MAXED OUT: Summer Is Here! Where Should I Beer?

Looks like it's going to be a spectacular 4th of July weekend so what better way to get into it than for Max to hook us up with some great outdoor beer joints here in San Diego. You have the floor, sir:

Aloha, my gorgeous gathering of grain-o-philes and welcome back to the summer edition of Maxed Out. Its days like today that I wish I was a teacher on summer break because the weather here in San Diego is the definition of the word “perfect.” Not a cloud in the sky and 75
degrees with a very mild breeze. So where should you be drinking in
San Diego on these gorgeous summer days? Dats wud imma tell ya’s all
taday! No, no, after you, I insist.

As some of you may remember, I am a huge fan of bars with patios as I
love to smoke while drinking. So who better to tell you of the many
bars in San Diego with outdoor smoking (and non) than me? Nobody,
that’s who. So let’s count down my favorite patio bars in San Diego,
shall we?

I have to start the list with the most obvious bar to me and one that
I have talked about on several occasions, Toronado San Diego. Located
in the heart of North Park this bar features my personal favorite tap
list and just so happens to have one of the best patios to boot. It’s
a quiet little patio in the way far back of the bar and if you didn’t
know they had one you’d probably never think to look for it.

To be honest it took me several visits to this beer haven before I even knew they had one. And for that reason, especially during the day, there
is usually no one out there. So bring a few friends, order one of
their beautiful IPAs and rock out on the back patio. Kids are welcome
before a certain time so give 'em a call and check it out for yourself.

The Neighborhood is another beer bar in San Diego with a fantastic
beer line up, glorious service (by this I mean gorgeous service… and
by that I mean they are primarily hot girls,) but if you don’t have
one of the girls serving your table and bringing you tasty libations
you can be pretty sure that it will be a mustachioed young man helping
you out. Yes, they all are required to look like their hipster boss
and sport curled up mustaches. No, I don’t know why. There are two
fairly small patios here, smoking is allowed, and it’s just a few
short blocks away from Petco Park. So if you’re on your way to a
Padres game stop by here before hand and enjoy the last few hours of
daylight before the AMAZING and ALWAYS SOLD OUT Padres take the field for what is sure to be an epic battle on the diamond. EPIC!


I’m going to throw a curve ball in here because I just visited this
brew pub this past Monday. Pacific Beach Ale House has a roof top bar
that has a slight view of the beach, brews their own beers (Their IPA
was 6.5% and surprisingly delightful,) and seats close to 100 people.
I’ve been here a couple times now and have enjoyed myself thoroughly
both times.

Just do yourself a favor and don’t get the oyster
shots... NO BUENO! I’d recommend going after a day on the beach in
the early evening as the sun sets. Tres belle. I have yet to attend
at night but can only imagine that it full of the typical half-witted
blondies and neckless meat heads. Afternoons are definitely the way
to go here.

Hoffer’s has an awesome patio and I work there so it is a pretty damn
good place to go. Only problem is that it’s in East County and is HOT
AS HELL! I’ve told you all about Hoffer’s so I won’t bore you with
any more of the details. Just come visit me!

The last one I’m going to give you is the bar that is credited as
being the bar that has carried San Diego craft beers the longest:
O’Brien’s Irish Pub. Good pub fare, good, however small beer list
including several Alpine brews. They even have a beer named after
them from Alpine aptly called O’Brien’s Ale (just ok.) Their outdoor
patio is totally chill and located in the Korean area of Kearny Mesa.
So grab a beer, grab a burger, and chill on this here patio.

I’m sure I missed a few so tell me in the comment section below, on
Facebook, or email me at maxamilliondollars@gmail.com. Thanks for
joining me today and go check some of these patios out there in sunny
San Diego if you haven’t already.

Until next time my beer loving brethren, have a beer for me.

(ed. note: Concur with all of Max's recommendations, particularly The Neighborhood for the stated reasons. We will submit, as well, K and B Wine Cellars in Del Cerro which has the coveted SLOBs' seal of approval.... Also, while it isn't there yet, Alpine Brewery's back patio area has the potential to be an excellent beer garden. Right now, it's a picnic table and some plastic chairs but the folks there tell us they have plans... big plans.... Hey, how about your own back patio? You've got the kids and/or don't necessarily want to drive anywhere and more importantly, don't want to drive back, stock up on some good beer, ice 'em down properly, put on the iPod, crack open a few of those said beers and just relax in the back of your own castle in this glorious San Diego summer weather. Oh, and don't forget to call us up for the invite.