Hamiltons Tavern » News

Eleven…. One More..

karen — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 16:38:19 +0000

Eleven.. Im sure a few people have heard whispers, rumors, innuendos etc about the new spot up in Normal Heights. Yes, we took over what use to be the Radio Room, Zombie Lounge, and Little Equity. We we’re real excited about what we could do in the space and after a ridiculous feet dragging ride with Sacramento we’ve finally completed our work on the space and are all good to go. I couldn’t be more proud of what we’ve done (about 8 weeks of work in 4). We had a vision for it 5 months ago and we nailed it. Those who are familiar with the space WONT recognize it J We have about 17 handles of draft beer on our bitchin/unique tap tower (dennis demanded we do) which is show casing great beer and our fabulous Eleven Lager (brewed locally), we have a full bar (with emphasis on bang for buck), games, Jukebox and live music even a BBQ/Matinee show once a week! We’ve got 2 house bands planned that we’ll be rotating on a fixed night weekly and of course will have live music a few times a week but NOT 7 nights a week. We will have beer events and of course cask ale.

Louis Mello is our General Manager and pretty much will be running the show/working with me while Dennis and I continue to focus on Hamiltons and Small Bar. We’ve coined Eleven as “YOUR Neighborhood Rock and Roll Joint!” Our grand opening weekend will start August 26^th however, we will be open for the North Park Music Thing starting 2morrow. Im sure there is a couple speed bumps involved in the first week but this aint our first rodeo so J I would suggest following eleven on Facebook, email list (karen@elevensandiego.com) and our web (once josh gets that going – hopefully soon!). Lastly, why Eleven? Well, it’s “one more” isn’t it? If you don’t get the reference go to Netflix now and rent Spinal Tap. Nuff Said..

Myself, Louis, Dennis, Willy, Karen, The Justins, Mattie and a myriad of other volunteers worked their asses off to strip down and rebuild and I couldn’t be happier for the consolidated effort and enthusiasm in the project let alone the tireless work ethic. I’ve always prided myself on the ambassadors we have in our family and it’s times like these that exemplifies our luck.

Hamilton’s Smooth from Portland Maine

Blair — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 00:33:16 +0000

Denno recently returned from Portland, Maine where he was brewing Hamilton’s Smooth a west coast hopped pub ale (think San Diego meets Boddington). If you recall last memorial day we launched our inaugural Shipyard Lobster Bake for firkin Friday. This year we decided to go brew a beer to release for the event so Dennis went north east to ’get’r done’. Dennis recaps:7am (4am San Diego time!)Federal Jacks brew pub –the home of Shipyard brewingAfter a night on the town of Portland Maine, sampling the fine English style ales that Shipyard Brewing had to offer, I went back to my room to sleep for what seemed like 45 min. then up at 6am (which is 3 san Diego time—about the time I usually am going to bed!) a scenic 20 min. drive and I am in Kennebunk –a cute seaside new England town.The brewery at Federal Jacks is a 7 bl, open fermentation system. They have 5 fermentation tanks. During the busy season they will brew 2 batches a day 7 days a week!With brewers Mike and Paul, I was the brewery monkey, helping with all aspects of the brewing process. We milled in the grain–steeped it– then transferred it to the kettle. With 3 hop additions of “West Coast” hops. This isn’t going to be a Boddingtons clone!Shipyard uses a very healthy strain of English yeast. While transferring the wort thru a heat exchanger to the open fermentation tanks, we scooped off some yeast from the top of a brew that had been bubbling away for 3 days. We added that yeast to about a gallon of our wort and within 45 min. it had rose and was spilling over a 5 gallon bucket! Now that was some happy healthy yeast.We pitched the yeast and continued to do the never ending cleaning that is required to keep a brewery ship shape. By the time we were done cleaning, the top of the tank already showed signs of fermentation. Then it was time to go upstairs and drink some of the other fine beers that Shipyard produces.Going to Maine to help brew this special beer for Hamiltons was a great experience. The people I met were all friendly and made me feel right at home. I cant wait for Memorial Day weekend to get to drink this beer with all of you!” Denno

Congrats WBC

Blair — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 16:26:46 +0000

http://worldbeercup.org/winners.html

SAN DIEGO WINNERS!

