The Indie Beer Show

There are few local products San Diegans are prouder of than craft beer and Mexican food, which makes it hard to believe it took so long for a brewpub specializing in Mexican food and beers that pair exceptionally well with them to come along. But finally, like a gift from the heavens, a pair of entrepreneurs brought such a concept to Oceanside. Enter Craft Coast Beer and Tacos, a place that is what it is...and then some. In this episode, we spend some time with co-founder and head brewer Blake Masoner, talking about two of the most exquisite topics on the planet and everything that went into bringing Craft Coast to life.

What They Drank
Agua Baja | Mexican-style Lager (4.5%)
Oscura Negra | Dark Lager (5.2%)
Hop Pop | Unfiltered West Coast IPA w/ Yakima Chief Cryo-Pop Hops  (6.8%)

Non-alcoholic beer. Not even worthy of an exclamation point, right? Kind of ick-inducing? In most cases, that's sadly the case, but there's a N/A beer company with a local presence that's making taking a break from all the ABV kind of cool. That interest goes by the name Athletic Brewing. Born in Connecticut, they moved to the left coast in 2019 to set up a brewery at Ballast Point's former barrel-aging facility on Trade Street. Since then, they've brought aboard a number of well-known San Diego brewers who are working together to produce N/A beer that's a cut above and displays diversity of flavors and styles. Join us as we talk to Athletic founder John Walker and Director of Brewing Kevin Henschel about their bi-coastal beer biz and what it's been like making a home in the beer capital of the US.

What They Drank
Upside Down | Golden Ale
Downwinder | Gose
Run Wild | West Coast IPA

In the craft-beer world,, few names are as big as Deschutes Brewery. Opened in 1988 as a small brewpub, this Bend, Oregon operation has grown into the tenth-largest craft-brewing company in the country behind a variety of beers, ranging from sessionable mainstays to barrel-aged specialties and hop-driven pales and IPAs. The crew talked about about them all while diving into the hop-laden latter with Product Development Director Veronica Vega and Brewer Jeff "Verno" Johnson. A great deal was also shared regarding hops, agriculture and more in an episode jam-packed with info...and a lot of fun!

What They Drank:
Squeezy Rider | West Coast IPA w/ Strata Hops (7%)
Symphonic Chronic | West Coast IPA (7.2%)
Haze Tron | Hazy Imperial IPA w/ Cryo Hops (8%)

Their brewpubs dot the SoCal coastline like beacons beckoning ale and lager fans to good beer...and also pizza! You know them, you love them, you've had way too much fun at their picnic-tabled outposts. We are, of course, talking about Pizza Port. We had the pleasure of spending some time with Head Brewer Sean Farrell and Senior Sales and Brand Development maven Jill Olesh and Marketing Manager Joe Arguello, all of whom play key roles within this iconic company and gave us a peek behind the curtain while calling out other key members of the Pizza Port family, past and present.

What They Drank:
Swami's IPA | West Coast IPA (6.8%)
Coastal Access | West Coast IPA (7%)
Share the Ride | West Coast IPA (7.5%)

Nestled within The Local Eatery and Drinking Hole in the Gaslamp Quarter, Resident Brewing has long been a hangout for game-going Friars fans. Pre- and post-gaming Padres die-hards have been hitting the brewpub up even more of late following Resident's recent collaboration with right-handed starting pitcher Joe Musgrove, AKA: the first Pads hurler ever to throw a perfect game. The result of that meeting of the minds is No-No Joe, a mega-hopped Double IPA that we'll be drinking along with some of Resident's other beers when they join us on the podcast.

What They Drank:
No-No Joe | Unfiltered West Coast Double IPA (8.2%)
Fleeting Glimpse | Gin & Tonic-inspired Barrel-rested Saison (8%)
Barrel-aged Baby Sips | Bourbon Barrel-aged Imperial Stout w/ Toasted Coconut, Vanilla Beans & Mostra Coffee (14.5%)

There's no substitute for experience, and Daren Rudy, the co-founder and brewmaster at recently opened Ataraxia Aleworks has plenty. He cut his teeth on the brew system at legendary Ballast Point Brewing, picking up the skills and techniques he's now putting to work at his own business. Daren came on the show to tell us all about what visitors can expect when they visit his zen-focused Kearny Mesa tasting room, and shared some of his very first drafts.

What They Drank:
Harambe Helles | Helles Lager (4.5%)
Cowbell IPA | Double Dry-hopped Hazy IPA (6.5%)
The Great Deliverer | Porter (7%)

It's a two-for-one episode this time around as the crew welcomes Anthony Levas and Ryan Alvarez from Harland Brewing and Scout Distribution. Both businesses operate out of Scripps Ranch but have reach far beyond that bedroom community. Harland's beers are also available at tasting rooms in Del Mar Highlands and Bay Park. Meanwhile, Scout has branched out to Orange County and Arizona. On top of that, both operations have expansions en route. Get a teaser about that and tons of info on the humble beginnings and current direction of what has become one of San Diego's most popular breweries. 

What They Drank:
Japanese Lager | Japanese-style Lager (5%)
Amarillo Citra Haze | Hazy IPA (6.5%)
Nelson! Nelson! | West Coast IPA (7%)
Seekers SZN | Imperial Stout w/ Coconut & Marshmallow (11%)

It's a coffee shop. It's an adventure-sports outfitter. It's...a nanobrewery! Stop, you're all correct. The Grantville industrial suite that started out as TRVLR Coffee Roaster has expanded to offer wares to outdoor enthusiasts and beer drinkers alike. The latter are serviced by One Season Brewing, an operation specializing in refreshing, low-calorie ales and lagers, the type one might enjoy after a day of hiking or biking. See, it's all starting to make sense, but we get further clarification on what this multifaceted operation is all about from owner Dan Romeo on this multi-faceted episode of The Indie Beer Show.

What They Drank:
Found the Lite | American Light Lager (4.8%)

East County is about to heat up when the family that founded Alpine Beer Co. nearly two decades ago launches their second family fermentable business, Mcilhenney Brewing. That spot, which has been erected in the same pair of suites where their first business was born, is scheduled to open the last week of May, but we were able to sit down with Pat, Val, Shawn, Jamie and even infant brewer-in-training Cameron ahead of that arrival to find out what to expect when San Diego's most anticipated brewing project in some time debuts. Along the way, we take a trip down memory lane for some very candid accounts of different chapters of the Mcilhenneys' lives and times in the brewing industry. It's a can't-miss episode if ever there was one. Do yourself a favor and take a listen. 

What started as a simple idea among friends to open a small local brewery has blossomed into one of the fastest-sprouting brewing companies in San Diego County. A blend of beermaking prowess, shrewd business planning, top-to-bottom ingenuity and elbow grease has allowed Carlsbad-based Burgeon Beer Co. to become more than even its founders envisioned. The company now boasts outposts in Escondido (The Oasis) and Little Italy (The Arbor). The latter recently debuted with on-site culinary partners The Good Seed Food Co., an outfit known for its beer-pairing expertise. In this episode, Co-owner Matthew Zirpolo, Marketing Director Mackenzie Graham and Executive Chef Jesus "Chuy" de la Torre share an evening of beer-and-food pairing with the crew, while discussing their team and its successes as well as upcoming beers and events.

What We Drank:
Pistil | German-style Pilsner (5.2%)
Juice Press | Hazy IPA w/ Citra, Mosaic & Vic Secret (6.8%)
Treevana | West Coast IPA w/ Mosaic & Amarillo (7.2%)
Mixed Greens | Double IPA w/ Simcoe, Ekuanot, Cashmere, Mosaic, Strata & Nelson Sauvin (8%)