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Deft Brewing

4.8 (223 reviews)
ModerateBreweries
Open • 12:00 pm - 10:00 PM

Deft Brewing Photos

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Recommended Reviews - Deft Brewing

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Brenda D.

I love this hidden San Diego gem! not just Deft brewing but the entire gärten itself. So much so that I almost didn't want to review it to keep it hidden, but good places deserve the spotlight. Deft has an incredible variety of beers for everyone's likes and tastes. I truly recommend getting a flight so you can experience as many as you can. My personal favorite is their irish stout. Vibes and service are immaculate. Please don't linger just for that tho, stay if you're really going to consume and drink here. This is not a public park or playground ffs.

Neat cards to read what's beer you are drinking and all the details
Carolyn C.

Beers were good and between the actual brewery and the outside area that seems to be more like a courtyard type of style between a few businesses there was ample on the seating for our group of four. It seems to be really busy here and as locals we had never tried it and so glad that we did. Lots of options from the beer front and they also have some nonalcoholic options as well with cans of soda and a couple other options.

European style beers (schwartzbier)
Ada J.

Delicious small brewery right next to a wine bar AND WOOD FIRED PIZZA?!?!?!?! Say less and pour me a beer! The space is a typical brewery, tanks and industrial, a few flags decorating and showing there the beers are styled/ inspired from. Dog allowed and WiFi available, parking is a little odd as there are a lot of driveways around this block. Stay vigilante! Plenty of seating available with the outdoor patio. Service was friendly and the guys behind the counters offer plenty of suggestions. Check this place out!

Carmen V.

First time there this past Friday and won't be the last one. One of my closest friend had his birthday gathering there and even though it was very difficult for me to find parking once I did and reached there, I was surprised to see that there are several beer places in one and communal tables plus live music. It was very enchanting to see that many people families with children, dogs, friends having the best time. This is an area of San Diego that I don't frequent often around Morena boulevard, but I saw there is a lot of atmosphere so I will be back soon. Remember you have to be patient because the lines to get your beer or food can get very long. The place was packed.

Stinger
Gabriel M.

The pizza here is next level. It's whipped up in a brick oven and they do a really good job. I recommend the Stinger if you like hot honey! Wednesdays they do a musical open mic night and it rocks!

Vibes
Ameya B.

We had a fantastic experience here. Walked in to a packed place with live music around 6:30 on a Saturday evening. I finally understood why people always talk about SD weather being perfect! The food here was absolutely brilliant too. Good German beer, Good Food, Live music, and board games for little ones... what else can one ask for? Drinks were self-serve, but food was delivered to our table within 20 mins, in-spite of the place being super busy. The produce and pizza was fresh! Noise levels on the higher end, so conversing became slightly difficult as the evening progressed, but manageable. Highly recommend this place to beer, wine, and people who like to have fun in general!

Beer and pizza
Isabella R.

Great beer! Great Pizza! This is my favorite brewerynin San Diego hands down. I highly highly recommend it.

Beer options
Gina O.

Love this brewery, the service is always great as well as super informative. The atmosphere is so chill and romantic depending on the time of day. They have several options to choose from and the prices are very reasonable. Also you can get a flight which I recommend but it's not on the menu so just ask. I would definitely pair the beer with some of the Pizza from across the way. 5/5 worth the calories and Uber

Ripped shorts (for a brewery review of all things!)
Michael S.

UPDATE: the owner of Deft responded to my email promptly and settled everything very professionally! Original review for posterity: Avoid this place at all costs. Deft Brewing was one of the worst experiences I've had at any establishment, ever. We went on July 4th, excited to check out a new spot. It was our first time. It will also be our last. It started with a staff member at the pizza shop getting weirdly aggressive over a casual comment about New Jersey. I mentioned my girlfriend is from Warren, NJ, and the guy felt the need to argue with us about what part of the state that's in. He actually followed us to our table to prove his point. Seriously. Over geography. It was awkward, rude, and set a bizarre tone for the night. Then it got worse. Much worse. While walking by one of the tables near the meadery area, I was bitten by a dog on the property. Not scratched. Bitten. Through a brand new pair of shorts I had just bought for 80 bucks. Ripped a hole straight through them. I didn't make a scene. I'm an animal person. But there was no warning, no sign, no one taking responsibility. Just silence. I emailed them directly with a photo of the damage and a link to the product, hoping for at least basic accountability. Nothing so far. This place is careless, unprofessional, and clearly not equipped to manage a safe or respectful environment. Between the hostile staff behavior (NJ geography wiz guy) and the lack of oversight with dogs on the property, I wouldn't send anyone here. Not locals, not visitors, not anyone. Go somewhere that knows how to treat guests like people and takes safety seriously. Avoid. Avoid. Avoid. (Bock in South Park is a better alternative)

