Anchor ads are not supported on this page.

4S Ranch Allied Gardens Alpine Baja Balboa Park Bankers Hill Barrio Logan Bay Ho Bay Park Black Mountain Ranch Blossom Valley Bonita Bonsall Borrego Springs Boulevard Campo Cardiff-by-the-Sea Carlsbad Carmel Mountain Carmel Valley Chollas View Chula Vista City College City Heights Clairemont College Area Coronado CSU San Marcos Cuyamaca College Del Cerro Del Mar Descanso Downtown San Diego Eastlake East Village El Cajon Emerald Hills Encanto Encinitas Escondido Fallbrook Fletcher Hills Golden Hill Grant Hill Grantville Grossmont College Guatay Harbor Island Hillcrest Imperial Beach Imperial Valley Jacumba Jamacha-Lomita Jamul Julian Kearny Mesa Kensington La Jolla Lakeside La Mesa Lemon Grove Leucadia Liberty Station Lincoln Acres Lincoln Park Linda Vista Little Italy Logan Heights Mesa College Midway District MiraCosta College Miramar Miramar College Mira Mesa Mission Beach Mission Hills Mission Valley Mountain View Mount Hope Mount Laguna National City Nestor Normal Heights North Park Oak Park Ocean Beach Oceanside Old Town Otay Mesa Pacific Beach Pala Palomar College Palomar Mountain Paradise Hills Pauma Valley Pine Valley Point Loma Point Loma Nazarene Potrero Poway Rainbow Ramona Rancho Bernardo Rancho Penasquitos Rancho San Diego Rancho Santa Fe Rolando San Carlos San Marcos San Onofre Santa Ysabel Santee San Ysidro Scripps Ranch SDSU Serra Mesa Shelltown Shelter Island Sherman Heights Skyline Solana Beach Sorrento Valley Southcrest South Park Southwestern College Spring Valley Stockton Talmadge Temecula Tierrasanta Tijuana UCSD University City University Heights USD Valencia Park Valley Center Vista Warner Springs

Beer of the Week: La Jolla Brewing Big Time Stout

First seasonal from new, improved brewpub in The Jewel is a hit

In some ways it felt like nothing had changed. There I was on the patio of the brewpub on Fay Avenue, drinking beer with my dog. But that was the extent of any real similarity. That patio had been renovated, as had the rest of the brewpub. The beer in my glass was house-made. Heck, the place even had a new name: La Jolla Brewing Company (LJBC). Granted, the name was pretty close to the venue’s former moniker, La Jolla Brew House (LJBH), but from an aesthetic, atmospheric, and quality standpoint, the two businesses are night and day.

Sponsored
Sponsored

Of course, it’s easy to be confused as to the identity, not just because the names are so alike in their community-driven spirit, but because the former owner of LJBH is maintaining a death grip on the defunct business’ website and social media accounts. Several posts go up per day from the LJBH Twitter feed and a check of LJBH’s webpage turns up the message: “We are currently under construction and the Restaurant & Brewery is CLOSED at this time. We apologize for any inconvenience. Check back soon for updates and reopening times.” Sadly misleading, this has surely kept would-be visitors from discovering the new LJBC. It’s a shame, since it looks, feels, and tastes so much better.

Brewmaster Brett Stampf played a large role in revamping the brewpub’s interior and improving the brewing operations. A veteran of Green Flash Brewing Company, Stone Brewing Co., and numerous brewpubs outside of San Diego, his experience shows up in the initial beers of the two-month-young business. LJBC’s dry Irish-style stout (which, like the brewpub’s golden ale and IPA, is served on nitro) is true to style in its dry, drinkable deliciousness, and its pale ale, while a bit of a work in progress, has great aroma and a nice malt backbone.

The beer I indulged in with my pooch (who is named Pangea, not after the continental landmass, but instead the beer from Dogfish Head Craft Brewery) was LJBC’s Big Time Stout, a rather complex, multi-layered 9% ABV imperial stout that came on strong with flavors of bittersweet chocolate, roasted barley, earthiness, and even a touch of anise. It’s a specialty beer that will rotate out, but is worth savoring while it’s still on tap. Even if you miss it, at least you know that the old LJBH isn’t coming back, no matter what the Internet may lead you to believe.

The latest copy of the Reader

Please enjoy this clickable Reader flipbook. Linked text and ads are flash-highlighted in blue for your convenience. To enhance your viewing, please open full screen mode by clicking the icon on the far right of the black flipbook toolbar.

Here's something you might be interested in.
Submit a free classified
or view all
Previous article

Classical Classical at The San Diego Symphony Orchestra

A concert I didn't know I needed
Next Article

Escondido planners nix office building switch to apartments

Not enough open space, not enough closets for Hickory Street plans

In some ways it felt like nothing had changed. There I was on the patio of the brewpub on Fay Avenue, drinking beer with my dog. But that was the extent of any real similarity. That patio had been renovated, as had the rest of the brewpub. The beer in my glass was house-made. Heck, the place even had a new name: La Jolla Brewing Company (LJBC). Granted, the name was pretty close to the venue’s former moniker, La Jolla Brew House (LJBH), but from an aesthetic, atmospheric, and quality standpoint, the two businesses are night and day.

