I Like Beer the Podcast

The I Like Beer crew is celebrating seven years of beer, stories, field trips, and plenty of strange Toast, Roast, and Pour One Out moments. Jeff and Jeff are joined by founding member and sound guy Tom for a look back at the early days of the podcast, from backyard recordings and first brewery visits to the friendships, stories, and local beer community that helped shape the show. Then Esthela Davila returns for a summer 2026 Capital of Craft Check-In, talking about the current state of San Diego beer, new breweries in the works, regional highlights, San Diego Beer Week, Battle of the Guilds, and why the local craft beer scene is still in a strong place. Plus, the crew cracks into regional San Diego Beer News Awards beers, talks summer drinking, Fieldwork, Stone, Chula Vista breweries, North County growth, and why there is always another local beer story worth sharing. Cheers to seven years, and cheers to San Diego beer. 🍻

Paul Segura returns to the I Like Beer podcast for part two. This episode continues the conversation with the longtime Karl Strauss brewmaster, getting into classic Karl Strauss beers, San Diego beer history, old favorites like Endless Summer Light and Pintail Pale, and the memories that still make those beers stand out. Paul also shares more from his journey in beer, his perspective on the San Diego brewing community, and one of his favorite moments from a career spent helping shape #sdbeer. Watch the full episode now and subscribe for more beer stories, brewery conversations, and Capital of Craft check-ins.

This week, I Like Beer hits the road for a field trip to Inzane Brewing in downtown Vista. The guys talk about nearly seven years of the podcast, the stories, breweries, and friendships that have shaped the show, and why supporting local beer has become such a big part of what they do. Then they sit down with Mike from Inzane Brewing to talk about turning the brewery into a true community hub, with great beer, comedy nights, line dancing, salsa nights, and a whole lot of downtown Vista energy. Full episode out now on YouTube and your preferred podcast platform.

This week on I Like Beer, the podcast welcomes Paul Segura, Brewmaster at Karl Strauss, alongside San Diego Brewers Guild President Esthela Davila. Paul shares stories from the early days of San Diego craft beer, including his homebrewing roots, his time at Hops and Hang Ten, and the path that eventually led him to Karl Strauss. The conversation also gets into beer judging, World Beer Cup medals, collaboration across the local beer scene, and why San Diego continues to stand out as one of the most respected beer communities in the world. It’s a great conversation with one of the people who helped shape San Diego beer into what it is today. Check it out!

The guys recap their Denver beer trip, including Coors, Prost, Bierstadt Lagerhaus, Left Hand, and a few memorable side quests. Then Tori Bleher joins the show to talk about Burgeon’s origin story, their commitment to community and sustainability since 2016, their growing list of collaborations and partnerships, and how they keep releasing so many fresh beers without losing their identity. The episode also covers Burgeon’s Pink Boots collaboration, The Audacity, their Carlsbad Firefighters Association beer, Stay Stoked, and the rotating Adventure Series IPA, Mountain Mode. Plus, Tori takes on the ILB lightning round!

Barley and Sword Brewing has officially made its way to North County. In this episode of I Like Beer, the crew sits down with Mike Howell of Barley and Sword and Esthela Davila to talk about the new Escondido tavern, old-world beer styles, cask ale, and the stories behind the beers. Mike shares the origin of Barley and Sword, from Viking-age living history and Dungeons & Dragons to traditional brewing, European beer styles, and the challenge of creating a true tavern experience in San Diego. The crew also talks about their recent Denver beer adventures, including Coors, Left Hand, and a bittersweet stop at Casa Agria before its closure. Plus, Esthela takes on the ILB lightning round. Pour yourself a beer, pull up a bar stool, and join us. Watch on YouTube or listen wherever you get your podcasts. Visit ilikebeerthepodcast.com.

We crack open the Rauchbier brewed with Blue Fire Brewing, talk about the kinds of breweries and taprooms that keep people coming back, and get into what makes San Diego beer culture feel more like a community than an industry. Brandon joins us once again to share more of his own journey into craft beer and beer writing, plus his thoughts on why passionate people are still opening breweries, building taprooms, and creating places that feel like home. Plus, we hit Toast, Roast & Pour One Out, then put Brandon through the I Like Beer lightning round for one of the most revealing segments yet. It’s beer, media, community, and a little chaos. Exactly how it should be.

