Category: San Diego Independent Beer

The 6th Annual Sore Eye Cup – San Diego’s Best Indie Beer

Welcome to the launch of the 6th Annual Sore Eye Cup, an award for the best, regularly produced indie beer in San Diego! Last year was a resounding success, Oatmeal Stout from Benchmark Brewing won! That, along with the only member of the Sore Eye Cup Hall of Fame, Speedway Stout, are the only two regularly produced, indie beers ineligible for this contest. You guys set records for nominations and votes last year, well done!

We will honor the winning craft beer with an actual cup! At the announcement party, we’ll fill it up with the winning beer and the winning brewery will drink from the cup right then, as is tradition! The winners can then bask in the glory of victory and have bragging rights for an entire year.

Here are the rules: beers nominated must be brewed here in San Diego County by a licensed, independent, craft brewery. They must be beers the brewery makes year round; seasonal, special versions, one offs, nitro versions and casks are not allowed. The beers do not need to be packaged (cans or bottles), just made all year long and available for growler fills (so we can buy some to judge). We’re looking for superior indie beers that are available to everyone in SD.

Nominate your favorite beer(s) by emailing me at Sore Eye Cup, tweet me (@SoreEyeSuds) , tag your nomination #SoreEyeCup in Twitter, comment on the post in Facebook, or comment right here on this post. Nominations are open until June 30th at 8pm. Voting down to the 10 finalist beers begins July 6th and runs to July 22nd at 8pm.

The top ten beers, as voted by you, the best people on earth, will be blind tasted/judged by our panel of exemplary beer people . The judges range from craft beer enthusiasts to certified cicerones. We are truly looking for the best, regularly produced indie beer San Diego has to offer. The best craft beer, as chosen by us, will be awarded the esteemed Sore Eye Cup and receive all the prestige and glory one blog can bestow upon a brewery!

A giant shout out to the returning Sore Eye Cup sponsor, Tap Craft! Remember to contact Tap Craft for all your draft system supply, installation, and maintenance needs!

Setting the industry standard for all beverage draught systems, TapCraft is Draughting Quality Beverages.

Current nominated beers!:

Habitus Rye IPA from Mike Hess

Bear Cookie Peanut Butter Stout from Bear Roots

Black Sheep Porter from Bitter Brothers

Frontside Export Stout
Lupulin Lust
from Rip Current

Aloha Brews: Aloha Plenty Porter from Iron Fist/Ken Schmidt

Stingray IIPA
Islander
from Coronado Brewing

Galaxy Rye IPA from Helix Brewing

Table Beer from Benchmark

Relay IPA
Barrio Lager
Rock the Pale
from Thorn St.

Pickleweed Point
Swami’s
Ponto
from Pizza Port

SaurRoggen
DeftHopt
from Deft

Freight Damage from Division 23

Boss Pour from Abnormal

Juice from Protector

Treevana
Lot 19
from Burgeon

Aurora Hoppyalis
Mosaic Session
Isomerizer
from Karl Strauss

Leif Lager from Longship

The Cake is a Lie
Space Oasis
from Intergalactic

Sweet Ride from Bagby

Tabula Rasa
Mulligan
Clever Hoppy Name
from Second Chance

Mongo
Red Barn
Shark Attack
Hightide
from Port/Lost Abbey/THC

IPA
.394
Nut Brown
Special Pils
from AleSmith

Pure & Simple
Brewers Special Brown
Zumbar
from New English

Galaxy Rye IPA from Helix

Half Door Pale
#Buzzwords
House of Hops
from Half Door

 Erotic City
Dorcha Extra Stout
Dank Drank
Refill Material
Passion of the Kiwi
Mamba Mode
from Pariah Brewing Company

Sharks with Lazers
Monks Lunch
from Home Brewing Co

Super Schwarz
10:45 to Denver
Zwicklebier
from Eppig Brewing Company

Phantom Bride from Belching Beaver

Hopmata
Circle of Hops
Normcore
Dankness Visible
Holy the Voyd
Banksy
from Burning Beard

Needle in the Hey! -IIPA
La FLAMA Blanca-Mexican Lager
D.E.A.D RAMONES- GermAn Pilsner
from Thr3e Punk

