Vista is Home to Region's Craft Breweries
Boasting more breweries per capita than any U.S. city, Vista attracts craft beer aficionados from all over. Downtown, dozens of local beers can be enjoyed at five of Vista’s craft breweries - Mother Earth, Backstreet Brewery, Wavelength Brewery, Belching Beaver Brewery Tavern and Grill, Bear Roots Brewing, and Guadalupe Brewery.
But these haunts serve up more than tasty brew - each of our breweries has its own unique atmosphere and personality.
Brewers’ attraction to Vista is no accident, but a years-long strategy by the City that started with the opening of Backstreet in 2014 near the Cinepolis theater.
Guadalupe Brewery Tap House — one of the latest brands with production facilities in Carlsbad — looked to Vista when opening its tasting room.
“Vista has such a vibrant beer scene we knew we had to be there,” said Lisa Deju of Guadalupe. “Vista is at the center of Hops Highway (Highway 78), so it’s easy to get to from all over the region.”
Take a tour through some of downtown Vista’s most popular breweries through the eyes of Vista native Paige McWey Acers, Executive Director of the San Diego Brewers Guild.
“When I pop into Mother Earth, I almost always run into someone I grew up with or went to school with, which is always so fun. My husband and I like to go here sans kids to enjoy a more adult evening with friends. When the weather is nice, the front patio has a great view of Main Street for people watching and grabbing a pizza from Urbn. It's also a consistently awesome place to root for your favorite sports team on the weekends,” Acers says.
As a young family, Acers and her brood love Belching Beaver's outdoor space because it is super kid-friendly. “There is a lot of available space and games where so we can spread out and hang for a while. We like to grab a couple beers and appetizers here while the kids tucker themselves out on a mean game of cornhole.”
Another great spot Acer’s family likes to frequent is Wavelength. “The space -and -science-centric events, games, and educational opportunities offer an incredibly creative space that encourages learning. They always have new and exciting beers to try, so I always order a sampler flight.”
When she wants a more intimate and mellow experience, Acers heads over Bear Roots. “Terry, the owner, the Bear Roots team, and the customers there will make you feel like you are surrounded by people you've known forever, even if it's your first time in the brewery. Walking into Bear Roots’ downtown tasting room feels like being transported to a small brewery in the forest.”
What are you waiting for? Tap into Vista’s downtown craft brewery scene now - there’s certainly something for everyone and occasion.