2 weeks Ago By Kamal Jenkins
San Diego's South Park district has witnessed the rebirth of a beloved local gathering spot with the opening of Bock, a new European-inspired beer bar and restaurant. Taking over the former site of Hamilton's Tavern, which closed its doors after a fire in 2020, Bock seeks to blend Old World charms with modern craft beer culture.Bock officially threw open its doors with a grand opening weekend packed with events, including a National Bock Day celebration today, an Underberg shindig tomorrow, and Orval Day on Saturday, as announced by Bock's Instagram.
The pub, owned by Brian Jensen, who also helms six Bottlecraft locations and Vino Carta, has been a long time coming, needing extensive repairs due to the significant damage from the 2020 fire that ended Hamilton’s 14-year run. Jensen's dedication aims to quickly create a new favorite neighborhood spot for locals and beer aficionados. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Bock - A Neighborhood Bar 🐐 (@bocksouthpark)Boasting a minimalist design with rich wooden interiors, Bock features a goat's head above the bar, paying homage to the meaning of "Bock" in German.
The space includes 65 seats, billiards, shuffleboard, and TVs for sports lovers—crafted to foster a cozy pub atmosphere. Bock's beverage lineup showcases 30 taps pouring traditional German, English, and Belgian beers, as well as IPAs and other contemporary brews, according to SanDiegoVille. The bar also features a selection of wines, focusing on Austrian and German varieties, along with quality ciders and mead.
On the food front, Bock has partnered with Biersal, a food truck turned brick-and-mortar kitchen, offering German-inspired dishes with a Californian twist. Menu highlights include a variety of bratwurst, beef patties, and vegan offerings reported by Bock's website. Bock is positioning itself to be part of the neighborhood watering hole and part of the cultural hub, with regular events planned for the community, including a larger Frühlingsfest celebration in April and other festivities to bring people together.
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