A nice balance of malt and hops in this west-coast style IPA clocking in at 7.5% ABV. I thought I got the big boy beer due to happy hour, but was informed that it was due to me sitting next to a pretty girl that has exceeded all available “mug club” awards.  Just sit in her presence and you get big beers a rock bottom….good to know.

A Mary Jane IPA for me and a Winter Wheat, sans the orange slice and sprinkle of ground spices, for the lady.  Both quite tasty.  MJ clocking in at 7%, the Winter Wheat 8.5%

Rock Bottom Brewery La Jolla

Rock Bottom Taps

Blue Star IPA and a Heartland Honey Wheat

The chalkboard tap list indicated they had a Blue Star IPA on cask…sounded good..right?  But no mas, so I was offered a standard draft of the Blue Star IPA.  I must have made a sad face, because they gave it to me in a special Mug Club mug…and I’m not even in the club….sweet.   I found the beer very enjoyable; much better than I expected.

Black Seal Stout

I had time for one more before heading out and I chose the Black Seal Stout.  The listed ABV of the stout was 8% (compared to the 6.5% (I think)  of the IPA) so the beer was served in a smaller glass.  Once again, the beer was better than I expected.

The last time I tasted beer from a San Diego Rock Bottom Brewery was at the Gaslamp location when they first were settling in, and brewmaster Johnny O had just transferred from the La Jolla store… so I’m talking (or typing I guess) many years ago.  Per the Rock Bottom website  the La Jolla brewmaster is Marty Mendiola.   I will definitely make a stop here again when in the area with time to kill.