Celebrate Oktoberfest at Local Craft Breweries

The traditional German Octoberfest celebration culminates each year in October. You can celebrate locally by sampling some of San Diego's craft brews.

Here's a list of six of San Diego-area craft breweries worth checking out, topped by three in Santee:

1. Manzanita Brewing Co.
Santee's first commercial craft brewery, last year they moved to an upgraded facility on Prospect Avenue. "Founders Garry Pitman and Jeff Trevaskis set out to brew excellent ale in January of 2010 and have made more than 3500 barrels of the good stuff for Manz fans since."
Tasting room is open Wednesday4-8pmThursday4-pmFriday10pmSaturday1-10pmSunday1-6pm

2. BNS Brewing and Distilling Co.
Five partners opened Santee's newest brewery, including two Navy Seals, in a beautifully redesigned 8,600 square foot industrial building that has a wood and metal cowboy edge softened by tomato plants and a pond in the beer garden out front. 
Five beers are on tap- Imperial Stout, Gunfighter, Saloon Girl, and FlintLock and Revolver, with more on the way.
Tasting room is open Friday and Saturday from noon to 10 p.m. and Sunday to Thursday noon to 9 p.m.

3. Butchers Brewing
Beer brewed by Rey Knight, who at one time purveyed fine meats locally with Knight Salumi Co. They operate out of Manzanita's old spot on Prospect Avenue. Beers include Free Range IPA, Mucho Aloha HPA, Bengali Tiger.
Tasting room is open Tuesday to Saturday 2-10 and Sunday 2-8.

4. Pizza Port Brewing Co. – One of the pioneers of the craft beer movement began with one location in Carlsbad and now has five locations in San Diego and south Orange counties. Gina and Vince Marsaglia bottled their first beer in 1992. Hours at all locations are 11 a.m. to midnight on Saturday and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Sunday.

5. Alpine Beer Company – This tiny brewery off Interstate 8 in Alpine promises "killer IPAs" and great pub food. The pub is open from 11 a.m. to midnight on Saturday, and from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Sunday.

6. Coronado Brewing Company – This Coronado landmark was founded in 1996 by brothers Ron and Rick Chapman. There is a brew pub in Coronado and a tasting room in Bay Park. Hours vary between the two locations, but both are open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

The list goes on and wouldn't be complete with mention of Karl Strauss – the pioneer in San Diego – Ballast Point, Stone Brewing and San Diego Brewing Co.