Pizza and beer - a food pairing as iconic as peanut butter and jelly, burgers and fries, or macaroni and cheese. There is just something about golden-brown crust covered in cheesy-goodness and a variety of meats and veggies, all washed down by sipping a refreshing brew! For your ultimate enjoyment, we’ve paired San Diego’s best pizza pies at The Haven, a quaint pizzeria located on Adams Avenue, with beers to truly bring out the best flavors in each.
Pepperoni / Courtesy Photo
If your go-to pizza is spicy, cured Pepperoni, then you’ll surely enjoy The Haven’s, which includes homemade pizza sauce, covered with mozzarella and all-natural slices of pepperoni. And to bring out the spice of this staple topping, don’t forget to order Coronado Brewing’s Idiot IPA. This true West Coast-style IPA, with an outrageous of hops and very subtle sweetness of tropical fruit flavors, highlights the paprika and chili pepper spices that can be found in pizza’s most-popular topping.
The Margherita is a true Neapolitan pizza, made with The Haven’s homemade pizza sauce, fresh mozzarella cheese, tomato and basil all drizzled with olive oil. No other beer can quite bring out the aromatic basil flavor like Lagunitas Brewing Company’s PILS, a Czech-style beer with both a spicy hop bitterness and grainy malt flavor. Known for being crisp and refreshing, this pilsner will play off the salty, sweet mozzarella just enough to leave you wanting another slice and sip!
Sometimes keeping things simple is best and there is nothing as uncomplicated as cheese when it comes to pizza. At The Haven, bite into their delicious 4 Cheesepie, consisting of red sauce, fontina, mozzarella, cheddar and parmesan. The blend of cheeses will melt in your mouth, and serves as the perfect complement for the crispy, crunchy crust (for which you can sub whole wheat or Gluten-Free). A classic pizza deserves a classic beer pairing and Sierra Nevada’s full-bodied and fragrant Pale Ale, with notes of spicy citrus, will do just the trick.
The Total Package / Courtesy Photo
The Haven is an ideal lunchtime spot, with a patio to soak up the sun and fresh ingredients to keep you fueled throughout the rest of your workday. One of their many unique pies, the Total Package is a creation of Brussels sprouts, caramelized onions and mozzarella with roasted garlic sauce. And who couldn’t use a mid-day pick-me-up, like a Ballast Point Sculpin IPA?! The bright beer, with hints of apricot, peach, mango and lemon could not be a better combo for the light and oh-so-delicious Total Package pizza.
It’s been about a year since the pineapple pizza debate really heated up, splitting pizza lovers on whether the tangy fruit is an acceptable pie topping or not. And whatever your opinion may be, The Haven offers a must-try version they call the Spicy Hawaiian. Spicy pizza sauce is piled high with mozzarella, candied bacon, pineapple and jalapeños, creating an exhilarating combination of spicy, fruity and cheesy deliciousness. Finding the ideal brew to enjoy with the Spicy Hawaiian is no easy task, as you must be careful not to take way from the flavors. Duckfoot Brewing’s California Blonde Ale has notes of a light floral aroma, which both compliments the refreshing taste and tones down the acidity in the pineapple. The malty sweetness found in your glass connects with the sweetness found in the fruit and candied bacon, creating the ultimate pizza and beer duo!
Check out the video we did on one of their recent lunch specials.
Video shot and edited by Jarnard Sutton of Nardcast Media, LLC.