This is my favorite brewery in Vista. Great small spot with a friendly diverse and mixed crowd, great live music, knowledgeable and friendly service, and great beers. This is what a craft beer tasting room should be like. read more

Ok, I don't drink beer so I really can't review the actual beer but I went there for a meeting with some fellow designers. The people I was with really enjoyed the sampler of the beers they have including the chocolate and jalapeno beer. Claudia, one of the owners talked me into trying the mead and I really enjoyed it. So, now I have Brewery I can actually go to and have something fun to drink as well. I loved it!!! The atmosphere is very relaxed and cool. The place is pretty hidden but it's well worth looking for it. read more

Re-visited last weekend. The new DIPA Hop Serpent is awesome. The best beer that Aztec has ever brewed. It competes with the other top offerings in the area. I also tried their Kitchen Sink IIIPA that was top notch as well. I'd definitely recommend those two beers to anyone who likes aggressively hopped beers. The core offerings still leave a little to be desired in my eyes, but these two IPA are top notch and make visiting Aztec worth the trip if you're checking out breweries along the "Hop Highway". Upgrading to 4 stars. New decor, serving in proper glassware, and two killer beers that I'm hoping remain a part of their lineup, if not year round, at least a couple times a year. read more

Small place, but plenty of tables and seating. There was a musician there the night that we were there. He reminds me of Carlos Santa. The beer is really good and the decorations and ambience is nice. Cozy comes to mind. The staff is very friendly and helpful. I'll be back to try their other beers. read more

Aztec Brewery - Albert is playing guitar tonight. Nice crowd. I love the atmosphere. - Breweries Near Me - Vista, California

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Great Beer! Yummy hard lemonade! Live music! What else could you need? Support small breweries!

Aztec Brewing is so wonderful on so many levels. The beer is excellent, featuring a selection both of creative manifestations of comfortable classics (IPA, amber, blonde, etc) as well as an array of truly unique and delicious specialty beers, like the Macaroon Nut Brown, and the Coffee Blonde. As many know, Aztec Brewing is also a gem of the North County music scene, providing live music at least three nights a week, including what is widely regarded as the best open mic in the area every Thursday night. Finally, there's the rich history associated with the brand. All around, a wonderful place, run by wonderful people. I recommend it highly. read more

4 stars because the last time I was here there wasn't a place to sit, and sometimes I tire of standing and drinking. Really tasty beers here, every one has a distinct flavor and I strongly recommend going for a flight tour to determine which is your favorite. Located in Vista not too far from Mother Earth and Iron Fist so check those out too! read more

So I've decided to continue my microbrewery tour of San Diego. I did this once before back in 2010 but in the last two years the microbrewing business seems to have exploded. Apparently we are now beer country. You'll get no complaints from me! Aztec, like many other microbreweries, is a taproom rather than a sit down restaurant. There was a food cart there but don't expect to see it every time. But don't feel like it's a waste of a drive! It's actually in an area where there are several other microbreweries and it's within spitting distance of San Marcos restaurant row. They have eight different beers on tap at Aztec. A few of the flavors do rotate in and out but there seems to be an emphasis on wheat and IPA beers. I'm not generally one for IPAs. So for my taster line-up I tried their one amber ale, two wheats and their blonde ale. None of the beers were very dark but I was impressed with how much flavor each one packed. Their wheat beers were especially interesting. Both of them had strong floral/herbal flavors laced through them making the taste very unique. The atmosphere is laid back and fun. Aztec is definitely a brewery worth checking out if you have no Friday or Saturday plans. read more

Man, the first time I went there I was impressed. The owners were personable and awesome. The history of the name as an original brewery from Barrio Logan is badass but unfortunately I've just seen it go down from here. When I first visited perhaps even a year ago I loved it. They had an extensive list of specialty beers as well as their beers that are part of the main line. The chipotle IPA had a nice kick to it and was a perfect balance. I even got the xtra chipotle IPA, even better. Since then Ihave not seen the xtra chipotle on rotation. I asked for a 50/50, chipotle IPA and chocolate porter--- a perfect mole beer. So rich, smooth, creamy and spicy bitter. Like a perfect mole. I have since brought many guest here to try this so called mole beer and I'm deeply disappointed. I think the recipe has changed to meet the needs of the "masses" and well I don't like it. :( Oh well, Ill still go there for a quick IPA while visiting other Vista breweries. read more