In this episode of I Like Beer, we break in the new studio bar, crack open a few local beers, and welcome Brandon Hernández of San Diego Beer News. We talk about the upcoming San Diego Beer News Awards, what makes the event special, new categories for this year, and the people helping shape San Diego’s beer community. Along the way, we get into everything from great beer writing and local brewery culture to some truly strange beer-related headlines. Then we take the show on the road for a field trip to Inzane Brewing in Downtown Vista, one of our longtime favorite spots, to share a look at the beer, the atmosphere, and why this place keeps us coming back. It’s beer, community, field trips, and San Diego stories, exactly the way we like it.

It’s another round of great beer, good company, and stories that only happen when the mics are on. This episode of I Like Beer covers everything from new brewery openings and dependable “safe beers” to community, collaboration, and the culture that makes San Diego craft beer special. And thanks again to Esthela, President of the San Diego Brewers Guild, for joining us on the Capital of Craft segment. Plus: Toasts, roasts, a questionable quicksand warning, and a competitive round of Beer or Not a Beer. Pull up a barstool and join us.

This episode is a full-on 2025 Untappd Year-in-Review with Jeff, Jeff, and Doc: unique beer counts, top styles, favorite venues, and the bottles/pours that defined the year. Spoiler: when you combine the totals… it’s basically 110 gallons of “research.” We also bring on San Diego Brewers Guild President Esthela Davila for our new ILB x Capital of Craft segment to talk all things #sdbeer.

After 335 episodes in the dark, the curtain is officially lifted. Welcome to the first-ever video broadcast of I Like Beer (now officially rebranding to "ILB"). To mark this milestone, we’ve orchestrated the "Ultimate Collaboration" with the San Diego Brewers Guild’s official podcast, Capital of Craft. Joining hosts Jeff and Jeff is a third Jeff: Jeff Fox—a man who defines the San Diego scene through his roles as a Vista City Council member (District 2), founder of StarFox Media, and lead strategist at Beer Media Co.   This episode explores the intersection of consumer fandom and industry authority. Jeff Fox recounts his evolution from a macro-drinker who found IPAs to be a "bitter acquired taste" to a true industry appreciator. The turning point? A "yeast-driven epiphany" at White Labs, where he experienced a single beer recipe fermented with four different yeast strains—a moment that revealed the true artistry and craftsmanship behind the pour.   We also dive into the "lore" of ILB. Before the microphones, there were the "Beer-cations." We share the story of our legendary Spring Break van trip to Russian River and Sierra Nevada, a journey that saw us hit 17 breweries before a last-minute text about the grand opening of Burgeon Beer Co. in Carlsbad pushed the tally to a perfect 20. This is the story of how three Jeffs are moving the conversation from a "front row seat" for fans to a "backstage pass" for the entire industry.   Watch the premier at 5:00pm tonight (February 2nd, 2026) HERE!  

Big news: The I Like Beer podcast is moving to video, thanks to a new partnership with the San Diego Brewers Guild, and we're kicking things off with our very first field trip episode. We head to Guadalupe Brewing Company to hear the unbelievable story of owner Raul, whose craft beer journey began by getting turned away at the border while trying to smuggle a homemade brew system—complete with a "cool" flammable sticker that officials didn't appreciate—into Mexico in his pickup. The trip culminates in a taste of the legendary "Drunk Elvis," a massive 12.3% ABV imperial stout that unleashes a circus of peanut butter, banana, and chocolate on your palate.

Our last classic episode of the year, one of our all-time favorites, this isn't just another brewery interview; it's the story of finding our 'spirit human' in a magical outdoor brewery in the Irish countryside. It's one of our favorite episodes ever, filled with heart, humor, and a deep love for doing things the right way, not the easy way. You don't want to miss this one.

What does it take for a brewery to become a true industry leader—a place so respected that 50 of the nation's best brewers all show up for your party? We're on location at Burgeon Beer Company, one of the most revered breweries in the San Diego beer mecca, to get an exclusive look inside their biggest event of the year. In this special episode, we're pulling back the curtain to answer one simple but powerful question: What's the secret sauce that makes a brewery the undisputed "cool kids" of craft beer?

