Offering views of the ocean waves, the bustling boardwalk and nearby Crystal Pier, Pacific Beach Alehouse has been a favorite restaurant and microbrewery of locals and tourists alike since it opened its doors and patios in 2008.
Located nearly beachside in Pacific Beach, this brewpub has a recently revamped menu, two bars including a sky bar overlooking the beach, brew casks on display in the lodge-like dining room, and tiers of outdoor patios. With daily specials and happy hour and over 18 flat screen televisions, PB Alehouse is a prime place to grab a bite and a drink, watch the sunset, and catch the game, all at once.
Once you wet your whistle, you can refresh your appetite with an Alehouse salad: mixed greens, feta cheese, dried cranberries, candied pecans, and red onions, dressed with a super-sweet raspberry vinaigrette ($6 small/$9 large). Luckily, we took our knowledgeable server’s suggestion and added the blackened shrimp (+$5), which brought a savory-spiciness to the dish, smoothing out the sugary-sweetness of the salad’s other ingredients.
Being a PB local, I’ve made my way to the Alehouse and sampled their famed stuffed jalapeno appetizer “rattlesnakes” numerous times, so for this occasion, I decided to give the new rattlesnake flat bread a whirl ($13). The rattlesnake flatbread was over a foot long, came served on a cutting board, topped with jalapeno, bacon, pepperoni, and herbed cream cheese layered on a crispy thin crust. Unfortunately, the addition of pepperoni altered the original rattlesnake flavors; so if you want a pizza truly reminiscent of the appetizer, order it sans pepperoni.
Because we’ve heard a lot of buzz around town about the lobster mac & cheese, we chose it for the main course ($15). While the mini crock-pot plating may appear insubstantial, the dish is deceivingly deep and filled with rigatoni pasta smothered in a creamy, rich sauce and large chunks of sweet and savory lobster. This plate truly lived up to the hype and was most satisfying, although it does carry with it a degree of gluttonous guilt.
Since we dined on BBQ night Thursday, we also sampled a plate of ‘cue ($12 for choice of 3 meats, coleslaw, and one side), featuring baby back ribs, pulled pork, brisket, beer can chicken, and bratwurst. The beer can chicken was beyond tender and moist, mainly due to its preparation - a whole chicken is grilled with a can of beer in its cavity, allowing the beer to steam the meat from the inside out. The brat was also quite delicious, as were the side of house-made baked beans, which I could most definitely eat on a daily basis.
The vibe at Pacific Beach Alehouse is usually more laid back than other PB spots, although it does get a bit wild on Thursday nights. On the weekends, sit upstairs and enjoy the view as you sip a mimosa and indulge in their weekend breakfast, served until noon, or their brunch menu served until 3 p.m. If you prefer the shade, hop on a bar stool downstairs in the comfy, wooded bar to watch your game on one of the many flat-screens while enjoying one of their numerous draughts or bottled beers. On cooler nights the Alehouse’s patios stay warm and cozy with the help of overhead heaters and the roaring downstairs patio fire pit.
Whether you’re here for breakfast, brunch, lunch, dinner, or drinks, PB Alehouse has it, all in a comfortable environment close to the ocean. Take advantage of PB Alehouse’s happy hour deals and daily specials, and for more information, visit their website at PBAlehousesportsgrill.com.
PACIFIC BEACH ALEHOUSE
721 Grand Avenue at the corner of Mission Blvd. in Pacific Beach
(858) 581-BEER (2337)
Hours:
Monday - Sunday from 9 a.m - 2 a.m
Saturday - Sunday Serving breakfast 9 a m – Noon
Kitchen Hours:
11 a.m - 10 p.m (kitchen open until 11 p.m of Friday & Saturday)
