In fact, when I asked about the interesting beer names, like “Carolina honey Hips” and “Germans in the Desert”, I was handed a few sheets of paper that gave the story behind each name. A friend of the brewery names the beers after historical events and figures all relating to Latitude 33. I learned that the brewery is owned by 6 investors. In fact, I found all 5 beer I tried to be excellent. I learned from the tasting room manager that the brewer previously worked at Alpine Brewing and the Alpine influence was absolutely evident in the big “Camel Corps Double hump IPA”, which I thought was a great example of the West Coast style and a world-class beer. The glasses were then set on its description. They were delivered with two sheets of paper describing all of the brewery’s beers. Tasters were available on a per-class basis and I ordered 5 different ones. I arrived to a small group of locals a little after 4 pm on a weekday, but the place really began to fill up with an after-work crowd as I was leaving just past 5. The room has a very spacious feeling with little decorating or furniture. A large chalkboard above the tap handles lets you know what is available. Like a lot of tasting rooms, this one sits right in the middle of the brewery so that the brew-house, fermentors and bright tanks sit directly behind you as you face the bar.
Latitude 33 is not too far from Iron Fist and also sits in a business park. The third North County Brewery I was able to visit recently was Latitude 33 Brewing, also in Vista.