Barley & Sword Brewing Company

Gotta love these 'incubator' experiences. C'mon, two breweries at the *same* location? Thank you, creative beer people for making these kinds of establishments happen. Important questions: are the beer, people, and vibe okay? Better than that, Barley & Sword sets up a nice little vibe, like a Medieval German or English pub. Or is it Celtic? Or Viking? Maybe all the above? Who cares, it's fun. So was the service. Quality pours, and pulled with friendliness. Selection of beers leaned traditional, with a heavy balance of mostly UK style lagers and ales (English/Irish), and with a healthy mix of German, Belgian, Czech, and others. They also had a couple IPAs, and one of those two was an English-style IPA. They're clearly leaning hard into the more traditional styles, and good on them. Nearly every draft they had was something that's obviously outlived any of the 'trendiness' that's plaguing the beer market. Keep at it, folks. San Diego is very IPA-rich, and needs a more traditional crafter like you out there.

The Best Tavern style experience in San Diego. Be transported back in time to a medieval inspired setting, with a modern day patio that doesn’t clash in the slightest, but rather shares ground with a fellow brewery! Winner of COUNTLESS awards and ribbons decorating the area, with a delightful and merry staff who brings it all together. Barley and Sword Stands and Delivers!!!

This place is awesome! I was in SD touring breweries for 3 days, sampling about 90 different beers, and this place was my favorite. All the beers are great (as is the can art) and all have a story. Brewer/owner Mike was a wealth of knowledge, and the thought and attention to detail in each of his beers is amazing. I, as a novice home brewer, was inspired by this establishment and all of its offerings! Well done, and have a great 2nd anniversary blast! Wish I could be there.

We had a great time visiting Barley and Sword!! The atmosphere was so welcoming, beers were tasty, and the customer service was top tier. Jada and Morgan were amazing!! We’ll definitely be back!

Unique and interesting concept with a medieval theme within a collective of other breweries sharing a common outdoor seating area with a few food options. Came for the cask ale and would return for the great lager options. In a sea of breweries focusing on hoppy beers, this is the kind of brewery that needs to survive the industry correction. Visited on a knight fight night so the crowd was a good mix of folks. Owner was making the rounds, great guy. Can’t recommend this place enough!

Barley and Sword is a traditional brewery offering beers like Dunkel, Helles, Irish Red, etc. The beers we tried were all very good. They are located in a brewery "park" with a few other neighboring breweries sharing an outdoor seating area. Great spot!

This place is amazing. If you like real ale (cask), it is a must try. Every beer on the menu is delicious. If your idea of adventurous beer tasting is the day you switched from Bud to Michelob, you might be a little intimidated, but don’t be. The staff is super helpful and will find a beer for you.

Phenomenal beers. True to style and genuine. Also has a great line up with so much variety. This brewery has got it going on!

Must have been a fun and exciting year as I was there to celebrate one year anniversary. It's a cozy place, that I could remember some in the Encinitas area as well. However, it can absorb as many as you go. There seemed to be a parking lot turned into sitting area right in front, being shared by businesses. Great staff and this summer is telling me to go visit back as often as possible. Parking is everywhere around the business, just find it.

I love the out door seating here. A lot of benches. Had the hefeweizen beer and there were birria taco vendor this day. La libertad Cocina Urbana. Very very cheesy birria queso tacos.

San Diego is overflowing with microbreweries creating more and more IPAs and Sours, not a bad thing, but I love that Barley and Sword focuses on traditional British Empire ales...Irish Red, English IPA, Irish Stout, Scottish Stout, Golden Ales...keeping it simple. The bar tender was super friendly and fun, talking all sorts of nerd stuff. The interior has a traditional medieval theme and matching decor with swords, including the wooden sampler tray. Will be back!

This was my first time here. It's a very welcoming brewery with both indoor and outdoor seating. There is also a taco stand set up outside to make sure you can enjoy a meal as well. There is parking which makes it super convenient in this area.

