Carlsbad, So Cal Drinks Up

San Diego is known for its thriving craft beer scene, with a plethora of breweries, tasting rooms, beer bars and even events like the San Diego International Beer Festival. That said, anyone traveling to San Diego should be aware that this influence has spilled over into the nearby (and lesser-known) city of Carlsbad, which is becoming a destination in itself for drinking experiences with unique craft beers, local wines and handcrafted cocktails.

Located about 25 minutes from the San Diego Airport, Carlsbad is a coastal community known for its beautiful beaches, outdoor recreation, health and wellness culture, and “go local” philosophy. Much of this is what influences its drinking scene and what has helped to make it a destination for imbibers craving something a little out of the ordinary.

Tours

A unique way to explore Carlsbad’s beer, wine and cocktail scene is to take a tour with Scavengers Beer Adventures. Guides are all home brewers, so, along with riding around Carlsbad Village in a six wheel drive, all terrain, high mobility army utility Pinzgauer, you’ll also get to sample some homemade West Coast beer, which is known for its experimental qualities (green tea beer, anyone?). Interestingly, the company’s name comes from when there weren’t very many breweries around, especially with regular hours, and they really had to go “scavenging” for beer. However, this is certainly no longer the case.

Beer

The West Coast is exemplary for its experimental craft beer scene, and Carlsbad breweries and pubs play on this, often adding a beach atmosphere or unusual local ingredients.

Notable on Carlsbad’s craft beer scene is Pizza Port. This operation began in 1992 in San Diego, before craft beer was part of the local culture. As consumer demand for their fresh, hop-driven beers increased, it expanded to nearby Carlsbad. Although the bar and pizzeria is indoors, the bright light streaming through the many windows, communal wooden tables and laid back beach atmosphere give it a boardwalk meets beer garden vibe (especially when you notice the many families sitting amid the large brewing tanks). Their craft beer menu features traditional style brews as well as experimental varieties the West Coast is famous for, like brews infused with wine, dark chocolate or even aged in bourbon barrels. Between their own brews and other guest breweries in California, don’t be surprised to see beers with names like “Big Dumb Animal,” “Carlsbad Chronic,” “Barrel Aged Night Rider,” “Me So Honey” and “Hazed & Infused.”

Karl Strauss Brewing Company is another big player on the scene. Pioneers here of food pairing with beer, they showcase their beers through their pub fare concept. Each month highlights a new beer and food pairing, with dishes especially created to complement a specific beer. One of their latest is a Báhn Porc — their spin on a Bánh Mi — served with a Blackball Belgian IPA. While the French meets Vietnamese style dish features a beer braised pork dip, French bread, horseradish Havarti, crimini mushrooms, sautéed onions, peppers  and a star anise jus, the beer is a mix of fruit and spice enhanced with coriander, curacao and citrus hops.  The brewery makes a point of channeling local culture by crafting beers reflecting what regulars like, for example, hop-focused IPAs indicative of the West Coast style.

Another interesting facet to the Karl Strauss Brewing Company is its Thursday casks nights, where brewers create one time only brews. Past creations have included “Big Barrel Double IPA” with fresh New Mexico green chilies, “Red Trolley Ale” with Grand Marnier soaked orange peel, “Tower 10 IPA” double dry hopped with New Zealand Mosaic hops, and “Wreck Alley Imperial Stout” made with bourbon soaked oak chips.

Cocktails

Carlsbad’s drinking culture features an impressive handcrafted cocktail scene. Making drinks from scratch with scientific precision is a popular trend in this coastal city, as is incorporating local ingredients and unusual twists.

West Steak and Seafood, part of West Inn & Suites, is undoubtedly most notable, particularly with its flavor changing cocktails. Created by mixologist Sean Merzbacher, the drinks incorporate fruits and herbs from their organic garden —with every ingredient being precisely measured, muddled and strained —as well as a fruit and spirit ice cube that dissolves as you drink altering the flavor and amping up the cocktail’s kick. Sean’s concoction comes in two flavors, first the “Mango Chameleon”, which combines citrus vodka, triple sec, fresh lemon juice, simple syrup and mint, served with a frozen mango purée and Malibu rum flavor changer. And second, the “Raspberry Chameleon” which features citrus vodka, triple sec, fresh lemon juice, simple syrup, orange juice and basil, and served with a frozen raspberry purée and Chambord flavor changer.

There is also a handcrafted cocktail menu that caters to those wanting “a stem to bar” experience. While the “Billionaire Margarita” is made with Patron Platinum, fresh lemon juice, simple syrup, a splash of orange and a topping of Centennial Grand Marnier, the “West’s $50 Sidecar” puts an upscale spin on this classic drink with Hennessy XO Cognac, Cointreau Noir and Centennial Grand Marnier. Both drinks are $50 each.

