We think pretty highly of Stone Brewery north of San Diego. PJr and Nedda had attended Stone's 17th anniversary event last year, and recommended that a larger group attend #18 this year (Brewers Reception, August 15, 2014). Happily, we fell for it.
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| Round 1 |
Ended up renting a minivan so that six AZ attendees could travel together in style - that approach ended up working out really well. And I can report that Chrysler minivan amenities have advanced significantly in the near-20 model years since purchasing our one-and-only. Easy travel in both directions, other than constant requests to stop (it was like traveling with the kids in days of yore, except the requests were coming from an unexpected direction). PJ was quite indispensable as our designated driver for the event. PJr had lined up a fine downtown hotel. POC and CPG had assembled a tasting chart which the attendees filled out with varying degrees of diligence. EPG joined us - drove down right after work and pretty much arrived on time. Also met Mike C there; the man does know his beer and was a good add.
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| EPG has arrived. |
The outdoor event was held on the campus of Cal State San Marcos. We all were quite delighted with the beers on Friday evening, and also satisfied with the food. Weather was perfect, some live music kicked up toward the end of the evening, very nice. One of the very first beers - Stone's "Passion Project" - was my favorite. But there were lots from which to choose. Thoroughly tested the casked beers. PJ then drove us back to the hotel, with plenty of advice from back seat drivers. Then we recapped the situation back at the hotel.
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| Ice sculpture makes things official. Always. |
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| DD in center (just a pose, POCs hands were full). |
Saturday - we wandered around San Diego. Perfect weather again. Much enjoyed brunch/lunch at a recently-opened place named Zymology - new enough where we had personal attention from the owner and several staffers. Then wandered around, including check-ins at Monkey Paws Brewery and Mission Brewery. I was kind of amazed at all the hobos hanging around, but that was a minor observation on a most pleasant day. Dinner at a neighborhood Italian place.
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| Zymology. We were entertained by the chemistry lab equipment . . . |
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| . . . as used for example in Zymology's presentation of a "margarita flight" |
Picked up EPG's car (the indefatigable 2003 Kia Sorento) from an otherwise deserted parking lot at Cal State on Sunday morning (and were pleased to see it hadn't been towed). We intended on having lunch at the Stone Brewery site but the wait was pretty long. So after a couple Yelp-inspired dud stop-offs, we - out of time and options - walked into a Hooters(!) for lunch instead. While we waited for a table a bar patron in a Buffalo Wild Wings T-shirt was called up to be paddled with an oar by a hostess as punishment for his wardrobe selection. That set something of a tone. After an interesting experience (but decent food) we said our goodbyes to EPG. Easy drive back to Phoenix.
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| Monkey Paws Brewery |
Fine traveling companions, a delight to be able to do such a trip together.