Welcome to another special "Classic" edition of the I Like Beer podcast. We're reaching into the archives to re-release one of our most popular field trips ever: a visit to the legendary AleSmith Brewing Company. At the time of this recording, AleSmith was not only a six-time Great American Beer Festival and five-time World Beer Cup gold medalist, but was also officially rated the #1 brewery in California and #6 in the entire world. A brewery so integral to the city's identity, San Diego even renamed the street it's on in their honor. Join the Jeffs on-location as they sit down with Head Brewer Ryan Crisp for an exclusive look inside one of craft beer's most revered institutions. This episode is more than a conversation about beer; it's the story of a journey. We trace Ryan Crisp's incredible path from a 21-year-old homebrewer volunteering his time to becoming the fifth employee and, eventually, the Head Brewer of this world-renowned brewery. Ryan shares the powerful, behind-the-scenes stories of how AleSmith's most iconic beers came to be, including the heartfelt and historic collaboration with San Diego's beloved hall-of-famer, Tony Gwynn. Discover AleSmith’s guiding philosophy of balance—an approach so refined they can craft a 10% Triple IPA that remains "deceptively smooth" and harmonious, proving their mastery over classic styles and modern innovation. Listen in for an insider's tour, hear the stories you can't get anywhere else, and taste along as Ryan Crisp guides you through the exclusive beers that define San Diego craft.

Enjoy this classic episode from 2019 - How do you go from running a coffee shop to building one of the most iconic breweries in America's finest city? Go inside Coronado Brewing, one of the original founding fathers of the San Diego scene, to hear how they turned a love for beer into a million-dollar business and created an IPA that took home bronze in a category of 342 entries. What does it take to stay relevant after 25 years? Listen now to find out.

What happens when you crack open a beer from a brewery that's long gone—will it be a perfectly preserved blond ale or a Mexican lager that’s completely off the rails? Join us as we taste these "ghost beers" and ricochet from the odd-ball story of AI-powered teddy bears gone rogue to the sobering statistics behind nationwide brewery closures. It's a powerful reminder of why it's more important than ever to support your local breweries, so pour yourself a pint and join the conversation.

Before we press play on this encore presentation, we want to extend our heartfelt thanks to you, our listeners. Your support is what makes this podcast possible, and we are incredibly grateful for the community that has grown around this show. As we’ve mentioned before, "Every time we've asked, you've done it and those numbers are really showing that. So thank you." So as we re-share this special conversation from our visit to Karl Strauss Brewing Company with Master Brewer Paul Segura, please pour yourself a beer, pull up a bar stool, and join us. From all of us here at I Like Beer, have a very happy and safe Thanksgiving.

The Jeffs thought they were just stopping by for Taco Tuesday, but they walked straight into a "Hall of Fame day" at Weirbeer. Turns out, Mo from Viewpoint and Ryan from Dos Desperados were joining host brewer Hayden for a special collaborative brew day. Listen in for the inside scoop on their three-way "Going Broke" beer series, hear the unfiltered stories you won't get anywhere else—like the time a bad Mexican logger had to be saved with salt and lime—and get their expert take on the future of San Diego craft beer.

When the Ramona Art and Wine Festival dropped "beer" from its name, hosts Jeff and Jeff took matters into their own hands, arriving with a cooler full of craft beer on a mission to correct this grave injustice. But their righteous quest gets wonderfully derailed by the town's hidden treasures, from a community mural project with secret hearts and a homegrown whiskey distillery to the stunning discovery that you can, in fact, milk a camel in Ramona. So pull up a bar stool and join two guys who prove that even the classiest festival is better with a cold one, as they celebrate the small town that's becoming the surprising heart of San Diego County.

It's that time of year again, San Diego Beer Week! The San Diego Brewers Guild is kicking it all off with The Capital of Craft Beer Festival. Kevin Hellman, event producer, and Jason Martin, head brewer at Abnormal Beer Company, join Jeff and Jeff in studio to explain the what, when, where and why of all things SD Beer Week. Jason brought a coveted, special release collab beer with its own story to tell. Pull up a barstool and join the fun! 

It's back to DogLeg Brewing for Jeff and Jeff. Co-owner Christina Lumsden chats about the DogLeg origin story and community. "You can't have golf without beer"--at least according to Christina who knows a lot about both. And then it gets wild as Brandon and Jomel from Birdies in the Outfield join the conversation and reminisce about our day of golf together. Like I Like Beer the Podcast, DogLeg and Birdies in the Outfield focus on supporting and building community, especially if laughing and making friends is involved! 

Jeff and Jeff meet up with Jeremy DeConcini, co-owner of Moto Sonora Brewing in Tucson, Arizona. The Moto Sonora origin story is an amazing tale that starts with a journey through South Africa, connects with San Diego Icon Tomme Arthur and ends in Tucson. Moto Sonora has been making award winning beers since day one and has become a centerpiece in the Tucson brewing scene. Pull up a barstool and take a listen!