Chandler’s, in the Oceanfront Resort at Carlsbad Beach by Hilton, features a beverage program that goes beyond rum and cokes. While patrons tend to go for the sunset views, they stay for the drinks. Handcrafted cocktails are reflective of the local culture. In fact, not only do the drinks incorporate Carlsbad sourced fruits and herbs, but they’re also created in honor of the employees. Try “Chandler’s Margarita,” a variation on the classic that incorporates Mezcal to add a bit of smokiness, inspired by the two fire pits surrounding the restaurant; or the “R’ Limoncello,” a concoction inspired by the Chandler CEO’s Italian heritage, featuring Stolichnaya, Limoncello, lemon juice, fresh sage and Prosecco; or the “Smoking Gun” made with Bombay Sapphire, Ketel One, Lillet and a lemon twist, created in honor of the General Manager’s favorite James Bond films. The best time to visit is during Happy Hour from 4:30 to 6:30 pm, when a different discount cocktail is featured every day.

Although many drinking establishments in Carlsbad put a modern twist on classic cocktails with inspiration from local ingredients, there are some who like to be completely different. TWENTY/20 Grill adds some Spanish flavor to both their food and beverage offerings, infusing Spanish sherry or brandy into many of the drinks. The house specialty is sangria, made with either house made red, white or rosé infusions. The base of the red is Granacha, also known as Grenache, a Spanish wine with flavors of cherries and candied fruits and a spiciness that blends nicely with the Torres Brandy, cranberry juice, fresh blackberries and red grapes in the libation. As for the white sangria, a crisp and fruity Verdejo Spanish white is combined with Torres brandy, Torres Orange Liqueur, St. Germaine liqueur and seasonal peaches and green apples for a sweet yet tart drink. In the rosé sangria you’ll find Rosé Granacha, seasonal fruits, strawberry simple syrup, Torres Brandy and Torres Orange. For an adventurous cocktail, their Spanish margarita is handcrafted with an interesting twist—Jalapeno Infused Agave Nectar and Torres Orange Liqueur.

Wine

While Carlsbad is not particularly known as a destination for touring wineries, it does have something special to offer travelers wanting a vineyard experience. Along with an array of venues showcasing local, boutique wines, Carlsbad’s viticulture scene is inherently social, with wineries, wine bars and wine shops all focused on bringing people together through wine-centric events.

Witch Creek Winery, opened in 1993, is a local winery by the sea that produces handcrafted wines from a large variety of grapes. In fact, while many wineries around the world focus only on a handful of varietals, Witch Creek makes use of 18 different grapes, including lesser-known ones like Nebbiolo, Teroldego, Montepulciano and even Sagrantino, used by just a handful of winemakers in the U.S. And in true Carlsbad fashion, you can sample these wines in their tasting room located one block from the beach in an easy going, unpretentious atmosphere. As winemaker Ryan Baker says, “We’re serious about winemaking and we love what we’re doing, but we’re really just hoping people can enjoy a fun beverage, learn a little about wine and reduce some stress. We take a very laid back approach.”

It’s not just the local wineries that take this laid back approach, but also the wine bars. For example, Relm Wine + Beer Bistro—which stands for “Relax ,Enjoy, Laugh More” — is a beach venue with wine barrels turned into tables, cozy couches, an expansive bar and rotating artwork from local artists. The idea is to create a relaxing atmosphere where people can try something new, enjoy flights and tastings and mingle with new people. Relm’s focus is on local craft beers and small production boutique wines you won’t find in the grocery store.

Additionally, the staff loves getting to know a guest’s palate profile and then coordinating the perfect pairing. For example, when I asked owner Rene Fleming what she would suggest for someone who enjoys buttery flavors and creamy textures, her quick reply of “Sika Chardonnay from Napa Valley” made it clear she knew her stuff. While the venue is trendy, it’s definitely a place where, as Rene likes to say, you should “leave pretension at the door.”

The local wine merchants also do more than simply sell wine. For example, the Wine Loft opened as a retail shop before consumer demand to sample the boutique wines they were selling led them to build a tasting bar. Today, it’s a place where strangers become friends over Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays, carefully chosen by owner Bill Boyer who tries over 100 wines each week before choosing which ones he and his wife Jennifer will sell. The Wine Loft offers tastings and first class flights at their bar, as well as wine and cheese pairing events, featured winery showcases, discount days, wine parties and other social happenings.

www.visitcarlsbad.com