Curt T.

The beer and service here was excellent The girl gave out samples so you could really get one you liked. Fast friendly and efficient. She even helped me carry some of the drinks to the table. Excellent service!!

Deftoberfest Marzen
Jessica S.

The last time we were in this area - the pizzeria, brewery, cidery, winery area - we drove, because we hadn't yet been introduced to Uber Pet. On our first visit, we stopped by Cassette Pizza, but on this visit, we came specifically for Deft. I love how open and communal the courtyard area is. It's also nice that the drinking holes offer indoor seating options, as well. While we were able to find a couple of seats at the bar close to Deft's entrance, it did cool off as the night wore on, and it was nice to have options for indoor seating, though we didn't end up needing it. I started the night with a pint of their Deftoberfest Marzen, because even though it's July, it's never too early for a Marzen. I liked the malty flavor of the brew, though it wasn't as malty as the Oktoberfest beers I typically like. It was a little on the lighter side, as well. My second pour was the "Fear the Deft Star", which was a Kottbusser - a term I had to Google as it was a new one to me. I thought I was in for a sweeter, honey-filled flavor, based on Google, but that didn't really come through on this one. It was light and fizzy, but didn't offer much more than that. To finish the night, I went with the Dawn of the Deft, a porter that brought the chocolatey, roasty flavors I tend to go for. This was my favorite pour of the night, and a good way to close out our tab. My husband enjoyed his three pours as well, though I could tell they weren't hitting for him the way he'd hoped. Still, he kept going back and was able to polish off every pour he got, so that's something. Will we be back? Unknown, but just because there are so many new breweries for us to sample...and favorites for us to frequent.

two glasses of beer on a wooden table
Crystal F.

Good selection of beer to choose from, friendly service every time I order a beer and great outdoor seating that has a shared courtyard with a meadery and a place that serves freshly made pizzas. Most of the beers I have had from here have been really good. I prefer to have lighter beers and sours, they have something for everyone. I definitely recommend trying this place at least once. Parking here can be limited as there is never ending construction going on in the evening.

Pan pizza
Jasmine K.

The beer and wine was delicious! However, the pizza that they have on-site is delivered LATE. We waited an hour before we got our pizza; granted, we expected to wait a while because we got their pan pizza; however, after 30 minutes, we decided to check on it and realized that they had accidentally delivered our pizza to another table. Unless we checked on it, we wouldn't have learned that, so MAKE SURE YOU CHECK ON IT! We were understanding, of course; however, after another 25 minutes, I had hoped for something other than just an apology. But we didn't. Anyway. When you order from their food place, remain vigilant because they will forget about you.

The bar...awesome bartender!

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Reviews are largely positive. People enjoy the lively beer garden atmosphere, broad beer selection, and fresh, tasty pizza. Service is generally described as friendly.

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2 years ago

Very nice evening with good beer and outstanding pizza. We will be returning in the future!

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Ask the Community - Deft Brewing

Is there WiFi for those who work remotely?

Yes, WiFi is available

Do they have hard cider options?

Deft Brewing only serves our own beer. However, our neighbor and partner at The Gärten, Oddish Wines, does offer cider along with their wines.

Is it dog friendly? Is there plenty of parking available?

They have a nice biergarten patio space and I've seen lots of dogs hanging out. There's a dirt lot at the end of the street with lots of parking space.

Any TVs? Want to attend a fundraising event here today but want to watch the Stanley Cup game at 5. Just trying to plan my attack! Thanks!

Yes they have TVs!!

Are there every any food trucks?

