Coronado Brewing Company

nickfl

Florida

4.01/5  rDev +3.9%
vibe: 3 | quality: 4 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4 | $$

The atmosphere is very reminiscent of an upscale chain brewpub, with a large bar and dining room and fairly generic decor. The service was prompt and friendly and the staff seemed to be quite well informed regarding the house beer.

Beer selection is pretty decent with a quite a few different beer styles represented. The house beer is fairly good, though not quite on the level of some of the more standout local competitors. They distribute across the country but the pub location seems to have a fair amount of seasonals and one offs that don't make it to distribution, at least not where I live. I didn't try the food, but based on everything else I wouldn't hesitate to eat here. The only real drawback to the place is the location, which is convenient if you are riding around on the San Diego tourist trolley, but a bit out of the way relative to everything else in the city.

09-06-2012 06:15:43 | More by nickfl

jjboesen

Maryland

4.29/5  rDev +11.1%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4.25 | food: 4.25 | $$

This was the 6th stop during a recent trip to San Diego. Located a 20-minute ferry ride from downtown in Coronado – which is not an island – Coronado Brewing is housed in a generic looking building a few blocks from the ferry disembarkation. Upon entry, there is a dark, crowded dining area with a crowded L-shaped bar, where the locals congregate. The glass enclosed brewing tanks peek out from behind the bar.

During my lunchtime visit, there were some 14 house crafts, including five core beers available – I quaffed the Island IPA, Mermaid Red Ale, Four Brothers and something called Black Sails. The food was decent and filling (I had an Albacore Tuna Melt, if you must know.) The service was attentive

The reasonable Happy Hour prices made up for the $4.25 boat ride across the harbor. Of course, many CBC beers are available downtown, but why give up a chance to take a ferry boat?

02-18-2013 23:42:05 | More by jjboesen

DocJitsu

California

4.36/5  rDev +13%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4 | $$

My wife and I arrived here about 10 minutes after it opened on a Friday mid-morning after paying a visit to the historic Del Coronado Hotel. We parked just off of Orange Ave. and walked up Orange to get to the brewpub. What a cute, clean area. We stopped to say hi to a snow white, long haired Tom cat named Sam. He was just chillin' on the sidewalk. Coronado Brewing's storefront is very attractive--brick with a hanging wooden sign, brass lettering above, with an adjacent painted Coronado emblem. The inside is very nice with wood everywhere. Brew kettles and fermenters are visible behind the bar. The service was pleasant, accommodating, and friendly. In fact, Ron Chapman, the CEO and co-founder had observed me taking notes on all the beers I was trying. He came over to introduce himself and tell me a little about the history of the brewery and his excitement about the craft brew explosion in San Diego. Coronado was among a handful of craft brewers in the San Diego area before anyone even really knew what "craft beer" meant.

Flights are available. I won't review the beers here, I've done that for each individual one I tried. Suffice it to say that Coronado has positioned itself solidly in one of the most competitive, growing artisan beer markets in the world. I was very impressed. I can't wait to go back. This time for some lunch or dinner in addition to a few pints.

11-04-2012 16:01:30 | More by DocJitsu

crossovert

Wisconsin

3.93/5  rDev +1.8%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 3.5 | $$

Easily acessable from the ferry form the convention center. It was a packed bar around 3ish, I got the last seat. I just ordered a sampler it was 10$ for 5 4 oz pours. You could only get the regular lineup. Thankfully that includes the Islander and Idiot IPAs, the rest of their beers sucked, but they know IPAs. They had a few other IPAs as specialties, didn't try them though. The service is friendly. One of the bartenders was interested that I liked beer and got me a brochure. There were tons of locals getting growler fills.

07-27-2012 03:03:40 | More by crossovert

tobelerone

New Jersey

3.83/5  rDev -0.8%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4 | food: 4 | $$

I stopped here for lunch recently while visiting San Diego and spending an afternoon on Coronado Island. The place has kind of a generic brewpub/sports bar feel and was bustling on a weekday afternoon.

Service was ok I guess, took a while for the hostess to show up and had a friendly but somewhat flightly waitress who wasn't particularly well informed about the beers on offer. That's fine, I can figure this stuff out on my own. Fodd was well made and tasty bar menu food; excellent beer battered onion rings, also had a delicious chicken calzone.

