This month O'Brien's Pub celebrates its 14th Anniversary. The pub was opened January 1st, 1994 by Jim O'Brien and was already the finest place to drink beer in San Diego when Lindsey and I bought it in January of 2003. It will be our 5th Anniversary of owning the pub. We have seen a lot of changes in the last five years - new menu, the addition of the bottle list, weekly cask ales, expanded patio, Belgian ales on tap, and being open seven days a week. All of us at O'Brien's are looking forward to a great 2008 and our 15th Anniversary next year (for which beers are already being planned).
Next week we will celebrate the anniversary with an entire week's worth of special events. There will be great beer on tap all week and most beers will last longer than the day they are on tap. So here is the run down of what will be going on with a "pre-party" planned for the Charger game.
Sunday, Jan 13: Open at 10 am for the Chargers v. Colts divisional playoff game. We'll have Alpine Duet IPA and Alpine O'Brien's IPA on tap for the game to help kcik off the Anniversary Celebrations! The kitchen will be serving up breakfast and we'll also have mimosas for the game.
Monday, Jan 14: Lindsey will be bringing back Italian Kitchen with a special Italian themed specials menu from 5 to 8 pm. To pair with this, I have brought in a selection of rare Italian bottled beers including Le Baladin Xyauyu, Le Baladin Super, Birrificio Troll Dau Saison, Birrificio Montegioco Demon Hunter, Birrificio di Como Baluba and Birrificio Italiano Scires fruit beer. Many of these beers I have not even tried, so I can't tell you much about them. Most are very limited - only 6 to 8 bottles of each one. Also chekc out the new Westmalle Tripel beer cheese.
Tuesday, Jan 15: A night of very special barrel aged beers. I have been saving for this one for a while. We will have some amazing beers on tap - Allagash Curiuex (bourbon barrel aged Tripel), Sierra Nevada bourbon barrel aged Stout, Alpine Ichabod sour brown ale, Russian River Toronado 20th Anniversary Ale, Moonlight 60 to Life Toronado Anniversary Ale and we will have two brand new beers to debut - Rodenbach and Lost Abbey Vertias 003 (a blend of barrel aged beers in cluding Angel's Share and Cuvee de Tomme). I will also have some very special bottled beers for this night - Lost Abbey Angel's Share, Firestone 11, Port Brewing Older Viscosity, Rodenbach and Rodenbach Grand Gru.
Wednesday, Jan 16: I imagine that most of the barrel aged beers will still be on tap this night. But just for good measure we will have some beers from San Diego Brewing Company brewer Dean Rouleau including a cask of the fantastic Hopnotic IPA at 5 pm. We also will have the last keg of Dean's Hop Diego Belgian-style IPA on tap.
Thursday, Jan 17: This is Exponential Hoppiness night. We will have this incredible beer from Alpine on tap and on cask. The cask will tap at 5 pm and the keg will be on by 6 pm. So double your pleasure, double your Hoppiness. Of course the regular Pure Hoppiness will be on tap as well, and room allowing, the O'Brien's IPA
Friday, Jan 18: Is there any other way to end an O'Brien's celebration week than a night of big hoppy double IPAs? We have some new ones like Victory Hop Wallop and Moylan's Moylander along with lots of old favorites like Bear Republic Racer X, Pizza Port Carlsbad Poor Man's, Ballast Point Sculpin IPA and of course Pliny and Pure Hoppiness. I guarantee that Friday night's line up will not disappoint.
Saturday, Jan 19: We will continue the celebration by tapping any kegs that couldn't make it on during the week, so look for even more special beers all weekend. I have a few late arriving Belgian Christmas ales (Nice Chouffe, St. Feullien) that I am going to try and tap over the weekend.
Sunday, Jan 20: I just pray I can watch a Chargers game this day...
So hopefully that is enough good beer to keep you occupied. If it isn't, then maybe you should see a doctor (what kind is up to you).\rTom Nickel
O'Brien's Pub
20 Taps - Tons of Hops
4646 Convoy Street
www.obrienspub.net
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