Category 11: Other Strong Beer, 44 entries
Silver: Green Flash Stout, Green Flash Brewing Co., Vista, CA

Category 13: Out of Category – Traditionally Brewed Beer, 47 entries
Gold: Fathom IPL, Ballast Point Brewing Co., San Diego, CA
Silver: Hot Rocks Lager, Port Brewing Co., San Marcos, CA

Category 16: Wood- and Barrel-Aged Beer, 32 entries
Gold: Bourbon Barrel Aged Piper Down, Ballast Point Brewing Co., San Diego, CA

Category 59: English-Style Brown Ale, 46 entries
Silver: Longboard Brown, Rock Bottom Brewery – La Jolla, La Jolla, CA

Category 64: Scotch Ale, 38 entries
Gold: AleSmith Wee Heavy, AleSmith Brewing Co., San Diego, CA
Bronze: Reed’s Wee Heavy, Pizza Port Carlsbad, Carlsbad, CA

Category 33: German-Style Doppelbock or Eisbock, 43 entries
Gold: Broken Skeg, Breakwater Brewing Co., Oceanside, CA

Category 40: Baltic-Style Porter, 28 entries
Bronze: Token, Alpine Beer Co., Alpine, CA

Category 45: Belgian-Style Flanders/Oud Bruin or Oud Red Ale, 20 entries
Silver: Red Poppy, The Lost Abbey, San Marcos, CA

Category 48: Belgian-Style Pale Strong Ale, 33 entries
Silver: Revelations, Pizza Port Carlsbad, Carlsbad, CA

Category 75: South German-Style Weizenbock/Weissbock, 27 entries
Bronze: AleSmith Decadence 2009, AleSmith Brewing Co., San Diego, CA

Category 76: Irish-Style Red Ale, 26 entries
Gold: Red Trolley Ale, Karl Strauss Brewing Co., San Diego, CA
Bronze: Ragtop Red, Rock Bottom Brewery – La Jolla, La Jolla, CA

Category 77: Classic Irish-Style Dry Stout, 22 entries
Silver: Port Truck Stout, Pizza Port Carlsbad, Carlsbad, CA

Category 81: American-Style Strong Pale Ale, 59 entries
Gold: O’Brien’s IPA, Alpine Beer Co., Alpine, CASilver: Hop Bomb IPA, Rock Bottom Brewery – Bellevue, Bellevue, WA

Category 82: American-Style India Pale Ale, 104 entries
Bronze: Duet, Alpine Beer Co., Alpine, CA

Category 84: American-Style Amber/Red Ale, 66 entries
Gold: Rudolph’s Red, Rock Bottom Brewery – La Jolla, La Jolla, CA

Category 85: Imperial Red Ale, 32 entries
Bronze: Shark Attack, Pizza Port Solana Beach, Solana Beach, CA

Category 88: American-Style Stout, 31 entries
Gold: Black Magic Stout, Oggi’s Pizza & Brewing Co., San Clemente, CA
Silver: Sticky Stout, Pizza Port Carlsbad, Carlsbad, CA

Category 90: International Pale Ale, 28 entries
Gold: Sculpin IPA, Ballast Point Brewing Co., San Diego, CA
Brewers Association World Beer Cup 2010 Champion Brewery
Small Brewing Company Category
Ballast Point Brewing Company, San Diego, CA
Ballast Point Brewers

BACK IN BLACK!

Blair — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 19:08:26 +0000

St. Patricks Day 2010 marks a special release of Hamilton’s Back in Black Imperial Chili Spiced Chocolate Milk Coffee Porter! LMAO! I love it! Yes this is Adam and mines latest Frankenstein creation an11.5% Imp Porter (we guess we can call it that) where we used handful of ingredients like a wee bit of milk sugar, a lil fresh roasted Café Calabria Coffee, a secret and spicy chili pepper blend and fresh cacao. Just tasted it off the fermenter yesterday and it’s nice! A lil smokey from the chili, a lil chocolatey, nice coffee flavor and hell it wasn’t even carbonated.. Woot!

SF BEER WEEK!

Blair — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 19:09:16 +0000

SF Beer Week starts 2morrow thru the 14th! Great brewers, breweries, bars and city. http://www.sfbeerweek.org/

Churchills Renaissance

Blair — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 19:08:54 +0000

Churchills Pub in San Marcos unveils their labor of love with 50 taps! Ivan seriously has been working on this project for what seems like a year and it’s done! On March 6^th he’s doing a little grand re-opening and trust me he’s going to have all the good stuff on! For those that may or may not know Churchills is one of the best bars in San Diego and hands down the the best pub in north county. Not just great beers but solid spirits, delicious pub fare and a warm and inviting atmosphere and a great staff. If you haven’t been it’s definitely worth a trip on a weekend! Churchill’s Pub and Grille, 887 W San Marcos Blvd, San Marcos, CA 92078

