Brewery Rowe: Travel writer explores ‘Beer Hiking’ in Southern California

When a publisher suggested Johanna Flashman write a book on outdoor treks that lead to great refreshments, the veteran travel writer grabbed her pint glass and laced up her hiking boots.

“It wasn’t originally my idea,” Flashman said of “Beer Hiking Southern California,” which hit bookshelves on April 2 (Helvitiq, $27.95).

Working with the same publisher on another project, Flashman had been dreaming about “doing a kind of big tour of Southern California.”

When Helvitiq, a Swiss publishing house, proposed “Beer Hiking” in August 2022, Flashman wasted no time hitting the trails, the breweries and the keyboard.

“I started doing hikes in November 2022,” she said. “It was pretty fast turn-around — all the writing and research took about nine months.”

Flashman covered a vast amount of ground — and ecosystems.

“A lot of times when people think about Southern California, they think of the cities. But there is so much open space, as well,” she said.

“There are incredible mountains, Joshua trees, deserts, waterfall hikes, beach hikes and coastal bluffs. It’s very, very diverse.”

Travel writer Johanna Flashman sampling a beer for her new book “Beer Hiking Southern California.”

(Courtesy of Colin Lauzon)

The resulting 288-page book — subtitled “The Tastiest Way to Discover SoCal’s Beaches, Mountains, and Deserts” — gives step-by-step directions to dozens of hikes, ranging from Powers Peak in Kern County to Volcan Mountain in Julian. Every outing is accompanied by trail notes, maps and a recommendation for post-hike hydration.

In the above examples, they are Lovely Raspberry Kettle Sour from Kern River Brewing and Elevation 5353 Cold IPA from Julian Beer.

“The beers were a lot of fun,” she said. “One of the things I wanted to focus on was to highlight breweries owned by people of color and those owned by women, because there aren’t as many as there should be.”

In San Diego County, her quest led to strolling through the Chicano Park Urban Art Walk; pausing for a Buenas Vibras Blonde Ale at Mujeres Brew House; scaling Valley Center’s Paradise Mountain and quaffing a Tropical Oasis Blonde Ale at Rincon Reservation Road Brewery; and exploring Jamul’s Mother Miguel Mountain before enjoying Can’t Touch This Imperial Red Ale at the Chula Vista Brewery.

Of the nine counties covered by “Beer Hiking,” only Los Angeles County, with its nine hikes, has more outings than San Diego County.

“I had eight breweries I could feature from San Diego County,” she said. “That’s not fair — there are so many good ones.”

Double play

Two reliable signs of spring: Padres baseball returns to Petco Park and so does Padres Beerfest.

This season’s pregame fests, featuring live music and $5 12-ounce pours, will be launched today before the home team’s contest against the Phillies.

The other dates:

June 7, before playing the Diamondbacks.

Aug. 2, prior to tangling with the Rockies.

Sept. 6, as the Giants comes to town.

Held on the grounds of the newly-redesigned Gallagher Square, Beerfest starts at 4:30 p.m. and ends shortly before the first pitch. The beer lineup is subject to change but, like our hometown team, usually includes a fair number of heavy hitters.

The next round

May 12: Treat Mom to brunch, Stone-style. The menu at the brewery/bistro’s Mother’s Day feast runs the gamut from barramundi to brisket, scrambled eggs to salmon. $67. Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens,1999 Citracado Parkway, Escondido. stonebrewing.com

May 16: Among the few U.S. breweries guided by a Black brewer is San Antonio’s Weathered Souls, led by Marcus Baskerville. You can meet him and sample some of his creations at North Park Beer’s collaboration beer dinner, with offers five courses and five beers. 6 p.m. North Park Beer, Banker’s Hill taproom, 3095 Fifth Ave., San Diego. bit.ly/3xGNPl6

Quick Sips, Springtime Edition

Jester King Italian Style Pilsner.

(Courtesy of Peter Rowe)

Italian-Style Pilsner

From: Jester King, Austin, Tex.

ABV (Alcohol By Volume): 4.8 percent

Style: Italian-Style Pilsner (self-evident, right?)

Drink or dump: Drink. A creamy white head caps a brew the color of sun-bleached straw. Plenty of flavor for a low-alcohol, light-bodied beer, reminiscent of fresh Italian bread with a peppery snap at the finish.

Ayinger Maibock from Brauerei Aying in Aying Germany.

(Courtesy of Peter Rowe)

Ayinger Maibock

From: Brauerei Aying, Germany

ABV: 7 percent

Style: Maibock

Drink or dump: Drink. Pours a clear yellow, its sturdy eggshell head supported by a flotilla of pinprick bubbles. Bready malts predominate, with some honey, apple and a splash of bitters.

Silva Brewing’s Hop Maniac India pale ale.

(Courtesy of Peter Rowe)

Hop Maniac

From: Silva Brewing, Paso Robles

ABV: 7.8 percent

Style: India Pale Ale

Drink or dump: Drink. Since 2017, former Green Flash brewer Chuck Silva has helmed his own Central California brewery. This IPA, featuring Citra, Simcoe and Mosaic hops, is a sparkling example of his style: full-throated bitterness floating over a firm malt base, aggressive yet approachable.

Rowe is a freelance writer.