THE BEST SPOTS TO RAISE A PINT FOR ST. PATRICK’S DAY
Finding a pint of Guinness today, St. Patrick’s Day? Easy. Finding a properly poured pint, delivered after a procedure that takes a few minutes? That’s a challenge. Three San Diego establishment that care enough to do it right:
The Ould Sod: A neighborhood bar in Normal Heights, one of the city’s most congenial neighborhoods. No kitchen, but guests can schlep in food from nearby eateries. 3373 Adams Ave., Normal Heights. theouldsod.com
Stout Public House: Two-level establishment with a solid beer lineup and a menu of pub faves, from fish and chips to burgers. 1125 Sixth Ave., downtown San Diego. stoutsd.com
The Field Irish Pub: Overflowing with Ye Olde Knicknacks, the Field is Touristy to a (capital) T — it is smack in the middle of the Gaslamp Quarter — but the food and beer are Excellent with a capital E. 544 Fifth Ave., Gaslamp Quarter. thefield.com
My Yard Live
On sunny days, nothing beats sitting on the deck in my backyard, reading, napping, watching hummingbirds flit amongst our fruit trees. (Only a highclass
beer column would use words like “flit” and “amongst.” You’re welcome.)
Still, my yard is no match for My Yard Live. The San Marcos establishment’s founders were determined to turn their ambitious vision into “a brick-and-mortar concept, 365 days a year,” said Mark McLarry.
“We wanted a rec center, a community center, a park, a beer garden, meets your dream backyard,” said McLarry’s business partner, Jamie Minotti.
Expansive (another $5 word, no extra charge) as it is, this description falls short of the reality. My Yard Live packs a restaurant, bar and video arcade into its 17,000-square-foot indoor area, while picnic grounds/concert stage/cornhole field/playground fill out the 7,500-squarefoot outdoors. There’s even a climbing structure designed by the creator of Disneyland’s Tom Sawyer Island.
“Families had places like” — Minotti mentioned a pizza chain starring an animatronic rodent (I’m not naming it, on counsel’s advice) — “where the food, what there is of it, and the beer is pretty bush league. We thought we could appeal to families a little bit better.”
They were not wrong. On opening day, July 1, 2019, there were lines out the door. COVID-era shutdowns were a challenge, but the award-winning beers of Benjamin “Shaggy” Blaney gained a loyal following. (Flight of the Kiwis, reviewed here, won a bronze medal at the 2021 Great American
Beer Festival.)
This is a popular postgame hangout for youth sports teams, an afternoon socializing spot for seniors, a magnet for datenight couples. My Yard has everything for everybody. Almost. (There’s a notable absence of hummingbirds and fruit trees.)
The next round
Today: The Sham Rock music and beer festival captures the Gaslamp Quarter’s streets from 4 until 11 p.m. Admission, $59, gives you access to three live music stages — beer and food are extra. sandiegoshamrock.com
Saturday: Barks & Brews, a dog-welcoming beer festival, occupies Waterfront Park, 1600 Pacific Highway, from 12:30 to 5:30 p.m. Tickets, $27 to $43. tickets.barksandbrewfest.com
March 28: Join craft beer professionals and fans at the third annual San Diego Beer News Awards. Sponsored by the San Diego Beer News web site — or was that obvious? — the party is free and open to the public. It begins at 6 p.m. inside AleSmith, 9990 AleSmith Court, San Diego. sandiegobeer.news
March 30: Opening day is a great time to try Session .394, a lower-alcohol (4.9 percent) take on .394, the AleSmith pale ale created with input from the late Padres legend Tony Gwynn. Go Pads! alesmith.com