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 Touring: Legacy Brewing Company

An all-American brewery celebrating British beer styles…ironic much?

Place

Legacy Brewing Co.

363 Airport Road, Oceanside

For many, it’s monuments in Washington, D.C. that put people in a patriotic mood. But for me, the son of a soldier born on an Army base, the grandson of a Navy man who served in World War II, and stepson of a senior chief who spent years stationed on ships and with Marines up at Camp Pendleton, it’s drab, earth tone-painted, cement-floored rooms sporting Old Glory and portraits of prominent figures that feel all-American to me.

So, when I walked into Legacy Brewing Company (363 Airport Road, Oceanside), a brewery and tasting room matching the above description, it felt just like being back at Pendleton, working my first job, visiting my stepdad and his colleagues, or saying good-bye before a deployment. I wonder how many visitors will get the US of A motif the way I do (figuring how close Legacy is to MCB Camp Pendleton, a good number), but if folks don’t, it certainly won’t be because the owners didn’t try hard enough.

Sponsored
Sponsored

A replica of the Declaration of Independence greets guests just beyond the front door, pictures of historically significant Americans are lined along the north wall, and a thirteen-starred flag looms large on the west wall. And, of course, beer names like Sons of Liberty Porter and Founding Fathers Nut Brown help to drive it home.

From a picnic table, visitors can sample a wide variety of beers, mostly English in style. A tad ironic, considering the whole 1776 breakaway thing, but they really explore a wealth of UK ale varieties. Among the more successful are the aforementioned nut brown, which has more hop character and a higher ABV than those that inspired it; Clan Ross Scotch Ale, which brings subtle sweetness and dried fruit in a way that’s not overpowering; and 3.6 ESB, an extra special bitter that isn’t necessarily “special,” but is nicely balanced and easy-drinking.

Other beers are slightly flawed, like the porter that’s slightly acetic on the finish or an IPA that smells of hops but fails to deliver their flavor on the taste buds. But the only beer that really failed taste-testing was The Chesty, an Irish red that’s all over the place and sour on the nose. Not surprisingly, a version of it brewed with spices for the holidays — Sleighwreck — was equally unimpressive. But it’s early, so it’s likely there’s still some dialing in being done on the 15-barrel brewing system.

Overall, it’s a calm place, made even more appealing by its close proximity to Tap That tap room and keg rental spot. And if you come on a Sunday, you can watch the Chargers on the large projection screen. Considering their level of competition, I'm not sure if that’s a plus or a minus.

The latest copy of the Reader

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

Reader writer Chris Ahrens tells the story of Windansea

The shack is a landmark declaring, “The best break in the area is out there.”
Next Article

At Comedor Nishi a world of cuisines meet for brunch

A Mexican eatery with Japanese and French influences
Place

Legacy Brewing Co.

363 Airport Road, Oceanside

For many, it’s monuments in Washington, D.C. that put people in a patriotic mood. But for me, the son of a soldier born on an Army base, the grandson of a Navy man who served in World War II, and stepson of a senior chief who spent years stationed on ships and with Marines up at Camp Pendleton, it’s drab, earth tone-painted, cement-floored rooms sporting Old Glory and portraits of prominent figures that feel all-American to me.

So, when I walked into Legacy Brewing Company (363 Airport Road, Oceanside), a brewery and tasting room matching the above description, it felt just like being back at Pendleton, working my first job, visiting my stepdad and his colleagues, or saying good-bye before a deployment. I wonder how many visitors will get the US of A motif the way I do (figuring how close Legacy is to MCB Camp Pendleton, a good number), but if folks don’t, it certainly won’t be because the owners didn’t try hard enough.

Sponsored
Sponsored

A replica of the Declaration of Independence greets guests just beyond the front door, pictures of historically significant Americans are lined along the north wall, and a thirteen-starred flag looms large on the west wall. And, of course, beer names like Sons of Liberty Porter and Founding Fathers Nut Brown help to drive it home.

From a picnic table, visitors can sample a wide variety of beers, mostly English in style. A tad ironic, considering the whole 1776 breakaway thing, but they really explore a wealth of UK ale varieties. Among the more successful are the aforementioned nut brown, which has more hop character and a higher ABV than those that inspired it; Clan Ross Scotch Ale, which brings subtle sweetness and dried fruit in a way that’s not overpowering; and 3.6 ESB, an extra special bitter that isn’t necessarily “special,” but is nicely balanced and easy-drinking.

Other beers are slightly flawed, like the porter that’s slightly acetic on the finish or an IPA that smells of hops but fails to deliver their flavor on the taste buds. But the only beer that really failed taste-testing was The Chesty, an Irish red that’s all over the place and sour on the nose. Not surprisingly, a version of it brewed with spices for the holidays — Sleighwreck — was equally unimpressive. But it’s early, so it’s likely there’s still some dialing in being done on the 15-barrel brewing system.

Overall, it’s a calm place, made even more appealing by its close proximity to Tap That tap room and keg rental spot. And if you come on a Sunday, you can watch the Chargers on the large projection screen. Considering their level of competition, I'm not sure if that’s a plus or a minus.

Comments
Sponsored

The latest copy of the Reader

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

The Art Of Dr. Seuss, Boarded: A New Pirate Adventure, Wild Horses Festival

Events December 26-December 30, 2024
Next Article

Memories of bonfires amid the pits off Palm

Before it was Ocean View Hills, it was party central
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