About Ballast Point Brewing Little Italy

Ballast Point is one of the original breweries that started San Diego’s craft beer scene. Their Sculpin IPA made them a national name back in 2005 when most of us still didn’t know what an IPA was. Their brewery and restaurant in Little Italy has been around for years and is a great spot to have a beer and some food. It has a big, open, casual layout inside that smells of fermenting yeast and hops, as well as a large courtyard and an outdoor patio. Their food menu is not an afterthought so come with an appetite.

Best Parts

• Sculpin IPA still slaps
• Still serve small batch beers at this location
• Kid friendly

Behind The Counter

Ballast Point Brewing is undoubtedly a San Diego craft beer icon. It started with humble origins, as most breweries do, when local home brew enthusiast Jack White started brewing beer in the back of his Home Brew Mart (still open in Linda Vista) in the mid 90s. A decade later, Sculpin IPA put them on the map and Ballast Point exploded into existence as a nationally recognized brand.

Ballast Point sold to a national brand in the mid-2010s for a giant sum of money and they are currently owned by Kings & Convicts, a Chicago-based company, and have sadly been decreasing in size ever since. We have a soft spot for this local fading icon and so should you.