More beer options is never a bad thing. Barley and Sword offers up some old world beer classics with a decidedly UK-medieval based in America vibe. Think Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves starring Kevin Costner. Good movie..I should watch that again. I digress. They're new, and have like six beers on the menu. Yours truly had the red ale and it was great; nice balance of hoppy and malty. The tasting room is nestled between Seek and Goal X on El Cajon Blvd and makes for a fun evening out. Friendly staff and good vibes.

Stopped in for a brew during an adoption event at Barley and Sword. I typically go for IPAS but they only had one on draft that was more malt forward. I like my beers more hoppy but I can definitely see how others would really enjoy it. It's a cute little bar that had sports playing and fun theming. They also have a lovely outdoor patio area too!

Had an amazing couple of beers and the bar tender (name escapes me I'm so sorry girl, but we were there Monday evening ~630 pm) was wonderful.

The Hef is to die for. Beer is good, service is friendly and the ambience is chill yet happening. Check it out. You won't regret it.

This is a SUPER cool brewery! They have a good selection of DARK beers which is a rarity in San Diego. The owner is a nice guy and is knowledgeable, he answered my question on the difference between American and English porter with great detail. I definitely recommend grabbing a beer here. It is also sandwiched between 2 other small breweries! You CANNOT beat this location!

Excellent new brewery! This is a great new place in the area and thrilled to support a business that is inclusive and veteran owned and run. The brewers are no strangers to the craft and have been doing it for years. Their recipes are tested and done with great care and commitment. The renovations of the space are fun and inviting with viking shields , swords, and a medieval themed pub decor. With friendly folks there with great service making it a fun, local hangout A nice variety of beer styles and I love that you have a selection of sizes - sampler and 3, 5, & 10 oz. You can easily check which you like. I love the Kolsch style and the dunkel (German dark beer), and the English Porter was very good And they have a great shirt design.

GREAT beer! Great staff, and very reasonable prices. This place should be packed on the daily. Such a sleeper brewery. I typically don't go for IPA's but theirs was top notch.

Loved the variety of beers from all over Europe! Attentive service was a nice added touch. Also enjoyed the European pub ambiance

Fun little spot joining the North Park brewery scene. Really enjoyed their Weiss, the patio, and the Great Danes lounging around

my experience at Barley & Sword is an amazing one. I love the ambiance and the theme. The beer is refreshing and delicious. I'm very picky about beer and I can drink almost all of theirs! My cask ale is INCREDIBLE and I highly recommend that. They also have food on the weekends and a good clean bathroom, so you really don't have to leave. Erin, the bartender was so funny and sweet. I'll definitely keep coming back!!!

This place is my favorite! Super chill, friendly staff and SO CLEAN! The beer is perfect for the vibe too. Like you're just sipping this traditional kind of brew in this comfy dimly-lit and slightly whimsical little tavern. It's nice to see a selection that's not a bunch of IPAs too. I tried all but one of their beers and they were all really good but I was particularly fond of the blonde. 10/10

Solid beer, awesome service, and very cool ambiance. The beers are all on point and everything is rooted in the true history of beer making! The decor is like a medieval tavern with a very chill vibe. Mike, the owner and head brewer, has a true love for beer and making people feel welcome...both of which are very apparent here. 10/10 would recommend.

Fantastic new brewery a must to check out! Service is great, staff is friendly. Love all six beers they have available right now.

Fantastic beer. They do a great job creating classic beers. The back patio is a great spot to hangout with friends for a few hours.

Great variety of amazing beers!! Loved the location was a great cute spot to sit and enjoy a beer!

Awesome beers. In town for a week. Was lucky to find it thru a friend. Classics all the way down the menu. Totally worth a visit.

It's so nice to see a brewery that has more to offer than just IPAs! Love the tavern theme, it's warm and inviting. Their Traditional beers are so drinkable and refreshing.