Orderville
Black House
Blazing World
from Modern Times

Electric Youth
Dream Trails
Planet Rock
from Thunderhawk

Da Kine IPA
Sun Set Red
Honey Blonde
from Pacific Islander

Boneshakeur
Domestique
Sprinteur
from Rouleur

Pugilist
Pupil
Apprentice
Coachman
Butcher
from Societe

Green Hat
Plenty For All
from Fall

Chasing Citra
Vacation Coconut IPA
from Resident

Bird Park
Hop-Fu!
from North Park

Boo Koo
Cali Creamin’
from Mother Earth

Bully Pulpit
Gavel Drop
from Council

Jambi
Cash
Respeto
from Mason

Prince of Dankness
Hipster Latte
from Wild Barrel

First Date (Blonde)
Tropical Hefe
from Groundswell

The 5th Annual Sore Eye Cup – San Diego’s Best Indie Beer

Welcome to the launch of The 5th Annual Sore Eye Cup, an award for the best, regularly produced indie beer in San Diego! Last year was a resounding success, Tabula Rasa from Second Chance won. That, along with the only member of the Sore Eye Cup Hall of Fame, Speedway Stout, are the only two regularly produced, indie beers ineligible for this contest. You guys set records for nominations and votes last year, well done!

We will honor the winning craft beer with an actual cup! It will be a new cup this year, I’ll post pictures when it’s ready. At the announcement party we’ll fill it up with the winning beer and the winning brewery will drink from the cup right then, as is tradition! The winners can then bask in the glory of victory and have bragging rights for an entire year.

Here are the rules: beers nominated must be brewed here in San Diego County by a licensed, independent, craft brewery. They must be beers the brewery makes year round; seasonal, special versions, one offs, nitro versions and casks are not allowed. The beers do not need to be packaged (cans or bottles), just made all year long and available for growler fills (so we can buy some to judge). We’re looking for superior indie beers that are available to everyone in SD.

Nominate your favorite beer(s) by emailing me at Sore Eye Cup, tweet me (@SoreEyeSuds) , tag your nomination #SoreEyeCup in Twitter, comment on the post in Facebook, or comment right here on this post. Nominations are open until June 30th at 8pm. Voting down to the 10 finalist beers begins July 5th and runs to July 22nd at 8pm.

The top ten beers, as voted by you, the best people on earth, will be blind tasted/judged by our panel of 10. The judges range from craft beer enthusiasts to certified cicerones. We are truly looking for the best, regularly produced indie beer San Diego has to offer. The best craft beer, as chosen by us, will be awarded the esteemed Sore Eye Cup and receive all the prestige and glory one blog can bestow upon a brewery!

There will be an awesome party on August 5th, 12pm, at Quad Alehouse to celebrate the amazing indie/craft beer culture we have in San Diego and announce the 2017 winner of the Sore Eye Cup!

Get to nominating!

Current nominations:

Beer Geek Brunch, Windy Hill, Raspberry Blush & Spells from Mikkeller SD
Dank Drank, Erotic City, Cleary Juice & Dorcha from Pariah
Aurora Hoppyalis & Mosaic Session from Karl Strauss
Black House, Blazing World, Orderville & City of the Dead from Modern Times
Java Storm & Lupulin Lust from Rip Current
Swami’s & Ponto from Pizza Port
Pugilist, Exciseman, Coachman, Heiress, Butcher, Pupil & Apprentice from Societe
Nut Brown & .394 from AleSmith
Stingray from Coronado
Alpha Mensae & The Cake is a Lie from Intergalactic
Brown & Table Beer from Benchmark
Red Barn from Lost Abbey
Shark Attack Red & Hightide from Port
Cali Creamin’, Sin Tax, ESB, Boo Koo from Mother Earth
Lot 19, Mixed Greens, Noble Miner, Dutchman’ s Pipe & Thuja from Burgeon
Crystal Mess, Green Hat, 2am Bike Ride & Plenty For All from Fall
Mulligan & Clever Hoppy Name from Second Chance
Little Brother from Bitter Brothers
Dankness Visible, Banksy, Hopmata, Rye the Lightning, Circle of Hops, Holy the Voyd & Ingsoc from Burning Beard
Hop-Fu! & Covington from North Park Beer Co
Electric Youth from Thunderhawk
Boss Pour, Mocha Stout & 5pm Session IPA from Abnormal
All the Cheater Hops & Chasing Citra from Resident
Hoptuitus, Umbirx, Habitus & Claritus from Hess
Scripps Pier Oyster Stout from South Park Brewing Co
Bully Pulpit from Council
Pennant Pale & Best Coast from 32 North
Zwicklebier, Hoppy Pils, & Shcwarzbier from Eppig
Patton Porter w/Vanilla & Rosie from Little Miss
Duet & Windows Up from Alpine
Table Beer & Oatmeal Stout from Benchmark
Willy Time Wit & Charley Hustle Red IPA from Mason Ale Works
Stoner Moment & Galaxy Rye IPA from Helix
Explorer ESB, Pure & Simple, Brewer’s Special Brown & Zumbar from
New English
#Buzzwords from Half Door
Seacoast Pils & CoastWise IPA from Corondao
Sacrifice Red IPA from Aztec

