No brew lover's visit to San Diego is complete without a tour of one (or more) of our top areas of brew mastery. Here are the four best - and the must-see breweries to hit when you find yourself there - as recommended by San Diego beer legends.

A big part of the San Diego Beer experience exists in the tasting rooms of the many wonderful breweries. Here are the ones that are the most fun to chill at.

It's no secret that craft beer lovers are a generally hip and cool lot who relish the opportunity to sip a few cold ones with friends, talking about hopes, dreams, and hops. The craft beer community, in turn, embraces the idea that a tasting room or beer garden should be a comfortable, laid back, friendly atmosphere that encourages relaxation and the pure enjoyment of great brews. To that end, many tasting rooms around the county have been intentionally designed to feel like the living room or rec room of your own house.

Something amazing is brewing in San Diego. The region's craft breweries are turning out innovative beers that push the envelope and take top prizes at national and international competitions.