The Best Craft Beer Bars In San Diego

Remember when the beer selections at a bar were separated into domestic and imported? And under imported there was Heineken, Corona, and Sam Adams. And you were like, Sam Adams? Imported from where… Boston? Well, now craft beer is everywhere. Sam Adams and Sierra Nevada are like Coors Light and Bud Light and the game has become infinitely more complicated. Craft beer bars are everywhere in this country, particularly in a beer city like San Diego.

That can feel overwhelming to some – beer has become like wine with infinite varieties. But this should not be daunting, this is a plus. True craft beer is everywhere and small breweries are making some of the best beers probably ever made in the history of humanity. The trouble is figuring out which ones to drink. Thankfully there are a few craft beer bars around San Diego that make that choice for you. These bars hand select what they think are the newest or best breweries around San Diego, around California, around the country, and around the world. They will have beers you can’t get anywhere else and their knowledgeable staff will help you decide what to try. Enjoy

THE BEST CRAFT BEER BARS IN SAN DIEGO

O’Brien’s Pub in Clairemont

O’Briens in Clairemont is quietly one of the best, if not the best, beer bars in San Diego. In addition to the much-hyped Russian River beers, they serve hand picked drafts from the best local breweries in San Diego, as well as lesser known breweries in greater SoCal and beyond. This place knows their beer and you can trust that they’ve made good choices in their draft list. They serve a full menu of food too.

Blind Lady Ale House

At Blind Lady they do everything well – food, vibe, service, community involvement. They are like the cool kids with good taste who you want to be friends with. They are like if Keanu Reeves became the physical embodiment of a restaurant. Located on Adams Ave in the heart of Normal Heights, a diverse and casually cool neighborhood nestled between the 805 and the 15, Blind Lady Ale House is a proper ode to its location. It is charming without trying hard to be, it is high quality without being pretentious, it is eclectic but not in a self aware way.

Bottlecraft

Bottlecraft is a boutique beer store with three locations in San Diego – Little Italy, Liberty Station, and North Park. Each location is a bar that serves draft beers you probably won’t find anywhere else, in addition to their incredible can selection. The staff is friendly and very, very knowledgeable about beer. Treat it like a wine store – tell them what you like and let them make some suggestions.

Bock South Park

Bock Bar in South Park is a cozy European-style pub that serves old-world style beers and delicious German food in a dimly lit, all wood space. With over 30+ beers on tap, you can find all of your hard to pronounce favorites, like Dunkels, Hefeweizen, Schwarzbier, Doppelbocks, and Kölsches. They bring a great balance to the modern tappings of most breweries and restaurants in San Diego.

Live Wire North Park

Live Wire is an institution on El Cajon Boulevard – opened by a couple of San Diego locals in 1992 (making it probably the oldest bar in Southern California), Live Wire looks like a dive bar, but their draft list is always amazing and they are much friendlier and livelier than a true dive. You might miss it walking by and that would be a shame because it is a small, dark, cozy, and loud good time. Play music at the jukebox or come for a live show on the weekends. This is one of the best beer bars in San Diego.