Sore Eye Files – March ’16

These posts are where we dig into my phone and reflect on some of the awesome times I had. Maybe you were there for some; maybe you should try to be there this upcoming year, I do tend to have fun! It’s December 29th and I’m looking back to March. There’s no way I’ll finish the year this year but let’s see how many months I can get through today.

I started my own beer group in Facebook on March 1st after leaving a butt-load of other groups that had devolved into chaos. I have been astonished at how supportive and awesome of a group it has turned into. Want in? Friend me in the Facebook land.
The same day I went to Societe, I do enjoy visiting this fine establishment. I had the Bachelor with Cascade and the Dandy, both were phenomenal.


On the 2nd, SD BeerTalk got a preview of Mikkeller, one of my favorite breweries to open this year.
Ate at S&M on the 5th. So bummed they’re closed now. This was our favorite table, the Cage section.
On the 6th I was honored to be a panel member of the SD Beer Forum. Here’s a shot of Giggles enjoying the situation.
On the 8th we recorded a show with Bitter Brothers, another of my favorite 2016 breweries.
This Hot Cuban from Havana Grill on the 10th was terrific, check them out if you get the chance!
Got a s7 on the 11th. First thing I did was take a picture of my s5 that was on life support.
First food pic with my s7, look, you can see the salt!
Fig, adding cuteness to everyday.
Pete is a great laundry inspector.
Pho Hut & Grill hit the spot on the 14th

 

Recorded a show at Off Beat Brewing on the 21st. Man, that’s a drive from Normal Heights.
Rudy celebrated 3 years of Craft Beerd, you’re damn right I bought the shirt and glass! Congrats again man!
MVCBFF happened on the 26th and was the best festival I attended last year. All you can drink and eat, yes eat! You better hit up http://www.mvcbf.com/ and get your tickets right now! Photo cred to Tim Stahl!

So, that’s what I did in March, coupled with school (Beer Styles I), it was a full and super fun month. What did you do in March that was awesome?

Sore Eye Files – February ’16

Member February? Ooh, I member. An entire season of South Park has been reduced to one amazing joke in my head, I can’t stop it, it took on a life of its own. These posts are where we dig into my phone and reflect on some of the awesome times I had. Maybe you were there for some; maybe you should try to be there this upcoming year, I do tend to have fun!

I had just started Beer Styles I in the SDSU Craft Beer program. This is the recipe for Pliny, bro!
I had a few beers at Fall Brewing, crazy right?! Nick had no idea he’d be having as crazy of a ’16 when this was taken.
On the 6th, I had breakfast at one of my favorite places in my hood, Small Bar.
Modern Times released this super crushable IPA
On the 16th SD BeerTalk Radio did a show at Monkey Paw with some heavy discussion about the following day’s 10 Barrel meeting.
Before the 10 Barrel meeting I took a few minutes to collect my thoughts regarding what I wanted to say. Speaking to the committee didn’t help my cause but I was glad I voiced my concerns publicly.
Finally got a new work computer after 5 years of using old ones. Size comparison pic.
Went to Idyllwild with my amazing wife and this 3 step plan!
Ate at Gastrognome while up in Idyllwild, always tasty.
Went to The Homebrewer on the 24th, no beer pic for you! Notice the subtle ways the Millennium Falcon accents the homey images surrounding it.
Ended the month on an amazing note. Went to this crazy EDSD sausage cook off and had a great time at Machete!






















































So there you have my February happenings! Did you do anything awesome in Feb? Let me know!

Sore Eye Sudsmas Returns December 10th!

soreeyessudsmasbannerCome celebrate the holidays! You have supported me all year and this is my chance to give back to you by throwing a great party at one of the most exceptional breweries in our city, Societe Brewing! Bring non-perishable food to donate to the food drive. Our food drive bolsters Societe Brewings’s Annual food drive. San Diego Food Bank will be the benefactor, so your help is staying right here in SD! RSVP here! Continue reading “Sore Eye Sudsmas Returns December 10th!”