Go: Gravity Heights
Know: Opening amid deafening buzz, this brewpub boasts a stellar pedigree: Whisknladle CEO Arturo Kassel unites with #sdbeer pioneer Charles “Skip” Virgilio. Co-founder of AleSmith, Virgilio was the first local brewer to medal at the Great American Beer Festival (a 1994 gold for a Belgian Strong Ale created for the now-defunct Pacific Beach BrewHouse).
Glow: Gravity Heights has 13 house-brewed beers, plus several collaboration brews. Check out the abbey dubbel-style “Stein Beer,” created by Virgilio, Lost Abbey’s Tomme Arthur, Nickel Beer’s Tom Nickel and Rouleur’s Rawley Macias.
Gravity Heights, Sorrento Valley.
Pro: Virgilio is a master of hop-forward West Coast IPAs and spicy Belgian-influenced ales, but don’t miss his blonde ale. “It’s a really tasty, drinkable beer,” Virgilio said. “It’s not dumbed-down like some blondes are.”
Gravity Heights, 9920 Pacific Heights Blvd., Sorrento Valley, gravityheights.com
