10 of the Coolest Craft Breweries That Call Carlsbad ‘Home’

Many know that San Diego is known as the  “Craft Beer Capital of America,” with more than 150 breweries and countless beer bars and tasting rooms across the county. Many of those locations can be found along the “Hops Highway” in San Diego’s North County, which includes Carlsbad as a growing craft beer destination, thanks to the city’s selection of award-winning craft beers and tasty food options combined with the coastal charm and laid-back vibe of the beach community.

​​Craft brewing is one of the fastest growing business sectors in the San Diego region. In fact, the county has had a 34% growth in craft beer economic output since 2016, according to a 2019 report by the California State University San Marcos Office of Business Research & Analysis and the San Diego Brewers Guild. Independent craft brewers in the county had an economic impact of roughly $1.2 billion in 2018 and a total industry revenue of $848 million.

Learn about 10 awesome craft beer spots in Carlsbad below.

Arcana Brewing Company

Arcana Brewing Company’s mission is to introduce craft beer enthusiasts to something new, keeping the mystery and spontaneity of craft brewing alive. Founded in 2012, the craft microbrewery, which has a Steampunk theme, keeps classic favorites on tap, but also offers seasonal specials and can customize specially brewed batches for customers.

Arcana Brewing Company is at 5621 Palmer Way, Suite C, in Carlsbad.

Barrel Republic offers 52 beer taps and six wine taps at its Carlsbad location. (Credit: Barrel Republic) 

Barrel Republic

Self-serve craft beer bar Barrel Republic offers 52 beer taps and six wine taps at its Carlsbad location. The concept, which was founded in 2013, features personalized wristbands that enable customers to pour, share and compare with like-minded craft beer enthusiasts. The bar, which has another location in Escondido, offers a full menu of upscale pub food, including burgers, flatbreads and tacos. The Carlsbad location was rated among 15 top sports bars in the San Diego region by Easter San Diego. 

Barrel Republic is at 2961 State St. in Carlsbad.

Burgeon Beer Company

Burgeon Beer Company is known for its willingness to innovate, experiment and push boundaries while having a strong commitment to quality beer. Founded in 2016, Burgeon Beer has a brewery and taproom in Carlsbad and branches in Escondido and San Diego’s Little Italy neighborhood.

Burgeon Beer Company is at 6350 Yarrow Drive, Suite C, in Carlsbad.

Carlsbad Brewing Company

Carlsbad Brewing Company launched its brewery and restaurant in 2019. The “locally world famous” gastropub offers 32 rotating taps of Belgian and German beers, local San Diego beers, and other craft beers and microbrews from around the world. The location also has a wide selection of bottled beers and a full menu featuring burgers, sandwiches, pizzas and more.

Carlsbad Brewing Company is at 6133 Innovation Way, Suite 101, in Carlsbad.

Culver Beer Company offers a wide variety of beers brewed in house. (Credit: Culver Beer Company)

Culver Beer Company

Culver Beer Company, which opened in 2016, offers a wide variety of beers brewed in house. In 2019, the craft brewery opened its on-site deli, Locally Toasted, with a menu of hot and cold sandwiches.

Culver Beer Company is at 2719 West Loker Ave., Suite D, in Carlsbad.

Guadalupe Brewery

Inspired by Baja California’s wine country and Mexican culture, Guadalupe Brewery is crafted in Carlsbad and tasted in Vista. The business started in 2004 and the long-awaited Tap House / Cerveceria launched in 2019 in downtown Vista.

Carlsbad-based Guadalupe Brewery’s Tap Room is at 631 S Santa Fe Ave. in Vista.

Karl Strauss Brewing Company has won 110 medals since 2009. (Credit: Karl Strauss Brewing Company)

Karl Strauss Brewing Company 

Karl Strauss Brewing Company is San Diego’s oldest craft brewery. The company started in 1989 in San Diego. Today, Karl Strauss has nine brewpub locations in Southern California, with one site in Carlsbad, that offer house-brewed craft beers alongside American bar food with a gourmet twist. The brewery has won 110 medals since 2009 and received the Mid-Size Brewing Company of the Year award at the Great American Beer Festival in 2016.

Karl Strauss Brewing Company is at 5801 Armada Drive in Carlsbad.

Pizza Port

Pizza Port is known for its beer and pizza. The company was established in 1987 when it only offered pizza. Today, Pizza Port has five brewpubs in Southern California, including two Carlsbad locations. The Carlsbad Village location launched in 1997 and the Bressi Ranch site opened in 2013 and introduced a canning line that enabled Pizza Port beers to be on store shelves across the county. Pizza Port also has a bottle shop in Carlsbad that offers hundreds of options from other breweries in the craft beer community.

Pizza Port is at 571 Carlsbad Village Drive and 2730 Gateway Road in Carlsbad. The bottle shop is adjacent to the Carlsbad Village location.

Pure Project used local and organic ingredients when seasonally available. (Credit: Pure Project)

Pure Project

Pure Project is an ingredient-centric craft brewery with a reverence for beer as an agricultural product. The company brews with the seasons using local and organic ingredients when seasonally available. First envisioned in 2013, Pure Project opened to the public in 2016. The company has a brewery and taproom in Carlsbad, with four other locations throughout the county.

Pure Project is at 2825 State St. in Carlsbad.

Rouleur Brewing Company

Rouleur Brewing Company’s offerings are inspired by the collaborative, artisanal craft of modern craft breweries and the secretive, monastic breweries of the Old World. The brewery was established in 2016 and has another location in San Diego’s North Park neighborhood.

Rouleur Brewing Company is at 5840 El Camino Real, Suite 101, in Carlsbad.

Carlsbad boasts plenty of great beers at its growing number of breweries, offering some of the coolest craft brewery spots in the county. “Carlsbad has become a craft beer destination, giving residents, workers, and visitors a number of options to meet up, hang out, or have a meeting,” said Matt Sanford, Economic Development Manager for the City of Carlsbad. “It is part of the unparalleled work-life balance that makes Carlsbad great.”