Updared September 7, 2023

Miramar is a neighborhood located in the northern part of San Diego. It’s home to a Marine Corps Air Station, some residential areas, and tons of amazing breweries. With the abundance of quality tap houses and beer gardens, it’s no wonder that Miramar is more affectionately known as “Beer-a-mar.”

So, where exactly does one begin their Southern California beer tasting experience? Surely, a San Diego beer tour of the best breweries in the neighborhood would be of help. Lucky for you, we’ve put together a list of our favorite breweries near Miramar. If you’re looking for an experience, book a Miramar brewery tour where you’ll be led on a 2.5-hour experience filled with beer and history!

Pure Project

Photo Courtesy: Pure Project Brewery

The first spot on our Miramar breweries map goes to Pure Project. It may seem small in size, but its flavor portfolio is anything but. Pure Project’s selection of beers is distinct and unique. They pull from tropical and floral aromas, which are tastes you typically won’t find in a beer.

The inspiration for this unique flavoring can be attributed to its founders, a couple from California who spent years exploring the Costa Rican jungle. After being inspired by the country’s beauty, they wanted to infuse Costa Rica’s spirit into a brewery. Hence, Pure Project was born.

Pure Project takes its environmental footprint seriously by being a 1% for The Planet company. With this commitment, 1% of all sales are donated to environmental non-profits. Aside from its eco-contributions, Pure Project has also had great success in the beer community. Its Roses Red beer even took home a bronze medal from the Great American Beer Festival.

• Come for the… Good of the planet
• Stay for the… Award-winning Roses Red

Along with their Miramar location, they also have taprooms all over San Diego County including Balboa Park, Carlsbad, North Park, and Vista.

AleSmith Brewing Company

Photo Courtesy: Alesmith Brewing Co.

The next stop on our West Coast brewery crawl is AleSmith Brewing Company. AleSmith is known for its specialty handcrafted ales inspired by European classics. It’s also home to one of San Diego’s largest tasting rooms at 25,000 square-feet. First founded in 1995, this is one of the original breweries in Miramar’s trendy beer scene. Despite being older than some of its counterparts, this brewery knows how to stay current, boasting countless national and international awards over the years.

If you’re interested in seeing the inner workings of an active San Diego brewery, AleSmith Brewing Company is the spot for you. Or you can just relax and take in the space while sitting on their large outdoor patio.

AleSmith doesn’t have a kitchen, but you can guarantee that there will always be delicious food trucks around. And be sure to try their most popular beer, the San Diego Pale Ale .394. It’s a nod to San Diego baseball legend Tony Gwynn’s batting average. Test your skills and join them for trivia night every Wednesday starting at 7pm!

• Come for the… Insider look behind the scenes of a large-scale brewery
• Stay for the… San Diego Pale Ale .394

Ballast Point Brewing

Photo Courtesy: Ballast Point Brewing

Are you a fan of malt beer, bright beer, crisp beer, or even hops? If so, Ballast Point Brewing has you covered on all these fronts. You can stop by to do a beer tasting or select a favorite and drink a keg of it.

If you like your beer a little more fruit forward, try their smooth Aloha Sculpin IPA — complete with Brux Trois yeast, refreshing notes of mango, pineapple and guava. Or, take a sip of the award-winning Haze in the Park Hazy IPA.

This brewery and restaurant is the largest of Ballast Point’s spots, and is simply an impressive place to get your drink on. They have an expansive indoor / outdoor restaurant, a heated patio with fire pits, and even stunning German copper kettles. They also now have beer from Kings & Convicts, their sister brewery, available for purchase. If you’re looking for something to do on Tuesday nights, they host a weekly trivia night that starts at 7pm with Ballast Point gift cards as prizes!

Ballast Point also has tasting rooms up and down the West Coast, including Anaheim, Long Beach, and San Francisco.

White Labs Brewing Company

Photo Courtesy: White Labs Brewing Co.

At this point, you should have a nice beer buzz going just in time for the final stop. The last brewery on your Tour de Beer-a-mar is White Labs Brewing Company. White Labs is the perfect brewery for hard-core beer lovers or anyone who wants to learn more about the science behind beer. Biochemist, Chris White, founded the international yeast company in 1995 intending to make high-quality yeast easier and more accessible for brewers.

Along with the yeast producing company, White decided to open up a brewery and tasting room as a way to continue the conversation about yeast. He knew the best way for people to understand how big of a role yeast plays in beer is to have them see, taste, and smell the difference. With this in mind, White Labs showcases the science of yeast through side-by-side comparisons.

It’s a great learning experience to understand why exactly you like certain beers. White Labs Brewing Company offers 32 beers on tap and tours of the facility.

• Come for the… Free yeast seminar with your order
• Stay for the… Tabberer IPA

Beer-a-mar

San Diego craft beer history stretches a long way and with over 150 operating breweries in San Diego, you’ll never have a shortage of choices to choose from. Whether you prefer simple pilsners or hoppy IPAs, try elevating your beer game at one of the brewery options mentioned on the list. With the help of friendly bartenders and knowledgeable brewers, you’re sure to find something that quenches your thirst. Once you try out some of the breweries in the Miramar area, head on down to Gaslamp and Little Italy for some of the best breweries in downtown San Diego.

So grab your growlers and have fun!

Sources:

1. Locale. 17 Breweries in Beer-a-mar You Should Try for National Beer Day. https://localemagazine.com/17-best-breweries-in-miramar/
2. Craft Beer San Diego. San Diego Beer Tour: Miramar. https://craftbeerinsandiego.com/blog/2019/1/21/san-diego-beer-tour-miramar

Written by: Melissa

Melissa hails from San Jose, CA, and has been a San Diego local for five years now after a 10-year long pit stop in Los Angeles. In L.A., she began her writing career crafting digital content for a wide range of clients, including The Real Talk Show, Sharon Osbourne, Hank Azaria, Time Life, and Cardinal Financial. She’s excited to be able to use her passion for writing to introduce people to some of the best spots in San Diego, many of which she has already frequented or has on her ever-expanding list of things to do …  In her spare time, she enjoys taking her puppy Milo to all of the best dog beaches in SD, grabbing a glass of wine or a cup of joe at new places, and hosting watch parties for The Bachelor/ette TV show.