Breweries

Independence Day is right around the corner, and Americans are stocking their fridges and preparing for exciting patriotic festivities. What better way to celebrate this patriotic day than tasting some of Southern California’s finest and most sought-after selections of San Diego local microbrews with your friends and family? Let us whisk you away and offer the ultimate history lesson in San Diego breweries. Make your Independence Day unforgettable by learning about and tasting the beverage that shaped American culture. Celebrate America’s 241st birthday with us! If you’d rather stay close to home this 4 th of July, you can pick up Duck Foot Brewing Company’s “The Looker.” It’s an American Blonde Ale brewed with caramelized malts. It has a light finish but is full of flavor and perfectly refreshing for the summer heat. Cascade hops give this beer a floral…

Memorial Day is almost here! We love this day because it’s a way to remember those who gave their life for the United States armed forces.  It’s a solemn day, but that solemnity is tempered by celebrations: after all, it’s also the first official day of summer! Memorial Day is a day of togetherness, of friends and family, and of barbecues.  It’s also a day that’s traditionally full of beer – the best thing to drink with those backyard burgers and new memories you’re creating together is a growler of great beer.  And now you can enjoy your beer and wine and also honor the troops! You can buy your beer from veteran-owned craft breweries!  If you’re looking to expand your palate, here’s a handy starter guide from CraftBeer.com.  If all you need is a bottle opener, a local company called…

Whether it’s your Irish Roots, Shamrocks, Green Beer or Leprechauns, there are plenty of fun and festive traditions for everyone to enjoy for St. Patricks! Even though Ireland is far away, San Diegans know how to throw a great Irish Ceilidh! Shira Bliss, owner and founder of San Diego, Beer, Wine and Spirits Tours, and born and raised in Belfast, Northern Ireland says: “You’ll be chuffed to try one of our special St. Patrick’s Brewery or Distillery Tours that we’re running throughout the month of March! The luck of the Irish to you! Sláinte!” What started as a religious feast to celebrate the patron Saint of Ireland, St. Patrick’s Day has morphed in to an international phenomenon of fanfare and celebrations. The most prominent symbol associated with this holiday, the Shamrock, stemmed from the idea that St. Patrick used the…

San Diego Brewery Tours – Enjoy the Warmth of Spring With Us! It’s a great month in San Diego, because not only will we be getting a real spring this year, thanks to some serious rain we’ve been lacking for the past several years, but this is also the month that all the great brewery events…

All Aboard the “Love Train” Looking for a unique way to wow your special someone for Valentines? Hop aboard the Love Train! San Diego Beer, Wine & Spirits Tours invites you and your sweetheart on a romantic Winery Train Tour. Enjoy fine wines, delicious gourmet food and breathtaking coastal scenery on this eco-friendly tour of San Diego’s best urban wineries. By popular demand, for the fifth year in a row, the “Love Train” tour will delight guests with delectable food, tastings at superb local wineries (about 15 tastes!), a wine tasting presentation from your local expert guide, sightseeing and entertaining commentary on San Diego’s rich history. There is also an optional brewery stop on this tour. Make your Valentine’s celebration wonderfully memorable for those you love the most in an environmentally conscious and uniquely San Diegan way. It’s the Smart,…

Wine comes in at the mouth And love comes in at the eye; That’s all we shall know for truth Before we grow old and die. -William Butler Yeats February is such a great month in San Diego.  Not only is it when springtime begins around here, but it’s also the month of love! Valentine’s Day is a tradition that’s been going on for centuries – and probably millennia.  The tradition of Valentine’s Day is murky, but it’s thought to come from a 5th century Roman fertility rite called Lupercalia.  The rites were supposed to honor Faunus, the god of agriculture, and Romulus and Remus, the founders of Rome who according to legend were raised by a she-wolf.  The rites consisted of parties and sacrifices, but most importantly, wine. Over time, it became much more about romantic…

In my mid-twenties, I was a regular at a local pub that featured hundreds of beers from different parts of the world – most were in bottles, and many were on tap. The pub had a “members only card” that included each of the beers they offered; and the pub challenged members to drink a beer and tick it off the list. If a member drank 100 different beers, they would be commemorated with a special engraved mug and a plaque on the wall. I don’t know if my plaque still is showcased on the wall of that pub, but I do know that the mug with my name on it still sits in my kitchen cabinet, and is brought out for special occasions. When it comes to types of beer that I tasted, what struck me most were the options…

Now that November is approaching, it’s about time we start talking about San Diego Beer Week. While many San Diego natives are familiar with this magnificent ode to hops, barley, and fermentation, many are not… so let’s explore the numbers. San Diego is the craft beer capital of America; in fact, San Diego breweries have…

Editors note: In any given month at San Diego Beer, Wine & Sprits Tours, we have several interns working with us. Most of our interns are college-aged Business and Marketing majors who are learning the ins-and-outs of working in a company like SDBWST. In addition to the grunt work that all interns must do (because…

San Diego has a lot of things going for it: beautiful scenery, great weather, great people, and of course, our wonderful beer, wine, and spirits scenes.  And, of course, we are really into the amazing fresh food you can get here.  Who wouldn’t be?  It’s world class! With all the choices available, sometimes it’s easy…