San Clemente, California
San Clemente sets the stage for a casual Craft Beer Crawl. Drink great local brews and graze some excellent food offerings. Be sure to designate a sober driver for your beer-inspired shinanigans. When you get home, try our Crawl-inspired Herb-Infused Olive Oil & Balsamic Reduction Appetizer with Roasted Garlic, Tomatoes and Goat Cheese.
Mapping the Day
Known for surfing, spectacular ocean views and a casual beach lifestyle, San Clemente anchors the southern border of Orange County. An easy 20-minute drive from central O.C., a trip down the 5 freeway transports visitors to a relaxing spot for dining, local shopping and pier trekking. But this time, we were on a mission: San Clemente Craft Beer Crawl.
Local Story
We aimed for three local craft breweries in the small ocean-view town. Each has its own distinct brand, vibe and beer styles. That’s what makes craft beer tasting so much fun. Before all that tasting, we recommend starting with lunch.
View from the Table
MRK Public
1402 S. El Camino Real
San Clemente
This little gastropub welcomes customers with a gorgeous outdoor succulent garden wall. Simplicity and great food are the watchword here. Don’t miss their Tuscan Toast (and be sure to see our RoadTripFlavors version below), fried chicken sandwich and $5 craft beer (a daily staple).
Filled with a solid lunch, here’s our recommended Craft Beer Crawl:
Left Coast Brewing Company
1245 Puerta del Sol
San Clemente
Try the Beer Flight for $12. Get a $2 discount for following Left Coast on social media. The stand out tasting for us was the Barrel Aged Voo Doo Stout. So rich, it’s like a great cup of coffee.
Artifex
919 Calle Amanecer, Suite A
San Clemente
Use your GPS to find this brewery tucked away on a hill in an industrial park. Many beer lovers have found their way, because it was packed on a Saturday afternoon with regulars. The brew masters come with experience from Stone and Pizza Port, but definitely put their own brewing skills and tastes into Artifex products. No flights are offered here, so we ordered a few glasses to share. We loved the Show Me Your Roots Blonde Ale.
Pizza Port
301 N. El Camino Real
San Clemente
What a pleasant surprise. This extension of the San Diego-based company boasts a casual, beachy atmosphere to showcase craft beer and pizzeria specialties. While you sip on a custom tasting flight of your choice, you may be ready for a snack now too. So order Beer Buddies, savory pizza bites, to soak up the suds.
The San Clemente Pier is a perfect end to the beer tour. Take in fresh sea air, listen to the waves and enjoy the ocean view.
Herb-Infused Olive Oil & Balsamic Reduction
with Roasted Garlic, Tomatoes & Goat Cheese
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