Thirst-Quenching: The official craft beer of the San Diego Padres

March 29, 2019 11:05 AM PT

Beer: Swingin’ Friar Ale, “the official craft beer of the San Diego Padres,” has aromas of peach, berry, pine, grapefruit and other citrus fruits, biscuity malts and a crisp finish.

From: Ballast Point Brewing, San Diego.

Why: As if All-Star infielder Manny Machado’s Padres debut weren’t enough, here’s another reason to welcome the Friars’ 50^th season, which kicked off on March 28.

Geeking out: 5.5% alcohol by volume; 40 International Bittering Units; Simcoe hops.

Seeking out: Swingin’ Friar is found at Petco Park, on draft at local restaurants and taverns, and in six-packs at retailers.

Freaking out?: Relax. The other Padres-themed beer, AleSmith’s .394 Pale Ale, is still sold at Petco Park and around town.

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Peter Rowe

Peter is a freelance writer who writes about beer in his bimonthly column Brewery Rowe for the San Diego Union-Tribune. He worked as a reporter and columnist for the San Diego Union-Tribune from 1984 to 2020. A native Californian who grew up in Encinitas, Rowe is a graduate of UC Berkeley and Northwestern University. He is past president of the National Society of Newspaper Columnists and a former Fulbright scholar. He has won a few journalism awards, but would trade them all for a chance to avenge his 1994 “Jeopardy!” loss. Married to a terrific woman who has saved him from errors in writing and in life, he has three sons.