A sweet cozy spot with FABULOUS beer. Just get the Macaroon Nut Brown. You will not be disappointed. They offer live music and events. I really love how intimate the space is & the staff is personable and friendly. read more

My brother and I took our mother to this brewery as part of our Mother's B-day weekend adventure We chose to end our trip at this brewery last because of the excellent reviews it received. I will never take my mother there again, it was embarrassing. It was the worst brewery we went to the entire weekend. The grounds are horrible and smelly and the tasting room was a disaster. When we entered the tasting room, it smelled like swamp water, sticky, old alcohol similar to the smells you find in a frat house after a party. The ventilation was terrible, adding to the smell, and giving the employees a sweaty appearance. The tasting room was understaffed which was evident in the low morale exuded by the employees. The beer list was small didn't have much of a selection& included little information about the beer.... As I asked an employee about the beer It was clear either he did not know the information, or did not care about customer service. The beer was horrible and tasted like sewage water, but the tastings were very overpoured it was quantity not quality. The whole experience was overall disappointing, I will not be returning. Someone in charge needs to take a long look around at overall taste I will NEVER GO to AZTEC and if i could give 0 stars i would read more

Great place ! Small brewery that puts-out some of the best brews in a city known for it's Ale. Great place to come on an evening or weekend to have a pint or two and talk to the brewer/owner. He has won several awards for brewing already. They don't have Stone's Japanese Garden, but they have better beer ! read more

Great place for beer. DID YOU KNOW THEY HAVE BEER?? Awesome people, great beer, good music. read more

Aztec Brewery - Breweries Near Me - Vista, California

Sat next to a regular who is friends with the owner so we got the whole story and history behind this wonderful brewery. Family owned an operated, the owner does all the artwork himself for the labels, etc. and the beer is well crafted. They have something for everyone and I really enjoyed the conversation with the other patron. The owner even took time to have a nice chat. read more

vista brewery stop 3 of 3: aztec was the last leg of our vista brewery recon mission. we were ready to throw in the towel by the time we arrived, but we needed to push through like the champions that we are. overall, we enjoyed the brews enough. it's just that none really stood out. read more

Aztec Brewery - Beer and slow-cooked goat plate from one love - Breweries Near Me - Vista, California

I'd originally intended to give Aztec a very solid and steadfast 5*, but I've been back recently and haven't loved the direction of the tap list. I'm probably in the minority, but of all the beers I've tried from Aztec, there are a few that stick out in my mind as their best. The Noche De Los Muertos (as is, or barrel-aged) and their Doomsday Barley Wine are easily my two favorite beers of any micro-brew in the area. It's quickly becoming summer, and these aren't two beers that I'd necessarily equate with summer, but the replacements just aren't doing it for me. Their employees are great, the beer they do have is still quite good (Aztec Amber, Hibiscus Wheat, Aztec Sacrifice, ABC Retro), and I definitely will be back, but I find myself not quite as enthusiastic about returning after A) my favorites are on hiatus, and B) the beer replacing my favs aren't cutting it for me. In any event, GO, try one of the many beers that are good... and if you show up and Noche or Doomsday happen to be on tap, do yourself a favor and order one or both. Cheers! read more

This place is awesome! My favorite beer to get is the Hibiscus Wheat. I'm not a fan of the IPA so this is perfect! The owners are super nice! She even shared her donuts with me and my friends, those were also delish. The environment is very relaxing, there are couches to kick back on as well as live music to listen to during most nights. This is my 2nd time coming here and I am not disappointed. The customer service of the owners is great, I feel welcome everytime. I love all the wall art they've got going on here too! Definitely the place to come if you want a nice beer and a relaxing place to kick back with your friends. read more

Aztec Brewery - Breweries Near Me - Vista, California

Nothing beats having another brewery only minutes away from home! Give their taster a go so you can experience the wide variety of their in-house brews. The Chipotle was a nice surprise and the Chocolate Porter was very smooth. Support your local business and enjoy some beer while you're at it. It's a win win for everyone. I'm really looking forward to checking out 7 Nations when they open! read more

