Celebrate Oktoberfest at San Diego Craft Breweries

The traditional German Octoberfest celebration culminates each year in October. The first Ramona Oktoberfest is being held Saturday, October 12 at the Ramona Community Center.

You can celebrate locally by sampling some of San Diego's craft brews.

Here's a list of six of San Diego's most interesting craft breweries:

1. ChuckAlek Independent Brewers - "We specialize in small-batch, hand-crafted Old World and historically revived brewing methods and beer styles... Our nanobrewery is a family owned and operated business, and we are honored to share our heritage inspired brews."
Tasting room on Main Street, Ramona, is open Thursday and Friday 3-9pm, Saturday noon to 9 p.m., Sunday noon to 8 p.m.

2. 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

3. 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.

4. 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.

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. The Lost Abbey – Port Brewing Co's Lost Abbey label promises "inspired beer for sinners and saints alike" in San Marcos. Tasting room hours are 11:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday, and noon to 7 p.m. on 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.