The ILB Team makes the long awaited return to the studio to meet up with Producer Joe and Mateo. With Oktoberfest selections from San Diego (Karl Strauss, AleSmith) and Los Angeles (Enegren, Smog City), they Toast, Roast and Pour beer happenings and the world-at-large. Jeff pops the age-old question: Would you change your name for 19 years of Busch Light? And Talent's has his annual Ignoble Award review. Listen to the end to try and beat Doc at Beer, Or Not a Beer!? 

Don't forget to go to BEERnardo this weekend! Enjoy this classic episode: Jeff and Jeff reflect on the ILB Team's journey to 100 episodes.  ILB favorite moments and stories--Mexican jails, Irish horses, Doc's greatest hits, and what horrors lie just below the sand!  With great beer, of course, thanks to Mo at Viewpoint Brewing.

The ILB Team returns to Mother Earth Brewing in Vista to catch up with Kamron Khannakhjavani and check out the Oktoberfest offering. The Oaked Oktoberfest is the best beer of the season! Kamron has a few other things brewing, including a new podcast of his own: The Craft Equation. Hear all about it and what's new at Mother Earth Brewing in this week's episode.

The team heads to the other end of San Marcos this week to check out Michi Beer Company. The beers are top-notch which is no surprise considering the brewing resume of owner-head brewer, Cody Gagnon. The Jeffs and the Doctor head to the Tiki Room for Toast, Roast and Pour. Stay tuned to the end to get a glimpse at Doc's craic! 

Jeff and Jeff check in with Tommy Gordon at Blue Fire Brewing to see how ILB-Blue Fire Collaboration beer is coming along. The yet-to-be-named Rauchbier is already amazing with a little longer to lager. Names for the beer are discussed and plans set for the September 2th launch. To pair up with the rauchbier, Blue Fire has brewed a festbier as well. The commitment to authenticity and careful crafting means Blue Fire has two fantastic beers for the Oktoberfest season. 

After 6 years, ILB finally gets a one on one with San Brewing icon, Tomme Arthur, at the new Lost Abbey venue in Vista. Good things are definitely worth the wait! The beers were amazing, but the highlight is hearing Arthur's story and wisdom about succeeding in the beer market.  Lost Abbey has set the standard for craft beer, risk taking and incorporating story with beer. A Shawshank Beer included just to make the whole day perfect.

Join the Jeffs and Tom at Burgeon to hear all about the upcoming Oktoberfest festivities coming up in San Diego. Hear about Burgeon's Oktoberfest, Carlsbad Oktoberfest and BEERnardo Festival. 

Listener Rod made a porch beer drop delivered all the way from Fresno. The entire ILB Team reunites to enjoy Tioga Sequoia's Half Dome fruit beers. In preparation for Oktoberfest, Doc and Talent head over to Blue Fire Brewing to brew a Bamburg specialty beer. The Doctor's in the house, so that means Beer or Not a Beer!? and Craic! 

After six years of podcasting, the team returns to its roots. From the backyard Pub Shed, they reminisce about macro beers of yesteryear and sample craft clones of the American Light Lager style from Booze Bros, South O and Paperback Brewing. Doc's back with Craic and the team is left pondering, what exactly is "man-size pleasure?" and "how bad is scurvy?"   

The Artifex Brewing story has a long and winding origin story that connects to brewing legend after brewing legend. It's no wonder that owner Johnny Johur has become such a respected member of the brewing community. With the Artifex 11 year anniversary nearing, it was time to learn more. The ILB team is joined by Mike Stevenson (Culver Beer) and Garrett Perkins (Booze Bros) to hear Johnny share his story and his beers. Pull up a barstool and take a listen! 

It's the ILB ALL-STAR podcast! Three superstars of San Diego brewing join us to talk about the Mira Costa Brew Tech program and more. Mike Stevenson (Culver), Johnny Johur (Artifex), and Garrett Perkins (Booze Bros) are mentoring the next generation of brewers at the MCC Technology Career Institute in Carlsbad. These three are clearly good friends who bring their passion, curiosity and silliness to the classroom. Pull up at a desk, class is in session!   

It's been a year already, so the ILB Team returns to The Roadie's Brewing Company to hear about how the year went. They have big plans for their Anniversary party weekend, August 9-11th. Some amazing new beers complement their core list. Take a listen!

Enjoy this bonus episode of The Beer Vs Wine party at the AVO Theater in downtown Vista, Ca.

This episode needs very little introduction:) Enjoy our annual ode to Shark Week with Doc and the Jeffs and learn about sharks and beer. The next time you are playing trivia at a bar and that esoteric shark question comes up, you'll be glad you tuned in ! 