The beers were solid and I enjoyed the fact that you can get them in small pours or full pints. Had the Idiot DIPA which I thought was very good and should get more attention than it does, there's just a sea of stellar IPA's available in San Diego. The cherry porter was quite nice as well, while their Four Brothers was serviceable.

Prices were fair I'd say, nothing outrageous. Worth a stop if you're on Coronado.

01-11-2012 16:15:38 | More by tobelerone

OhSoHoppy

California

4.05/5  rDev +4.9%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4.5 | selection: 3.5 | food: 4.5 | $$

Came here for my birthday a few weeks back and was very pleased. great location on Coronado, Very close to the fairy and the bridge Parking was a little rough on a weekend, Food was Amazing, great Pizzas and appetizer, the waiter was very honest and tried to get a feel for what you liked and would make suggestions around that. Not to loud inside, some outside dinning available, and a couple families spotted around the restaurant, A bit of a drive for me but a good stop if I'm already on the Island.

11-10-2011 19:12:46 | More by OhSoHoppy

berley31

New Brunswick (Canada)

4.15/5  rDev +7.5%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 4 | $$

Stopped by for a few beers and some food on a Tuesday, early afternoon...

A: Kind of your typical family-restaurant-but-a-bar look/feel. Lots of families there eating, but lots of guys crowding the bar as well. Certainly not uncomfortable. VERY small deck with only 3-4 tables, if that.

Q+Selection: Plenty of their beers on tap... I think they had a few guest taps as well. I had a few of their beers, which were actually very tasty. The Islander IPA was great.

Service: Took awhile to get waited on at first (we were at a table), but once we did our waitress was very friendly and fairly prompt. No complaints.

F: Split a couple of appetizers... they were pretty tasty, and very reasonably priced (it was after 2 at that point, and they were on happy hour prices).

O: Nice spot on a really nice little "island". I'd go back if I had the chance... it's only 8.50 for a round trip ticket on the ferry to Coronado.

09-30-2011 19:27:24 | More by berley31

easong

California

3.43/5  rDev -11.1%
vibe: 3 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 2.5 | food: 3 | $$

Stopped here on a recent baseball+beer weekend in SD. Really just wanted to taste the Idiot at the source but stayed for an hour or so picking at appetizers, which were tasty enough to provide soakage for the pitcher of double IPA. This restaurant is located where the outside sun is alone worth a million dollars, yet the place was a little like a cave, with waitresses dressed in tilted-kilt outfits. Busy even at an off-hour with families drinking soda and iced-tea, with maybe the man of the family having a blonde light ale or maybe something with a lime. Essentially no real bar seating area, just a nook with a couple of stools. That says it all, really. Love the Idiot though.

07-31-2011 20:26:15 | More by easong

86sportster883

New Jersey

3.68/5  rDev -4.7%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 3.5 | service: 4 | selection: 3.5 | food: 4 | $$

Stopped here for lunch with about a half dozen folks during the 2011 NHC event in San Diego. This is a decent place with about 6 or 7 drafts on tap. Beer selection was somewhat limited, compared to other brewers in the area hovever, the service was attentive and helpful, the atmosphere was busy but casual, the food was good and I would certainly go back. Not the greatest selection or quality of offerings, but certainly a place worth checking out. I had a cup of NE clam chowder ($3) along with the Tent City spinach salad ($11). I enjoyed both with a pint of the Islander Pale Ale.

07-05-2011 05:00:21 | More by 86sportster883

Imstillthegman

Delaware

3.85/5  rDev -0.3%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 3 | selection: 4 | food: 4 | $$

Stopped in here for dinner on a Monday evening. The place was only about half full including the outside seating. Upon entering, there is a large dining area to the right, the bar and a smaller section of tables and booths are to the left. About a dozen or so tables outside for enjoying the beautiful weather. The beers I had were fresh and tasty. The Idiot IPA was much better fresh from the tap than the bottles I have had. The food was decent, too. I had the turkey burger which actually had some flavor to it and wasn't dry like many are. The service was so-so. Our waiter had his good moments, but seemed to disappear for extended amounts of time. He also failed to mention the special and seasonal beers on-tap even after I asked him what else was available. Not a bad place, overall. I would give it another shot on my next visit.

05-03-2011 12:10:18 | More by Imstillthegman