Sponsored
Sponsored

Of course, it’s easy to be confused as to the identity, not just because the names are so alike in their community-driven spirit, but because the former owner of LJBH is maintaining a death grip on the defunct business’ website and social media accounts. Several posts go up per day from the LJBH Twitter feed and a check of LJBH’s webpage turns up the message: “We are currently under construction and the Restaurant & Brewery is CLOSED at this time. We apologize for any inconvenience. Check back soon for updates and reopening times.” Sadly misleading, this has surely kept would-be visitors from discovering the new LJBC. It’s a shame, since it looks, feels, and tastes so much better.

Brewmaster Brett Stampf played a large role in revamping the brewpub’s interior and improving the brewing operations. A veteran of Green Flash Brewing Company, Stone Brewing Co., and numerous brewpubs outside of San Diego, his experience shows up in the initial beers of the two-month-young business. LJBC’s dry Irish-style stout (which, like the brewpub’s golden ale and IPA, is served on nitro) is true to style in its dry, drinkable deliciousness, and its pale ale, while a bit of a work in progress, has great aroma and a nice malt backbone.

The beer I indulged in with my pooch (who is named Pangea, not after the continental landmass, but instead the beer from Dogfish Head Craft Brewery) was LJBC’s Big Time Stout, a rather complex, multi-layered 9% ABV imperial stout that came on strong with flavors of bittersweet chocolate, roasted barley, earthiness, and even a touch of anise. It’s a specialty beer that will rotate out, but is worth savoring while it’s still on tap. Even if you miss it, at least you know that the old LJBH isn’t coming back, no matter what the Internet may lead you to believe.

Comments
Sponsored

The latest copy of the Reader

Please enjoy this clickable Reader flipbook. Linked text and ads are flash-highlighted in blue for your convenience. To enhance your viewing, please open full screen mode by clicking the icon on the far right of the black flipbook toolbar.

Here's something you might be interested in.
Submit a free classified
or view all
Previous article

San Diego Dim Sum Tour, Warwick’s Holiday Open House

Events November 24-November 27, 2024
Next Article

Woodpeckers are stocking away acorns, Amorous tarantulas

Stunning sycamores, Mars rising
Comments
Ask a Hipster — Advice you didn't know you needed Big Screen — Movie commentary Blurt — Music's inside track Booze News — San Diego spirits Classical Music — Immortal beauty Classifieds — Free and easy Cover Stories — Front-page features Drinks All Around — Bartenders' drink recipes Excerpts — Literary and spiritual excerpts Feast! — Food & drink reviews Feature Stories — Local news & stories Fishing Report — What’s getting hooked from ship and shore From the Archives — Spotlight on the past Golden Dreams — Talk of the town The Gonzo Report — Making the musical scene, or at least reporting from it Letters — Our inbox Movies@Home — Local movie buffs share favorites Movie Reviews — Our critics' picks and pans Musician Interviews — Up close with local artists Neighborhood News from Stringers — Hyperlocal news News Ticker — News & politics Obermeyer — San Diego politics illustrated Outdoors — Weekly changes in flora and fauna Overheard in San Diego — Eavesdropping illustrated Poetry — The old and the new Reader Travel — Travel section built by travelers Reading — The hunt for intellectuals Roam-O-Rama — SoCal's best hiking/biking trails San Diego Beer — Inside San Diego suds SD on the QT — Almost factual news Sheep and Goats — Places of worship Special Issues — The best of Street Style — San Diego streets have style Surf Diego — Real stories from those braving the waves Theater — On stage in San Diego this week Tin Fork — Silver spoon alternative Under the Radar — Matt Potter's undercover work Unforgettable — Long-ago San Diego Unreal Estate — San Diego's priciest pads Your Week — Daily event picks
4S Ranch Allied Gardens Alpine Baja Balboa Park Bankers Hill Barrio Logan Bay Ho Bay Park Black Mountain Ranch Blossom Valley Bonita Bonsall Borrego Springs Boulevard Campo Cardiff-by-the-Sea Carlsbad Carmel Mountain Carmel Valley Chollas View Chula Vista City College City Heights Clairemont College Area Coronado CSU San Marcos Cuyamaca College Del Cerro Del Mar Descanso Downtown San Diego Eastlake East Village El Cajon Emerald Hills Encanto Encinitas Escondido Fallbrook Fletcher Hills Golden Hill Grant Hill Grantville Grossmont College Guatay Harbor Island Hillcrest Imperial Beach Imperial Valley Jacumba Jamacha-Lomita Jamul Julian Kearny Mesa Kensington La Jolla Lakeside La Mesa Lemon Grove Leucadia Liberty Station Lincoln Acres Lincoln Park Linda Vista Little Italy Logan Heights Mesa College Midway District MiraCosta College Miramar Miramar College Mira Mesa Mission Beach Mission Hills Mission Valley Mountain View Mount Hope Mount Laguna National City Nestor Normal Heights North Park Oak Park Ocean Beach Oceanside Old Town Otay Mesa Pacific Beach Pala Palomar College Palomar Mountain Paradise Hills Pauma Valley Pine Valley Point Loma Point Loma Nazarene Potrero Poway Rainbow Ramona Rancho Bernardo Rancho Penasquitos Rancho San Diego Rancho Santa Fe Rolando San Carlos San Marcos San Onofre Santa Ysabel Santee San Ysidro Scripps Ranch SDSU Serra Mesa Shelltown Shelter Island Sherman Heights Skyline Solana Beach Sorrento Valley Southcrest South Park Southwestern College Spring Valley Stockton Talmadge Temecula Tierrasanta Tijuana UCSD University City University Heights USD Valencia Park Valley Center Vista Warner Springs
Close

Anchor ads are not supported on this page.

This Week’s Reader This Week’s Reader