Located amid the uber-touristed Gaslamp District, the Hopping Pig is a recent entry to the San Diego beer scene – not that it really needed another place – and was Stop 5 on my SDBW 2012 visit. It is a single room with a high ceiling and dimmed lighting; on the left, there is a long bar on that takes up nearly the entire space. Opposite is the requisite row of high-top tables. The tap selection is made up of about 30 local drafts, which included Ballast Point Sculpin, Greenflash Friendship, Mission Dark Seas and several other smaller brewers. (Decent flights are available.) Service was excellently provided by an affable and generously tattooed server, who was knowledgeable about the beers and the famous craft scene. While I would not make it a point to spend too much time in the area – although many of the 19th Century buildings were pretty cool, I did make it a point to stop by twice (Stop 5A?). Another decent place to grab some great San Diego beer.

Went here on a Saturday night and it wasn’t too crowded which actually attracted us inside. Many other places were swamped. Once inside we were waited on right away the music was loud but at least we could hear each other talk. Picked up a beer sampler for about $9.00 and they were well marked which was nice. Wouldn’t mind going back.

Nice pub with a good selection of many craftbrews. Flights are available for $9 for 4. Not many people were there, but maybe that was because I visited on a sunday.

Nice dark bar with knowledgable and attentive staff at the bar. Nice tap list of local beers including Ballast Point and Green Flash stuff. I had the Crispy Pork Belly and it was gross. Don’t get it. Other food was okay. When in San Diego I wouldn’t seek this place out, but if you are in the Gas Lamp District it is a fine stop.

Really nice selection of Stouts and a tap list that does a great jod representing the local brews. The Gouda Burger and Crispy Pork Belly are a must try. The decor is a mix of rustic and urban with exposed brick, old wood, industrial touches and some interesting lighting.

A farily new place and had nobody in it on a tuesday afternoon. They have 16 taps with one being Pabst. They had stone levetation, smoked porter, alesmith anvil esb, yellowtale pale and Ballast point Sculpin to name a few notibles. Service was very good and friendly. again, nothing you need to go out of your way for, but if your in town for a conference, its definately a good place to go afterwards.

A new (11/10) aspiring gastropub in the Gaslamp. Lovely space and decent atmosphere, though it still seems to be finding its way. Music is too loud for a pub, where the emphasis should be on conversation. Needs less emphasis on cute pig decor and more on proper glassware and handles. No need to have Heineken on tap IMO, folks who come to a gastropub for a Heinie will be happy with a bottle I suspect. Otherwise a nice selction of euro-beers and local and US craft brews. Beer knowledge is not on par with the excellent service, though I suspect this will improve over time. Could be a future classic if they continue to work the taplist and attract some regulars. I did not try the menu, but it seems appropriate for a growing gastropub.