences.
📆 Mon, Closed | Tue – Fri, 4 PM – 9 PM | Sat, 12 PM – 9 PM | Sun, 12 PM – 6 PM
📍 1347 Keystone Way Suite C, Vista
ℹ️ More info here
Viewpoint Brewing Company
If you’re looking for a San Diego brewery to relax with a beer and sensational views, you can’t beat Viewpoint Brewing Company in Del Mar!
There’s not much better than sitting on their patio on a sunny day, so snag a seat out there if you can. But given that the whole backside of the brewery opens up, there really isn’t a bad seat in the house.
They’re dog-friendly, and the outdoor area includes communal tables and cozier banquettes with individual fire pits, plus a grassy area with kid-friendly activities and Skee-Ball machines.
The food here is just as good as the beer and the views, so plan on staying a while and making a day of it—you won’t regret it!
📆 Mon, Closed | Tue – Fri, 12 PM – 9 PM | Sat – Sun, 10 AM – 9 PM
📍 2201 San Dieguito Dr Suite D, Del Mar
ℹ️ More info here
See you there!
There is no denying that a brewery is a vehicle for uniting different personalities and people from all walks of life over a shared love of beer.
Now that you’ve got an awesome list of the best San Diego breweries to quench your thirst and get your beer fix, it’s time to plan your next outing with friends and family to do a little beer tour on a lovely San Diego afternoon!
See you there, San Diego!
