If you drive down Alpine Boulevard and see a tasting room at 2363, you might think it''s just another small-batch brewery in a town that already has a few. You''d be wrong. McIlhenney Brewing is the second chapter of one of San Diego''s most respected craft beer families, and the story behind it is worth knowing.
The First Act
Pat McIlhenney started home brewing while working as a firefighter in eastern San Diego County. He studied brewing science at UC Davis. And in 1999, he founded Alpine Beer Company right here on Alpine Boulevard. Before he had a brewery of his own, he contracted with AleSmith to produce his first beer, McIlhenney''s Irish Red. By 2002, he was brewing on-site.
It didn''t take long for the industry to notice. Alpine Beer Company''s IPAs, especially Pure Hoppiness and Exponential Hoppiness, developed a cult following. In 2006, BeerAdvocate ranked Alpine Beer Company the fifth-best brewery in the entire United States. Fifth. Out of thousands. From a small building on a two-lane road in a mountain town 30 miles from the coast.
In November 2014, Pat sold Alpine Beer Company to Green Flash Brewing Company. The brand moved. The recipes moved. But the building on Alpine Boulevard? That stayed with the McIlhenneys.
The Comeback
In 2021, Pat, his son Shawn, and family members Jamie and Val opened McIlhenney Brewing in the same building. Same address. Same family. New name. They brew everything on-site, and the tap list runs about 20 beers deep at any given time. West Coast IPAs are the backbone. The Wild Child DIPA is a regular pour that fans of the old Alpine Beer Company''s hop-forward style will recognize immediately.
The tasting room has a relaxed, homey feel. An outdoor patio. Barrel-top tables inside. And bartenders who know their beer and are happy to let you try before you buy. Crowlers to go if you want to bring some home.
BeerAdvocate reviewers have given McIlhenney a 4.16 overall rating. One reviewer called it "Alpine 2.0, just better capitalized." Another said, "These are the folks who founded Alpine, sold it to GF, and got the building back in the firesale." The vibe is craft beer without pretension. Family brewing for people who care about what''s in their glass.
Visit
McIlhenney Brewing is at 2363 Alpine Blvd in Alpine. Hours are Tuesday through Thursday 2-7pm, Friday and Saturday 12-7pm, and Sunday 12-6pm. Closed Mondays. They don''t serve food, but Janet''s Montana Cafe and Alpine Tavern and Grill are both within walking distance. And Mike Hess Brewing Alpine on Tavern Road is close enough for a two-stop brewery crawl.
For the full Alpine dining and drink scene, check the directory. But if you care about craft beer history in San Diego, McIlhenney Brewing is a required stop.
