Where to Drink Beer in North County | Eater San Diego

"Latitude 33 is a brewer that understands something that many other brewers on this list don’t (or just haven’t worried about yet): It’s not just about the beer. Yes, of course, it is about the beer, and the company does get that — the Blood Orange IPA is well worth its popularity, and the Honey Hips is also excellent. But as much as it’s about crafting the beer, it’s also about crafting everything else around the beer, too: The relationships, the marketing, the community, the sales. Latitude 33 was started by options trader Mike Ingram and his wife Treasure (namesake, you’d assume, of the Treasured Red ale), and in addition to brewing their own creations, they also put together contract brews and collaborations with lots of other great North County breweries, including Belching Beaver, Legacy Brewing, Pizza Port, Burgeon Beer Co., and Culver Beer Company (definitely try the Bro-kini, a coconut and vanilla hazy IPA put together with the last three companies on that list). Everything from Latitude’s marketing to its distribution is on point, and that’s put it near the top of the list of the fastest growing San Diego county businesses for the last few years running. Admittedly, this does make Latitude 33 a slightly more corporate entity — if your main requirement for a great microbrew is that no one else has heard of it yet, this might not be your spot. But if you’re interested in seeing a beer company that understands how to build a brand for the long term, Latitude 33’s got some excellent brews for you." - Mike Schramm