I wish I could give them 3.5 stars, as I do like this place and the workers are quite cool. I was worried with a name like Aztec that the beers would be wimpy light Mexican cervezas in the likes of Corona/Sol/Pacifico. The beers exceeded my expectations, but until I get to try a more complete selection, it is hard to grant them more stars compared to all of the breweries in San Diego County. I enjoyed the unique (not too hot) chipotle IPA and the Noche de las Muertas, and they also have a mix of their Chipotle and Amber (forget the name they called it). I enjoy that they have the food trucks every once in awhile, and the free tacos Tuesday is a great way to get people to the tasting room. The buy a pint glass offer ($1 off pints) is excellent and makes a good addition to anyone's pint collection. Aztec is a great addiiton to the North County beer scene. read more

Does beer require an acquired taste? ... Once again, I have yet to find my way through the sea of beer in general. But I was pleasantly surprised to find that I really liked the hibiscus wheat, of course it was florally, and maybe it's a chick beer, but for someone who has a hard time drinking beer, it works. Tried a few others, one with a chipotle kick and another dark porter or stout, but wasn't interested much in those. I did enjoyed the free pretzels. Staff was friendly. Also, Aztec has a pretty cool history, but it was strange to me that there is little connection left between the history and the brand name today... guess this is for further discussion... read more

The quality of the beers blew us away. Brown ale on nitro was my fav beer of the day after a full day of imbibing (too) many micro-brews all around town. And the amber ale was a close second. On Friday night there was a fun blues band on-site belting out the tunes and a food truck serving meat loaf sandwiches and grilled cheese in the back. (Plus they put out some good quality freebie pretzels on the bar). Easily our new favorite SD County micro-brewery! read more

Aztec Brewery - Breweries Near Me - Vista, California

I love their Agave Wheat... it has a nice mild flavor. This place is laid back and actually has quite a bit of history (as we learned on our first visit last year.) My husband isn't a big fan so it looks like I'll just be getting growlers to go from now on! On our first visit there was a food truck and it was packed, and on our second (early Saturday night) there were only a few other patrons and no food truck. They do have some pretzels or chips to munch on (free.) Next week they're having a bacon cook off event which looked fun. read more

This is a great brewery! Been twice, both times I came because Karlos Paez from the B SIDE Players was the entertainer for the night. Their Chipotle beer is my favorite. A bit spicey. Unexpecting location. It's in an industrial park. I think they could use one more bathroom. The food offerings change, I've had success finding yummy Mexican vegan food both times there. read more

I absolutely love Aztec Brewery! They have killer beers and and amazing music almost every night of the week! Such a great vibe too! read more

Very intimate live music venue, great beer , if u want food there's a delicious bbq food truck outside great service plus the beer is delicious. Venue is small but that creates intimacy with the band or group playing! Very enjoyable atmosphere read more

Interesting samples , Chipotle was incredible! Like the space and swag.noticed they have live music, we will be back. read more

Aztec Brewery - Fridays at Aztec - Breweries Near Me - Vista, California

I never know how I'll be received at a new Open mic venue. But everyone was very friendly and appreciated my guitar playing/singing. (They said I was a guitar shedder!) I am a beer connoisseur and the I.P.A.'s I drank were top of the top, the best ever! Very laid back, nice people. Thank you! (I wish I lived closer) read more

If you've visited a few microbreweries in the Vista area - Iron Fist, Belching Beaver, Mother Earth, etc, you'll notice that they're all about the same: entrance is usually a warehouse door and they're loud and uncomfortable until you've imbibed enough to dull your senses and you've gotten use to shouting to be heard. Seating is limited (due to zoning restrictions) and sound dampening is often non-existent. What set s Aztec Brewery apart is the vibe. It's owned and managed by artists who work creatively to make their beers and the atmosphere of the brewery different. It's smoother and less jarring - like their award-winning Amber. Try them on a Thursday afternoon when the free chow is served by owners John and Claudia. You'll see them scrambling around in the background, trying to keep hot food on the table as the glassy-eyed patrons line up for their fair share of the goodies. Even John and Claudia's kids get into the act. When they're not serving beer, they're playing music to entertain. Sometimes they host art exhibits, or be-ins. You never know what they'll come up with next. But if you're the least bit creative you'll feel the vibe and notice the difference at Aztec. read more

Friendly music venue, that has good beer. Can be a little hard to find the place (yes it's way in the back of an industrial area). easy parking. Music and jams every night. read more

Great live music, my husband is the beer drinker and he loves it!

Love love love love this place. John Claudia and Tristan are the best. If you want to hear some good music pretty much any night of the week this is the place to go read more

The location is very hidden and in an industrial area however that means less crowds! I came here when they were hosting an awesome event called Cultura Fest SD. I had 2 beers that were the Hibiscus Wheat and Macaroon Nut both very good! read more

A small brewery that is not packed. It is quiet and I like it like that. They have a lot of different beers to taste. The hibiscus wheat is a floral "chick beer" that is light and yummy. All the staff were very friendly and quick to get my order. Anytime I walked up to the bar I was helped within seconds. They had some Jamaican food when I went on Saturday that you can buy but I did not think the empanadas were good. I saw a sign that they have free street tacos on Thursdays from 5-8. I am definitely going to return for some more beer, great service, and free grub! read more

Heard about Aztec, and it's really new! They had a soft opening last month, but the grand opening isn't until later in October. Thought it would be fun to try it out before it "got big." A little hard to find, it's in an industrial park, pretty much right in between Iron Fist and Mother Earth. Very simple on the inside, they do have barrels to stand around, and some great large free hard pretzel to eat. Ordered two full taster sets (4 each for $5), and even though they only had 8 beers on the menu, it seemed to really confuse the bartender that I wanted to try all eight. It was a little weird. Here's the rundown: Sacrifice - Tasty strong ale, the best at Aztec. Reminds me of Arrogant Bastard. Seven Nations English 87 - Fruity, toffee, heavy burnt aftertaste. Just okay. Aztec El Dorado Blonde - Not a huge blonde fan in general, and this one was pretty dry and boring, like Budweiser. Aztec Red - I'm really into reds right now, but this was a let down. A little leathery, but I expect more in a red. Seven Nations Bitter Brit - Light for an ESB in my opinion, I expect a little more umph in the malt, but Tim said it was a textbook ESB. Again, kind of just okay. Agave Wheat - More like an agave blonde. Would be better unfiltered. Bitter. Chipotle IPA - Pretty good. Don't think I'd order a whole pint, but the chipotle was nicely balanced. Aztec Eclipse Chocolate Porter - Bitey. Some acid taste in the back of the mouth. Reminds me of the Stone Cherry Chocolate Porter from earlier this year. Maybe it would mellow if it was aged a bit, but I was let down. There are a lot of great chocolate porters out there, this doesn't live up. Not sure if I would head back here anytime soon. read more

Came in on a Thursday which is way worth it cause of free taco Thursday, tucked away in business park of Vista close parking nice couch in the entrance area. Got the Aztec el dorado blonde which was 4.1% Abv got a small buzz after one pint, but they had about ten different selections of brew, which I'm definitely going to try next I come here. read more

I honestly don't like this brewery at all. I've tried it 5 times and each time I didn't like any of their beers, which is really unusual for me. I have a love for beer and this place never satisfies. Skip it and go someplace else in North County. read more

I was really disappointed in this brewery. Got the sampler and I could not even drink all of them they were so bad. Tasted like soap...one sip and never picked them up again. The only one I liked from the sampler I chose was the Hibiscus Wheat. Also, I was not feeling the vibe of this place. The tasting room was not impressive and everything looked like they just bought it from the goodwill and tried to make it work...not that I'm against goodwill or anything, but when the only seats available look like they were someone's old and unwanted dining room furniture, there's a problem. read more

Another beer lover mecca. The staff are fun and out going. Great food, even better beer, and music! Check it out for a good time.

Talked with Jim at Aztec and he says they're at Whole Foods....so I'm headed to the one on University Ave in Hillcrest.

This is one more example of a wonderful Vista CA brewery. This is absolutely the most unique brewery I've ever visited. On top of great beer and friendly staff, the open mic sessions in a laid back environment are worth the visit. read more