The Ritual Tavern

After a long-ass day I stopped at the Ritual Tavern and rewarded myself with an Armada Imperial IPA, a collaboration brew from Mission Brewery and Dean Rouleau of San Diego Brewing Co.

Armada Imperial IPA - Collaboration brew from Mission Brewery and Dean Rouleau of San Diego Brewing Co.

Armada Imperial IPA - Collaboration brew from Mission Brewery and Dean Rouleau of San Diego Brewing Co.

Toronado San Diego

A short walk and I was at Toronado…along with everyone else in San Diego.   As usual I did not get close to tasting all that was available on draft.  BLAH’s Lee Chase spewed a list of recommended beers and I ended up with a New Belgium Le Terroir.

New Belgium's Draft List

Le Terroir - New Belgium

A couple of Blind Pigs - Russian River Brewing

My night-cap was a pint of Russian River’s Blind Pig IPA.

The Ritual Tavern, San Diego

Naturally, I was happy to go.

The Ritual is located in the North Park area of San Diego (so named because it’s at the north end of Balboa Park) along 30th Street, which is also home to other great beer and food destinations including the aforementioned Toronado, The Linkery and Hamilton’s Tavern.

The bar at the Ritual

The local stuff on tap that night included, Stone Brewing’s IPA and Smoked Porter, Ballast Point’s Big Eye and Backstreet Brewing’s Georgia Pecan Nut Brown Ale on cask. (Backstreet’s brewer Adam Carbonell was making an appearance there that night as well.)

There was lots of local bottles as well, including an ample selection from our own beloved Lost Abbey.

The Ritual has a most impressive bottle list. Click on the image to read it

But beyond the beer, The Ritual also has some fantastic food (something I didn’t get to sample on my last trip there). That night was mussel and oyster night — both locally raised and steamed in our choice of beer. (Our selection: Lost Abbey Avant Garde.)

Mussels and Oysters from the Ritual

The shellfish were excellent, as were the breads served along with it. I highly recommend both.

We had more beer and more food — more than I can remember to be honest.

My longtime friend, Sean, who happens to live around the corner, as well as (owner) Staci, Chris (Staci’s husband & Ritual co-ownera Ritual co-worker who is not married to Staci and happily dating the bartender pictured above—much to Staci’s husband, Michael’s, relief), and Adam Carbonell all joined us on the patio for hours of conversation and people-watching along 30th Street. (Alas, no flashing from the girls this time.)

Sidenote: There’s an adult bookstore right across the street. Even if you never go in there, sitting on the Ritual patio, having a few pints and watching who goes in and out of the store is hours of entertainment.

All-in-all it was a great evening of great beer, food and friends in a really fun environment. If you ever get the chance to come to San Diego, I highly recommend a stop at The Ritual for a few drinks and dinner. I guarantee you won’t be disappointed.

Beer Molly and Staci from the Ritual