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Gary Neshanian | July 27, 2024 (Brewery Hill – San Clemente, CA)
If you miss the feeling of drinking craft beer in green hills with an ocean breeze, then Brewery Hill in San Clemente is your destination.
San Clemente has recently undergone some brewery ownership changes and had their second annual Homies on the Hill Brew Festival.
This month I stumbled upon a brewery parking-lot party, looking for the old Delahunt brewery, and discovered the new Rom Beer Co.
I met and chatted with owners Miles and Josh, got their updated history, and was invited to the upcoming Homies event.
I also attended the Brew-Hee-Haw at the OC Fair and met owners Chris & Ashley of Judge Brewery, who took over Lost Winds brewery.
It has been a few years since I have been to Artifex Brewing, so I decided to make the short drive south again.
I arrived at Rom Beer, had another friendly chat with the owners, who provided samples of their new brews, and asked for the first free-shuttle for the Brewery Hill loop.
Artifex Brewing was minutes away, a pleasant surprise to see the only unchanged/un-renamed brewery from before the lockdown, and an even better brew than I remember.
Judge Brewery was even closer, a surprise to see how much bigger they were in the back than walking in the front, with the owner’s proud and friendly greetings again.
Finishing the loop back at Rom, with their live music in the parking-lot again, I can’t wait for the third annual Homies on the Hill next year, where do I sign up guys?
Rom Beer Co – 1011 Calle Recodo, San Clemente, CA 92673, (949) 503-2763 (formerly Delahunt)
Artifex Brewing Co – 919 Calle Amanecer, Suite A, San Clemente, CA 92673, 949.429.7805 (10th Anniversary 8/17)
Judge Brewery – 924 Calle Negocio Suite C, San Clemente, CA 92673 (formerly Lost Winds)
Other South Orange County breweries worth a visit are Docent Brewing, Left Coast Brewing, Los Molinos Beer, and Pizza Port.