Koakai Brewing up and running
The Japanese word “betsubara” roughly translates to “second stomach.” It’s typically applied to the sensation of having a little more room for dessert after a...
Jeff Spanier
I Like Beer: Pints up the Coast
A road trip to San Francisco brought the opportunity to visit some new places and try new beers. I had a couple of “bucket list”...
Landing at the Regal Seagull in Encinitas
One glaring hole in my San Diego Beer Drinker resume has been The Regal Seagull on the 101 in Encinitas. I’ve driven by it countless...
Beer run: Denver
Springtime means one thing: beer run! This year I headed to Denver with notes full of recommendations from San Diego brewers and beer experts who...
Barley & Sword expands to North County
Two summers ago, in a quest for cask ales, I found myself enjoying a number of true-to-style European beers at Barley & Sword Brewing in...
I Like Beer: Past, present and future
This moment in the I Like Beer journey marks some exciting changes, as well as reestablishing the commitment to great beers and stories. Here’s a...
Hoppin’ on the Catalina Express
Since beginning the I Like Beer journey, the quest for independent craft beer has taken me far and wide. This winter, I jumped on the...
CSUSM’s Brewchive and a trip down Brewery Lane
Karl Strauss recently re-released its original Amber Lager. A day later, I slid into a booth with a pint. One sip and I was taken...
Great local beer served here
In the spirit of caring for one another, I engaged in rigorous, boots-on-the-ground journalism to learn how our local beer industry and restaurants work together....
A return to Stone Brewing
Recently, I set some reservations aside and made reservations. Specifically, reservations for dinner at the iconic Stone Brewing. After running into two Stone Brewing employees...
Lost Abbey takes over at Keystone in Vista
There are only a handful of brewers whose very names ring as icons. Tomme Arthur, co-founder of Lost Abbey, is one of those. An astonishing...
Willkommen Oktoberfest!
The history of Oktoberfest dates back over 200 years to the 1810 wedding celebration of Prince Ludwig to Princess Therese von Sachsen-Hildburghausen in Munich. The...
The state of beer in San Diego
San Diego is the hands-down pinnacle of beer towns. But that doesn’t mean we haven’t had our share of tough times. The closing of several...
I Like Beer: The return of Vista’s Rhythm and Brews
On June 28, Downtown Vista hosted the return of Rhythm and Brews. The event is the premier San Diego Brewers Guild craft beer and music...
Training the next generation of brewers
On April 30, the MiraCosta College BrewTech Program graduated its 10th cohort of brewers with a happy hour celebration. The hybrid course, which includes lab...