Ballast Point Brewery Miramar Review
TO BEER OR NOT TO BEER? There is no question
It’s no secret that I love craft beer, and wherever I travel, I’m always on the hunt for an excellent local brewery to visit. Luckily for me, San Diego has no shortage of delicious beer to consume. So it brought me great joy to recently learn that Ballast Point Miramar is only 1.8 miles from my hotel.
Ballast Point Beer is My Favorite
It’s like liquid manna from heaven.
I got hooked on the brand when it arrived in Oklahoma years ago. Their Grapefruit Sculpin IPA and Habanero Sculpin IPA absolutely delight my taste buds.
Now I’m no beer snob or aficionado and you won’t hear me discussing the hint of notes paired with ingredients. I like what I like. Beer tastes great, or it doesn't. And Ballast Point has never disappointed me.
Visiting the Miramar location was epic.
Ballast Point Miramar, nestled in an unassuming industrial area of San Diego, is a beautiful place with indoor and outdoor seating. The entire vibe of the place is chill and they play great music. The large copper kettles from Germany are a sight you must see, and there’s also an extraordinary story behind them. Sorry, you have to go there to find out. 😉
While the indoor seating area is fantastic, with a spotless, modern look, we opted for the outdoor area. The weather was terrific, and the evening lighting, paired with the fire pit and other touches, made this the place to be! We’ve visited twice and it’s been perfect both times.
The people are super too.
The Ballast Point staff has been great. They run a tight ship and keep it clean, especially for people concerned about COVID-19. But one of the best parts of our experience has been meeting Max Wasker.
Max is a supervisor at Ballast Point Miramar, and we’ve had some kick ass conversations. He’s full of life and positive vibes and works his ass off to ensure patrons are well taken care of. I’ve learned a lot about San Diego, his family, surfing naked, and beer from our discussions. If the brewery didn’t have great beer, Max would still make the visit awesome.
Of course, there’s the beer.
On the first night of our visit, I was introduced to Aloha Sculpin, a refreshing IPA at 7.0% with bright notes of mango, pineapple, and guava. OK, I borrowed this from their website since I don’t discuss notes. The taste was tropical, light, and easy to drink with my pizza and Buffalo Cauliflower Bites... which also rocked.
I also enjoyed the High West Barrel Aged Victory at Sea, an Imperial Porter aged with bourbon & rye whiskey oak casks. At 12% ABV, you won’t need many to feel a buzz. Of course, it’s a heavier craft beer, and you’ll want to savor it slowly.
The second visit was when the real magic happened.
I FREAKING LOVE their Habanero Sculpin IPA. No, scratch that ... I’m obsessed with it!! It disappeared from Oklahoma shelves a while back, and I’ve been going insane trying to find it until now.
For various reasons, Ballast Point had to stop making and selling this elixir of the gods. But the other night it was back on the menu, and I was thrilled to have two pints with my killer nachos. They were a perfect pairing. Before we left San Diego, I loaded up on some crowlers.
There were other incredible beers I sampled, but unfortunately, I got a damn good buzz on and don’t remember what they were. I know one included Chilis. LOL!
Visit Ballast Point Miramar if you get the chance.
While San Diego is heaven for its beaches and climate, visiting Ballast Point Miramar was one of the trip's biggest highlights. I bought some beer, acquired some swag, and made a new friend in the process. Plus, I created memories for a lifetime.
If you’re ever in this area, please go check them out.