San Diego is the craft beer capital of the country. Most of the attention goes to North Park, Miramar, and the coast. But the breweries and tap rooms in Lakeside and Alpine have been quietly building a scene that deserves more credit. The beer is good, the prices are fair, and you don''t have to fight for a parking spot.
Alpine: The Brewing Heritage
McIlhenney Brewing at 2363 Alpine Blvd is the headliner. Pat McIlhenney founded Alpine Beer Company in 1999, sold it to Green Flash in 2014, and then reopened as McIlhenney Brewing in 2021 in the same building. The tap list runs about 20 beers deep, with West Coast IPAs as the focus. The Wild Child DIPA and the Molotov Bourbon Barrel Aged Stout are standouts. BeerAdvocate rates the brewery at 4.16, and the tasting room has an outdoor patio that feels like hanging out at someone''s house. Open Tuesday through Sunday.
Mike Hess Brewing Alpine at 1347 Tavern Rd is a satellite location for one of San Diego''s more established craft breweries. It''s pet-friendly, with an inviting outdoor area and 114 reviews. The beer selection rotates, and you can expect the same quality you''d find at the North Park or Ocean Beach locations.
Alpine Tavern and Grill at 2502 Alpine Blvd isn''t a brewery, but its tap list is solid and the sports bar atmosphere makes it a good spot to try local pours alongside a prime rib sandwich. 840 reviews. Casino Inn Bar & Grill at 1155 Alpine Blvd is the local dive, with 624 reviews and the kind of character you can''t manufacture.
Lakeside: Bars, Wine, and Beer
Eastbound Bar & Grill at 10053 Maine Ave is Lakeside''s flagship bar, with 1,779 Yelp reviews and a tap list that covers local and regional craft beer. The burgers pair well with an IPA, the garlic parmesan fries pair well with anything, and the karaoke on Thursday nights is free entertainment.
Trevi Hills Winery at 13010 Muth Valley Rd is a wildcard. A winery in Lakeside? It works. The tasting room sits in the hills above town with 77 reviews and a 4.8 rating. It''s a peaceful spot for an afternoon pour, and the views alone are worth the drive up the hill.
Neon Moon Bar at 8203 Winter Gardens Blvd is a country-western bar with 64 reviews and live music on weekends. Yas Lounge at 9746 Winter Gardens Blvd does hookah and cocktails with 83 reviews. And Boll Weevil at 9741 Winter Gardens has been pouring beer alongside its famous burgers for decades.
The Casino Bars
Baron Long Bar & Grill at Viejas Casino has 278 reviews and a craft cocktail program worth trying. The bar at Barona Resort collaborated with Mission Brewery to create the Viejas Golden Blonde, a light blonde ale you can only get on property.
For the full list of bars, breweries, and restaurants in the area, browse the Lakeside and Alpine dining directory. And if you''re making a brewery crawl, McIlhenney to Mike Hess to Alpine Tavern is a walkable route on Alpine Boulevard that covers three stops in under a mile. Just don''t forget to eat somewhere in between. Janet''s Montana Cafe next door to McIlhenney handles that problem nicely.