Hi Alexa. Thanks for the question. Yes, we do have food trucks here at Deft Brewing occasionally, usually when we have events and large groups. For other nights, many of our regular customers bring in takeout food from their favorite restaurant… 

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Review Highlights - Deft Brewing

“Not all IPAs; they have something for everyone, and especially superb Belgian and British beers.”

Mentioned in 12 reviews

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People searched for Breweries 19,541 times last month within 10 miles of this business.

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Hopnonymous Brewing - Hopnonymous Brewing Company Beer

Hopnonymous Brewing

4.8(208 reviews)
5.5 mi•Kearny Mesa
•$$

There are over 100 micro breweries around San Diego and a bunch of them are in Kearney Mesa. They…read moreare all different but Hononymous is unique in its own way The beer selection is beautiful g enough to satisfy most beer enthusiasts The staff is great It is off the beaten path which makes it even more special Great games all around The ring game is addictive Great parking

I remember back when you were a wee baby…read more Covid-19 flashbacks to 2018...we were having dinner in the Kearny Mesa-Convoy St. area and wanted to check out what was new or different nearby and saw Hopnonymous on the Yelp search results. As we parked I realized this was the former location for Council Brewing (RIP - I liked their bourbon barrel aged stout btw). Other than the large wooden council table removed and obvious branding & decor changes, the general layout looked familiar. We received a warm, friendly welcome from Remy, who shared the brewery concept and backstory. Sampled beers from their list of six offerings and said we would return. Additional return visits and fast forward to 2026 with Hopnonymous Brewing doing quite well. The front patio is built out with additional seating, table space, and another tv screen to accommodate beer loving sports fans. The rotating food truck and pop-up kitchen schedule offers a variety of eats in with Trivia Tuesdays. Hop beertenders are very nice and a positive reflection of Remy's hospitality. Customer service is key. Until next time...Cheers!

Photos
Hopnonymous Brewing - Hopnonymous Brewing Company 5th Anniversary

Hopnonymous Brewing Company 5th Anniversary

Hopnonymous Brewing - Life on Marz | Festbier * 5.8% ABV | Hopnonymous Brewing Co

Life on Marz | Festbier * 5.8% ABV | Hopnonymous Brewing Co

Hopnonymous Brewing - Oat Simulator | Oatmeal Stout 5.8% ABV | Hopnonymous Brewing Co

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Oat Simulator | Oatmeal Stout 5.8% ABV | Hopnonymous Brewing Co

Harland Brewing - Bay Park - Flight Taster- Harland Mango Yuzu,  Painkiller,  Wet Paint and Tropical Fluff

Harland Brewing - Bay Park

4.6(125 reviews)
1.3 mi•Bay Park
•$$

After having some fish tacos across the street, our party walked over to Harland's. I got a flight…read moreand I really loved the aloha and the yuzu. The aloha had pineapple and marshmallow I believe. Plenty of seating with a large outdoor space. Bathroom was clean. Street parking. Service was friendly. I would definitely visit again in the future.

Been drinking Harland Brewing for years and FINALLY made it to this location. Walked in thinking it…read morewas going to be a tiny space with only a few tables and was amazed with the gorgeous layout. The Beertenders were AWESOME from the moment we got there! They are super helpful and welcoming and have the best energy. Definitely want to become a regular just to be able to kick it with them. Parking was easy; found street parking right away! I'm sure some days it can be harder than others with parking, but we took it as a sign! Harland has one of the best Japanese Lagers and honestly this is the beer we always try to get when it comes to drinking Harland! We got this and CRONE ZONE, because, come on! GO PADS! My husband was happy because there were outlets right at our table, so he could charge his phone! & the variety of table top options and seats makes everyone feel comfortable! Lastly, they said a restaurant two doors down delivers food if we order, so even though they may not have an entire restaurant, they still work with other local restaurants to make the experience worthwhile! Can't wait to go back!

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Harland Brewing - Bay Park - Nice outside space

Nice outside space

Harland Brewing - Bay Park - Outside

Outside

Harland Brewing - Bay Park - Outdoor - patio

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Outdoor - patio

Deft Brewing - breweries - Updated October 2026

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