San Diego Now Has An Official ‘Destination’ Craft Beer

Bay City Brewing Company’s ’72 And Hoppy’ IPA Endorsed By SD Tourism

By Kevin Wilkerson, PubClub.com San Diego Blogger

Many destinations have landmarks that identify themselves – the Hollywood sign in Los Angeles, the Opera House in Sydney, the Matterhorn in Zermatt, for example – but few places have a drink that can be identified with a city.

New Orleans has the Hurricane, San Francisco has its Cable Car Cocktail and San Diego now has an official craft beer.

The “72 and Hoppy” from Bay City Brewing Company has been proclaimed the “official destination beer” by the San Diego Tourism Authority (SDTA). The SDTA says it is the first city in America to release an official destination craft beer for sale to the public.

“Many visitors to the region have heard great things about San Diego’s craft beer offerings, but with more than 140 breweries, it can be difficult to know where to start,” said Joe Terzi, SDTA President & CEO. “Bay City Brewing Co. has created a beer that captures the spirit of San Diego in a pint glass – relaxed and refreshing, but also vibrant and full of flavor.”

“Bay City Brewing Co. is incredibly excited to be the first craft brewery to create an official destination beer,” said Greg Anderson, Co-founder of Bay City Brewing Co. “Partnering with the SDTA is the perfect way to spread the word that craft beer is a way of life in San Diego, for both locals and visitors.”

This is not a heavy beer. It is a light 4.2 percent ABV that contains Mosaic, El Dorado and Ekuanot hops. It brings bright citrus notes to the IPA style that has become a signature style of San Diego beer.

San Diego is one of America’s top craft beer cities and the SDTA is taking advantage of the fact many locals – as well as potential tourists – look at San Diego as a craft beer destination.

This association with Bay City Brewing is part of the SDTA’s “Happiness is Calling” destination marketing campaign. Eventually, the SDTA would like to establish San Diego as the Craft Beer Capital of America.

San Diego has, according to a study by Cushman & Wakefield, 125 operating breweries as of 2016, more than any other region in the U.S. 

“We could not be more excited about this partnership,” said San Diego Brewers Guild President Jill Davidson. “Together with the SDTA, we are thrilled to share what truly makes us the Capital of Craft. It is our quality beer, supportive and vibrant communities, and the incredible stories and dynamic personalities of our member breweries that truly set us apart. We look forward to welcoming new and returning visitors and can’t wait to cheers everyone with a pint on a beautiful day!”

The “72 and Hoppy” beer is on on tap now at Bay City Brewing Co.’s tasting room just south of Old Town, as well as a number of San Diego bars, restaurants, attractions and hotels, including Bub’s @ the Ballpark, Firefly Eatery and Bar at The Dana on Mission Bay, Omni San Diego Hotel, Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens – Escondido, Woodstock’s Pizza, Pendry Hotel, Sheraton San Diego Hotel & Marina, the Nolen, Bayside Landing, Riverwalk Golf Club, Westin Gaslamp Quarter Hotel, Hilton La Jolla Torrey Pines, Wonderland Ocean Pub and Sycuan Casino.