Modern Times Flavordome

While Tribute down the street matches beer to food, Flavordome flips the script — the beer *is* the main event, backed by a coffee roastery, a vinyl corner, and a vibe that says "stay awhile." This is the neighborhood spot you walk to with your dog, your baby, or a visiting friend who needs convincing that San Diego does more than pale ales.

The tap list runs deep and weird in the best way — OMG Hazy IPA (mango orange guava) drinks like tropical juice with a purpose, and the coffee stout pulls double duty as dessert. The selection rotates but always covers the spectrum: sours for the adventurous, lagers for the purists, hazies for the 30th Street crowd. Growler fills and to-go options mean you can take the party home, though the industrial-chic taproom — lampshades dangling from the ceiling, board games stacked by the bar — makes a strong case for staying.

The space feels like someone turned a warehouse into a rec room and forgot to take it too seriously. Big windows face Upas, good for people-watching. The patio handles overflow and dogs. Even the bathroom commits to the bit with curated decor. It's the kind of place where a Friday night can be surprisingly chill or packed depending on the week, and either scenario works.

Practical notes: no food kitchen, but food trucks sometimes park outside. Prices skew reasonable for craft. If you're local, this doubles as your coffee pickup spot — same beans, different ritual. If you're visiting, it's proof that North Park's beer culture never needed to grow up, just get better at what it does.