SAN DIEGO (KGTV) — San Diego isn't called the "Capital of Craft" for nothing.
April 7 marks National Beer Day across the U.S. So why did the powers that decide these "holidays" choose this date?
On April 7, 1933, the Cullen-Harrison Act, signed by President Franklin Roosevelt, went into effect. The bill allowed beer to legally be manufactured and sold in the U.S. following the end of Prohibition.
Needless to say, there are plenty of places to celebrate the day and local industry in San Diego.
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According to the San Diego Brewers Guild, the region is home to more than 150 independent craft breweries, from the land known as "Beer-amar" (Miramar) to "Hops Highway" (from Oceanside through Escondido.)
San Diego's Tourism Authority has a nice list of all of our region's craft breweries here for you to consider. Really, you can't go wrong with any of them. The Tourism Authority has also created this handy map:
But we'd be remiss if we didn't offer up a few suggestions of great breweries to visit in San Diego.
AleSmith is a mainstay in Miramar with their Speedway Stout, AleSmith IPA, and San Diego Pale Ale .394, named after and created in partnership with San Diego Padres icon Tony Gwynn.
Stone Brewing helped lead the charge of San Diego's craft beer revolution, with their crushable Stone IPA, Stone Delicious IPA, Stone Go To IPA, and an array of seasonal, collaboration, and limited release beers.
Ballast Point is also a staple of many San Diego beer drinkers, with their varieties of Sculpin IPAs, Victory At Sea stout, Even Keel IPA, and now, the official craft beer of the San Diego Padres: Swingin' Friar Ale.
Modern Times is no slouch either, with colorfully and uniquely decorated cans and fan favorites like Fortunate Islands IPA, Black House stout, and their Fruitlands sour beers. Get ready for a dose of aromatic, hoppy deliciousness.
Port Brewing Company/The Lost Abbey also offer delicious barrel aged creations to traditional and fruity IPAs, all sporting creative titles like Board Meeting, High Tide, Lost and Found, and Judgment Day.
Karl Strauss Brewing Company has been in San Diego since 1989, creating more than 140 other beers ranging from sweet to malty to hoppy. Check out Tower 10 IPA for a heavy hit of hops, Red Trolley Ale for a rich finish, or Wreck Alley for some stouty greatness.
Belching Beaver Brewery packs some delicious flavors into all of its beers. You can't go wrong with the breweries Peanut Butter Stout for some chocolately, peanut butter goodness or Deftones Phantom Bride or Here Comes Mango IPAs for a silky, citrus tastes.
And most of San Diego's local brews can be found at your favorite restaurants and bars. So go forth and celebrate National Beer Day responsibly.
