A beercation is a glorious thing. A plane ticket or a tank full of gas is all you need to find yourself in any of the growing destinations for great craft beer. Just keep in mind the “-cation” part, because even a beer trip is not only about the beer. Before, after, or more likely, in between pints, don’t forget to unwind. On a beercation the only thing that rivals the smell of a hop bomb in the morning is the scent of the ocean as you sun yourself on the beach.
Whether your summer beer odyssey includes some buddies, the little ones or just your honey, pack the bags for any of the United States’ three coasts.
After this harsh winter, it’s time to dig your toes in the sand. So whether your summer beer odyssey includes some buddies, the little ones or just your honey, pack the bags for any of the United States’ three coasts. Here are four top-shelf beach towns where you can frolic in the waves and never worry about going dry.
The Beachwood BBQ in Seal Beach has over 20 taps, heavy on the California breweries but where you may also find Stone Ruination IPA with Simcoe on cask.
Orange County
OK, so The O.C. isn’t a city and many people still think of it as that vast expanse between Los Angeles and San Diego, but it boasts 40 miles of Pacific coastline over six cities: Seal Beach, Huntington Beach, Newport Beach, Laguna Beach, Dana Point and San Clemente. The 72-degree weather, like the 10-million-dollar homes, is not a myth. You won’t have to look hard to find a surf shop should you want to rent a board and a wetsuit (optional) to try and catch some waves.
While San Diego County supports two-dozen breweries, Orange County does sport its own fledgling Brewers Guild. The OCBG president and brewmaster at Left Coast Brewing in San Clemente (1245 Puerta Del Sol). Rick Smets, declares, “Beer is alive and well in Orange County and it’s delicious. And nooobody knows it. Why? Because they’re mostly teeny, quiet pubs.”
Orange County’s best-known brewery, The Bruery, is in Placentia (715 Dunn Way). While it’s only eight miles from Disneyland, it’s 20 or so miles from the beach. It’s a small diversion from the waves to try a flight of five for $8 when Cuvée Jeune or a cask of Mischief double dry-hopped with Simcoe and Amarillo might be on tap.
Both Huntington and Newport Beaches have eponymous brewpubs. Stephen Johnson, host of New Brew Thursday (that proves the craft beer revolution will not be televised―it will be podcasted), says of the Huntington Beach Beer Co. (201 Main St.), “The selection of beers runs the gamut of styles. The food is incredible and the atmosphere relaxed.” But he adds of the pub that overlooks the Huntington Beach Pier, “A good or bad thing, depending on your perspective, is that they have a great kids’ menu and are family-friendly.” To avoid parking hassles since everybody drives, rent a bike and ride five miles down the coast to Newport Beach Brewing Co. (2920 Newport Blvd.), which opened in 1995, two years after HBBC, making it O.C.’s second oldest brewery.
When it comes to eating and drinking well, the star is Beachwood BBQ in Seal Beach (131½ Main St.). Starting with the beers, they have over 20 taps, heavy on the California breweries, where you may find Stone Ruination IPA with Simcoe on cask. As for the amazingly reasonably priced bottle selection, it’s filled with rarities including Hair of the Dog Fred From the Wood ’08 and not just one or two gueuzes, but five, including Lost Abbey Duck Duck Gooze. As for the food, it’s pan-smokehouse, meaning heavy on the Carolina-style pulled pork but since it’s in Cali, bro, don’t miss out on the blackened albacore sashimi. Johnson says, “Try the wild boar meatloaf with blueberry gravy, you will not regret it.” He further advises, “Be sure to check the live HopCam on their website (beachwoodbbq.com) to get the up-to-the-second list of what’s on tap.”
One last place Johnson insists is worth a visit is Laguna Beach’s Brussels Bistro (222 Forest Ave.). It’s a Belgian food and beer joint right near the beach and downstairs at basement level. It’s “a must stop in the O.C. if you like Belgian Beer.” If you want live jazz with your frites, stop by on a Wednesday or Thursday night.
When you’re ready to crash, there are myriad options for lodging. In Laguna Beach alone, options range from the opulent Montage (30801 South Coast Highway) situated on the bluffs with “beach, bed and breakfast” packages starting at $395 a night, to the Art Hotel (1404 North Coast Highway) which isn’t exactly in the thick of things, but it offers a nice respite and it’s probably the only place near the beach that’s less than $100 a night.
As for the morning after, get your grease bomb first thing in the morning (or after the bars close since it’s 24/7) at either location of the Harbor House Café. On the north end of the county, there’s a café in Sunset Beach (16341 Pacific Coast Highway) and on the south end, Dana Point has its own Harbor House (34157 Pacific Coast Highway). Either way, if it’s a bacon burger or a chorizo and egg breakfast burrito, dining along the famed PCH is the way to go while likely catching a glimpse of a pod of dolphins.
