DrinkAbout Lets Locals Drink and Ride

Have you ever found yourself wishing for free transportation after having a few beers? Then DrinkAbout might be just want you need.

The 3-year-old venture created by some San Diego bar owners allows locals to check out 10 different bars without getting behind the wheel.

The concept is easy enough: Two bus travels between the craft beer-centric bars from 7 to 11:30 p.m. every third Wednesday each month. Patrons then hop on and off at the bar of their choice.

“It was a neat idea,” said one of the owner's of Blind Lady Alehouse, Jeff Motch. “You don’t worry about driving and how you get to these places…You should be able to get out and about without having to worry about driving, San Diego doesn’t have the best cab situation.”

Motch said the brainchild came from a similar event started by Green Flash Brewing Company, where a bus would take beer fans to different bars throughout the county. The guys at Blind Lady decided to take the idea and run with it.

“We emailed the owners of some of the bars we liked with the idea, and the owners replied ‘Hell yeah!’” Motch said.

The DrinkAbout bar owners hired transportation from Brewery Tours of San Diego, and the 10 bars split the cost equally. It comes out to $70-80 per bar – and Motch says the cost is worth it.

“When you think about how much it would cost to advertise an event, this is way cheaper,” he said. “We all feel a DrinkAbout bump.”

The way the schedule is managed, a bus stops at each bar every 30 minutes, giving San Diegans a chance to scope out the local bar scene. Some of the neighborhoods on the DrinkAbout route include North Park, Normal Heights, University Heights and South Park.

Bartenders will either yell or ring a special bell to alert participants that the bus is there – and off they go.

Motch said not only does it create a safe way to bar hop, it’s also created a special camaraderie between the local establishments.

“I feel like we’re really a good beer family of bars,” he said. “It’s a good group of people.”

There might be some changes to the DrinkAbout schedule in the New Year because of ownership shifts, but Motch said it will require a unanimous vote from the owners.

An additional bus may be added to the schedule, too, as Motch estimated that there are around 200 people that ride each month.

But is it possible to visit all 10 bars in one night? Motch said it’s highly unlikely.

“I don’t know if it’s physically possible,” he chuckled. “You would only be able to do a half-hour at each place.”

DrinkAbout runs every third Wednesday each month, starting at 7 p.m. The next two events are Jan. 16 and Feb. 20.

The buses stop at the following bars: