New Craft Brewery Near Hamilton's: South Park Brewing Co.

There is no person in this city more qualified to do something in the community of South Park in regards to beer than me," says Scot Blair, who takes casual ownership of this type of grandiose claim, delivering the phrase with humility. Blair is the bearded, beer–brewing, loquacious genius behind San Diego’s beer havens, including world–renowned Hamilton’s, Small Bar, Monkey Paw and, most recently, South Park Brewing Company. Blair has repeatedly managed to create that fabled drinking hole environ where people of all classes, genders and ages can forget their differences in favor of their shared passion: beer—and good food to pair with it.  

Blair’s latest endeavor is a subspecies of his other ventures, the more family–friendly and food–centric cousin. "This is the most exciting thing I’ve done since Hamilton’s," Blair proclaims as we sit in the hallowed hall of his inaugural and favored Tavern. "I really haven’t seen a brewpub like this, especially in Southern California. We’re doing casual fish and beer–which a lot of the times people don’t think beer and fish go well together. It’s really taking that brewpub model and doing something different in this great community."  

The new South Park Brewing Company abuts Blair’s Hamilton’s and represents a project that has, in fact, been in the works for years. As Blair pursued other endeavors (including boutique brewery Monkey Paw), the idea of South Park Brewing Company continued to occupy his thoughts: "I didn’t know if it was going to be well–received and, to be honest with you, I was kind of done at the time. [But] I felt like it needed to happen, and it needed to happen in an honest way."

It is Blair’s unwavering dedication to honesty and authenticity that defines South Park Brewing Company. When he finally got the go–ahead to renovate the space beside Hamilton’s, Blair and his team painstakingly worked to restore the space to its original brilliance in an effort toward "architectural revitalization." "We returned the storefront to the way it looked in the ‘50s. Classic South Park." Blair’s attention to authentic aesthetics extend far beyond the structure itself; the vintage butcher’s case that now houses SPBC’s fresh fish was salvaged from the scrap–heap after the Linkery’s closing in 2013. With just a touch of sea–faring souvenirs (read, rope–wrapped columns and authentic black–and–white dockside murals) and wooden community tables, the open room is comfortable, not kitschy. Everything in the new space is custom– made, specially–designed, hand–crafted; no architect or general designer made this space a reality, only the visions of Blair and his team, especially Pat Wilkening of Red Craft Custom Design, making South Park Brewing Company as authentically real of a space as possible.

SPBC’s beer and food hinge on that definitive allegiance to honesty, even defined in its slogan: "Honest Fish. Thoughtfully Crafted Beer." Sourced from local, esteemed Catalina Offshore Products, the menu is solely seafood. The foundation of the menu is a simplified system: Pick Your Fish (with choices ranging from yellowtail to opah to bay scallops); Pick Your Flavor (lots of buttery and savory options to choose from); and Pick Your Preparation (tacos, sandwiches, salads and bowls are all available). But if you’re feeling indecisive, they’ve provided plenty of dishes to satisfy every palate, from fish and chips to a house smoked fish dip (pair it with the oyster stout, a combination that is, in the word’s of Blair, "money").  

As with his other projects, Blair’s passion for brewing lies at the heart of SPBC. 4 of the 13 beers on tap are South Park Brewing Company’s own, invested with the signature touch of head brewer Cosimo Sorrentino. Each glass of house beer is earnestly and thoughtfully brewed, while the other beers in the line–up are chosen by none other than Blair himself. Once again, in a nod to honesty and authenticity, all operations of South Park Brewing Company are visible, from the innards of its kitchen to its brewing system.

Blair constantly reiterates that his newest venture is nothing if not organic. In a world where authenticity is often eclipsed by the thirst for profit, Blair continues to stick to his proverbial guns. "This industry’s changing, there’s a lot more […] hotel owners and real estate moguls who are trying to get into my industry. But they don’t know, they don’t have any skills in this industry, other than they love to make money." With a vision harkening back to a bygone era when pride in one’s work was the definition of success, Blair continues, "The end–all, be–all is ‘What’s my footprint when I’m dead?’ Did I make an impact in my industry? Did I make a difference?" The answer to Blair’s self–imposed question, from the community of South Park, San Diego, and his fans across the country, is a resounding "yes."

South Parking Brewing Company menu is updated daily. 

Other articles you may enjoy.

4 New Breweries in San Diego

The Best Burger and Brewery Pairings Across San Diego