Celebrate Oktoberfest at San Diego Craft Breweries

The traditional German Octoberfest celebration culminates each year on the first weekend of October. 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. Green Flash Brewing Co. – This brewery in Mira Mesa was founded in 2002 is know for its West Coast I.P.A. The tasting room is open from noon to 9 p.m. on Saturday and from noon to 6 p.m. on Sunday. There is a beer garden outside served by different food trucks daily.

2. Pizza Port Brewing Co. – One of the pioneers of the craft beer movement began with one location in Carlsbad and now has five locations in San Diego and south Orange counties. Gina and Vince Marsaglia bottled their first beer in 1992. Hours at all locations are 11 a.m. to midnight on Saturday and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Sunday.

3. Rip Current Brewing Co. – This upstart brewery in San Marcos, founded in 2011, produces a line of beers whose names evoke surfing. You can try Western Swell Weizenbock, Red Flag IIPA and many more in the tasting room, which is open from noon to 9 p.m. on Saturday, and noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday.

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. Coronado Brewing Company – This Coronado landmark was founded in 1996 by brothers Ron and Rick Chapman. There is a brew pub in Coronado and a tasting room in Bay Park. Hours vary between the two locations, but both are open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday and 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.