The unusually named Pizza Port Brewing traces its origins back to 1987, when Gina and Vince Marsaglia, a pair of siblings in their 20s, purchased a pizza place in the sleepy coastal town Solana Beach, California. Vince used their surplus space to experiment with making beer, releasing their first “official” beers in 1992. Over the years, the seven-barrel system at Pizza Port Solana Beach has served as the launching pad for numerous brewers who’ve gone on to become big names both within and beyond the pie-in-the-sky empire. Expanding to five locations in the San Diego area since then, Pizza Pub has become a staple of the fantastic San Diego beer scene. So far, the Pizza Port locations collectively have won over 91 medals/awards from the Great American Beer Festival. Today, Peaks & Pints presents an in-house flight of Pizza Port beers — a flight we’re call Peaks and Pints Beer Flight: Pizza Port.

Peaks and Pints Beer Flight: Pizza Port

Pizza Port California Honey Ale

4.8% ABV

California Honey has been a Pizza Port favorite since the early days. Brewed with the addition of local California honey, this blonde ale is crisp and refreshing with a hint of sweetness and a smooth finish.

Pizza Port Chronic Amber

4.9% ABV

Brewed with house yeast strain La Cruda and English specialty malts, Chronic’s deep copper and caramel color reminded us of Lipton tea or red clay, and the tart aroma has an apple cider funk to it that also called to mind dark breadcrust and pear. On the tongue the ale is malty with raisin mild bourbon and fig notes, plus smooth bitterness.

Pizza Port Cruisin’

5.8% ABV

Although brewed with Mosaic, Cascade, Idaho 7, Simcoe, and Strata, this pale ale keeps the hops in good restraint. Expect a lively mouthfeel with plenty of spritz, a malty beginning with orange aroma and tangy edge, a pleasant hoppy taste of apricots and yellow cake, and a bitter aftertaste. It’s sweeter than the more austere pale ales.

Pizza Port Swami’s IPA

6.9% ABV

Swami’s IPA was first brewed in 1992 to commemorate one of Pizza Port’s favorite local surf breaks nestled below a spiritual enlightenment temple that sits on the cliffs above. This OG West Coast IPA can be described as Tang as the best descriptor for the orange bubblegum-esque aroma. The scent also calls to mind grapefruit, pine, and lemons. Brewed with Chinook, CTZ, Cascade, Centennial, Citra, and Simcoe, the hops give the beer a pleasantly bitter pine and cedar flavor that had a slight sweetness to it.

Pizza Port Everyday Enjoyment

7% ABV

This medium-bodied West Coast style IPA is brewed with New Zealand Cascade, Strata and Chinook hops for flavors and aromas of pine, berry, orange, peach, and tropical fruit.

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