The venue marks a fresh chapter for the site, which had remained vacant since Hamilton's closed in 2020 following a devastating fire. After years of delays due to extensive fire and water damage, owner Brian Jensen, known for his successful Bottlecraft and Vino Carta ventures, has transformed the location into a 21-and-over German-focused pub, blending Old World charm with modern craft beer culture.
The journey to opening Bock spanned over four years, with significant rehabilitation required to address the structural damage from the 2020 fire that ended Hamilton’s 14-year run as a craft beer haven. Jensen, who also operates six Bottlecraft locations and Vino Carta in Little Italy, navigated unexpected building issues to bring his vision to life.
The journey to opening Bock spanned over four years, with significant rehabilitation required to address the structural damage from the 2020 fire that ended Hamilton’s 14-year run as a craft beer haven. Jensen, who also operates six Bottlecraft locations and Vino Carta in Little Italy, navigated unexpected building issues to bring his vision to life.
The new pub features a minimalist design with wooden interiors, accented by statement pieces like a goat's head above the bar - a nod to the name "Bock," which translates to "goat" in German and references a strong German-style lager. The 4,000-square-foot space offers 65 seats across barstools, tables, and booths, alongside recreational amenities like billiards, shuffleboard, and multiple television screens for sports viewing, aiming to foster a cozy neighborhood atmosphere.
Bock's beverage program emphasizes Old World-style beers, with 30 taps pouring classics like German hefeweizens, dunkels, and bocks, as well as English bitters, Belgian dubbels, and tripels. About half the taps are dedicated to contemporary "New World" styles, including IPAs and other innovative brews from local and out-of-town producers.
Jensen collaborated with Douglas Hasker and Jacob Bauch of Puesto Cervecería in Mission Valley to create two house beers: a 6.2% ABV blonde helles-style bock and a 6.4% amber-leaning Maibock, both crafted to balance malt richness with drinkability while adhering to traditional German brewing standards. The bar also offers a curated wine list with 16 rotating selections, focusing on Austrian and German options, in partnership with Vino Carta, alongside quality ciders and mead.
On the culinary side, Bock has partnered with Biersal, a popular San Diego food truck since 2017, which now operates its first brick-and-mortar kitchen within the pub under the direction of chef Matt Schooner. The menu features German-inspired dishes, often infused with beer, including snacks like spicy beer nuts with sweet and spicy mixed nuts and landjäger, a cured pork and beef sausage. Shareable options include a large Bavarian-style pretzel with obatzda (Bavarian beer cheese) and loaded fries with chicken schnitzel or currywurst.
On the culinary side, Bock has partnered with Biersal, a popular San Diego food truck since 2017, which now operates its first brick-and-mortar kitchen within the pub under the direction of chef Matt Schooner. The menu features German-inspired dishes, often infused with beer, including snacks like spicy beer nuts with sweet and spicy mixed nuts and landjäger, a cured pork and beef sausage. Shareable options include a large Bavarian-style pretzel with obatzda (Bavarian beer cheese) and loaded fries with chicken schnitzel or currywurst.
Main dishes range from bratwurst with sauerkraut to a Bamberger beef patty with muenster cheese and Rauchbier-braised pork belly, alongside a kofta kebab sandwich and a vegan zucchini falafel sandwich. Sides like potato salad and seasonal mixed green salad complement the mains, while desserts feature a Black Forest cookie and Bienenstich (bee sting cake) with honey and whipped cream. While the full menu is available online, Bock initially launched with a limited selection, with plans to expand offerings as operations stabilize.
Bock is already planning events to engage the community, including International Bock Day on March 20, an Underberg night on March 21, and Orval Day on March 22, with larger celebrations like Frühlingsfest in April as a prelude to Oktoberfest. Jensen aims to honor Hamilton’s legacy - known for revolutionizing San Diego’s craft beer scene - while carving a distinct path for Bock, focusing on a balance of nostalgia and innovation in South Park’s evolving dining landscape.
Bock is already planning events to engage the community, including International Bock Day on March 20, an Underberg night on March 21, and Orval Day on March 22, with larger celebrations like Frühlingsfest in April as a prelude to Oktoberfest. Jensen aims to honor Hamilton’s legacy - known for revolutionizing San Diego’s craft beer scene - while carving a distinct path for Bock, focusing on a balance of nostalgia and innovation in South Park’s evolving dining landscape.
Bock is now open at 1517 30th Street in San Diego's South Park. For more information, visit bockbar.com.