It's the summer of supporting local and the CoLab Public House in Vista has been one of the ILB regular haunts since it first opened. The team sits down with Joe Deutsch to hear about the recent changes to the CoLab lineup as well as upcoming events. Steve Michaliszyn of Propaganda Wines pops in to talk about the next beers he's planning on brewing. Apparently the old saying, "it takes a lot of good beer to make wine" is true. The CoLab offers great beer, wine, spirits, food and 'adult' bingo. Take a listen to find out more!

Hey San Diego State fans, this one's for you. Join the Jeffs as they chat with Corbin of Corbin's Q, which is at the location of the old Woodstock's Pizza. Corbin has a great origin story and a lot to share about which beers he has at his place, and why. Definitely worth listening to the end!

The ILB Team heads over to the CoLab Public House in Vista to meet Josh Avila, the new head brewer at Breakwater Brewing. They first met Josh tapping cask ale at Barley & Sword in North Park a year ago. Now Josh has taken on the Breakwater Brewing responsibilities and is finding the balance of staying true to the brand and bringing in his own creativity and insights. ILB hears about Josh's journey in San Diego beer and his vision for the future. Pull up a barstool and take a listen!

 It's time for the State of Beer Mid-Year Report with San Diego Beer News founder, Brandon Hernandez. The Jeffs meet Brandon for a pint in Rancho Bernardo at Abnormal Beer Company. Nobody knows more about San Diego beer than Brandon Hernandez! Lots of changes and surprises in San Diego Beer, but the state of beer is "better than you might think". What does that mean? Pull up a barstool and take a listen to find out. 

The ILB Team returns to Oceanside and visits The Mill Room to talk about South O beer, cocktails and food with Jack Everett. The space, food and drink experience is impressive, and so is the vision Jack and partner Trevor Whitehead have brought to this new venture. As always, they've done it all with a commitment to their community and true to the Oceanside vibe. With a little prodding, Jack shares a "Moment in Beer" that rivals Trevor's great stories. Take a listen to hear more about new beers, upcoming events, The Mill Room, and zip ties. 

Full house this week in the studio! Tom shares some beers and stories from recent travels. The Jeffs bring the laughs with classic toast, roast and pour and an installment of WTF. Listen to the end to hear an entirely new segment called What's in a Name!

Celebrating Joe's trip to Rome, Influencer shares a bit about the history of Popes and beer, Joe shares about moped antics in Rome and the whole team honors Norm (George Went) from Cheers. Definitely an enlightening episode:)

The ILB Team finally makes it to Booze Bros. First they hear the origin story from the Minister of Fun, Josh Thompson who has been with Booze Bros since the beginning. Then they sit down with head brewer, Garrett Perkins, to find out about what's brewing and upcoming releases. Booze Bros Gonzo-style has ensured they infuse fun and creativity into everything they are doing. Food, fun, friends and great beer are the constants in a brewery not afraid to make changes! 

The Doctor is back, and that means so is Wild Thing! The team enjoys an XPA from the newest Mira Costa Brew Tech cohort, a collaboration beer from Artifex and Mother Earth, and Harland's CroneZone. Talent has Toast, Roast and Pour updates and Doc takes them on a wild ride including Beer or Not a Beer and a peek at his craic. Beer may or not have been shot out of noses by the end. Cheers!

Join the boys for another "guerrilla" field trip, this time to BattleMage Brewing. Listen to one of our better Toast, Roast Pours, followed by a great interview with Julia, a beertender and former student of Influencer. This is a fun episode worth listening to the end. Enjoy!

Happy Cinco De Mayo! The Jeffs are back in the Studio with Mateo and they bring the laughs. The Toast-Roast-Pour has a premature Toast, while they all share beers from Influencer's trip. Listen to the end to learn all the team's summer plans.

The Jeffs drop by Blue Fire Brewing to catch up with Tommy Gordon. Talent calls this a "guerrilla" style podcast because we just showed up. Tommy was happy to see them, though, because he had some great new things to share about his fine establishment. Listen to the end to find out about the dreams coming true for the Jeffs!

The ILB Team visits the CSUSM Brewchive. Judith Guest, curator of all things San Diego beer, takes the boys on a trip through beer history and shares rare and fun artifacts she's collected over the years. With plans to open up a public display in the future, the Brewchive is an impressive holding of the many stories contained in the San Diego beer world from the very first breweries to the newest additions.