Where Everybody Knows Your Name

Support your local beer store! I am lucky to have a great beer store near my house, The Olive Tree Marketplace in Ocean Beach. Its beer selection has dramatically improved over the past two years. It now has one of the best selections in San Diego and gets most, if not all, special releases. Here is the review I recently wrote on BeerAdvocate:

The Olive Tree Marketplace has filled a beer void in the middle of San Diego. No longer does one have to trek to Escondido, Carlsbad or Imperial Beach for a great beer store. This established market has built a great beer selection over the past several years and shows no sign of slowing. It has transformed itself from carrying the basic craft beers and a few imports to stocking a wide range of craft beers and quality Belgian beers. It has four refrigerator cases devoted to crafts and Belgians and two five-racked shelves filled with crafts and Belgians. It also has a separate rack with four special releases, which is now occupied by Holiday beers.

The Olive Tree Marketplace has excellent diversity, from offering Dog Head's specialty releases, to The Bruery, to Telegraph and all San Diego brewers that bottle, except Alpine. It receives all the local specialty releases, including those from Stone, Alesmith, Ballast Point, Green Flash, Port Brewing and The Lost Abbey. It is becoming a beer destination, so its inventory turns over quickly. It has an excellent selection of Belgian beers from sours, to Trappists to golden ales. Most of the employees have a basic to solid knowledge of the beer, but make sure to seek out Mike for specific questions on current or future inventory.

The Olive Tree Marketplace is more than a beer store. It has an excellent deli that offers Boar's Head meats and a wide selection of salads. Its produce is fresh and reasonably priced. It has a wide selection of wines, gourmet sodas and other quality foods. Go to Olive Tree Marketplace for the beer, but make sure to browse around and find some good food to go with the good beer.

I like the idea of shopping local and supporting small businesses. Since Olive Tree has ramped up its beer selection I have not stepped into a Beverages & More, and I find myself doing regular food shopping there as well. Olive Tree has many long-term employees that take pride in their jobs. It, too, supports local vendors as much as possible, with local breads, fresh, reasonably priced produce and the awesome pies from Julian Pie Company (delivered on Tuesdays and Fridays). It has an excellent deli, a small meat display and an extensive wine selection. You can even buy the Noah Tafolla's Wonderland documentaries on San Diego.



I heard that The Olive Tree's website is being updated, hopefully it will have more information on its available beers. It is also starting a beer club in the near future. I don't have much information on the club, but it sounds interesting. If you are looking for good beer in a market that offers an enjoyable shopping experience, the Olive Tree Market Place has an excellent selection and fair prices.