Five years ago, if you wanted craft beer in the South Bay, you drove north. That's over. Third Avenue in Chula Vista now has more breweries per block than most neighborhoods in San Diego, and the beer is good enough that people are driving south for it.
The Third Avenue Lineup
3 Punk Ales Brewing Co. sits at 259 Third Avenue and has been one of the street's anchors since opening. They're set up for 20 tap lines, including nitro and cask options. Their Mexican lager is the bestseller by a wide margin, but the rotating IPA list keeps regulars coming back. Steve Garcia, co-owner, has been one of the loudest voices for Third Avenue's growth. The tasting room is big, the outdoor space is comfortable, and they're open late on weekends.
Chula Vista Brewery is up the block and runs on a 10-barrel system. Owners Timothy and Dali Parker recently closed the Eastlake location temporarily for renovations, bringing on Derek Gallanosa as their new head brewer. They took home a bronze medal at the Great American Beer Festival for "Browner Than Ivan," an American-style brown ale. The Third Avenue taproom remains the flagship.
Brewjeria Taproom & Kitchen arrived from Los Angeles as their first San Diego County location. The food program here goes beyond bar snacks, and the kitchen pairs well with their house beers. The indoor space has a warehouse feel that works for groups.
Novo Brazil Brewing on Lane Ave is the original location that started the whole run. Founder Tiago Carneiro, a native of Brazil, opened it in 2015 and now operates five locations across California plus a new taproom in San Antonio, Texas. The Lane Ave spot has outdoor seating, rotating food vendors, and a playground for kids. Their Otay Ranch location at Otay Ranch Town Center pulls a different crowd but pours the same lineup.
Groundswell Brewing rounds out the craft beer options with a tasting room that stays low-key and local. And Boochcraft, the hard kombucha brand, has a taproom that offers something different for people who want craft beverages without the hops.
Beyond Beer
Third Avenue isn't just breweries. The Elwood has a 4.7 rating on Google and serves cocktails in a space that feels more polished than the breweries. Manhattan Bar has been on the street longer than any of the breweries and pulls a loyal evening crowd. Escaya Wine & Spirits caters to the wine drinkers in the group.
If you're doing the crawl, start at one end of Third Avenue and work your way down. Grab food at Filippi's Pizza Grotto or La Bella Pizza between stops. End the night at Silver Dollar or Formosa Club if you're still standing.
San Diego calls itself the "Capital of Craft," and the growth has mostly happened in neighborhoods like North Park, Mira Mesa, and Kearny Mesa. But the South Bay's turn came, and Third Avenue is where it landed. These aren't satellite taprooms of North County brands. These are Chula Vista breweries, built by Chula Vista people, pouring for a Chula Vista crowd. The scene is real.