Bye Bye 2k9.. Well Hello 2010

Blair — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 23:44:15 +0000

I hope that 2010 is a little smoother than 2009 (economically speaking). I hope everyone had a great xmas and are able to hang out with close friends or meet new ones this New Years Eve! We’re not really a traditional NY Eve destination but we have our champagne on ice and will be ready to ring in the NY like usual as the ball drops. On a special note: We’ll be open @ 1pm on New Years Day just as an FYI and will be tapping a discounted Cask to celebrate. To be honest this last year has went by like a blur for me but looking back on the year Im extremely happy to bring a lot of people really great beer and ber centric events. I was happy for all the hard work our staff has done and I was happy we can continue the passion we have for a better quality pub experience this new year. Far too often people lose sight of the objective in between the white noise but I know we haven’t and hopefully this year we will really step it up. I can say we ‘ve been steadfast in our goals and our approach to business has not waivered or changed from our intent day 1. So thanks for being part of our team and know that it’s always a privilege to have you visit and have you in our home each and every time you choose to stop by. Good luck in 2010 from our entire Hamilton’s family we wish you nothing but the best in the future months to come!

The Avery Experience

Blair — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 19:12:40 +0000

Our good friend Adam Avery is coming down in December with reindeers not really. He’s going to do 2nd Saturday @ Hamilton’s and a very special private dining Avery Experience @ Small Bar. It is a pre sell event and tickets are limited. It will sell out so I would get them asap. Tickets are purchaseable @ brown paper tickets.com. To see more about this beer dinner and the information associated with it check here:

http://www.smallbarsd.com/events/2009-12-09/avery-experience-beer-dinner

Citybeat Best of and SD Beer Week

Blair — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 19:10:01 +0000

Great 10 days that seemed to blow by but also seems like they happened so long ago! SD Guild Fest was awesome this year with the 3 sessions allowing for people to avoid the mass crowds!

CityBeat came out with Best of and we were lucky enough to get voted Best Beer Bar San Diego. Very flattering so thanks to all that recognized our extra effort for craft beer. We’ll continue doing what we do for those who enjoy it.

Annie Weekend Lineup Schedule

Blair — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 18:28:25 +0000

=======
Friday
=======

Guinness
Alpine Expo
Marin White Knuckle
Stone Dbl Bastard French Oak 2006
Hamilton’s 2nd Annie Palate Wrecker
Avery White Rascal
Alpine Bad Boy
Stone 13th Annie
Damnation 23
Alesmith Evil Dead Red
Marin Chocolate Airporter
Rouge Glen
JW LEE HARVEST ALE
Deschutes Mirror Mirror
Rogue IMP YSB
Coronado Cherry 13th Annie Smoked Brown
Pliny
Hamilton’s SD Small
Alesmith Nautical
Magnolia Proving Grounds
CBC Idiot
Stone 07 Old Gauridian
Elemental
Telegraph Reserve Wheat
Firestone Walker Abacus
Rubicon Wheat Wine
BabySham
Blackthorn Cider
Sanctification
Allagash Confluence

CASKS

Brewdog Hardcore IIPA
Port Plant to Pint

=========
Saturday
=========

Guinness
Alpine Expo
Marin White Knuckle
GF Brandy Barrel Barleywine
Hamilton’s 2nd Annie Palate Wrecker
Avery White Rascal
Alpine Bad Boy
Stone 13th Annie
Damnation 23
Alesmith Evil Dead Red
BP Victory At Sea 08
Avery Dugana
JW LEE HARVEST ALE
Deschutes Mirror Mirror
Brewdog Tokio
Coronado Cherry 13th Annie Smoked Brown
Pliny
Hamilton’s SD Small
Alesmith Nautical
Magnolia Proving Grounds
Black Lie
Stone 07 Old Gauridian
Elemental
New Belgium Eric’s Ale
Consecration
Temptation
BabySham
Blackthorn Cider
Gueze Fond Tradition
Boon Marriage Parfait

CASKS

Palate Wrecker
Alesmith Evil Dead Red

=======================
Sunday
========================
Guinness
Lightning Old Temp 08
Marin White Knuckle
Deschutes Abyss 2008
Hamilton’s 2nd Annie Palate Wrecker
Avery White Rascal
Rogue Imperial Porter
Stone 13th Annie
Damnation 23
Alesmith Evil Dead Red
BP Victory At Sea 08
Rogue Charlie
GF Belgian Stout
Rogue Old Crustacean 2006
Brewdog Tokio
Synbrychoff Porter
Pliny
Hamilton’s SD Small (Hitachino White if Small blows)
Alesmith Nautical
Port Plant To Pint
Black Lie
speak easy apple jack old godfather
Elemental
New Belgium Eric’s Ale (La Folie if Eric’s Ale blows)
Stone IRS Red Wine Barrel 08
Stone RIS 08
BabySham
Blackthorn Cider
1809 Prof Briems Berliner Style Weisse
Liepsiger Goze

CASKS

Green Flash Double Stout
Brewdog Smokehead RIS aged in Ardberg SM Scotch BBL